Chapter 50

Because they were strangers, the enthusiastic military wife said that after registering at the gate, Lin Xiang’s relatives were waiting in front of her house.

“I haven’t seen them, but I heard they’re a couple, probably in their forties. The man has a square face, and the woman looks rather well-fed.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiang suddenly had a bad premonition. Could it be…

Carrying her things, she walked to the gate. The sentry, recognizing the wife of Captain He, handed her the registration book when he learned that Lin Xiang wanted to check the names of her relatives.

As her eyes fell on the two names in the register, Lin Xiang’s gaze flickered. It really was them!

Walking into the compound, Lin Xiang kept thinking about why these two people had suddenly come to the military base. They shouldn’t have any reason to visit.

Could something serious have happened?

When they were halfway home, Lin Xiang saw two vaguely familiar figures in front of her small building. Compared to a few months ago, they seemed a little thinner. They looked frustrated and were speaking animatedly, seemingly quite agitated.

…

“This—Lin Xiang’s daughter actually lives in such a big building? Just her and that regiment commander?” Qiu Aiying looked up at the tall two-story building, the red brick and white walls with a front yard indicating it was a nice house. Even without stepping inside, one could guess how spacious and comfortable it was.

Thinking of her own cramped 20-30 square meter dormitory where even turning around was a struggle, Qiu Aiying’s eyes flashed with shock.

Lin Guangming’s dry lips trembled as he stared at the building, unable to believe it. He never expected that his ungrateful daughter would have such good fortune. Wasn’t this island supposed to be a desolate place, unbearably hot, with no food or drink?

But at this point, he couldn’t slap himself in the face: “It’s just a bigger house. It’s the same as in the countryside. What’s the use of a big house? They eat nothing but dry food all year long and never even get to eat meat.”

“That’s true.” Qiu Aiying felt a little better hearing this. “Maybe that ungrateful girl Lin Xiang is still starving, wearing ragged clothes…”

As they were talking, they heard footsteps approaching. Turning around, a beautiful young woman appeared in front of them, wearing a white floral shirt and black slim-fit pants.

The woman was fair-skinned, with a well-tailored and bright outfit, and both Qiu Aiying and Lin Guangming recognized the fabric. It was good quality, and this outfit wasn’t cheap…

When they saw the person clearly, both were stunned, almost falling over in shock. “Lin… Lin Xiang?”

Qiu Aiying exclaimed in surprise.

The couple, who had previously mocked Lin Xiang for rejecting the factory director’s son’s respectable marriage proposal and marrying a poor boy, believing she would starve on the island, were now dumbfounded.

Where had the thin, sickly Lin Xiang gone?

How had she… turned into this?

Lin Xiang, seeing her scum of a father and stepmother here, didn’t even raise her eyelids. Holding fabric and pastries, she just wanted to send them away as quickly as possible.

No matter why they were here, it couldn’t be for anything good.

“Lin Xiang!” Qiu Aiying raised her voice, rushing up to look her over, noticing her glowing complexion. It was clear she hadn’t suffered at all; in fact, she looked like she was living in comfort. “You…”

“Aiying!” Lin Guangming frowned and pulled his wife back, signaling with his eyes. Then, turning to his eldest daughter, he said, “Xiangxiang, your mom and I came here for something. Also, we found your biological mother’s belongings. Didn’t you say you’d been looking for them for a long time but never found them? We brought them for you.”

Her biological mother’s belongings? Lin Xiang stopped and looked at Lin Guangming. After a moment, she agreed to let them in.

Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying, standing outside, never expected Lin Xiang to live in such a spacious house. The two-story house was beautifully decorated with snow-white walls, and the furniture was all high-quality Huanghuali wood, crafted meticulously…

They were stunned. Lin Xiang, having left home, was truly living a good life.

Suppressing their shock, the couple exchanged a glance, and Lin Xiang set her things down and spoke directly: “Where are my mother’s belongings?”

