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

Li Hanchen was previously a civilian official. He neither actively cooperated with the uprising nor committed any wrongdoing, nor did he engage in any sabotage. He also had no blood debts to his name. His choice was simply to adapt to the changing circumstances.

During the review process, Li Hanchen, as an enlightened and progressive person, naturally cooperated actively with the Military Control Commission's review and was eventually assigned to work in a bank under the government's financial sector.

It was August 1949. The weather was hot and the sun was scorching. After a painful struggle, He Shuyi finally gave birth to her fifth child—a lovely little boy named Li Huaiyuan.

The birth of their child during this unusual time brought some comfort to the family. Li Hanchen was grateful that her family had stayed and was full of confidence and anticipation for their work in the new government...

In 1950, public officials were subject to a "supply system." Although their lives were materially scarce, with everything needing to be rebuilt and their living standards low, the government provided for their food, clothing, housing, and transportation. There was no distinction between rich and poor, and most people who had experienced hardship were able to maintain a sense of psychological balance and be full of hope. However, for the former officials and the wealthy, it was undoubtedly a fall from grace.

In April of that year, fate played another cruel trick on He Shuyi—she was pregnant again! This news plunged the entire family into distress. He Shuyi stroked her still flat belly, her heart filled with bitterness. This child seemed to have come at the wrong time; life was no longer the same as before.

The maids they used to hire were all dismissed, and the heavy housework fell on He Shuyi's shoulders. However, this was not the most difficult thing. The physical difficulties could be gradually overcome and adapted to. But the mental anxiety and constant fear were much more agonizing and put her under immense pressure.

It was completely dark outside. Li Hanchen dragged his weary steps home, his eyes vacant and his expression dejected. His hair was beginning to turn gray, a result of his long-term worries and excessive thinking.

"Old Li, are you alright? Why are you so late today? I've been worried about you! I've been keeping your food warm in the pot." He Shuyi hurried to the door with a worried expression, her eyes full of concern and worry.

Li Hanchen dragged his heavy steps into the house. His face was as pale as paper, and fine beads of sweat clung to his forehead, as if he had just gone through a difficult battle. Hearing his wife's question, he simply waved his hand weakly and said, "It's still those things..."

He Shuyi quickly poured a glass of warm water and carefully handed it to her husband. Li Hanchen took the glass and gulped down several mouthfuls, seemingly trying to calm his anxiety and exhaustion. After finishing the water, he managed a weak smile and said to his wife, "It's nothing, don't worry too much. I just need to write some statements."

However, He Shuyi was clearly not relieved by her husband's words. She sighed softly and said helplessly, "Sigh... when will this investigation ever end... I feel like I'm living in constant fear." As she spoke, she turned and went to the kitchen, bringing out the already heated food one by one.

After arranging the food neatly, He Shuyi sat down next to her husband. After hesitating for a moment, she couldn't help but say, "Old Li, no matter what, we've done nothing wrong. Since they want to investigate, just tell them the truth. We've never done anything wrong, so what's there to be afraid of? Besides, you're the pillar of our family. Your health is the most important thing!" With that, she gently patted her husband's shoulder, offering him silent support and encouragement.

The atmosphere at home was unusually tense. The adults' worries enveloped the entire family, and the children, sensing the changes in society and family, became cautious. Nevertheless, they were still children. The older children could observe the adults' expressions, but they were still worried that doing something wrong would anger their mother and subject them to her storm of broom attacks and tantrums.

My mother is no longer the elegant and gentle person she used to be; she can be terrifying when she's angry.

Li Hanchen's case remained unresolved, and over time, the children in the family gradually became accustomed to the routine of their father being arrested, investigated, and then released...

Ho Suk-yee went from being a wealthy housewife who had never done housework to being a commoner. Without servants, she had to slowly shoulder the heavy housework all by herself. But at this time, she was heavily pregnant and easily agitated.

Li Hanchen is the pillar of the family and cannot fall. Every day, he is overwhelmed and distressed by work. When he returns home, he can only force a smile in front of his pregnant wife and young child.

