A young boy from the 1970s, separated from his family, fled famine and led his younger brother into

The enormous gatehouse, adorned with a red five-pointed star, resembled a silent, steel behemoth, lying prostrate in the icy wilderness, radiating a suffocating aura of power.

Su Nianci, holding Xiao Shitou's hand, stood a hundred meters away and felt an invisible, cold aura rushing towards her. It wasn't the harshness of winter, but a powerful aura built from discipline, rules, and absolute power, instilling a sense of awe and insignificance from the bottom of her heart.

The high walls divided the inside and outside into two completely different worlds.

Outside the wall lies the mundane, bustling marketplace, brimming with the warmth of everyday life.

Inside the walls lies a mysterious, solemn forbidden area, representing the core of the state's violent machinery...

The two armed sentries, though appearing somewhat small beneath the massive gatehouse, exuded an aura as upright as pine trees and as sharp as eagles, deterring any ill-intentioned individuals. Their gazes, like two sharp searchlights, swept back and forth across the open snowfield before the gate, leaving no suspicious corner unchecked.

Su Nianci knew that this last hundred meters was even more difficult to cross than the thousands of kilometers she had traveled from Henan to Harbin.

"Sister...I...I'm scared..." Little Stone gripped Su Nianci's hand tightly, his small body involuntarily shrinking behind her. His big, dark eyes were filled with fear of the two armed sentries.

To a three-year-old child, the dark muzzle of a gun and the gleaming bayonet represent the most direct danger and threat.

"Don't be afraid, little stone." Su Nianci pulled her younger brother in front of her, squatted down, and looked him in the eye. She gently stroked his little face with her hand, which was covered by gloves, her voice unusually gentle yet firm.

"Look, they are People's Liberation Army uncles. They are great heroes who protect our country, just like Dad. The guns in their hands are not for fighting against us, but for fighting against bad guys."

She pointed to the two sentries standing like statues, trying her best to instill a most basic concept in her younger brother.

"We are not bad people. We are here to find our relatives. So we don't need to be afraid of them."

With Su Nianci's patient reassurance, the fear in Xiao Shitou's eyes gradually subsided, replaced by a hint of curiosity and...admiration.

Yes, Dad is the same way; he looks very imposing in his green clothes.

Su Nianci took a deep breath, and finally, holding Xiao Shitou's hand, took the first step.

One step, two steps, three steps...

They walked slowly, yet with unwavering determination, toward that imposing gate.

As the distance closed, the powerful sense of oppression grew stronger. Su Nianci felt as if each step she took was on an invisible drum, each step causing her heart to pound heavily.

Her palms were already covered in a layer of cold sweat.

She quickly went through the plan that she had rehearsed countless times in her mind again, making sure that every detail was foolproof.

When they were about twenty meters away from the gate, a loud, authoritative command came from the guard post!

"stop!"

The sound wasn't loud, but it was full of energy, like a thunderclap exploding on the open snowfield!

Su Nianci stopped in her tracks upon hearing the sound.

She saw that the sentry in the guard post on the left had stepped forward and walked out of the post. The muzzle of his semi-automatic rifle was slightly lowered, but the posture was still full of warning.

"Military restricted area, no unauthorized personnel allowed! Stand back immediately!" the sentry shouted again, his voice as cold as ice.

His gaze fell on Su Nianci and Xiao Shitou, two children who had suddenly appeared, dressed in tattered cotton-padded jackets and looking like little beggars, and his brows immediately furrowed.

In recent years, there have been some homeless people who can't make a living, or people with ulterior motives, who have tried to cause trouble or beg at the gate of the military region. Their duty is to drive away these unstable elements as soon as possible.

Su Nianci did not back down.

She simply stood quietly, holding the little stone in her hand. Then, she raised her head, meeting the sentry's sharp gaze, and in a voice just as clear, yet still tinged with childishness, she called out loudly, "Uncle PLA soldier, we're not idle people! We've come to find our relatives!"

