Gao Dayong stomped his foot in frustration: “Assistant Yu, you’re not playing fair.”

“What else do we, the armed forces, do besides training?”

“Waiting for the call of the Republic, ready to rush to the battlefield at any time, to sacrifice ourselves for the nation — that is our duty as soldiers,” said Assistant Yu.

“The leader is right,” said Chen Chang, the farm manager, “In times of peace, every place is a battlefield.

Assistant Yu, you should have inspected our cotton fields by now.

We’ve planted 100 hectares of cotton, but our farm only has 800 workers.

During the cotton harvesting season, each worker needs to harvest 18 acres of cotton in just one month.

This is simply impossible.

So, the heroic, brave Assistant Yu, always defending the people, now the farm urgently needs the helping hands of the people’s soldiers.

Can you help us pick cotton?”

“Of course we can! After the National Day holiday, once we’re off duty, all of us in the armed forces, except for those on duty, will come to the farm and work overnight to help harvest the cotton,” said Assistant Yu, confidently.

“I knew Assistant Yu was a true leader who loves the people and cares for the masses,” said Chen Chang, smiling as she released Assistant Yu’s hand, noticing the music had stopped.

Ah, the troubles of being a beautiful woman.

Even when she tries not to stand out, trying to prevent her man from getting jealous, she always draws attention wherever she goes, surrounded by men.

Just as she released Assistant Yu’s hand and hadn’t yet had the chance to flaunt it in front of her own man, Secretary A walked over.

The next song, Under the Silver Moonlight, started to play.

He smiled and said, “Manager Chen, you’ve worked hard. May I accompany you for a dance?”

Dancing a social dance after revolutionary work was an old tradition of the Republic’s workers and soldiers.

It was, of course, an opportunity for higher-ups and subordinates to communicate while enjoying the music.

“Little Chen, it’s not that I have to dance with you. It’s just that your sister-in-law told me you’ve started eating the big cucumbers and squash this year. She insisted I come and thank you. I see that Worker Nie isn’t very happy today,” Secretary A said.

Yes, men can get jealous, and it can get quite intense.

Chen Lina replied, “Leader, it’s not that I don’t want to dance with you, it’s just that I’m in a hurry to pick cotton and don’t have time for dancing.”

Well, if the man is useless, she’ll just have to handle the request for benefits herself.

Secretary A, however, took it seriously: “Ensuring production is the priority, but we can’t have the manager working all the time in the cotton fields. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to tell me. Today, I must dance with you a few times and have a good conversation.”

Alright, Secretary A waved his hand, and the music started playing again.

From The Grapes of Turpan are Ripe to The Lovely Rose to Alam Khan, Chen Lina explained to Secretary A the necessity of mechanized planting, from the joint cultivator to large hand harvesting machines.

Secretary A nodded repeatedly, probably calculating in his mind how to shift funds from the mine area to increase the farm’s equipment.

Meanwhile, outside the cultural hall, He Min was standing, unable to squeeze in because the place was filled with cadres dancing and clapping along to the Baiwang Temple soda rhythm.

He was getting anxious when the leader of the first production team, Wang Guanghai, arrived.

“Secretary, it’s bad news, Huang Huacai is back!”

“Worker Sun’s mother? Ah, we must pay our respects. She’s a hero’s mother!” He Min, not having experienced Huang Huacai’s fierceness, immediately saw this as an opportunity to show off in front of the leadership.

He ran to the warehouse and said, “Anna, Anna, quickly give me two bottles of soda and two pounds of sugar, I have something to do.”

“Secretary, here’s the ticket,” Anna replied.

“You’re so petty. Fine, here’s the ticket. Anna, you’re mistaken. I’m sure you’re the one who exposed my film. Watch out; I’ll make sure your hat is stuck with this!” He Min teased.

Anna, who already disliked He Min’s pretentiousness, had secretly helped Chen Lina feed her children by mixing herbal medicine in the soda bottles.

There was some leftover, so Anna gave He Min the bottles, thinking he could enjoy them.

The soda tasted unusual, but she didn’t care.

He Min, thinking he was being offered a treat, eagerly drank the soda.

Meanwhile, Chen Lina was handling the production team, and Huang Huacai was angrily beating Sun Duoyu while crying for her sons, Sun Zhuangnan and Sun Dabao.

This was the perfect time to play the hero.

“Hero’s mother, the farm leadership hasn’t done their part. On such an important day, no one came to visit you. I’m He Min, the farm’s Secretary. Look, I’ve brought the farm’s welfare to you,” He Min said dramatically, opening a soda bottle with his teeth.

“Here, try the soda your son helped create with his life and blood in the Gobi Desert. And have a candy too, okay?”

Huang Huacai, the old lady, loved it when people brought her things, as it made her feel important.

After all, she was tired from yelling and beating, ready to go to the cultural hall.

If she didn’t replenish her energy now, when would she?

She threw the mint candy into her mouth, chewed it, and washed it down with a big gulp of soda.

In an instant, the mint and herbal taste hit her, and she spat the soda in He Min’s face. “Bah! The people on this farm have rotten hearts. As the Secretary, you’re trying to trick me with fake soda?”

The old lady, who couldn’t read many words but knew “Baiwang” well, angrily shouted, “So now you dare call me a ‘Baiwang’?!”

She remembered the times in Beijing, when she was deceived by people there, staying in a hotel, being kicked out in the middle of the night, and even scrounging for food in the trash.

