Chapter 51

Lin Xiang didn’t recognize Lin Jianxin at first glance.

After all, in her memory, Lin Jianxin had always been well-fed and plump under the care of Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying. He had a healthy complexion, and anything good in the household was always reserved for him—there was never a share for the original owner of this body. Even her salary had to be handed over to help buy malted milk for Lin Jianxin.

But now, Lin Jianxin was so thin he was unrecognizable. His whole demeanor was one of despair and hostility, his cheekbones jutted out sharply, and his eyes bulged as if they might pop out of their sockets. Without warning, he lunged straight at Lin Xiang.

Startled by his appearance, Lin Xiang was momentarily frozen—until a familiar presence rushed in. She turned her head, and there he was—He Hongyuan was back!

His white military uniform was no longer as crisp and clean as the day he had departed—after all, he had been at sea for ten days. There was a faint trace of exhaustion between his brows, and a layer of short, dark stubble covered his chin, giving him a rugged look Lin Xiang had never seen before.

And yet, this version of He Hongyuan was still handsome—if anything, he exuded an even more mature and masculine charm.

However, their long-awaited reunion was rudely interrupted by the sudden intrusion of Lin Jianxin. He Hongyuan’s brows furrowed tightly, his entire being radiating displeasure. His stern shout nearly made Lin Jianxin’s legs buckle beneath him.

Having escaped from the labor camp and spent days on the run, evading capture, Lin Jianxin instinctively recoiled at the sound of such authority. The sight of a military uniform only made him more uneasy.

In this moment of desperation, he decided to claim a connection.

Feeling the painful grip on his wrist, he let out a sharp hiss and immediately blurted, “Brother-in-law, I’m your little brother-in-law!”

He had already guessed the man’s identity—just from the way He Hongyuan looked at Lin Xiang, it wasn’t hard to figure out.

He Hongyuan paused for a brief moment before lowering his gaze to meet his wife’s eyes, silently seeking confirmation.

Lin Xiang blinked, and He Hongyuan turned back to Lin Jianxin, loosening his grip while scrutinizing him. “Weren’t you sent to the countryside? How did you end up here in this state?”

Having just returned from a mission, He Hongyuan was unaware that Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying had recently shown up on the island, let alone the mess Lin Jianxin had caused.

Lin Xiang was completely fed up with the Lin family’s endless intrusions—first her scumbag father and wicked stepmother, and now Lin Jianxin, an escaped convict, had the nerve to show up as well. And he reeked! He looked even worse than a homeless man.

Sensing that something had happened during his absence, He Hongyuan wasted no time in dragging Lin Jianxin back to their home for questioning. After all, educated youths sent to the countryside weren’t allowed to leave at will—did this mean Lin Jianxin had escaped?

Dumping Lin Jianxin in the living room, He Hongyuan turned to Lin Xiang and led her to their bedroom. At last, they finally had a moment alone.

“What’s going on with Lin Jianxin? Did something happen while I was away?” He Hongyuan asked as he retrieved fresh clothes from the wardrobe.

Lin Xiang, however, wasn’t interested in discussing that useless man. They were newlyweds, and absence only made the heart grow fonder—who cared about Lin Jianxin? She spread her arms wide, ready to throw herself into her husband’s embrace.

To her surprise, He Hongyuan took a step back, dodging her hug.

Lin Xiang: “…”

“I stink,” he explained. “I’ve been on a ship for ten days without a chance to bathe. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

He had never cared about things like this before—after all, his comrades were in the same situation, and no one fussed over a bit of body odor, messy hair, or unshaven stubble.

But now, things were different. He had a soft, fragrant wife, and he needed to be mindful—not wanting to disgust her.

Lin Xiang shot him an annoyed glare. This man had zero romantic instincts. At a moment like this, his biggest concern was smelling bad? Huffing in frustration, she snapped, “Hurry up and go take your shower, then!”

He Hongyuan wasted no time, quickly freshening up. When he returned, he was clean and refreshed, dressed in a black shirt and trousers, looking composed and mature. Holding a razor in his hand, he was about to shave his stubble.

Noticing Lin Xiang staring at him with a trace of resentment in her eyes, He Hongyuan couldn’t help but chuckle. “I really didn’t want to stink up the room. Let me just finish shaving.”

Once he was back to looking like the handsome officer he had always been, he reached out, ready to pull Lin Xiang into his arms.

But Lin Xiang slapped his hand away. Leaning in, she exaggeratedly sniffed him before wrinkling her nose and teasing, “Captain He, you still smell! Don’t touch me~”

With that, she turned and ran off.

He Hongyuan had spent extra time scrubbing himself down with the scented soap Lin Xiang had carefully picked out from the supply store—there was no way he still smelled! Clearly, this little woman was just getting back at him.

Shaking his head with a helpless smile, he followed her downstairs.

In the living room, He Guifang was scrutinizing the bedraggled Lin Jianxin, waving a spatula in her hand as she questioned him. “Lin Jianxin, did you really escape from the labor camp? You’ve got some nerve!”