Lin Xiang had only just remembered when Lin Guangming mentioned it, recalling that the original Lin Xiang had indeed looked for her late mother’s belongings in the past. That was why she hadn’t immediately kicked them out.

No matter what, Lin Xiang was determined to fulfill the original owner’s wishes, especially not wanting her mother’s belongings to end up in the hands of these two people.

Lin Guangming signaled, and reluctantly, Qiu Aiying handed over a small object from her pocket. At the same time, the man’s voice sounded.

“Xiangxiang, your mother passed away a long time ago. Let’s put that aside for now. The main reason we’re here today is to ask you to help your brother.”

Lin Xiang took the small object from Qiu Aiying, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a beautiful, intricate pocket watch. The brass-colored watch seemed a bit old, with a chip on the top, but it still bore signs of fine craftsmanship. Opening the case, she saw a delicate dial, and on the back was a photo…

In her ears, Lin Guangming’s incessant chatter continued: “Your son-in-law is a regiment commander, so he must know many people. He’s definitely got to help your little brother.”

Lin Xiang was confused. Wasn’t Lin Jianxin sent to the countryside as a sent-down youth? Had something happened to him?

It turned out that Lin Jianxin, who had been sent to the remote and harsh countryside, was used to a life of luxury and being pampered by the Lin family. He couldn’t stand the hard work in the countryside. He was always the one to make Lin Xiang and even Lin Chuchu do everything for him while he lay back and asked his parents for money.

Life in the countryside was too harsh, but fortunately, Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying, feeling sorry for their son, gave him a lot of money and advised him to improve his diet by coming to the city every month. But Lin Jianxin wasn’t someone with any planning. After only a few days of eating rough food, he couldn’t stand it and began to waste money and tickets extravagantly. During a trip to the county town, he bought only white flour and meat, living as though it was a holiday.

Even with mountains of gold and silver, he couldn’t spend it all wisely, and within two months, the money and tickets were gone. Unable to endure the poverty any longer, Lin Jianxin began to steal from the villagers. At first, it was just vegetables, but soon he became bolder and started stealing chickens and ducks. When he was caught for the first time, the village’s loudspeaker condemned him, and he was punished with a deduction of three months’ work points.

Without work points, he lost even the chance to eat the rough food, and soon he went back to his old ways—stealing again.

The second time he was caught, he was caught red-handed stealing grain from the villagers. The villagers had had enough and sent him to the Revolutionary Committee, where he was sentenced to two months of labor reform.

Life in labor reform was even worse, and Lin Jianxin, crying and begging, couldn’t go on. He grew thinner and felt like he was going to die there. Finally, when there was an accidental fire in the fields, he escaped…

He’s been missing ever since.

When Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying were notified by the sent-down youth office of what Lin Jianxin had been doing during his time in the countryside, they nearly fainted. Their son was missing, and with nothing on him, where could he have run off to? Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying were so worried about him not surviving that they feared if he were caught, he would suffer even more.

They were so worried, but no one seemed able to help. At first, they wanted to ask their daughter, Lin Chuchu, for help, as she had married the factory director’s son. However, the factory director’s family was already looking down on their own, and they didn’t have connections elsewhere, so they refused to help the Lin family. With no other options, they thought of Lin Xiang.

Lin Xiang’s husband was a regiment commander, so his rank was high in the military. If Lin Xiang were living a hard life, they planned to use the family connection to pressure her into asking her son-in-law to help.

Lin Xiang couldn’t believe Lin Jianxin could do such crazy things. Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying had favored him so much, giving him money and tickets from their family savings. Such pampering was rare among the sent-down youth, and yet he squandered it all.

He blew through all the money and tickets, then started stealing from the already poor villagers. When he was caught the first time, the villagers gave him a chance and only internally criticized him. Yet, he still dared to commit the same crime a second time.

He really brought this upon himself.

