Rebooting 60, let's go on a rampage with the orange cat!

The air-raid shelter was packed with people, shoulder to shoulder, the air was foul but eerily quiet. Everyone was terrified, afraid that any movement would make them a target and trigger the mad bombing of the local authorities.

Although the air-raid shelters were equipped with ventilation openings, they were overcrowded, and some people still died from suffocation.

Man'er was only a little over a year old and already had a slight fever. In such a harsh environment, he could not bear it any longer. He cried loudly with his face red and ears burning. The people around him were afraid that the crying would attract the attention of the little one, so they frowned and scolded him. Some of them suggested that Wang Xiuzhi quickly cover Man'er's mouth and try not to make any noise. They said that as long as she comforted him and let him bear it, it would pass.

Hearing everyone's words, Wang Xiuzhi felt conflicted and torn. She knew they were right, but she couldn't bear to see her child suffer. Under the reproachful gazes of the crowd, Wang Xiuzhi had no choice but to harden her heart and cover Man'er's mouth with her trembling hand. Man'er felt very uncomfortable after her mother covered her mouth and tried to break free.

But Wang Xiuzhi, tears streaming down her face, tightly covered his mouth, afraid that he would make a sound and attract enemy planes. Man'er's face turned bright red, and his breathing became rapid and labored. He tried to push his mother's hand away, but being young and weak, he was powerless to resist.

He began to struggle desperately, his eyes filled with tears, looking at his mother with helplessness and pain. However, Wang Xiuzhi did not let go, fearing that if she did, Man'er would continue to cry, leading to greater danger.

She could only silently comfort Man'er: "Good baby, don't cry, Mommy's here, don't be afraid..." But Man'er didn't understand his mother's good intentions. He just felt increasingly uncomfortable. The physical discomfort, coupled with his mother's restrictions, made him feel more and more aggrieved. Finally, he cried out desperately, his voice sharp and piercing, as if he wanted to vent all his pain.

Shi Renmei was at a loss and could only coax Man'er, "Be good, we'll be out soon..." while reaching out to cover Man'er's mouth, but Man'er cried louder and louder.

The crying shattered the quiet atmosphere, drawing reproachful glances from those around them. Some even accused Wang Xiuzhi and her husband of disregarding the lives of others, while others angrily shouted, "If you can't soothe them, go outside and don't drag everyone down with you."

Wang Xiuzhi was gentle and had little opinion of her own. She was always kind to others and never argued with anyone. Moreover, this matter concerned the lives of so many people. She had no choice but to close her eyes with tears in her eyes and cover Man'er's mouth tightly until Man'er stopped crying.

Wang Xiuzhi thought that she had loosened her fingers and left a gap in Man'er's nostrils. She thought Man'er had probably cried herself to sleep. She kept gently rocking Man'er with her arm to coax her and try to make Man'er more comfortable.

They endured each second in the air-raid shelter as if it were an eternity. Only after the bombings ceased did people dare to cautiously emerge from the shelters.

With so many people, a stampede was a real possibility. Shi Renmei and her husband could only slowly move out of the cave with the flow of people. When they saw Man'er in their arms, they felt a sharp pain in their hearts. Man'er's face was ashen, and she was no longer breathing; she had clearly died of suffocation due to prolonged lack of oxygen.

This sudden blow struck Shi Renmei and her husband like a thunderbolt. They couldn't accept this cruel reality and wept bitterly. Their tears flowed like a burst dam, as if trying to release all their sorrow. However, no matter how much they cried, they couldn't bring Man'er back to life.

No one truly sympathized; people hurriedly dispersed, leaving behind piles of bizarre corpses and shattered ruins at the cave entrance and on the streets. In an era of frequent wars, all sorts of unexpected and bizarre ways of dying emerged, gradually numbing people until they accepted the cruel reality.

They could only silently endure this pain and continue on their way with endless sorrow.

Man'er is gone; she will never run to her mother's arms again.

Wang Xiuzhi couldn't accept this fact. For the better part of half a year, she would drift in and out of sleep until sunset, like a lost soul. She would sit up and wander to the windowsill, and as the dim moonlight gradually appeared, she would slowly understand that Man'er could never come back...

No one can offer you any advice; you have to convince yourself.

What else can we do but compromise with fate, bow our heads, and swallow our anger?

To live on hopelessly, like a crippled ant barely clinging to life, that's all.

Those who are dead are dead, and those who are alive should continue to live well.

The hardships of survival have numbed people, leaving them devoid of joy or sorrow. The hustle and bustle of life has robbed them of any hope, yet they are forced to drift along with the tides of fate.