Within moments, He Hongyuan had learned all about the Lin family’s disgraceful mess from his mother. His sharp brows knitted together in clear displeasure.

“Brother-in-law, you have to help me,” Lin Jianxin pleaded, finally realizing that Lin Xiang’s arranged marriage had turned out to be a good match. Otherwise, how could this man be a regimental commander at such a young age, living in such a large house? “I’m your brother-in-law—Lin Xiang’s younger brother.”

After escaping the labor camp, Lin Jianxin had fled into the deep mountains, barely surviving multiple close calls. By sheer luck, he had stumbled his way out and managed to hitch a ride on an ox cart into town. From there, he had sneaked onto a train with a group of vagrants, constantly hiding from the conductors. He had no idea where the train was even headed.

Eventually, while trying to evade a ticket inspection, he and a few other vagrants were forced to jump off the train. Disoriented, he found himself in an unfamiliar city. It was only when he spotted the words “Xifeng City” at the train station that he realized the place seemed vaguely familiar.

He suddenly remembered—Lin Xiang had married and moved to an island in Xifeng City!

Lin Xiang crossed her arms and exposed him, “You’re my brother? Lin Jianxin, do you remember how you used to bully me and order me around? You never even called me ‘sister’ once.”

Seeing Lin Jianxin about to hurriedly correct himself, she cut him off directly, “Don’t call me sister—I can’t afford it. You sneak around stealing and doing bad things, get reprimanded, and never repent. You keep making the same mistakes, and now you even dared to escape from a labor camp. Where do you get the confidence to think my husband would help you?”

Lin Jianxin was enraged by Lin Xiang’s words. After all, back in their family, Lin Xiang had always been the one to silently endure everything. For someone like her to suddenly dare to point at his nose and scold him—Lin Jianxin couldn’t accept it.

His spoiled young master’s temper flared up again, “Lin Xiang, who the hell do you think you are? A woman like you has no right to speak! This house is obviously run by my brother-in-law! Isn’t that right, brother-in-law?”

Men care about their dignity, especially when they need to establish their authority in front of outsiders—he understood that well. His father was the same way.

Lin Jianxin was certain that his words were perfectly reasonable and would surely flatter his brother-in-law.

However, to his surprise, He Hongyuan’s face darkened, his sharp brows furrowed, and his thin lips pressed into a tight line. Without raising his voice, his imposing aura alone was enough to intimidate, “Who the hell do you think you are? You barge into my house yelling and even dare to talk about my wife like that? Lin Jianxin, do you think I’m giving you face?”

Though his tone was calm, the chilling weight of his words sent a shiver down Lin Jianxin’s spine. He had never encountered someone with such a strong presence before. This wasn’t the authoritative stance of a father lording over his family—this was the aura of a man who had faced life and death and come out stronger.

Originally, since he had somehow ended up in Jinbian City, Lin Jianxin thought he could make Lin Xiang give him some money to help him return to Xifeng City. After all, hadn’t he ordered her around for over a decade? How could she possibly refuse?

“B-brother-in-law… I—” Faced with He Hongyuan’s quiet but overwhelming presence, the cowardly Lin Jianxin lost all his earlier arrogance.

“You escaped from a labor camp and came here—isn’t that just walking into your own doom?” He Hongyuan chuckled coldly, striding toward him with a towering presence. His mere approach made Lin Jianxin instinctively step back. “I’ve already notified the Xifeng City Educated Youth Office. Before they inform the Honghe City Educated Youth Office about your situation, you’ll be staying at the Jinbian City Educated Youth Office.”

“You—Brother-in-law, you can’t do this! I’m your wife’s younger brother! Fine, I don’t need your help. I’ll leave right now!” Lin Jianxin wanted nothing more than to run. If he went back, would he still have a future? He wanted his father and mother—he wanted to go home!

He Hongyuan found his loud complaints irritating. Seeing that Lin Jianxin was about to bolt, he stepped forward and subdued him effortlessly. With his tall and powerful build, handling Lin Jianxin was no harder than catching a little chick. Lin Jianxin let out a pained yelp as He Hongyuan scolded, “You better behave yourself, or I’ll deal with you personally!”

Lin Jianxin was taken away by the Jinbian City Educated Youth Office. After all, educated youth offices across the country were interconnected and assisted each other in managing assignments. People like Lin Jianxin, who refused to accept re-education, committed petty theft, damaged public property, and even escaped from labor camps, were viewed with great disdain.

Yet he still refused to repent. Seeing He Hongyuan’s strong build, he only dared to vent his anger on the Lin family, who had long been at his mercy. He turned back and cursed viciously, “Lin Xiang, aren’t you afraid of karma for treating your own brother like this? You’re just like that mother of yours—pah!”

Watching Lin Jianxin being dragged away while spouting nonsense, Lin Xiang felt nothing but satisfaction. A useless fool’s impotent rage—who could it hurt? It was just a joke.