Thinking back, when Lin Jianxin had made the original owner give up her job for him, how indifferent and ungrateful he had been. Even when the original owner went to the countryside in his place, he hadn’t been thankful.

It was only when one experienced hardship that they understood the pain.

But now, Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying actually expected her to help Lin Jianxin? They were dreaming: “Have you forgotten how you pressured me to give up my job for Lin Jianxin? Now that he’s down in the countryside not doing any work, you expect me and my husband to help him? It’s not that simple, even in your wildest dreams.”

If Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying had any other way, they wouldn’t be relying on their daughter, who had married so far away—especially since she was practically an ungrateful wolf!

But now, they had no choice.

“Xiangxiang, what has the family done to you? He’s your own brother. You’re just going to ignore him?” Qiu Aiying said, heartbroken over her son’s disappearance. She couldn’t bear to think of him hiding in the mountains and possibly losing his life. “Don’t think that just because you’re living in a big house, your life is perfect. Without your maternal family, how can you stand tall? If you’re bullied by your husband or your mother-in-law, only having a brother can give you support!”

“Who’s bullying Xiangxiang?” A sharp voice suddenly shouted from the front door, making everyone inside turn to look.

It was He Guifang, who had just returned from buying fish and pork ribs with Feng Li. Seeing her dreadful father-in-law and stepmother in the house, speaking divisive words, she immediately became furious: “What are you saying, Lin family?”

There’s no way a father and mother should talk like that. They clearly don’t want their daughter to have a good relationship with her in-laws. If Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying had any conscience, they wouldn’t have forced Lin Xiang to give up her job and marry a good-for-nothing.

It was surprising to see Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying here, especially since the last time they met, they had come to propose a marriage for her through an arranged engagement.

Their eyes moved down to the two plump yellow croaker fish and the meaty ribs that made them gulp.

Lin Xiang was living the high life! She had just been carrying fabric and cakes, and now she had fish and ribs. It wasn’t even a holiday, but she was buying things with such gusto!

Facing the questioning from He Guifang, Lin Guangming quickly came up with a plan, thinking he could use his son-in-law’s status and connections. He turned to He Guifang with a smile: “Mother-in-law, you came as well? It’s been a while. We were just joking with Xiangxiang.”

“Mom,” Lin Xiang helped her mother-in-law and Aunt Feng bring in the two fish and one pound of ribs, quickly whispering something in her mother-in-law’s ear. “I’ve already sent them away.”

He Guifang knew her daughter-in-law had suffered a lot at her parents’ place. She was considering taking a broom to chase these shameless people away when she heard Lin Xiang’s voice.

“Lin Guangming, Qiu Aiying, don’t even think about hanging around. We’re not getting involved in Lin Jianxin’s mess. He stole food, chickens, and ducks, and that’s his own fault. He deserved to be punished and sent to labor reform. Now he’s run away—he made this mess. If he had any sense, he would go back and apologize, but no one can save him if he doesn’t,” Lin Xiang said. Seeing Lin Guangming’s face darken and Qiu Aiying preparing to shout, she laughed lightly and dropped a bombshell. “If you don’t leave, I’ll call the gate sentry and have them check your credentials…”

Upon hearing the mention of credentials, Lin Guangming stiffened, and Qiu Aiying’s eyes widened. The couple, looking like they had been struck with fear, stammered: “You… Lin Xiang, is this how you treat your own parents? Aren’t you afraid of being scorned?”

Lin Xiang sneered, “If I were the kind of daughter who lets her parents exploit her while doting on their son, then I’d be the one who’s mad. If you don’t leave, and keep babbling, just wait. I’ll go get someone.”

“Hei!” Qiu Aiying panicked, trying to stop Lin Xiang while pulling on her husband’s sleeve. “What do we do now, dear?”

Lin Guangming was nearly fuming with anger. His ungrateful daughter was harming him, but at this moment, he and his wife had no credentials. They had snuck onto the train to get here and couldn’t withstand close inspection. If they were caught sneaking in without proper credentials, they would end up at a detention center for vagrants.