The bitterness and frustration from all those memories suddenly erupted onto He Min.

Two bottles of soda flew into He Min’s face.

If not for the young workers holding her back, she would have likely devoured He Min alive.

Inside the cultural center, Engineer Nie, who came from a technical background, watched as the families got people to embrace and dance one song after another.

Of course, the female family members and the educated youth especially liked him.

There was always someone who would approach him, wanting to dance with him.

But Engineer Nie had no interest in dancing.

He simply said he didn’t know how to and declined.

They came out to the barley field, which was packed with people, all watching the movie The Visitor from the Iceberg.

Engineer Nie Bozhao saw Chen Lili standing alone, eating sunflower seeds while watching the film.

He asked, “Where are the kids? Did Wang Hongbing take them?”

Chen Lili slapped her forehead and said, “He’s the deputy director. Tonight, his task is to guard the cotton field, so he’s stationed at the entrance with the armed department comrades.”

“Then where are the kids? Why aren’t you watching them?” Nie Bozhao suddenly got angry.

Chen Lili tossed the sunflower seeds aside and said, “The kids, where did they run off to?”

That’s right—she had never had children of her own.

Plus, with Liu Xiaohong being so worry-free, and tonight being the time for a movie that excited everyone, Chen Lili had forgotten her most important responsibility.

The two searched the barley field but couldn’t find the kids.

Just then, Nie Bozhao overheard someone saying that Huang Huacai had returned.

He immediately thought of the old woman, who was known for being afraid of strong people but picking on children.

This made him even more anxious.

They searched the production team, then the warehouse.

Nie Bozhao was so angry, his frustration growing.

This was the first time he realized after having children that being a mother wasn’t just about enjoying the benefits of being in charge of kids, but also about being responsible for their safety.

Unable to find the kids, Engineer Nie was sweating profusely, thinking, “This is bad. When Chen Lina finds out I lost the kids, she might slap me in front of everyone.”

But when they returned to the cultural center, they found Er Dan and Liu Xiaohong in the center of the dance floor, dancing.

Er Dan wasn’t great at studying, but when it came to dancing, he had a real sense of rhythm.

Liu Xiaohong, in a skirt, was dancing beautifully with him.

The song had a fast beat and strong rhythm, and as they spun, Liu Xiaohong twirled her skirt and spun rapidly, looking like a blooming peony flower.

Chen Lina was chatting with the local party secretary and district leader, while San Dan sat on her lap, quietly sipping soda.

It must have tasted bad because the child, seeing others enjoying it, couldn’t resist.

He took a sip and stuck out his tongue.

Nie Weimin stood nearby, hands in his light green shorts pockets, looking awkward as he watched Er Dan and Liu Xiaohong dance.

He looked like the Nie Bozhao from earlier.

“Since you like it, why don’t you join them and dance?” someone asked.

“Dad, don’t you realize how popular Mom is?” Nie Weimin replied.

Yes, although many family members and pretty educated youth were present, from the district leader to the secretary, from the political commissar to the chief of staff of the armed department, everyone was gathered around Chen Lina.

Her charm was unmatched, and even if He Min tried his best, he wouldn’t catch up.

“No one can dislike the person who grows the food we eat. It’s natural,” someone commented.

“Isn’t it because she’s beautiful?” Nie Weimin asked.

“A woman’s charm isn’t just about her looks. I think what they admire most is her inner qualities.”

“You really have a big heart,” Nie Weimin said, sincerely.

“Go dance.” Engineer Nie Bozhao pushed him gently.

Nie Weimin quickly stepped aside. “I’m not dancing.”

People who enjoy dancing have a natural sense of rhythm, but Nie Weimin preferred peace and quiet.

Even if forced, he couldn’t dance because he had no rhythm in his bones.

“Comrade Chen Lili, it’s not easy to raise children. If something happens to them, it’s a lifelong regret we can never wash away. Do you understand?” Nie Bozhao turned and said.

Chen Lili was scared this time.

Watching the movie was no longer fun, and the music didn’t bring her joy.

She sighed deeply and said, “Now I understand why Lina didn’t give me the kids. I never worried when they weren’t lost.”

She hadn’t realized that the responsibility she carried now was that of a mother.

Engineer Nie wasn’t one to blame others too much, and he didn’t criticize Chen Lili further.

After all, the guilt in her heart was enough punishment.

“Engineer Nie, aren’t you going to dance with us?”

Wu Qiong, the vice-head of the cultural troupe, wasn’t in a good mood today.

The plum blossom watch had been taken back, but when she saw her husband constantly hanging around Chen Lina, she decided to teach him a lesson.

Well, she was going to find the most handsome man in the mining area, Engineer Nie, and dance with him to annoy Gao Dayong, that big oaf.

“Yes, besides the vice-head, there are the twelve beauties of our troupe. Engineer Nie, if you don’t dance with us, we won’t let you leave.”

The twelve women surrounded Engineer Nie Bozhao.

He quickly waved his hands. “Comrades, I really can’t dance.”

Nie Weimin smiled awkwardly. “You always make me dance, now it’s your turn. Let’s see how you get out of this.”

It was like Tang Seng entering the spider cave—surrounded by beauties from the cultural troupe.

Nie Bozhao tried to dodge, but he couldn’t escape.

Just then, loud gong sounds echoed from outside. “Fire! Fire! Quick, put out the fire!”