"You do not seem like a rural girl at all." Gu Zhenhua's voice was calm, but his gaze was steady, sharp, assessing, leaving no room for evasion.
Li Shuying, who was still trying to think of a way to deduce her brothers' curiosity about her knowledge, was momentarily taken aback. But as the meaning behind his words settled in, a flicker of displeasure rose within her.
Her brows drew together slightly. "Officer Gu, what do you mean by that?"
Gu Zhenhua did not look away. "Your manner of speech," he said evenly, "your composure… they do not give the impression of someone raised in the countryside."
For a brief second, the air in the compartment tightened.
Li Shuying's expression cooled as she said, her voice steady but no longer soft. "Officer Gu, you appear to be a learned man, unlike those who openly disdain rural folk and carry shallow prejudices. Such words… do not suit you." She met his gaze directly, unflinching. "As for my knowledge," she continued, "I attend school just as urban students do. I learn the same knowledge. Being born in the countryside does not mean one must be ignorant, nor does it mean one cannot carry oneself with composure."
Her words were measured, yet each syllable landed with quiet force.
Li Jianmin glanced between the two, sensing the shift in tone, while Li Jianguo straightened slightly, his expression turning displeased as well.
Gu Zhenhua listened without interruption, then, after a brief pause, he spoke again, "Comrade Li, you misunderstand me." There was no irritation in his tone, only calm clarity. "I do not look down upon the countryside. On the contrary, the rural regions were the very foundation of our struggle during the Liberation War. Without the people of the countryside, there would be no victory to speak of."
Li Shuying held his gaze, her expression easing only slightly. "You speak well, Officer Gu, urban people do have a refined way with words. It is good that you recognize the importance of the countryside… but I hope it is not merely something spoken aloud." There was a subtle sharpness beneath her politeness as she continued, "Because from your earlier words, it seems you still carry certain assumptions. Otherwise, why make such a comparison at all?"
Gu Zhenhua's lips curved almost imperceptibly, not in mockery, but in quiet acknowledgment. "I merely stated my observation," he said.
Li Shuying replied without hesitation "Then I hope, that you keep such observations to yourself. After all, it is not proper to form conclusions about someone you have only just met."
For a moment, their eyes locked.
Then a faint smile appeared on Gu Zhenhua's lips. "Who said that I have only just met you?"
Li Shuying frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
Gu Zhenhua's voice remained calm. "Were you not the one selling supplies at the black market near East River Road the day before yesterday?"
The words fell like a stone into still water.
Li Shuying's eyes widened.
Beside her, both Li Jianguo and Li Jianmin stiffened, their breath catching almost in unison.
Li Jianguo reacted first. He stepped slightly in front of Li Shuying, his voice tense. "N-No… you are mistaken," he said quickly. "It was me. I was the one selling goods at the black market. It has nothing to do with my little sister, she is still young."
Before his words had fully settled, Li Jianmin stood up as well. "No! Second Brother didn't even know about it before yesterday. It was me, I was the one doing it. If anything is illegal, then it is my responsibility. Leave my brother and sister out of it."
The two brothers stood there, one after the other, each trying to shield the other and Li Shuying.
For a fleeting moment the tension in the compartment was palpable.
And then Gu Zhenhua chuckled.
Today… has indeed been interesting, he thought. He let the moment pass before clearing his throat lightly.
"Do not worry," he said, his tone returning to its usual composed steadiness. "I am a military officer, not a public security officer." He glanced at the two brothers, then at Li Shuying. "I have no intention of reporting you. I am not so rigid as to ignore reality. A nation exists because of its people. If the people cannot survive, then what meaning does the nation hold? In these difficult years… the black market has become, for many, a means of survival. That is something I understand."
Li Shuying let out a quiet breath within her heart. It would be a lie to say she had not been frightened just now.
From the moment she first laid eyes on Gu Zhenhua, she had understood that he was not a man who could be deceived lightly. His bearing, his discipline, the cold clarity in his gaze… all of it spoke of someone who adhered strictly to order and principle. If he had truly chosen to pursue the matter, then not one of them would have been able to escape the consequences.
Fortunately he had not.
She composed herself, her expression returning to calm. "You are quite magnanimous, Officer Gu," she said, her tone sincere yet measured.