“Lin Xiang, fine! You live in a big house, eat well, and dress well, but now you won’t even acknowledge your own father!” Lin Guangming continued to hold his pride, gesturing for his wife, and stormed out. “Come on, I’ll pretend I never had this daughter!”

Lin Xiang watched as the shameless pair left in a huff, then said with a smile, “Don’t go spreading rumors. Otherwise, I’ll go straight to the vagrant detention center and report that someone sneaked onto the train to Jinbian city without proper credentials…”

One sentence nearly caused Lin Guangming to stumble. He was furious, about to shout around the compound that he had an ungrateful daughter. But Lin Xiang had him by the throat, and the couple had no choice but to leave in defeat.

He Guifang was still contemplating grabbing a broom to chase them away when she realized that her daughter-in-law had neatly solved the problem. When she heard about Lin Jianxin’s recent acts while in the countryside, she frowned in disdain.

“That good-for-nothing! What family in the village is rich? The food is scarce, and chickens and ducks are treasures—each family can only raise one. And he stole them all!” He Guifang cursed his thieving behavior.

Aunt Feng also felt uneasy. She had always heard bad things about Lin Xiang’s parents, and that’s why the young girl had come to the island alone to seek a marriage match. Now that she’d seen them in person, she was even more convinced that they were unworthy of being parents, and her heart ached for Lin Xiang.

“She must have suffered a lot before,” Aunt Feng thought, recalling the first time she met Lin Xiang a few months ago. The girl had been so thin, looking like she had never had a decent meal, probably surviving on plain rice and vegetables every day.

Compared to her elders, Lin Xiang hadn’t been affected much. Now, she had no ties to the Lin family, and with her introduction letter, she could keep the two of them under control.

As for the Lin family’s troubles, she had no interest in getting involved. It was just a bit of gossip to pass the time.

“Mom, Aunt Feng, just ignore them. These two are always afraid of the hard approach,” Lin Xiang said, thinking it was better to enjoy the fish than waste energy on people like that.

She smiled brightly. “Let’s cook the fish. We’ll have a good meal today.”

Seeing Lin Xiang not crying or looking sorrowful, He Guifang and Aunt Feng felt relieved. Dealing with people like them was a waste of time.

In the kitchen, the three of them got to work, slicing the fish and salting it, while the iron wok sizzled with fragrant seasonings. He Guifang brought out the spicy red chili peppers from her hometown, filling the air with an irresistible aroma as the red oil crackled in the wok, blending perfectly with the tender fish and bright red peppers. They added cabbage leaves, potato slices, and seaweed, and finally threw in some wide noodles to cook.

A large bowl of spicy fish stew with a mouthwatering aroma, the fish is fresh, tender, and firm, the cabbage leaves soaked in the broth, tasting sweet and refreshing, the potato slices soft and powdery, and the seaweed crisp and flavorful. Finally, the wide noodles soaked in the spicy fish broth are deliciously chewy.

Lin Xiang indulged in a satisfying meal, with a light sweat forming on her forehead. The spicy taste always made her mouth water, yet she couldn’t stop eating.

As they discussed the troubles with the Lin family, her mood lifted significantly.

He Guifang shook her head and commented, “I think Lin Jianxin is a fool. He really doesn’t belong to the same family as his parents.”

Lin Xiang asked, “If he really escaped from labor reform, would he face serious consequences if caught?”

Feng Li, who knew a bit about the situation, replied, “Of course. My mother’s side had someone do that before. When they were caught, they were criticized, and their labor reform time was extended. The whole family lost face in the village.”

After the meal, Lin Xiang and He Guifang took Feng Li home, and on their way back, they stopped by the gate to ask about Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying. They had left in a hurry, almost making Lin Xiang laugh.

They were clearly afraid that she would report them. Without an introduction letter, they’d be caught and sent to a labor camp, and they’d face real consequences.