But her mother-in-law couldn’t tolerate it. She immediately grabbed a broom and smacked Lin Jianxin across the face twice. The wooden handle left a mark at the corner of his mouth as she snapped, “Keep running your mouth, and I’ll rip your lips off!”

Lin Jianxin, in pain and humiliation, didn’t dare to make another sound. He hadn’t expected the He family mother and son to be so ruthless—one hit harder than the other!

“Xiangxiang, if those people dare to come here again, just smack them with a broom and throw them out!” He Guifang, fiercely protective of her own, could endure anything herself, but she wouldn’t let her children suffer any grievances.

Lin Xiang gave her mother-in-law a thumbs-up, feeling completely secure. “Mom, you’re amazing!”

She watched Lin Jianxin stumble and struggle as he was taken away, thinking back to how things had played out in the original timeline. In the novel, Lin Jianxin had shown no gratitude to the original owner of this body, who had given up her job to prevent him from being sent to the countryside. Even when her life later spiraled into tragedy, Lin Jianxin had remained indifferent. He ignored her cries for help, even mocking her, saying she deserved the domestic abuse she suffered.

Since he had never shown the original owner any gratitude, this time, no one would sacrifice their job for him. His fate of being sent to the countryside was set in stone—whatever consequences followed, he would have to face them himself!

With Lin Jianxin gone, even the air felt fresher. He Guifang sprinkled some water infused with yellow camphor flowers to clear out the bad energy. Lin Xiang, still peeking outside, watched the comical sight of Lin Jianxin being forcibly taken away and turned to her husband with curiosity. “How did you know which city he was sent to for his rural assignment?”

After all, even she—who had signed him up for the program—had no idea. She had left for the island right after registering him and hadn’t followed up.

He Hongyuan smirked, his lips curling playfully. “You really want to know?”

Lin Xiang rolled her eyes at him. “Hurry up and spill it!”

His smirk deepened. “Then can I get a hug first?”

Lin Xiang’s almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise—she never expected such a serious and proper man to say something like that!

“In your dreams!” she huffed, full of pride. Who was it earlier that refused to let him hug her? She wasn’t going to give in so easily now.

—

Heartsick over how long her son had been out at sea, He Guifang wanted nothing more than to prepare the best food for him now that he had successfully completed his mission and returned home.

That evening’s dinner was naturally lavish. The pork at the ration store had already sold out, so He Guifang borrowed a pound from their neighbor, Jiang Wenfang, promising to repay it the next day.

On the ship, He Hongyuan ate mostly vegetables every day, with only the occasional can of meat as a rare treat. It had been more than ten days since he had tasted fresh meat.

Lin Xiang cut the pork belly into chunks about half a finger long and a finger wide, then braised it with potatoes.

Nothing satisfied a craving for meat quite like braised pork. It was the ultimate comfort food, perfect for eating in hearty bites.

The meat, simmered to perfection, melted in the mouth, releasing a rich, fragrant sweetness. The potatoes had soaked up all the flavorful sauce, turning soft and creamy—absolutely perfect with rice.

He Hongyuan had indeed been craving this meal for a long time. He devoured two full bowls of rice in one go.

Though Lin Xiang had been teasing him earlier, now, seeing him eating so heartily as if he hadn’t had a proper meal in ages, she couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him. “Eat as much as you want. If it’s not enough, I’ll cook another batch tomorrow.”

Noticing how his wife and mother were mostly eating potatoes and leaving the meat for him, He Hongyuan picked up some braised pork with his chopsticks and placed it in their bowls. “I’m not that desperate for meat. You two eat some too.”

Dinner was satisfying, and He Hongyuan finally indulged his long-suppressed craving for meat, leaving him feeling thoroughly content.

After the meal, they didn’t go out for a walk. He Guifang, cherishing the rare time her son was home, chatted with him a little longer. She also took the opportunity to remind him that Lin Xiang, as a newlywed military wife, had endured a lot of hardships, and he needed to treat her well—extra well.

He Hongyuan could only smile wryly. Of course, he wanted to treat his wife well, but now she wouldn’t even let him hug her.

For the past few days, the skies over Langhua Island had been overcast, with occasional drizzles. It also got dark early.

At 7:30 p.m., the outside world was already shrouded in darkness. Lin Xiang had just finished her bath and was sitting at the vanity, dressed in her nightgown, applying snow cream to her face.

He Hongyuan had long since washed up and was now leisurely leaning against the doorframe, watching his wife in the mirror as she went through her skincare routine—patting her face here, rubbing lotion on her hands there. The simple, seemingly trivial movements held an inexplicable charm that he found impossible to look away from.

“How exactly did you find out where Lin Jianxin was sent for re-education?” Lin Xiang asked, still curious as she finished applying her cream.

This time, He Hongyuan didn’t tease her. Instead, he replied in an unhurried tone, “I pulled some strings to have his placement changed.”

