The Li Household

Li Xueliang trudged through the heavy snow back to the unit compound. His wife was on the kang, holding their crying, hungry baby, while his elderly mother fretted anxiously, “Still no milk?”  

The old woman carefully scooped a spoonful of malted milk powder from the nearly empty tin, mixing it into a bowl of water. The thin, watery mixture was far from enough to satisfy the child.  

His wife took the bowl and fed the baby, but the malted milk was so diluted that the child remained hungry, wailing incessantly.  

The mother clenched her teeth and made a tough decision: “Tomorrow, we’ll grind porridge into a thin soup for him. If we can’t get milk powder, at least rice won’t run out.”  

Just then, Li Xueliang returned, and the whole family’s eyes turned to him.  

With a sheepish grin, he reached into his pocket and pulled out an egg—one after another, each one making the family’s breathing grow heavier.  

By the time he finished, there were sixteen eggs on the table. Old Man Li was so overjoyed he nearly jumped, while his mother trembled as she asked, “Liangzi, where did you get these?”  

Eggs were a rare luxury these days, no easier to come by than malted milk powder.  

Li Xueliang poured a bowl of hot water from a thermos, cracked an egg against the edge of the enamel bowl, and dropped it in. He stirred vigorously with chopsticks, then heated it briefly over the coal stove until it boiled. Carefully, he scooped a generous spoonful of brown sugar and mixed it in.  

A steaming bowl of sweet egg drop soup was ready, its rich aroma filling the room.  

He handed it to his wife, urging her to drink.  

Hu Jing shook her head in disbelief. Under the gaze of the whole family, she swallowed hard, forcing herself to look away from the bowl. “I don’t need this. Such a rare treat should be saved for the baby.”  

But Li Xueliang had seen her swallow—how could he have been so oblivious? His wife’s lack of milk was because she wasn’t getting enough nutrients! He should have realized sooner.  

In a gruff voice, he insisted, “Just drink it. The person who sold me the eggs specifically said this batch was reserved for you.”  

“If you don’t drink it, they won’t sell to me next time,” he added, half-threatening.  

Only then did Hu Jing take the bowl. The sweet, warm egg soup slid down her throat, making her feel alive again.  

….

The Next Day

Li Xueliang, Old Man Li, and Zhang Cuicui ran into each other and, without planning it, all waited in the same spot for Lin Hongying. They exchanged awkward glances.  

But after waiting all day with no sign of her, their disappointment was palpable.  

With a bitter laugh, they muttered, “That mouth of hers is truly vicious.”  

Yet, against all odds, they missed her terribly—wishing she’d come back just to scold them again.  

…

Meanwhile…

“Achoo—!” Lin Hongying sneezed loudly, completely unaware of how many people were secretly thinking about her.  

After her conversation with Shao Qingfeng the day before, he had soon returned with the approved marriage application and arranged to register their marriage the next day.  

Having been single her entire life, Lin Hongying never imagined she’d skip the dating phase entirely and jump straight into married life.  

Well… such was the pace of an arranged marriage, she supposed.  

But just before heading to the registry, a small incident occurred.  

News of Shao Qingfeng’s approved marriage application had spread throughout the compound. The gossip-loving onlookers were stunned—many had been keeping tabs on his marital status, expecting Lin Hongying to eventually pack up and leave on her own.  

Who could’ve guessed Shao Qingfeng would not only submit the application but get it approved?  

“Knock, knock—knock—”  

Early in the morning, someone rapped on Lin Hongying’s door.  

When she opened it, her neighbor, Nurse Liu, gave her a gleeful look. “Someone’s here to see you.”  

Lin Hongying frowned. “Who?”  

“How should I know?” Nurse Liu’s expression suggested otherwise, her face brimming with gossip. “But they’re here specifically for you.”  

Stepping outside, Lin Hongying found a strikingly beautiful young woman waiting for her.  

The woman wore a pine-green military uniform, her fair-skinned, oval face framed by two glossy braids. Her posture was ramrod straight, and though she wore no makeup, her complexion was flawless—smooth as an eggshell.  

Lin Hongying quickly recognized her—the stunning woman who had tried to persuade Shao Qingfeng during the celebratory dinner. Now, in uniform, her presence was even more radiant.  

Rumors said there was a beauty from the cultural troupe who had feelings for Shao Qingfeng. So it was her.  

The woman spoke coldly: “Comrade Lin, yours is an arranged marriage. If you have any self-awareness at all, you’ll let him go.”  

Had Shao Qingfeng not confided in Lin Hongying the day before, this confrontation might have led to misunderstandings.  