Lin Xiang didn’t let the Lin family’s affairs bother her—they were people she didn’t care about. The next day, she got ready for work.

The coconut juice sales at the Factory No.2 were doing well, as Lin Xiang had noticed when she visited the city. The 119 coconut juice caught people’s attention and tasted great. Especially in comparison to the orange soda that was so popular nationwide, it was fresh and new.

In fact, it was quite different from drinking the coconuts she’d picked from trees herself. The taste of the coconut water made it even more appealing.

119’s coconut juice quickly gained popularity, leading to its success in major department stores and county co-ops.

“800 bottles of 119 coconut juice sold in just a few days?” Factory Director Qiu from the Food Flavor Soda Factory was furious. Their coconut water had struggled to sell, and even when it did, customers preferred picking fresh coconuts themselves. The grain and oil company even refused to let them sell it on their counters.

The once-promising coconut water had faltered.

Not long after, 119’s coconut juice burst onto the scene and was selling like crazy. The Food Flavor Factory was furious.

Director Qiu, seething with anger, ordered his secretary to find his niece, Qiu Xiuping. He learned that she had been distracted and hadn’t been focusing on work lately.

“What’s going on? She went to visit the 119 unit with Zhou Hongfei, and now she’s acting strange when she came back?” he asked.

The secretary replied, “Not just Qiu Xiuping, but Zhou Hongfei is acting off too. I heard that when he was using the phone in the communications room to call his dad, they almost had a fight. Yesterday, he just stormed home without even asking for leave.”

If it had been anyone else, such behavior would have led to punishment from Director Qiu, but Zhou Hongfei was different. He let it slide.

“If Zhou Hongfei has fallen out with his dad, then he can pack up and leave. He has no skills, and without his dad, I won’t spoil him!” Director Qiu muttered.

Zhou Hongfei, furious, left the 119 unit and returned to the Food Flavor Soda Factory. Soon after, he called home to complain.

Zhou Hongfei was determined to show his father how his older brother was unfairly treating him. But Zhou’s father was busy with official duties and couldn’t be reached. After several days, Zhou Hongfei finally wrote a letter home, full of accusations against He Hongyuan.

After finally getting through to his father, Zhou Hongfei vented about He Hongyuan. Zhou’s father, however, only asked two questions.

“Has Hongyuan really married? He didn’t even tell me. He’s really set on it.”

“Is his mother here too?” Zhou’s father paused for a moment, his voice soft. “I haven’t seen her in years.”

Not once did he ask about Zhou Hongfei’s situation. He didn’t seem to care that his son was stuck in a guesthouse room, nor did he show any intention of intervening to punish He Hongyuan.

Furious, Zhou Hongfei argued with his father, hanging up in anger, and decided to go home to seek justice.

Zhou Hongfei’s sudden departure had no impact on the Food Flavor Soda Factory. In fact, it was Qiu Xiuping, who had been the factory’s main force, who started to act oddly. He Hongyuan’s marriage had taken a toll on her, and she was so heartbroken that she couldn’t focus on factory matters.

It was only when her uncle called her to his office and hinted that she should find a way to deal with the rising 119 soda factory, especially their coconut juice, that Qiu Xiuping regained her composure. She remembered an event from her past life.

As she reminisced, a smile appeared on Qiu Xiuping’s face. “Uncle, let them enjoy their moment in the spotlight. We’ll wait. Sooner or later, they’ll run into trouble.”

Director Qiu’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

Qiu Xiuping nodded. If she remembered correctly, something had indeed happened by the end of the year in her previous life that would cause 119’s juice to face a major setback.

—

The 119 soda factory was thriving, with coconut juice selling well and significant progress on the production line.

Factory Director Huang traveled to Shanghai for a national food factory exchange conference, where he frequently communicated with the director of Shanghai’s top soda factory. The two old foxes were skillfully negotiating, and eventually, Huang managed to secure a deal to purchase equipment.

