This era might seem peaceful, but the truth is far from it. Luo Cheng’s military uniform alone was enough to make Qin Xiaoli desperately plead for his help.

In the cities, there were street patrols that dispersed groups of people gathering without a valid reason. However, things were entirely different in rural areas. Many refugees fleeing from northern droughts had flooded the countryside. These beggars, having nothing left to lose, were willing to risk everything—even their lives—for a bite of food.

As Luo Cheng walked, he noticed that many fields had been stripped bare, even down to the grass. Trees were left as barren trunks, with their bark chewed off. It was only November, yet the landscape was desolate, far from what an autumn countryside should look like.

Villages often drove beggars out of their boundaries, but once these refugees were beyond the village limits, no one chased them further. In the barren fields, many beggars lay flat on the ground, conserving their energy by not even standing. As Luo Cheng and Qin Lan passed by, hungry eyes followed them, scrutinizing every detail.

Luo Cheng’s military uniform deterred most of the beggars. It was clear that Qin Lan, clutching her small backpack tightly, was carrying something valuable. Yet Luo Cheng’s healthy appearance and soldierly demeanor made him seem like someone not to be trifled with.

Once they crossed into Qin Lan’s village boundary, the atmosphere improved slightly. The southern region, had not been as severely affected by the drought as the north, though survival was still a daily struggle.

The northern refugees had headed south believing the situation there might be better. Many died along the way, too weak to continue. Those who made it found that the south wasn’t much better off—though less severe, drought had still devastated crops. Food was scarce; people barely had enough to keep themselves alive, let alone share with strangers.

Even in these dire times, women like Qin Lan still dared to travel alone. However, the rules were simple: never carry food openly. If accosted, showing an empty bag could often save a life. Carrying even a scrap of food, however, could invite deadly trouble.

Luo Cheng delivered Qin Lan safely to her home and immediately left. Her family, like most in the village, was thin and frail. Hosting a guest would be awkward since they had nothing to offer. Qin Lan’s father expressed his gratitude, though his voice was tinged with guilt.

“Lan’er, you must remember to repay your cousin’s kindness. Life in the city is tough too, and even their rations are shrinking,” he said.

The “cousin” he referred to was Qin Xiaoli, who had lent them less than ten pounds of cornmeal. Despite the small quantity, it was incredibly precious in these times. It wasn’t easy for Qin Xiaoli, an already married woman, to support her extended family.

Qin Lan’s mother asked curiously, “Who was that soldier who brought you back?”

Qin Lan explained their encounter and showed them the half-pack of instant noodles Luo Cheng had given her. She had initially wanted to return it, feeling it was too precious, but Luo Cheng had refused.

“This was from his army rations,” Qin Lan said, showing the noodle pack and seasoning packets. “Mom, let’s boil some water and cook it. There’s nothing to eat in the mountains at this time of year.”

The sight of noodles—fine food—was almost surreal. Even though it was just one serving, it was a luxury. Qin Lan’s family decided to indulge for once and cook the noodles with the seasoning packets. The tantalizing aroma of the seasonings, particularly the beef and chili oil, would soon spread throughout the village, drawing envious attention.

Meanwhile, Luo Cheng was unaware of the scene unfolding in Qin Lan’s home. He had his own problems to deal with, namely his family’s living conditions.

His modest two-room mud house housed his parents, his grandmother, two younger sisters, and a younger brother. Now that he had returned, his mother had already arranged for him to share a room with his sisters, as if the cramped quarters weren’t an issue.

Luo Shishi was helping Luo Cheng put away his bag. As Luo Cheng’s sister, she was curious about what was in her brother’s bag after he returned from the army after so many years . She secretly opened it and took a look, and then her eyes could not move away.

Steamed buns, big white flour steamed buns. You can tell at a glance that such white steamed buns are made of very good flour, and flour is a fine grain.

It had been a long time since she had eaten steamed buns, and Luo Shishi kept swallowing her saliva.

Xiaoyu, drawn by her sister’s reaction, came over to look. Her jaw dropped. “These must be for us, right? Brother brought them back from the army!”

The two sisters swallowed hard, but they knew better than to take any without permission. Food was too valuable, and these buns were undoubtedly meant for the family to share.

Unable to resist their excitement, they ran to tell their parents room. “Mom, Brother has a bag full of white buns! Now that eldest brother is back, we don’t have to worry about starving this winter.”