Most people live simply to live, because living is the foundation of everything.

After that, the couple did not have any more children.

Wang Xiuzhi inquired about many folk remedies and tried many herbs, but she was still unable to conceive.

The two of them made a living by doing small businesses, shining shoes, selling melon seeds and roasted nuts, and slowly saved up some money to set up a cigarette stall at the entrance of the old alley. Their lives became a little more stable, and they would occasionally send some money back to their younger brother in the countryside.

They never dreamed they would have any dealings with the family of the official in the next alley.

In the neighboring Doufu Lane lived a large family with members who held official positions, served in the military, and owned a trading company. They were considered a prominent family in the area.

Li Hanchen, who was in charge of the family, entered politics and became the commissioner and district party secretary of a certain district in J City under the GM Party (at that time, the district head of MG was equivalent to the current county head).

His younger brother, Li Hanbo, went into business and ran several restaurants and eateries; his younger brother, Li Hanbo, joined the army and, because of his education and connections, quickly became a favorite of a certain artillery regiment commander of the Communist Party.

Although Li Hanchen came from a wealthy family, he was unpretentious and very approachable. He also had deep compassion for the poor and suffering people, and never used his family's power to bully others. Therefore, he had a very good reputation.

In his daily life, Li Hanchen always wore a crisp Zhongshan suit and trousers, with shiny black leather shoes on his feet. He always traveled by car. When he returned home, he would get out of the car at the alley entrance and buy a pack of cigarettes from a nearby stall. Despite his high status, he was willing to humble himself and chat with those around him about current affairs or the weather.

Shi Renmei's cigarette stall had a wide variety of cigarettes, including Sanpaotai, Hademen, Daqianmen, Fairy Brand, Laodao Brand, and many other brands of all grades.

Li Hanchen was a regular customer here. He enjoyed trying different brands of cigarettes and would buy one or several packs each time. Because he came to buy cigarettes so often, Li Hanchen naturally chatted with Shi Renmei quite a bit, and they shared a special understanding and trust.

That day, as Old Guan, who pulled the rickshaw, was wiping the seat, he chatted with Shi Renmei next to him: "Old Shi, have you heard? The army will be here soon! I heard they've already taken many places."

Upon hearing this, Shi Renmei's lips curled up slightly, revealing a smile as he said, "No matter who comes, we must keep the people here. Even if we are defeated, we ordinary people have not done anything wrong, so there's no need to panic. Life will go on as usual." He was always careful not to give anyone cause for criticism, and he lightly patted the dust off his clothes, seemingly unconcerned about the impending changes.

Old Guan nodded, and then, seeing Li Hanchen get out of the car and walk towards them, he quickly went about his business in silence.

Li Hanchen looked rather grim as he approached Shi Renmei's cigarette stand. He saw Shi Renmei arranging cigarettes on the shelf and walked over. "Old Shi, get me a pack of Hademen," he said.

Upon hearing his voice, Shi Renmei immediately looked up and smiled. "Okay!" he said, taking a pack of Hademen cigarettes from the shelf and handing it to Li Hanchen.

Li Hanchen took the cigarettes, opened the pack, and put one in his mouth. Then he took out a lighter to light it. At this moment, Shi Renmei quickly lit a match and stepped forward to help him light the cigarette.

Li Hanchen took a drag of his cigarette and exhaled a puff of smoke. Looking at Shi Renmei, his mood improved considerably, and he joked, "Old Shi, you have a great surname! Everyone will respectfully call you 'Teacher' when they meet you..."

Upon hearing this, Shi Renmei burst into laughter. "Haha, that's truly thanks to our ancestors! But it's a pity I'm not very educated and can't be a real teacher..."

"Hahaha..." The people around burst into laughter, including customers buying cigarettes and rickshaw pullers. They joked with smiles, "If Old Shi becomes a 'teacher,' it'll be like his ancestors' graves are emitting auspicious smoke; even his ancestors would be laughing their heads off!"

Hearing the crowd's comments, Shi Renmei couldn't help but smile bitterly. He said self-deprecatingly, "I dream of becoming a respectable person, but unfortunately, I'm just an illiterate who can barely read a few words!" His tone revealed a hint of helplessness and self-mockery, but it also showed his optimistic and open-minded character. Despite the hardships of life, he still maintained his yearning and pursuit of a better life.

Li Hanchen exhaled a smoke ring, choked a few times with laughter, and shook his head, saying, "You can't underestimate yourself. There are 136 professions, and every profession can produce an expert. I see you know a few words and can do accounting very quickly. You are a good businessman, which is rare. You deserve the title of 'teacher'! You can take on apprentices."