Lin Xiang turned sharply to look at him, her eyes full of surprise. Lin Jianxin had been sent away not long after she left for Langhua Island.

Before she could respond, He Hongyuan continued, his voice steady and firm: “At first, I just wanted to make sure he ended up in a place where he’d have to work hard. But when I looked into it, I found out that his parents had already bribed their way into getting him assigned to a well-off rural area. Since it landed in my hands… I switched it. Sent him somewhere with the toughest conditions.”

Lin Xiang: “…”

Classic! Ruthless as ever!

Her heart rippled with emotions, but she suppressed a smile, twisting her fingers together as she deliberately asked, “Lin Jianxin never provoked you—why did you go out of your way to deal with him like that?”

He Hongyuan’s expression grew serious, his tone unwavering. “Because he hurt you.”

What kind of man would deceive and manipulate his own sister into giving up her job for him? It was disgraceful.

Those four simple words meant more than any flowery love confession.

Lin Xiang hadn’t expected that, in places she hadn’t even been aware of, this man had silently taken action on her behalf.

He had never mentioned it before. If they hadn’t run into Lin Jianxin today, she was certain He Hongyuan would never have told her at all.

That was just the kind of man he was—one who spoke little but did a lot.

Thinking about it now, Lin Jianxin’s unexpected arrival wasn’t entirely a bad thing. Lin Xiang hadn’t let him affect her mood. In fact, remembering his pathetic state as he was taken away only made her want to laugh. “Whenever he gets into trouble, he just wants to run back to his parents, like a three-year-old child. Then he blames me for not helping him. Hmph…”

He Hongyuan pushed off the doorframe and strode over, stopping in front of the vanity. Seeing that she was still dwelling on Lin Jianxin, he reassured her, “He’ll be transferred to the Honghe City Educated Youth Office soon. Escaping from a labor reform camp is a serious crime—his ideological awareness is deeply flawed. He won’t get off easy.”

Lin Xiang smiled but suddenly recalled something else—Lin Jianxin hadn’t just cursed at her; he had also insulted her mother. Truly shameless!

Thinking about her mother, Lin Xiang opened the vanity drawer and took out the pocket watch Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying had given her. She handed it to He Hongyuan. “This… is my mother’s keepsake. Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying probably gave it to me hoping I’d acknowledge them, using it to keep me on the hook.”

He Hongyuan rarely saw pocket watches, especially ones this finely crafted. Opening the cover, he quickly noticed the hidden photo beneath the dial—a black-and-white portrait of a gentle, elegant woman, smiling faintly across time.

“You have your mother’s eyes,” He Hongyuan remarked, comparing the photo to his wife. But while her mother had a delicate, serene beauty, Lin Xiang possessed a livelier, more vibrant presence.

“Mm.” Lin Xiang put the watch away, gazing at the picture for a moment longer. The original Lin Xiang had searched for this watch for a long time. Now, she would keep it safe on her behalf.

With traces of time, the pocket watch was placed back into the drawer. Just as Lin Xiang closed it, she suddenly felt her body lighten—before she knew it, she was already sitting on the vanity table.

Her slender, straight legs dangled beneath the tabletop, their fair skin almost dazzling to the eyes.

“Aren’t you tired? You just got back from a mission!” Having been married for some time now, Lin Xiang could already tell from the slight gleam in the man’s eyes what he wanted.

Though she missed him too, shouldn’t he be getting a good rest after being out on duty for over ten days?

He Hongyuan smirked, leaned in, and swallowed her protests until they were all over the place. “Not tired. But if you feel bad for me, then…”

Hearing his husky voice whisper into her ear, Lin Xiang’s cheeks instantly turned red.

She lifted her hand to push He Hongyuan away, but she couldn’t move his steel-like muscles even an inch. His calloused fingertips lingered on the buttons of her nightgown, slowly tracing against them. Before long, the rough pads of his fingers brushed against her soft, pale skin, sending waves of shivers through her body.

The room’s temperature steadily climbed as the blue curtains by the balcony fluttered in the night breeze. The faint chill caressed Lin Xiang’s skin, making her shudder slightly.

Glancing down at the man’s dark head of hair, Lin Xiang bit her lip to stifle a moan. Her body softened further, as if she was about to melt into a puddle…

Her hands propped against the vanity table. The small tins of snow cream and Pechoin collided with soft clinking sounds before toppling over to the side, forgotten by both.

—

The next morning, despite having just completed a long offshore mission, He Hongyuan looked refreshed and full of energy. Lin Xiang, on the other hand, was yawning and feeling weak as she left for work.

Before heading out, she shot him a sharp glare with her beautiful eyes.

He Hongyuan could only chuckle helplessly.

While He Hongyuan had a few days off after finishing his mission, Lin Xiang didn’t. She had to work six days a week without any breaks.