The sentry was clearly surprised that this girl, who looked only five or six years old, showed no fear at all when he gave her orders, and instead answered his questions clearly and logically.

He paused for a moment, but his expression remained unwavering. "Looking for relatives? This is the military base, not your home! Who are you looking for? What's their name? Which unit do they belong to?"

He asked a series of three very basic questions.

This is also a question that Su Nianci has been waiting for a long time to answer!

She took a deep breath, and with all her might, roared out the name she had already called out a thousand times in her heart in a thunderous voice!

"I'm looking for Uncle Lu Zhenhua! He's the division commander here!"

"My name is Su Nianci! My father is Su Weiguo! He was his comrade-in-arms!"

"My parents both sacrificed their lives! I am an orphan of a martyr! We came from Henan! We came to seek refuge with him!"

Commander! Comrades! Sacrificed! Orphans of martyrs!

These words, when combined, create an unparalleled impact.

The sentry's pupils contracted sharply! The impatience and wariness on his face vanished instantly, replaced by shock and solemnity!

Even as an ordinary soldier, he knew what the name "Lu Zhenhua" meant in their division! He was not just their division commander, but the soul and faith of the entire division! He was the legendary "Sword of the Sky"!

And now, a five-year-old girl is standing at the front door, pointing to him by name, saying she wants to see him? And she even claims to be the orphan of his comrade-in-arms?!

This...this is a very big deal!

He dared not be negligent in the slightest, but duty also prevented him from easily trusting anyone.

"You...you wait here! Don't move!" He said this, then immediately turned around and strode into a small guardhouse next to the main gate.

Clearly, he went to report to his superiors.

Su Nianci's heart was in her throat.

She knew she had taken the most crucial step. Now, it was time to await the "judgment."

She held onto Little Stone and stood quietly in the snow, about twenty meters from the gate.

A cold wind blew, swirling up the snow on the ground and stinging their faces. But Su Nianci stood motionless, her posture ramrod straight, like a young poplar tree growing tenaciously in the wind and snow.

She knew that she had to appear sufficiently "stubborn" and "resentful" right now. She couldn't cry or make a scene. She needed to use this silent, stubborn waiting to exert moral pressure on the person inside.

Time passed, second by second.

About five or six minutes later, the door to the guardhouse opened again.

The one who emerged was no longer the young sentry from before, but a platoon leader who looked to be in his thirties.

The official's face held a scrutinizing and suspicious look. He strode to the gate and, through the cold iron bars, looked Su Nianci and Xiao Shitou up and down.

"You're Su Nianci?" the cadre asked in a serious tone.

"Yes!" Su Nianci answered loudly.

"You said your father is Su Weiguo? A comrade-in-arms of Commander Lu?"

"yes!"

"What evidence do you have?" the officer asked the most crucial question.

Without the slightest hesitation, Su Nianci immediately took out the "last letter" from her father, which she treasured.

"This is a letter my father wrote to Uncle Lu!" She held the letter up high.

The cadre's brow furrowed even deeper. He gave the sentry beside him a wink. The sentry immediately understood, walked over, took the letter from Su Nianci's hand, and then handed it to the cadre through a gap in the iron fence.

He took the letter but didn't open it immediately. He just turned it over and over, looking at the yellowed envelope addressed to "Brother Lu Zhenhua," his eyes flickering uncertainly.

Su Nianci's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of her throat.

She didn't know if the letter would actually work.

Just then, the cadre suddenly spoke up and asked a question that Su Nianci hadn't expected.

"Little friend, I'll ask you one more time."

"What's the name of the person you're looking for?"

"Lu Zhenhua," Su Nianci answered without hesitation.

"Are you sure?" The officer's eyes became incredibly sharp, as if he could see right through her soul!

"I'm sure!"

He looked at her intently for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

He passed the letter through the iron fence again.

"I'm sorry, little friend." His voice was as cold as ice. "There is no teacher or officer named 'Lu Zhenhua' here."

You've come to the wrong place.