Early August 1958, Dongcheng District, Beijing.

Around six o'clock in the morning, summer insects were already chirping in the lush trees. The courtyards on both sides were pitch black, with the occasional snore of a man and the babbling of a child coming from the air.

A beam of golden sunlight shines on the main house of the second courtyard at No. 88 Nanluoguxiang.

Fifteen-year-old Jiang Qinghe tiptoed to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and reached out to pinch her second brother's nose.

But when her hand was still a dozen centimeters away from her nose, her second brother suddenly opened his eyes, exuding a murderous aura.

Jiang Qinghe's body trembled violently, as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

"How old are you? Still playing such childish games?"

Upon seeing his sister's stiff body, Jiang Zhenghua immediately composed himself and grinned.

"Still as lazy as ever. Get up, Mom has already made breakfast."

Jiang Qinghe snorted coldly, feeling as if the terror she had just experienced was an illusion.

"What time is it?"

Jiang Zhenghua yawned, reached out and groped around by his pillow, and picked up a worn-out pocket watch to take a look.

"It's only 6:30."

"Wow, second brother, you actually have a pocket watch? Where did you get it?"

Jiang Qinghe, who was about to leave, suddenly widened her eyes, exclaimed in surprise, and stared intently at the pocket watch in her brother's hand.

"Stolen."

Jiang Zhenghua smiled when he saw his sister's expression.

"If you don't want to talk, then don't talk. Why steal it? Are you kidding me?"

Jiang Qinghe's expression froze for a moment, then she rolled her eyes.

"want to?"

Jiang Zhenghua chuckled and shook the pocket watch in his hand.

Jiang Qinghe nodded vigorously.

"It's for you."

Jiang Zhenghua threw the pocket watch in his hand directly over.

"Really for me?"

Jiang Qinghe hurriedly caught it, lifted the metal watch chain, glanced at the pocket watch, and looked up at her second brother.

"Give it to me if you don't want it."

Jiang Zhenghua reached out, pretending to take the watch.

"Since you said you were giving it to me, you can't ask for it back."

Jiang Qinghe quickly took a step back and gripped the pocket watch tightly in her hand.

"Get up quickly, I'll go get you some water to wash your face."

After saying that, a bright smile appeared on her face, and she skipped out of the house, as if afraid that her second brother would change his mind.

"This girl, she doesn't believe the truth."

Jiang Zhenghua watched his sister's departing figure, gave a bitter smile, and got up to half-lie on the bed.

That was something I captured from a U.S. Army colonel when I was a member of the Volunteer Army Public Security Force on the battlefield.

He then let out a long sigh.

Two months ago, I was just tired from working overtime and took a nap at my desk. I never expected that when I opened my eyes, I would be in 1958 and have been reincarnated as a wounded soldier with the same name.

Thinking about it, he reached out and touched the itchy spot on his back.

The scars felt rough and uneven, like those of a centipede.

He served in the army for five years and made many merits during that time. At the age of 21, he became the deputy platoon leader of a regiment of the Public Security Army. This time, due to the disbandment of the army, he had to be transferred back.

Just then, footsteps came from the doorway.

"What's wrong with you having these delusions? Get up, the food's ready."

Mother Wei Juan walked in with a broom.

"I'm thinking about work, sorting out what I need to prepare when I'm reporting."

Jiang Zhenghua smiled as he looked at his mother, who was over forty years old, with a weathered face, gray hair, and wearing a patched jacket.

"You came home late yesterday, and I didn't have a chance to ask if you've found a job yet?"

Jiang's mother stopped sweeping and stared nervously at her son.

"Our army was actually disbanded last September, but it just takes time."

Jiang Zhenghua sat up, half-sitting on the bed, and said with a smile, "Well, I was chosen by the leader again and accompanied him on a business trip. This time, when the leader came to Beijing to take up his post, he knew that I was from the capital, so he arranged for me to be transferred to my place of household registration."

Jiang's mother immediately beamed with joy and quickly asked, "Do you know what kind of job it is?"

"I'm going to work at the police station."

"The police are great. It would be even better if they were assigned to a police station near us."

Jiang's mother suddenly slapped her thigh.

"It's still uncertain where I'll be assigned. My transfer to the police force was decided just before I left, so my letter of introduction wasn't given to the division headquarters. They said the municipal bureau would give it to the street office so I could pick it up there."

In fact, he was originally supposed to be transferred to a local military unit, but because he was injured during a mission, his superiors ultimately decided to transfer him to the public security system instead.