Gu Zhenhua's lips curved faintly, though his eyes remained thoughtful. "If that is the case," he replied, "then perhaps you can tell me a little more about yourself." He paused briefly, then added, "At the station, Comrade Zhang mentioned something about radishes. It seems he is already aware of your dealings at the black market."
Li Shuying hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes… he knows."
Gu Zhenhua raised a brow slightly, as though weighing something in his mind. "Do you know what rank Officer Zhang holds?" he asked.
The question caught her off guard.
Why would Zhang Wenhao tell her such a thing? Military rank was not necessarily confidential, but it was not something casually shared with strangers, especially not with children who had only met him twice.
Before she could respond, Li Jianguo spoke.
"We know," he said steadily. "He is a Battalion Commander in the Changchun Military Unit."
Li Shuying turned to him in surprise.
A Battalion Commander?
Such a high position?
In her mind, Zhang Wenhao had always appeared approachable, even somewhat rough around the edges, nothing like the lofty image she had associated with such a rank.
How did her second brother know?
Across from them, Gu Zhenhua gave a slight nod.
Somewhere within him, a subtle tension eased. From the moment he had seen the apples his instincts had sharpened. His training had taught him to question everything, to trust nothing at face value. Even children could be used as cover. Even the most harmless appearance could conceal deeper intent.
Especially given the mission he had been assigned recently.
The mission in Taonan County was no ordinary assignment.
On the surface, it had been labeled as a routine field exercise and mountain training for his unit. Even the soldiers who had accompanied him believed it to be nothing more.
But in truth it was anything but.
According to intelligence from higher command, a large and organized bandit group had begun operating in secrecy around Taonan County. This was not a scattered group of desperate outlaws.
Reports described them as armed and coordinated, moving in formations, executing ambushes with precision, and retreating with calculated efficiency. These were not ordinary criminals They had military training.
That alone made them dangerous.
Their numbers were unknown. Their leaders remained unidentified. But their movement had been traced. The last confirmed sightings pointed toward one place, Taonan County.
And this is what elevated the matter to urgency.
Taonan County lay in a uniquely strategic position, surrounded on three sides by lush mountains and dense forests. The terrain was rugged, difficult to traverse, and perfect for concealment and ambush. Beyond those mountains stretched the vast expanse of the Gobi Desert, a region that had recently gained national significance after the discovery of substantial coal reserves and several other mineral reserves.
Mining operations had only begun to take root there. Which meant it was still vulnerable.
According to reports, this bandit group was not merely surviving off the land. They were expanding quietly, methodically. Gathering manpower. Securing routes. Testing boundaries.
And their ultimate objective was believed to be the control, or at least disruption, of those sensitive mining zones.
If that were true, the consequences would be severe. Not just for the region but for the nation's development itself.
Gu Zhenhua's eyes narrowed slightly as the train rattled forward. Since arriving in Taonan County, he had done nothing but observe. Markets, villages, travel routes and faces. He had watched, listened, and waited. Yet he had found nothing. Nothing that could definitively point to the existence of such a group. And that was precisely what troubled him.
Because it meant only one thing, they were hidden well, too well. Blended seamlessly among ordinary people.
His gaze shifted subtly back toward Li Shuying and her brothers.
When he had first seen Li Shuying at the black market, she had merely struck him as decisive.
When he saw her again at the station today, presenting apples, items nearly impossible to come by in such times, his instincts had stirred. But he had remained calm. Suspicious, yes but controlled.
However just now, the clarity with which she explained the mechanics of the locomotive, her words had not been those of a child. Not even of an ordinary educated youth. It was not knowledge one would find in middle school texts. Nor even in most high school curricula.
More than the knowledge itself it was her articulation, that caught her attention.
And that's why for a fleeting moment, Gu Zhenhua's thoughts took a dangerous turn and he thought she could be connected to them.
It was not an unreasonable suspicion.
The quality of the supplies she had sold at the black market, those apples were far beyond what could be obtained through ordinary channels. In these harsh years, even the supply and marketing cooperatives struggled to provide such goods, let alone a young village girl.
And then there was her knowledge.
