Chapter 163: The Day in History Has Arrived

Platoon Leader Sun and the others arrived carrying large hoes and shovels.

“Sister-in-law, we’re here to till the soil.”

“Later, you can give some pointers on how to manage the backyard of Commander Xiao.”

Wow, that was pretty quick!

Li Xinyue immediately grabbed the keys. “Platoon Leader Sun, thank you for your hard work!”

“No problem, no problem! Sister-in-law, you’re the wives of our soldiers, our backbone.”

“You do so much for us soldiers, a little bit of physical labor is also a form of exercise for us.”

“Sister-in-law, the Commander is on a mission, don’t worry about the vegetable patch, we’ll take care of it.”

Since Chen Mingchuan had already made arrangements, Li Xinyue didn’t plan to say anything more.

These soldiers were so kind to the military families, she would go up the mountain again in a few days and bring back a few more wild boars to thank them.

Soldiers work hard.

With fifteen people, it took less than an hour to create a series of flat vegetable beds.

“Sister-in-law, we’ll come back later to fix the backyard gate, and we’ll sow the seeds today.”

“If you have anything to do, just go ahead and take care of it.”

She really couldn’t help much here. “Platoon Leader Sun, thank you for your hard work.”

Platoon Leader Sun was twenty-three years old, a month younger than Li Xinyue, with a round face that made him look very young.

But he said earlier that he was supposed to go on this mission, but he couldn’t because he had been injured a few months ago and hadn’t fully recovered.

He was a very capable officer, hardworking and polite, truly a good person.

It’s just that he was said to be from a poor family and hadn’t found a partner yet.

At twenty-three, Li Xinyue felt that he was still young and didn’t need to rush.

But she had a very good impression of him and felt that if there was a chance, she would definitely introduce a good girl to him.

After lunch, Li Xinyue went over anyway.

The fifteen soldiers were actually working overtime and hadn’t rested at noon, which made her feel a little embarrassed. She bought fifteen popsicles and gave them out.

At two o’clock, the vegetables were planted and the gate was installed.

“Thank you!”

Li Xinyue was truly touched that they managed to get the vegetables planted at this point in time.

“You’re welcome, Sister-in-law! Sister-in-law, we’ll return to camp now. If you need anything, just call, I’m a soldier under the Commander.”

Chen Mingchuan had specifically mentioned Sergeant Sun, she nodded. “Okay!”

After everyone left, Li Xinyue closed the vegetable garden gate and returned home. She was covered in sweat and washed her hair and took a shower.

Something big was about to happen, she should go pick up the kids now.

As she expected, at four o’clock in the afternoon, a mournful melody suddenly echoed from the loudspeakers in the division headquarters, big and small…

Hearing the mournful tune, Li Xinyue’s heart skipped a beat. Sure enough, a heavy voice came from the loudspeaker:

“《Announcement to the Entire Party, the Entire Army, and the People of All Ethnic Groups Across the Country》… Our beloved great leader… has passed away!”

“《Announcement to the Entire Party, the Entire Army, and the People of All Ethnic Groups Across the Country》… Our beloved great leader… has passed away!”

Li Xinyue’s admiration for the great leader was not as strong as that of people in this era.

But she knew that if it wasn’t for this great leader, if it wasn’t for him leading a great party, she didn’t dare to imagine what China would be like now.

It was because of him that the people of China were no longer exploited or oppressed, they had become masters of their own destiny.

“Mommy, what does ‘passed away’ mean?”

The loudspeaker kept repeating the news, Chen Yiheng didn’t understand and looked at Li Xinyue with wide eyes.

“Baby, ‘passed away’ means died.”

“Today is a day of special significance, our great leader has passed away due to illness!”

“He led us poor people to drive away the Japanese devils and overthrow the three great mountains.”

“The people became their own masters, which allowed us to live a life with clothes to wear, fields to farm, and food to eat.”

“You must remember him, because it is thanks to him that we have the good life we have today!”

The child didn’t understand this kind of sadness.

But Li Xinyue’s expression was serious, and Chen Yiheng listened very attentively: “Mom, don’t worry, I will remember!”

“You said he was the most powerful person.”

“In the future, I will also be the most powerful person, don’t worry!”

“Good!”

Stroking her son’s head, Li Xinyue felt moved and comforted: having such a sensible son, this trip through time was worth it!

At 5:40, Liu Qiang came over, wearing a white flower on his chest.

He only brought a meal and a cabbage: the entire army ate vegetarian food to commemorate the great man…

Seeing Liu Qiang’s swollen eyes, Li Xinyue didn’t know what to say. She only knew that the great man was the people’s heaven.

The entire army ate vegetarian food, and Li Xinyue didn’t make any special arrangements.

That night, the mother and son ate some food, then made some milk powder and malt extract to drink.

Every household closed their doors and windows. After eating, bathing her son, Li Xinyue also closed the door and went to bed early.

The next day, schools and factories were closed. Everyone looked sad.

Grandma Sun sat at the door and cried, her eyes swollen like peaches.

Outside the family courtyard, even the children were nowhere to be seen.

After breakfast, Xu Hongqin came and asked everyone to make white flowers together, to go and offer flowers to the leader later.

No one refused, and they all gathered around the trees in front of the door, where several long tables had already been set up.

No one spoke. Everyone silently made white flowers, their eyes watery and their noses stuffed.

Finally, someone couldn’t hold back their tears, and then everyone started crying.

Li Xinyue was also infected, and her tears flowed freely…

That night, Chen Mingchuan didn’t come back.

Liu Qiang sent over a few stalks of green vegetables: “Sister-in-law, if you need anything in the next few days, just call me.”

What could she need?

Even if something happened at home, it couldn’t compare to this major event!

Li Xinyue shook her head: “Little Liu, you go ahead, we’ll be fine.”

“If you can pass it on, please tell your battalion commander: we will take care of ourselves, let him complete his mission with peace of mind.”

Liu Qiang nodded vigorously: “Yes! Sister-in-law, I’ll go back then.”

“Take care.”

“You guys will be very busy for the next few days, don’t worry about the house, you go about your business.”

“We know, thank you, sister-in-law, for understanding.”

Liu Qiang left. Li Xinyue made a tomato and egg soup, and the mother and son ate a simple meal.

Early the next morning, Xu Hongqin came to call her, and they all went to the auditorium to offer flowers.

Before they reached the auditorium, they saw many people lined up in a long queue.

Two long lines of people, standing on the playground outside the auditorium.

Crying, one after another.

Mourning music, one after another.

Li Xinyue held her son’s hand, holding a white flower in her hand, silently standing in the line, tears flowing again.

She lowered her head, holding her son’s hand, and entered the auditorium.

The auditorium was filled with wreaths, the great man’s large portrait hung on the wall, surrounded by a circle of black gauze, and a group of officers and soldiers’ wives knelt on the ground…

“Mom, I’m scared!”

The child was frightened, Li Xinyue picked him up and put the flower in his hand.

“Baby, the grandpa on the wall is the benefactor of our people!”

“In the future, you must never forget, because it is thanks to him that we have our today!”

“Come on, let’s go offer flowers to the old grandpa, wish him health and longevity in heaven!”