However, it is true that the regimental commander was assigned to a post in Beijing.

"That's great. I was worried that you'd end up like those demobilized soldiers, waiting for the neighborhood committee to make arrangements."

"Mom, don't worry. No matter what, I was a deputy platoon leader before, and I even made a meritorious contribution. I was transferred to civilian work, so I won't lose my job."

Jiang Zhenghua jumped out of bed and straightened his brown-green military uniform.

"Even so, we'll give a bottle of your dad's wine to Director Liang at the neighborhood office later, just to be on the safe side."

"What do you need alcohol for?"

The voice of Jiang Shun, the father, came from outside the door.

As she spoke, she walked in, followed by Jiang Qinghe carrying a basin of water.

"Gang Zhenghua said that the army had arranged a job for him and that the letter of introduction was at the street office. He told me to bring a bottle of wine when I went to the street office."

"real?"

Jiang's father was taken aback, then looked at his son with a look of surprise and delight.

Jiang's mother and Jiang Zhenghua nodded repeatedly.

"My wines are all cheap, they're not presentable. I'll go find a better bottle right now."

Jiang's father rubbed his hands together and turned to walk out.

"Dad, you don't need to bother. My job was arranged by the military, so I don't need it."

"You're still too young. You can't ask someone for a favor empty-handed."

Jiang's father, who was over 1.7 meters tall, wearing a blue work uniform from the Hongxing Machinery Factory and yellow rubber shoes, turned around and waved his hand.

"Besides, once you become a police officer, you'll be dealing with the neighborhood committee a lot more often. Listen to your mother and me on this matter; it's never a bad thing to be polite. You guys eat first, I'll be back soon."

After saying that, he strode out the door.

"Second brother, the water for washing your face is ready. Do you want me to sprinkle some tooth powder on it for you?"

Jiang Qinghe placed the basin on the wooden shelf behind the door in an ingratiating manner.

"Why are you being so diligent today? You usually won't even sweep the floor, but today you're actually eager to serve your brother?"

Jiang's mother looked at her daughter in surprise.

"Haven't I seen my brother in ages?"

Jiang Qinghe blinked her big eyes guiltily.

"Tell me, what benefits did your brother give you?"

Jiang's mother stared at her daughter with suspicion.

"No, what can he give me?"

Jiang Qinghe waved her hands repeatedly, preparing to leave through the door.

"Hurry up and tell me, don't I know you? If there's no benefit, will you work? Tell the truth, what did you get?"

Jiang's mother picked up a broom, ready to strike.

Jiang Qinghe looked at her second brother for help.

Her second brother simply shrugged, indicating that he was powerless to help.

My brother gave me a watch.

Jiang Qinghe lowered her head resignedly and took out a pocket watch from her blue trouser pocket.

Jiang's mother stepped forward, took the pocket watch, and examined it carefully. Then she turned to her son, who was sprinkling tooth powder, and asked, "Where did this come from? How can you give such a valuable thing to a little girl?"

"This was a gift from my comrade. Qinghe is in the second year of junior high school now, so it's good for her to have a watch to tell time. I already have one. If you want one, I can give you another one."

"I'd rather not; I wouldn't understand it even if I took it."

Jiang's mother smiled and placed the pocket watch in her daughter's hand, instructing her, "Hold it carefully, or you'll get a beating. You must study hard from now on."

"Don't worry, I'd rather lose myself than lose my watch."

Jiang Qinghe looked at the pocket watch she had lost and found, and carefully felt around for it.

At this moment, the eldest brother, Jiang Zhiyuan, strode in, smiling, and said, "What are you saying so early in the morning? Don't worry, you won't get lost. Who would dare to pick you up if you did? If you're brought home, you'll be useless at everything, but you'll eat everything without leaving a trace."

Jiang Qinghe glared at her older brother, then turned to her sister-in-law Zhou Lan, who followed her in, and said in a coquettish tone, "Sister-in-law, can you control my older brother? He's always criticizing me."

"You're always up to no good, all you do is bully Qinghe. Our little sister is going to college."

The sister-in-law, who is the same age as her older brother, with shoulder-length short hair and wearing blue overalls, gently punched her husband.

"Zhenghua, do you smoke?"

The older brother chuckled, pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and handed one over.

"I'll brush my teeth first."

Jiang Zhenghua shook his head, shook the enamel mug, nodded to his sister-in-law as a greeting, and then stepped out of the house.

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