After more than an hour of travel, they finally arrived in the county town. This was Pingwu County, under Mian City in Sichuan Province.
“If you need to buy anything, go quickly. I’ll be waiting here. At eleven o’clock, we’ll head back on time. Anyone who’s late will have to walk back on their own,” Old Man Li said as he took out a pipe of dried tobacco and sat under a tree to smoke.
Luo Zhiyaoand the other women got off the ox cart one after another.
He Li and Hu Fang linked arms and casually asked Luo Zhiyáo, “Zhiyáo, we’re going to the supply and marketing cooperative. Are you coming with us?”
Luo Zhiyaoshook her head. She planned to go to the post office first to see what “her eldest brother” had sent her.
“You guys go ahead. I’m going to the post office. My family sent me a package. I’ll go to the cooperative later.”
“Alright then, we’ll go first!”
After parting ways with He Li and the others, Luo Zhiyaoasked for directions to the post office and headed there.
“Huh? The post office is right next to a state-run restaurant? Why not grab some breakfast first? I’ve heard the food at these places is quite good in this era. I should try it.”
She immediately walked into the state-run restaurant.
At this time, state-run restaurants listed their daily offerings on a board.
Luo Zhiyaolooked at the board: today’s menu included fresh meat buns, vegetarian buns, millet porridge, white rice porridge, noodles…
The cashier glanced at her briefly, then continued working without looking up and asked, “What would you like to eat?”
Luo Zhiyaoglanced at the menu and ordered casually, “Hello, two meat buns and one bowl of millet porridge, please.”
“Two meat buns: 0.4 yuan plus a 2 liang meat ticket. One bowl of millet porridge: 0.2 yuan plus a 2 liang grain ticket.”
Luo Zhiyaohanded over the money and tickets, then found a seat to wait.
“Your buns and millet porridge are ready.”
Service in this era wasn’t like later times where food was delivered to the table—customers had to go to the counter to pick it up themselves.
People working in state-run establishments were similar to modern civil servants, often quite proud and aloof.
Hearing her order was ready, Luo Zhiyaowent to retrieve her food.
Looking at the meat buns—each larger than her fist—she fell into thought. Were buns in this era really this big?
She snapped back to reality and picked up a bun to eat.
Perhaps it had been days since she last had meat, or maybe pork in this era simply tasted better.
After one bite, she squinted her eyes in enjoyment.
This expression did not escape the eyes of a man sitting in the corner.
Seeing the girl’s reaction, the man unconsciously curled his lips into a smile.
The man beside him was stunned. Was this still the cold-faced “Yama King”? He actually smiled?
Following his gaze, he saw a young woman eating buns.
What was so funny?
Wait…
A female comrade?
The “living Yama” smiled at a woman?
“Brother Ling, you smiled?”
The man subconsciously touched his face—he hadn’t even realized he had smiled.
“Did I?”
“Yes! Are you interested in that female comrade?”
The man called Brother Ling withdrew his gaze and continued eating. “I just think she’s a bit interesting.”
“Brother Ling, why don’t you go ask if she has a partner? If she doesn’t, maybe you still have a chance…”
The man’s chopsticks paused. He put them down—but by then, the female comrade had already left the restaurant.
He quickly went after her, but when he stepped outside, she was already gone.
He found himself slightly surprised at his own impulsive action.
Luo Zhiyáo, unaware that someone had wanted to meet her, left the restaurant and headed next door to the post office.
“Hello, comrade. I’m here to collect a package. Here is my pickup slip.”
She handed the slip to the staff inside.
“Luo Zhiyáo? That name sounds familiar…” The staff thought for a moment, then suddenly realized. “Comrade, that black package at the entrance is yours.”
Luo Zhiyaofollowed their gaze and was instantly speechless.
When she entered earlier, she had wondered whose package was so large—who would even pay such high postage? Turns out the fool was herself.
“Comrade, that package is yours. You can take it.”
“Alright, thank you, sister!”
The staff smiled broadly upon hearing that.
“Oh my, you have such a sweet mouth. I’m already in my forties—I could be your mother, and you’re calling me sister!”
No matter the era, women liked being called younger.
“Oh, but you really don’t look like someone in your forties,” Luo Zhiyaoreplied. “How could you be old enough to be my mother?”
Although exaggerated, she did look younger than her actual age.
Luo Zhiyaohanded her two milk candies.
“Sister, may I ask your surname?”
“You have such a sweet mouth. Just call me Aunt Wu.”
“Aunt Wu, do you have a cart or something? Our village’s ox cart is waiting nearby. I’d like to transport the package over.”
Seeing Luo Zhiyáo’s slender build, Aunt Wu knew she couldn’t carry such a large package.
“There’s a handcart behind the door. You can use it to move the package, but remember to return it.”
“Alright, thank you, Aunt Wu.”
After much effort, Luo Zhiyaomanaged to place the package onto the cart. It was a single-wheel cart, and since she had never used one before, she pushed it slowly.
After struggling along, the cart eventually tipped over.
Frustrated, Luo Zhiyáo’s eyes turned red. Why is this broken cart so hard to use?
This scene was noticed by two men not far away.
“Brother Ling, isn’t that the same female comrade? Time for you to step in!”
The man gave a look that said, Do you even need to say that? Then walked toward her.
“Comrade, do you need help?”
A deep, magnetic voice reached Luo Zhiyáo’s ears.
She squatted on the ground and looked up at him. Perhaps because of her angle, the man in uniform appeared very tall.
Backlit, his face wasn’t clearly visible, but from his attire, he was clearly a soldier.
“Comrade captain, I’ll trouble you.”
Perhaps because she had been teary-eyed, her voice sounded slightly nasal, and her reddened eyes stirred a protective instinct in the man.
Luo Zhiyaostood up and looked at him.
He wore a dark green military uniform that seemed to blend into the surrounding environment. The uniform was neat and well-fitted, each detail reflecting discipline and rigor.
His military cap sat slightly forward, partially shading his forehead, making his gaze appear even deeper. He stood at least 1.88 meters tall, like a towering peak among people.
Standing beside him, Luo Zhiyáo, at 1.68 meters, suddenly seemed petite and delicate, almost like a bird leaning on him. She felt an inexplicable attraction, drawn by his strong presence.
His deep eyes conveyed firmness and intelligence, impossible to look away from. His straight nose gave him a sharp, refined look, while his thin lips were pressed together, exuding calm confidence. He was like a magnet, pulling Luo Zhiyáo’s attention.
She had never seen such a handsome man—even the so-called “fresh-faced idols” of the future couldn’t compare. Every feature of his matched her aesthetic perfectly. His eyes, nose, lips—even his military uniform—left a deep impression on her.
Not only visually striking, but his aura radiated a unique charm, filling the space with vitality.
Luo Zhiyaocouldn’t help but think: a man like this is truly irresistible.
The man’s low, magnetic voice continued, “Where are you going? With such a large package, are you an educated youth? Which brigade are you from?”
Faced with a soldier, Luo Zhiyaofelt as though she were in front of a strict instructor. She answered everything honestly.
“I’m an educated youth. I’m heading to the ox cart up ahead. I’m from Qingshan Brigade.”
Her answer was both expected and unexpected to the man.
Expected, because she was an educated youth.
Unexpected, because she was from Qingshan Brigade—his hometown.