At the office, the married woman Kong Zhenzhen had grown even closer to Lin Xiang. Now that Lin Xiang was also married, she didn’t hold back with her teasing. “Your Captain He just got back from a mission—go easy on him, will you? Look how sleepy you are.”

Lin Xiang’s face instantly turned red. As a newlywed, she was much thinner-skinned than the women who had been married for years. She hurriedly put on a serious face. “Sister Zhenzhen, what are you saying? I just had a bad dream and didn’t sleep well. Our captain just finished his mission, he’s exhausted! How could we possibly… Don’t overthink it!”

Kong Zhenzhen looked surprised. “That’s not right. Every time my man gets back from ten days or half a month out on duty, he clings to me like crazy! Since when do men ever get ‘too tired’ for that? They’re full of energy! What’s wrong with your Captain He? He’s still young—he shouldn’t be losing stamina already!”

Lin Xiang: “……”

Help! How did this conversation end up going full speed down this road?!

To preserve her office image, she had no choice but to sacrifice her husband’s reputation.

She fumbled her way out of the situation, and when Director Zhao returned with Ma Defa, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Director Zhao, this month’s coconut juice production target has been fully met…” Lin Xiang found an excuse to escape.

As the end of the month approached, she had to verify production quotas before submitting all the factory’s data to Factory No.1. After returning from Factory No.1, she overheard the workers in Factory No.2 complaining that the old equipment had malfunctioned again. So, she went back to Factory No.1 to request help from Master Feng.

Fortunately, after all the things she had done for Master Feng, he was willing to give her some face. He didn’t hesitate and immediately grabbed his toolbox, heading over to fix the issue. He worked up such a sweat that his forehead glistened.

Finally, after finishing the repairs, Master Feng sighed. “This equipment really needs to be replaced. It’s too outdated. With the increased production demands lately, it’s barely holding up. The areas I fixed before are already falling apart, and many parts are about to break.”

Lin Xiang remembered that new equipment was supposed to arrive soon. Master Feng seemed to have foreseen this as well. “Just hold on until the new machines arrive.”

“Got it, thanks, Master Feng.” Lin Xiang was also eagerly waiting for the equipment. “When it gets here, we’ll need to trouble you again to help with the modifications.”

While the arrival of the new equipment was still a ways off, the time for He Guifang to leave the island and return home had already come.

For her son and daughter-in-law’s wedding, He Guifang had taken the longest leave of her life—an entire month. Now, there was only one day left before her train was set to depart. Her son was not the expressive type, but her daughter-in-law, on the other hand, was direct and affectionate.

Lin Xiang had very few close relatives, especially loving elders who genuinely cared for their younger family members. Holding onto her mother-in-law’s arm, she said earnestly, “Mom, why don’t you just stay here with us? It’s so hard to see each other with the distance. Hongyuan and I will miss you a lot.”

He Guifang had never heard anyone speak so openly about not wanting her to leave. Even though her son was filial, he would never say something so sentimental.

But her daughter-in-law was lively and adorable, and when she acted spoiled, it was impossible not to feel warm inside.

“I’ll miss you two too,” He Guifang admitted, feeling torn. She had lived her whole life in Yonghe Production Brigade of Five Star Commune, Yixian County, Xifeng City. Aside from visiting her son, she had only traveled far from home twice.

In Huaguo, people valued the idea of “falling leaves returning to their roots.” He Guifang couldn’t bear to part with the land she had lived on for so many years. No matter how good another place was, it never quite felt like home.

But now, her son and daughter-in-law had their own little home, and it was hard to leave them.

“There are still so many vegetables in the fields, and the chickens and ducks at home are waiting for me to feed them,” He Guifang said, patting Lin Xiang’s hand with a hearty laugh. “How about this—when you two have a baby, I’ll come back to help take care of them!”

Lin Xiang blushed, but in front of family, there was no need to be embarrassed.

Hearing this, He Hongyuan shamelessly agreed loudly, “Alright, Mom is right. We’ll definitely work hard, and when the time comes, you can come help take care of the baby.”

Partings are always bittersweet. At noon, the family prepared a lavish meal and invited the Zhou family over for a farewell gathering.

Lin Xiang bought a variety of seafood from the market. The scallops were wrapped in vermicelli, drizzled with finely chopped and fried golden garlic, and steamed to perfection. The scallop meat was tender and plump, the vermicelli silky and chewy, and the garlic, slow-fried to release its fragrance, infused every bite with rich, layered flavors.

While a pot of clam and prawn soup simmered gently on the stove, Lin Xiang stir-fried salt and pepper mantis shrimp on another burner. The shrimp, large and with tough shells, were cooked over high heat until they turned a vibrant red, then stir-fried with ginger, garlic, and chili until the flavors melded. The result was shrimp meat that was both sweet and spicy.

He Guifang prepared a simple stir-fried pumpkin dish and a cold leek salad. With six people gathered around the table, the meal began.

Everyone felt reluctant to see He Guifang leave. As they ate, they reminisced and made plans. Feng Li, who hadn’t been back to Xifeng City in years, discussed with her husband the possibility of visiting.