Cui Yan, seeing Lin Hongying’s lack of reaction, pressed on: “I didn’t properly introduce myself last time. I’m Cui Yan. Shao Qingfeng and I grew up together in the same compound. You don’t know him—do you even understand what kind of man he is?”  

Lin Hongying couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. Gently, she replied, “You’re right, I don’t know him well. But Shao Qingfeng told me himself—there’s no one in his heart.”

Lin Hongying’s soft words drained the color from the previously aggressive woman’s face in an instant.  

[Cui Yan’s Resentment +500]

[Cui Yan’s Resentment +500]

[Cui Yan’s Resentment +500]

Well… that was unexpected.  

A casual remark had somehow dealt such a devastating blow.  

“I don’t believe it. He must have mentioned me,” Cui Yan insisted, her slender neck still held high. “Our parents are close friends. We grew up together. He’s brilliant—an exceptional man who finished his undergraduate studies at nineteen and was sent to the Soviet Union as one of their most outstanding pilots for advanced training.”  

“He’s read books you’ve never heard of, experienced things you can’t even imagine… And he once gave me books, cared about my studies and growth. If not for you, we would have married.”  

Lin Hongying thought to herself—He really didn’t mention you. Why would I lie?

Calmly, she replied, “But there is no ‘if.’ Save these words for Shao Qingfeng. I’m going back.”  

She turned to leave.  

Cui Yan, infuriated by Lin Hongying’s indifference, snapped, “Lin Hongying, stop right there—!”  

“I didn’t cling to him shamelessly like you, so I lost. But he was forced into marrying you by his grandfather!”  

“I’ve never met a woman as scheming as you. A country bumpkin, greedy for money and status—without him, you’d be stuck eating coarse grains, never tasting meat, agonizing over every scrap of clothing for years. How dare you hold him back?”  

Her mocking tone was sharp as a blade. “If you had any self-awareness at all, you’d know the gap between you two is—”  

Lin Hongying stopped and turned back.  

She didn’t care about the insults aimed at her, but she did care about how Cui Yan framed them.  

What was wrong with being from the countryside? Since when did “rural woman” become an insult?  

Dropping her casual demeanor, Lin Hongying met Cui Yan’s gaze squarely. “Comrade Cui, let me correct you. You have no right to look down on me. Rural women, at the very least, earn their keep with their own hands—unlike you, who relies entirely on your family’s status.”  

“My present doesn’t dictate my future. If I’m illiterate, I’ll learn to read. If I’m crude, I’ll refine myself. One day, I’ll make you see me differently. Remember my name—Lin Hongying. Being from the countryside doesn’t make me inferior. Most peasants are kind and honest, and so am I. Don’t judge me based on hearsay.”  

Her eyes turned frosty.  

[Cui Yan’s Resentment +500]

Cui Yan stared at her, stunned that such words had come from Lin Hongying’s mouth.  

Before the silence could stretch further, a derisive snort came from nearby.  

Two women emerged from the residential building. One laughed mockingly, “Hah! A country bumpkin talking about ‘bettering herself’ and being ‘kind and honest’? Cui Yan, why even waste words on her?”  

The other rolled her eyes. “Big talk is easy. Anyone can spout nonsense!”  

Lifting her chin arrogantly, Cui Yan declared, “Fine! Lin Hongying, remember *me* too. I’m Cui Yan—currently a cultural backbone and deputy head of the performance troupe, specializing in solo singing and dancing!”  

Being a solo singer in the troupe was impressive enough, but mastering both singing and dancing was rare talent. During major festivals and celebrations, Cui Yan was in high demand, performing for troops and civilians alike. She was adored by thousands.  

This was her pride—but Lin Hongying’s expression didn’t change. She probably doesn’t even understand what a deputy troupe leader means, Cui Yan thought scornfully.  

But Lin Hongying did know. She wasn’t some clueless academic.  

In her past life, she’d been familiar with renowned vocalists—many of whom had military backgrounds and ranks. They were the “golden voices,” talents handpicked from across the nation.  

So what?  

Lin Hongying’s greatest asset was her mind.

No matter how Cui Yan boasted, it couldn’t shake her. She remained composed.  

Bathed in the pale morning light, Lin Hongying’s thin, sallow face was unremarkable—but when she smiled, her features seemed to glow, transforming her entire presence.  

Country girls weren’t supposed to have “presence.” If someone had told Cui Yan earlier that Lin Hongying was extraordinary, she’d have scoffed.  

Yet now, she couldn’t look away.  

“I’m telling you now,” Cui Yan said coldly, “I won’t give up on Shao Qingfeng.”  

Lin Hongying smiled faintly. “I’ll be watching.”  

After all, if free resentment came knocking, she wouldn’t mind a few more rounds.