The way she had explained the mechanics of the train was not something one acquired casually. It was not the kind of understanding taught in middle school, nor even in most high schools. Such clarity came only with deeper study… or careful instruction.
Coupled with her composure it was enough to justify doubt.
Thus, when he had asked about Zhang Wenhao's rank, it had not been a casual inquiry. It had been a probe, a deliberate test to measure the level of trust Zhang Wenhao placed in these children.
Because Gu Zhenhua trusted Zhang Wenhao.
A Battalion Commander was not a man who acted lightly. Years of service had honed his judgment. He would not casually associate with questionable individuals, nor reveal even the smallest detail in front of those he deemed unreliable.
If Zhang Wenhao had chosen to interact with these children so openly then they were unlikely to be involved in anything dangerous.
At least not in the way Gu Zhenhua had briefly suspected.
His gaze shifted once more toward Li Shuying. This time, it was no longer sharp with suspicion, but quieter… more contemplative.
For reasons he could not quite explain, the realization that she and her brothers were likely innocent brought him an unexpected sense of ease.
A breath slipped from his lips, soft, almost imperceptible. Only then did he realize he had been holding it all along.
Across from him, Li Shuying and her brothers exchanged subtle glances. His prolonged silence had not gone unnoticed. Yet none of them spoke.
There was something about this man that made conversation feel like stepping onto thin ice. Without quite knowing why, they chose to remain quiet, each retreating into their own thoughts.
He is… rather strange, Li Jianmin thought, suppressing a frown.
Gradually, the tension in the compartment eased, replaced by a subdued stillness. The rhythmic motion of the train and the gentle sway of the carriage made their eyelids grow heavy.
It was nearing midday when a knock sounded at the compartment door.
Knock. Knock.
All three siblings stirred slightly.
"Enter," Gu Zhenhua said calmly.
The door slid open, and He Jianci stepped in, his posture straight. He raised his hand in a crisp salute.
"Deputy Company Commander Gu," he said respectfully, "it is time for lunch. Would you prefer to go to the dining carriage, or shall I bring the meal here?"
At the mention of lunch, the drowsiness vanished instantly from the Li siblings' eyes.
They straightened unconsciously, their attention sharpening.
Gu Zhenhua caught their reaction and, for the briefest moment, a trace of amusement flickered across his expression.
"I will go to the dining carriage," he replied. "Bring along the food given by Comrade Zhang as well."
"Yes!" He Jianci responded.
Gu Zhenhua rose from his seat, his movements composed and unhurried, and stepped out of the compartment. He Jianci followed closely behind, closing the door softly behind them.
The moment they were gone Li Jianmin exhaled deeply, as though a weight had been lifted from his chest.
"This man is truly strange," he muttered under his breath. "Why does he keep questioning us like we are thieves? Honestly, it would have been better if we had stayed in the hard-seat carriage."
Li Jianguo immediately shot him a warning look. "Do not speak nonsense, what if he hears you and takes offense? Do you not realize his rank is higher than Father's?"
Li Jianmin clicked his tongue but fell silent.
Li Shuying, who had been quietly observing, suddenly turned to Li Jianguo and asked, "Second Brother, how did you know about Uncle Zhang's rank?"
Li Jianguo replied, "When he was exchanging our tickets, I saw his military rank on his identification booklet," he explained.
Li Jianmin said in astonishment, "I still cannot believe it, we actually know someone of such high rank. If Father knew, he would surely feel proud."
Li Jianguo's expression turned serious. "Do not mention such things lightly to anyone other than father," he said. "And from now on, speak less in front of that man. He is observant… and asks too many questions. It is better for us to remain cautious and simply enjoy the journey."
Li Shuying nodded in agreement, her expression thoughtful.
Li Jianmin followed suit, though somewhat reluctantly.
Seeing that both his siblings understood, Li Jianguo's tone softened.
"Let us eat first," he said. "Mother packed food for us. We can try the dining carriage for dinner later."
At the mention of their mother, the atmosphere warmed slightly.
Li Shuying reached for one of the bundles, carefully untying the cloth. The faint, familiar aroma of home-cooked food drifted out, simple, yet comforting.
For a brief moment amidst the long journey and the lingering unease the three siblings felt a quiet sense of peace.