Since Zhou Shenghuai’s parents had passed away, he and his second brother had served in the military district for years. One of their brothers had moved to a neighboring city for work, while their eldest sister and youngest sister had married and settled elsewhere. It had been a long time since he had returned to his hometown.

“Let’s see if we can go back for New Year’s this year,” Zhou Shenghuai suggested. “It’ll be nice to have everyone together.”

Zhou Yuezhu was excited. She had lived in a village in Xifeng City as a child before moving with her mother to the military base. The idea of returning to her hometown thrilled her. “Dad, let’s definitely go back this New Year!”

He Guifang brightened at the thought. As people grow older, they long for reunions with old friends and family. “That would be wonderful! You all can stay at my place, and I’ll cook up an old hen—half for soup, half for a cold chicken dish!”

After lunch, He Guifang packed her bags. When she arrived, she had brought two bundles full of local specialties for her family. Now, as she prepared to leave, her son and daughter-in-law had filled her luggage with gifts in return. The new clothes made from quality fabric were beautifully tailored, so she carefully folded them. There were also plenty of snacks for the train ride.

“Mom, these are canned goods from our factory. They have a long shelf life, so you can take your time eating them,” Lin Xiang said.

The food factory workers enjoyed good benefits, and even those at the secondary factory could get their hands on some defective products from the main factory. These items had no quality issues—some just looked a little off, had minor packaging flaws, or didn’t meet weight standards. They were distributed to employees as perks.

Normally, the secondary factory wouldn’t have access to these items, but Director Zhao was persuasive, and Qiu Hongxia was quick to snatch some up.

Lin Xiang had been given a few cans of slightly underweight shrimp paste, which she stuffed into her mother-in-law’s luggage along with some other seafood products bought at an internal discount.

However, despite the variety of canned goods available at the factory, one of Lin Xiang’s favorite flavors from her past life was missing. She decided to make a batch of mackerel paste for her mother-in-law to take home.

She fried the mackerel heads over low heat until golden brown, then simmered them in a light clam broth until tender. Once cooked, she mashed the fish into a fine paste. In another pan, she stir-fried bits of pork belly with minced ginger and garlic, added soy sauce, and combined everything, simmering it until thick and fragrant.

The fresh mackerel paste had a rich, umami taste, enhanced by the clams’ natural sweetness and the pork belly’s savory depth. It paired perfectly with flatbreads.

He Guifang was delighted just by the smell. “This is so fresh! I can eat it with several wild vegetable pancakes when I get home! Doesn’t your factory sell this? It seems complicated to make.”

Lin Xiang shook her head. The factory mainly produced fish meat and shrimp paste canned goods—there was no mackerel paste option.

“This is just as good as shrimp paste,” He Guifang said, pleasantly surprised. “You’ve got some real skills!”

The next morning, with two large bags in tow, He Hongyuan and Lin Xiang took He Guifang to the train station. He Hongyuan, not one for many words, actually gave his mother several reminders. “Mom, my comrade will meet you at the station. Make sure you get off at the right stop.”

He Guifang laughed and gave her son a couple of light slaps on his firm shoulders as he bent down to place her luggage. “Are you treating your mother like a fool now?”

As they watched the green train pull away, both He Hongyuan and Lin Xiang felt a deep sense of reluctance.

“Let’s go visit Mom for New Year’s,” Lin Xiang suggested, unsure how much her husband was feeling since he rarely showed emotions.

He Hongyuan kept his gaze on the disappearing train, his expression deep and unreadable. “Alright.”

---

Lin Xiang had made plenty of mackerel paste—two jars for her mother-in-law and three more left at home. She brought two jars to the secondary factory, leaving a small one in the office and a larger one in the workshop. Workers often had small meals in the afternoon, and this paste was perfect for dipping with flatbreads.

Qiu Hongxia, who was always generous with sharing her sunflower seeds and peanuts, took a bite of corn flatbread dipped in the dark red paste and immediately perked up.

“Where did you buy this? What kind of paste is this?” She had eaten shrimp paste often at the factory, but this flavor was something else!

Lin Xiang shared some with the other workers who had brought flatbreads. “It’s mackerel paste—made from that long, flat fish.”

Hearing that, Qiu Hongxia finally placed the taste. She hadn’t expected that skinny, elongated fish to turn into something so delicious!

“You really nailed the flavor,” Qiu Hongxia said, munching on a flatbread with the mackerel sauce, along with a few other workers having a snack. “If you sold this, it definitely wouldn’t be any worse than the shrimp paste cans from Factory No.1!”

It didn’t take long for Lin Xiang’s mackerel sauce to be completely devoured in Factory No.2. She took some time to make another small batch, mainly to give to Song Qingya and Yan Min.