He was used to being an official, and used to be condescending, with subordinates or servants handling everything. Although he had been transformed by the new socialist atmosphere and accepted the ideas of gender equality and women holding up half the sky, he also understood his wife's hardships.

Li Hanchen wasn't very good at housework and didn't seem to care about the tasks. He Shuyi couldn't help but find him a nuisance, saying he would be better off sitting there reading the newspaper and enjoying tea. However, he had a very good temper and would occasionally tell the children current events and historical stories, which interested them and relieved his wife's worries and stress.

Besides going to school, the eldest daughter, Li Huaijin, helps with housework and takes care of her younger siblings. She loves singing opera and can sing a few lines of Peking Opera, Gan Opera, and Huangmei Opera with her parents.

The second son, Li Huaiyu, received the best treatment. He Shuyi valued her eldest son more, only requiring him to study hard and not making him do much else. He was multi-talented, enjoying playing the erhu, painting, and calligraphy. In the past, when they had the means, they hired renowned teachers to guide him. Although their circumstances were not as favorable as before, his parents still encouraged him to continue his studies. "Of all professions, only studying is noble." Regardless of dynastic changes, only through education could one rise above others.

The third child has been adopted by his uncle, so they don't need to worry about him.

The fourth child, Li Huaizhen, was only three or four years old. She was clever and well-behaved, at the age when she was cute and adorable, and naturally won the hearts of adults the most.

However, the behavior of Huaiyuan, who was only a little over a year old, was truly perplexing. Was it due to his innate personality that he was born cautious and taciturn, or had he suffered some kind of fright that caused him to remain silent to this day? From beginning to end, little Huaiyuan did not utter a single word.

At first, everyone in the family was suspicious, secretly wondering if the child had some kind of hearing problem, or perhaps he was deaf. So, whenever they saw Huaiyuan walk towards the door, they would quickly grab a wooden stick and strike the basin hard, making a "clang clang" sound, to test if he could hear. Li Huaiyuan was slightly startled, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly turned around. His clear, watery eyes were full of doubt and confusion as he stared straight at the strange adults in front of him.

At this moment, the eldest sister, Li Huaijin, saw this and jumped up excitedly like a happy little bird, shouting loudly, "Mom, look! My brother can clearly hear, he's not deaf!"

Upon hearing this, everyone exclaimed in unison, "Tsk!" in amazement, but their faces still showed a hint of skepticism. Then, they picked up the basin again and tapped it repeatedly, conducting the test. Sure enough, Huaiyuan reacted with each attempt.

This was enough to prove that the little guy's ears were not seriously injured. Even so, he still kept his lips tightly shut and refused to speak. Most of the time, he either stared blankly at the people around him, as if he were detached from them, or he was completely focused on the toys he was playing with, oblivious to the actions of others.

The second brother, Li Huaiyu, looked suspicious and frowned, saying, "The Cui family next door actually said that our fifth brother might be mute! That's really strange! Is there something wrong with his tongue? Should we go to the hospital for a thorough check-up as soon as possible?"

He Shuyi, standing to the side, replied listlessly, "I already took him to the hospital last time, and they didn't find anything wrong with his tongue."

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged bewildered glances, their hearts filled with confusion and bewilderment. For a moment, the room fell silent; no one knew what to say.

He Shuyi's eyes were slightly red, and tears welled up in them. She sighed deeply and said slowly, "Our two families have never had a deaf or mute person in our lineage! I've raised so many children in my life, so I naturally understand that you have to be extremely careful about your diet and daily life during pregnancy. I would never eat anything that would cause problems for the fetus and make him or her deaf or mute! But now, we just can't find out the exact cause..." At this point, she could no longer suppress her sadness and helplessness, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

Li Hanchen patted her back and comforted her, "Forget it, don't force Huaiyuan. Although Huaiyu learned to speak normally when he was little, he was too focused on reading when he grew up and didn't pay much attention to people. Didn't people often call him deaf? Since Huaiyuan's hearing is fine, it's only a matter of time before he starts speaking. There's no need to rush. Give him some time, and he will speak when he wants to."