The indicators for purchasing equipment from abroad are scarce nationwide, with only a few available each year. The First Soda Factory in Shanghai had just replaced its equipment five years ago, so this indicator became highly sought after. Director Huang, who had some connections with the factory’s director, worked hard to tap into those ties. After reminiscing about past battles and maintaining relations with the director’s cousin, who had fought alongside him, Director Huang finally managed to secure the indicator after several days of exchanges.

When Lin Xiang heard about this, she couldn’t help but think that Director Zhao might have learned from Director Huang. Were they following the same approach?

However, even with the purchase indicator, a new set of equipment costs several tens of thousands, which was no small amount. Secretary Tang firmly opposed it.

“Old Huang, the Factory No.2 was almost shut down, and now you want to merge them and give them an additional eight to nine thousand to upgrade their equipment? Isn’t that a waste of money?”

Director Huang, however, had promised Lin Xiang and, seeing that the Factory No.2 had been performing well recently, wanted to give them another chance. “Old Tang, haven’t you heard Zhao Jianjun talking about how well the coconut juice is selling? The production tasks keep increasing. The old equipment at the Factory No.2 is outdated and always breaks down. If we buy new equipment, production efficiency will double.”

Secretary Tang was not convinced. “What’s the point of selling a few bottles of coconut juice? Our factory grew by selling canned seafood. We should invest in the right places. This money would be better spent on upgrading the shrimp paste canning equipment than giving it to the Factory No.2. Can their coconut juice sell more than our shrimp paste? Can it compete with Beibingyang, which is sold across more than ten provinces?”

With both the director and the secretary at odds, Director Huang stood firm. Eventually, the decision to purchase new equipment for the Factory No.2 was finalized.

When the workers at the Factory No.2 heard the news, they were overjoyed. The old equipment had been in use for many years, breaking down every few days, with major issues cropping up at least twice a month, which is why the maintenance team often had to be called.

Now, with new equipment on the way, the workers were ecstatic, almost lifting the roof off the workshop in celebration.

In their excitement, Qiu Hongxia mused, “The new equipment will definitely be better than the old one. Does that mean we can finish production tasks in half a day and leave early?”

Director Zhao, who had just entered the workshop with Lin Xiang and Kong Zhenzhen, overheard this and couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on. “Qiu Hongxia, don’t get ahead of yourself. We’ll be adding production tasks soon, not cutting them.”

“Director, if we add tasks, does that mean we get extra bonuses?” Qiu Hongxia immediately thought of money. After all, without money, what motivation was there?

Director Zhao raised a small booklet and smiled. “Don’t worry. This month, with the coconut juice selling well, the salary at the end of the month will be good. Just wait and see.”

One sentence made the entire workshop erupt into cheers again.

“Xiao Kong, Xiao Lin, go gather the workers to check the equipment diagrams.” Director Zhao handed the booklet to Lin Xiang and left.

The process of purchasing the equipment was not easy. There were only two countries’ equipment options available. Once the Factory No.2 confirmed their choice, they could report to the higher-ups, place the order abroad, and after approval, the equipment would be shipped. It would take at least two or three months before it was in hand.

Lin Xiang had never realized how difficult it was to buy something before. It felt like waiting for the stars and the moon.

The workers were experienced in the soda production line and interacted with the equipment daily, so they were the best people to give advice on selecting the right equipment. After collecting their opinions, Lin Xiang and Kong Zhenzhen decided to purchase a set of production line equipment from Country D, and Lin Xiang hoped to make adjustments to the process to boost coconut juice production.

For this, they needed to consult Master Feng from the maintenance team.

Master Feng, upon seeing Lin Xiang holding the equipment diagram, was asked if it was possible to modify the equipment to make the coconut opening and splitting easier. “Master Feng, could you help us out? I heard you’ve modified foreign equipment before. If we can make some adjustments, the production efficiency could improve significantly.”