Yan Min had been busy with performances in the arts troupe, often traveling to different military districts to put on shows. She had just recently returned. Lin Xiang had been thinking about how both of He Hongyuan’s close brothers and their partners should come to the new house for a proper meal—a good way to thank them for their help on their wedding day.

Especially since Yan Min had even shared some lipstick from the arts troupe with her that day.

Early Sunday morning, the couple went out to buy meat and vegetables—Lin Xiang picked out the items and paid, while He Hongyuan carried them. In no time, his hands were full.

At the seafood market, they managed to catch the last batch of mitten crabs of the season. Lin Xiang bought ten for five cents. Once steamed at home, the crabs were rich with roe and meat.

She also bought a rack of ribs to make sweet and sour spare ribs. These days, everyone craved sweet flavors. The dish, with its perfect balance of sweetness and tang, was both flavorful and tender—chewy meat with layers of taste.

The table was set with wild vegetable soup, scrambled eggs with chives, cabbage stir-fried with shrimp paste, and steamed yellow croaker. It was a feast.

Lin Xiang welcomed the guests to sit. At the square dining table, Jiang Weijun and Song Qingya, married for almost two months, were as loving as ever. But on the other side, something seemed off between Zhang Huafeng and Yan Min.

He Hongyuan popped open a few bottles of coconut juice from Factory No.2 by pressing the bottle caps against the table edge. “This is coconut juice from Xiangxiang’s factory. It’s selling really well now. Try it!”

Jiang Weijun took a big gulp and smacked his lips. “Tastes great!”

Song Qingya sipped gracefully and smiled. “I’ve even bought some from the supply and marketing cooperative.”

A few days ago, the island’s supply and marketing cooperative started selling Factory No.2’s coconut juice. Lin Xiang had gone to check and was very pleased.

Coconut juice was now stocked in stores all over Jinbian City. The next step? Expanding beyond the city and into the entire Haining province!

Zhang Huafeng pushed a bottle toward Yan Min and said softly, “Minmin, try it. It’s really good.”

Without looking at him, Yan Min grabbed another bottle and took a sip. Her eyes lit up. “This is so good! It’s totally different from other sodas.”

Zhang Huafeng awkwardly pulled his hand back.

Compared to their last group dinner—when Yan Min had distanced herself from Lin Xiang because Jiang Xiurong had a crush on He Hongyuan—she was acting much more normal this time.

Lin Xiang thanked Jiang Weijun and his wife for their help at the wedding. She laughed as she mentioned something she had only recently learned from her husband. “I only found out later that the night before our wedding, Comrade Jiang and Political Commissar Zhang were steaming his military uniform with enamel mugs. No wonder it looked extra crisp!”

Jiang Weijun proudly said, “If we weren’t soldiers, we could’ve made a living as tailors.”

The table filled with laughter.

Lin Xiang then turned to Yan Min. “Comrade Yan, that lipstick you gave me was a lifesaver. I would’ve regretted it if I didn’t have any that day. I sent a little thank-you gift back through Political Commissar Zhang.”

Yan Min looked a little embarrassed. “I was mad at him that day, so I didn’t wait for him to explain. I just threw it into the river.”

Lin Xiang: “…”

Wow. That was… intense.

“It’s fine. It was just a jar of snow cream. I’ll get you another one and send it through Political Commissar Zhang.” The Youyi brand had released smaller snow cream jars, and Lin Xiang had bought a few to give away.

Yan Min waved her hand and leaned in to whisper, “Don’t bother. If I ever need to vent, I’ll just come talk to you. As long as you don’t get annoyed with me.”

“Of course! You’re always welcome,” Lin Xiang replied with a genuine smile.

Yan Min, recalling the gift she had unknowingly thrown away, suddenly stood up and saluted.

Wearing her olive-green arts troupe uniform, she looked strikingly spirited as she sincerely apologized. “Comrade Lin Xiang, back when you and Captain He made your relationship official and invited us to dinner, I judged you unfairly because of Xiurong. Looking back, my attitude was really bad. I’m sorry.”

Lin Xiang hadn’t expected Yan Min to be so serious about such a small matter. She felt a little embarrassed. “You’re making too big a deal out of this. It’s all in the past. Just come visit often with Political Commissar Zhang.”

What started as a casual remark turned out to be prophetic. Yan Min really did visit later—alone.

At that time, Lin Xiang and He Hongyuan had just finished dinner and were brainstorming ways to expand the coconut juice market beyond Jinbian City when Yan Min showed up at their door, looking frustrated.

As soon as she stepped in, she said, “Zhang Huafeng and I broke up.”

Lin Xiang and He Hongyuan were stunned. Sure, they had their fair share of fights—both were hot-tempered and never backed down in an argument—but they had never talked about breaking up before.

He Hongyuan immediately called Zhang Huafeng. On the way, he ran into Jiang Weijun and Song Qingya. When Jiang Weijun heard what was going on, he insisted on coming along to mediate.

And just like that, the six of them gathered once again at Lin Xiang and He Hongyuan’s house.