Over time, He Shuyi and her husband simply let it go and let nature take its course.

Everyone was too busy taking care of themselves to give much love and patience to the wooden-headed Huaiyuan, but they didn't show it on their faces. They just paid more attention to their eldest son, Li Huaiyu, and their second daughter, Li Huaizhen. Of course, on the surface, the parents' love was fair to each other.

Some people comforted He Shuyi, saying that intelligent children are often "late talkers," and that the sage Wang Yangming couldn't speak until he was five years old, but could recite poems as soon as he opened his mouth. However, many others jokingly gave Huaiyuan the nickname "the mute," a name that stuck with him until he was old.

Li Huaizhen was never polite to her younger brother, always calling him "Mute." Li Huaiyuan would then slap him without a word. The two were about two years apart in age. The older sister was spoiled, and the younger brother was domineering. They were evenly matched in their fights, neither willing to give in to the other.

It is said that Li Huaiyuan did not speak his first words until he was five years old.

That day, he lay on the table, propping his head up with his hand, watching intently as his brother practiced calligraphy. He watched as the supple brush, fully dipped in ink, moved with effortless grace in his brother's hands.

Li Huaiyuan was full of admiration. Suddenly, he pointed to the character "远" (yuan) in the calligraphy "宁静致远" (Ningjing Zhiyuan) written by his brother Li Huaiyu and said, "Yuan, this is Yuan, Li Huaiyuan's Yuan."

This surprised everyone, and He Shuyi burst into tears of joy.

From then on, Li Huaiyuan became unstoppable, speaking eloquently and persuasively. He probably learned a lot from his older siblings. However, he didn't get along well with his second sister, Li Huaizhen. The two of them were always secretly competing in their studies, not wanting to fall behind their parents. Of course, that's a story for later.

However, at this moment, He Shuyi was full of resentment, complaining that the little one in her belly had come at the worst possible time! People at that time did not know much about contraception, and some women continued to give birth until they reached their fifties and menopause.

He Shuyi thought to herself, "Why did it have to happen at such a critical moment?" But since she was already pregnant, it was like a fait accompli that couldn't be changed. No matter how upset she was, she couldn't force the baby back into her belly. So, He Shuyi had no choice but to accept reality and let the fetus in her womb grow and develop.

It must be said that the timing of each child's birth is truly vastly different! Some children seem to be favored by heaven, born precisely when their parents' fortunes are at their peak. These lucky children enjoy wealth and luxury from birth, receiving meticulous love and attention from their parents and families. In contrast, some children are not so fortunate. They are born when their families are facing hardship and decline. In such circumstances, these unfortunate children are often seen as a burden and a liability to the family, suffering neglect and even disdain. The capriciousness of fate is truly heartbreaking.

He Shuyi had also cried in secret, but being stubborn, she never complained in front of outsiders. After all, she had her pride and didn't want outsiders to laugh at her or give her anything to gossip about.

Li Hanchen still frequently buys cigarettes from Wang Xiuzhi and her husband's cigarette stand, but his spending has downgraded; he's switched from the original "Hademen" and "Daqianmen" brands to "Laodao" brand cigarettes. They chat about current events, as life is always propelled forward by the tides of the times...

People were enthusiastically discussing the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's crossing of the Yalu River to resist U.S. aggression and aid Korea. Their patriotic fervor was high, and the song "Crossing the Yalu River" was sung everywhere: "With heads held high and chests puffed out, we crossed the Yalu River. To safeguard peace for our motherland is to safeguard our homeland. The good sons and daughters of China are united as one. To resist U.S. aggression and aid Korea, we defeated the American imperialist wolves..."

Li Hanchen also took his family to see several movies, including "Sons and Daughters of China," "Liu Hulan," and "Chicken Feather Letter." After each viewing, they would discuss their thoughts and feelings. Li Huaijin even learned to sing the theme song of the same name from the movie: "We are the sons and daughters of China, we are the descendants of the Yellow Emperor..."