Shi Renmei was so frightened that she hurriedly waved her hands and said, "No, no, I'm just trying to make a living, I wouldn't dare to mislead anyone."

Li Hanchen smiled knowingly, handed over the large sum of money, and waved his hand without asking for change, saying, "It's okay, keep it for now, we'll settle it next time I get cigarettes." He was feeling a bit down, lost in thought, and slowly made his way home.

His wife, Ho Suk-yee, while not a stunning beauty, possessed first-rate family background and refined manners. Slender and graceful, she exuded an ethereal elegance, her every gesture radiating noble upbringing. By 1948, she had given birth to four children for Li Hanchen: two sons and two daughters.

Towards the end of the year, she was six months pregnant and had gained a little weight. She usually wore simple, loose-fitting cheongsams, her back straight, giving her an air of superiority. Occasionally, she would carry a sachet and play mahjong or watch plays with the other ladies, surrounded by maids serving her—a life of carefree ease.

In this family, both boys and girls share a common generational name – “Huai”.

Li Huaijin is the eldest daughter in the family, and she is 9 years old this year; while Li Huaiyu is the eldest son, and he is only 7 years old. Their lives are full of innocence and joy. Every morning, they dress up carefully, put on neat and fashionable clothes, and then ride together in a toy car to school. This toy car is not only their means of transportation to school, but also a symbol of their status and position.

Li Hanchen's younger brother, Li Hanbo, had three daughters but no sons. Seeing that Li Hanchen's second son, Li Huaizhang, was chubby and adorable, he insisted on adopting him. When Li Huaizhang was a little over one year old, the family genealogy was changed, and he was officially adopted into his uncle's family to continue the family line. Now he is over four years old, and the two families live close by and are very close.

The fourth young lady, Li Huaizhen, is only one and a half years old and still very delicate, babbling away. Several nannies look after her every day, which makes one sigh that no matter what era or how backward or poor a country is, the lives of the rich and powerful are always unimaginable to the poor.

During the Republic of China era, Li Hanchen earned 380 silver dollars a month. Of course, this was only his public income. Hiring a nanny would only cost three silver dollars a month, so he had no financial pressure at all.

Wang Xiuzhi often felt envious and lamented the gap between people. It was true that people of the same birth had different fates; some were born into wealth and luxury, while others were born as beggars.

Both being women, Mrs. Li was blessed with many children and offspring, while I, on the other hand, had few children and struggled to have any offspring.

The Li family often patronized Shi Renmei's business, which was considered a good relationship, and the days passed by like flowing water.

Human joys and sorrows are not shared at this time, but in 1949, China underwent earth-shattering changes.

After the GM party was defeated, Li Hanbo followed the troops to Taiwan.

Because his wife, Ho Shu-yee, was six months pregnant and had children, Li Han-chen found it difficult to leave her and ultimately decided to stay in J City to await the arrival of a new political party.

On April 29, 1949, a light drizzle was falling in the early morning, which later grew heavier and was accompanied by the rumble of spring thunder.

More than 300 representatives from all walks of life in J City went to major ferry crossings such as Zhongdukou and Siwangmiao to welcome the soldiers into the city. The people in the city stood along the street intersections to wait, and many people also spontaneously prepared firecrackers.

At around 9 a.m., the advance troops of the JF Army, which had gathered on various hilltops on the west bank, braved the rain and boarded boats or bamboo (wooden) rafts at river crossings such as Sanlu Temple, Zhongdukou, Siwang Temple, and Shibadu to enter the city. They quickly occupied and took over key departments such as the Chamber of Commerce, post office, bank, and government.

As the saying goes, those who understand the practicalities are the heroes. Li Hanchen and the other GM government officials who remained lined up to shake hands with the leaders of the People's Liberation Army, expressing their warm welcome and willingness to actively cooperate with our Party comrades in the handover process.

Around 11 a.m., a large number of troops entered the city singing loud and majestic songs such as "Well Done!" The rain was still pouring down, and most of the soldiers did not have rain gear. They were soaked to the bone, and their backpacks were wet, but they all marched forward with high spirits and chests out.

Residents along the way applauded and cheered, and schools organized drumming and gonging to create a lively atmosphere.

Shi Renmei, Wang Xiuzhi, and other civilians offered tea to the soldiers as a gesture of sympathy. Some even held umbrellas for the soldiers, while others gave them straw hats to use.

Several residents set off firecrackers with a bang, but the soldiers stopped them, fearing it might cause a misunderstanding. During rest breaks on the march, the soldiers simply sat on the ground in front of the shops; not a single soldier entered a resident's home, which moved and impressed the locals!