Master Feng, seeing how dedicated Lin Xiang was to the Factory No.2, sighed, squinting at the equipment details on the diagram. “Girl, are you really going to stay at the Factory No.2 and not return to the First? No matter how you look at it, the Factory No.1 is more stable, with more opportunities. With your skills, you could rise up there, even becoming an advanced worker or a model worker. Why can’t you see that?”

Lin Xiang smiled and answered honestly, “Master Feng, I think the Factory No.2 is great. You know I prefer a more relaxed environment. The Factory No.1’s workshop is too intense and busy for me.”

Master Feng clicked his tongue, clearly puzzled by the younger generation, and said, “Well, do what you think is best. The equipment can be modified. When it arrives, I’ll help you with it.”

“Really! Then I’ll trouble you when the time comes!” Lin Xiang smiled, her eyes curving into a crescent. Master Feng was skilled, and equipment seemed to work perfectly in his hands. Just hearing him say that made everyone feel reassured.

The Factory No.2 reported the selected equipment to the factory director. Director Huang called the First Soda Factory in Shanghai, and then sent the official documents by mail, completing the process. Next, the Factory No.2 had to go through the payment request procedure, which would pass through several layers of leadership approval at the Factory No.1, before the funds were transferred to the First Soda Factory for them to make the purchase on behalf of the Factory No.2.

After nearly a week, the process was finally complete.

The workers at the Factory No.2 continued to use the old equipment to produce coconut juice, and bottles of creamy white juice appeared in department stores and supply cooperatives. The product even gained some fame in Jinbian City, with orders increasing every week. The workers were eagerly calculating their bonuses, and everyone was overjoyed.

After two trucks loaded with coconut juice drove off from the Factory No.2, Lin Xiang checked the goods. Kong Zhenzhen called her, “Xiao Lin, is your husband coming back today? You should go to the dock. I’ll handle the production task check in the workshop.”

At 4 p.m., Lin Xiang thanked Kong Zhenzhen, grabbed her cloth bag, and set off.

That morning, Lin Xiang received a notification from Zhou Lu that He Hongyuan’s team would be returning in the afternoon, and the ship would dock directly at the pier.

All day, Lin Xiang couldn’t stop smiling. It had been more than ten days since she was separated from her husband after their wedding, and she missed him dearly, especially since He Hongyuan was coming back today. Lin Xiang eagerly ran to the dock to wait for him, her red skirt fluttering in the breeze like a butterfly’s wings.

At the dock, many military families were waiting for their loved ones, and Lin Xiang stood next to a mother and her young daughter, no older than three or four. The little girl was already asking in her babyish voice, “When is daddy coming home?”

The military wife answered, “He’ll be here soon. How about you go find daddy first when he arrives?”

“Okay!” the little girl replied.

Lin Xiang watched the adorable little girl, her lips involuntarily curling into a smile.

The sea was calm and peaceful, with countless people waiting for the ships carrying their loved ones to arrive…

On the other side of the dock, a regular passenger ship from the city had docked, and military families were disembarking. Among the crowd of military wives, a ragged, black figure stood out.

Lin Xiang casually looked over and was surprised to find the figure becoming more and more familiar. The person seemed to be a man, though thin, dressed in tattered clothes that looked as if he was wearing scraps of cloth.

As the man came closer, Lin Xiang could see his face—he had lost so much weight that his eyes seemed about to fall out, his face covered in dirt, and he looked utterly disheveled.

The man saw Lin Xiang from a distance, his eyes lighting up, and he ran toward her. “Lin Xiang!”

Lin Xiang never expected to see this person here. Shocked, she instinctively took a step back, startled by his grim appearance.

The disheveled young man excitedly reached out to grab Lin Xiang’s arm, but suddenly, someone intervened midway.

In a flash, He Hongyuan, dressed in a white military uniform, grabbed the man’s wrist in midair, pulling Lin Xiang behind him. His voice was low and stern as he questioned the man who tried to touch Lin Xiang, “Who are you?”