“Sit down and talk it out calmly,” Jiang Weijun said, looking at Zhang Huafeng with disappointment. “How can you just break up so easily? You two were already discussing marriage!”

It’s said that breaking up a marriage is worse than tearing down ten temples, so everyone naturally hoped for the best outcome.

He Hongyuan also patted his brother on the shoulder, speaking in his usual reserved manner, “Think it through carefully—don’t regret it later.”

Yan Min was a straightforward woman, so she immediately said, “Zhang Huafeng, don’t feel pressured. I happened to see the letter your family sent you. They’re telling you to break up with me and marry some cousin of yours. Go ahead and marry her!”

Everyone was stunned. Lin Xiang quickly tugged on her husband’s sleeve and whispered, “Is this true?”

He Hongyuan frowned. “Old Zhang wouldn’t do something like that.”

Zhang Huafeng indeed wasn’t that kind of person. He quickly explained, “Minmin, I’d never agree to that. You’re my only girlfriend. That so-called cousin? I don’t even know her! There’s no way I’d marry her. Don’t listen to my family’s nonsense.”

“But your family has a lot of opinions about me. They think I’m stopping you from sending money home. We’re not even married yet, and they already assume I have bad intentions. I don’t want to deal with this, so let’s just break up and not waste each other’s time.”

“Minmin, I know my family is wrong, but I promise—”

“You promise what? What can you actually do about them?” Yan Min sighed.

The two started arguing, and everyone else tried to mediate. Zhang Huafeng looked troubled, while Yan Min was on the verge of tears. Seeing her so upset, Lin Xiang felt bad for her and, since it was getting late, suggested that she stay over. As they talked in the guest room, Yan Min vented about Zhang Huafeng’s unreasonable family, and Lin Xiang comforted her. Eventually, they both ended up falling asleep there.

The next morning, as He Hongyuan was getting ready to leave for work, Lin Xiang casually smoothed her hair and said, “I was comforting Yan Min last night and accidentally fell asleep in the guest room.”

He Hongyuan nodded knowingly. “I figured. Those two are a tangled mess.”

Lin Xiang could tell that Zhang Huafeng and Yan Min truly liked each other, but Zhang was too tied down by his family. His parents and siblings were financially dependent on him, and he couldn’t bring himself to cut them off, which only dragged his girlfriend into the mess.

Yan Min had been firm about the breakup, but when she and Lin Xiang talked privately, she was heartbroken as she recalled all the memories she shared with Zhang Huafeng.

Lin Xiang was a good listener and analyzer, and since Yan Min was too proud to talk about her relationship troubles with her fellow performers—fearing gossip spreading across the military district—Lin Xiang became her go-to confidante.

For three days straight, Yan Min visited daily, always bringing some pastries as a polite gesture. By the third day, she had mostly recovered and barely mentioned Zhang Huafeng anymore. Instead, the two women chatted about their respective work—Lin Xiang shared stories of her battles at the food factory, while Yan Min talked about dance rehearsals and traveling for performances. They got along surprisingly well.

Lin Xiang, in both her past and present lives, rarely had such long and close conversations with anyone—her last experience was with Yuezhu. She actually found it refreshing, and their friendship grew significantly.

She also noticed that Yan Min was a very straightforward person. She wore her emotions on her sleeve—if she was upset, it showed; if she was happy, she radiated joy. She had no hidden agendas and was rather adorable. It was a stark contrast to the elegant, ethereal dancer she appeared to be on stage.

One evening, He Hongyuan had dinner at the army canteen due to working late. When he finally got home, he found Yan Min visiting again, chatting animatedly with his wife.

At that moment, Yan Min was excitedly describing the handsome soldiers she had seen during a performance at the northern military district. Lin Xiang was just as enthusiastic, eagerly asking, “Wow! Were they really that handsome? How tall were they? What did they look like? Do you have any photos?”

With so little entertainment in those days, Lin Xiang was envious of Yan Min’s opportunities to travel and meet people. Unlike her, who was just an ordinary worker, Yan Min had valid reasons to get travel permits and go on trips.

Meanwhile, He Hongyuan, who had just returned home, was completely ignored. The only acknowledgment he received from his wife was a casual “Oh, you’re back?” before she went right back to gossiping.

He Hongyuan quietly went upstairs, enduring the lively conversation downstairs.

By 9 p.m., the sky was completely dark, and he finally heard movement near the stairs. He relaxed—at last, his wife remembered she had a husband.

But then Lin Xiang rushed into the bedroom, looking excited. “Hongyuan, Minmin and I are going to chat all night in the guest room! Tomorrow is Sunday, so don’t wait up for me. Sleep by yourself, okay?”

He Hongyuan: “…”

That very night, he stormed into the army’s single dormitory, yanked a thoroughly miserable Zhang Huafeng out of bed, and, completely fed up, growled, “Zhang Huafeng, are you even a man? Go get your girlfriend back!”

She was stealing his wife every day—this couldn’t go on!