Chapter 223 Tossing and turning

"Xiang Qian, do you think we can go back to the days of the military compound?" Su Ya asked softly.

Li Xiangqian pondered for a while, "Although we can't go back to the past, those days will always remain in our memory and become our driving force to move forward."

Su Ya nodded, with a hint of emotion in her eyes, "Yes, no matter where we go, that time will accompany us."

Li Xiangqian smiled and said, "There is still a long way to go. Let's work hard together."

Su Ya smiled and nodded, their eyes filled with hope and expectations for the future.

As the winter wind blew, Li Xiangqian ended a busy year and returned to his hometown military compound with excitement. Everything here made him feel familiar and warm. The aroma of the family meals filled the air, and the smiling faces of his parents also made him feel particularly cordial.

"Xiang Qian, you're back!" The mother's face was full of joy when she saw her son.

"Mom, I'm back. I really miss the smell of home." Li Xiangqian put down his luggage and hugged his mother.

His father also came out of the room and patted him on the shoulder, "Young man, I haven't seen you for a year. You have become more capable."

After dinner, Li Xiangqian decided to go out for a walk to see his old friends. The snow in the courtyard had not yet melted, leaving clear footprints on the path. Along the way, he recalled the time he played with his friends, and his heart was filled with warmth.

He came to Xiaohong's door and knocked gently. The door opened and Xiaohong stood at the door with a surprised smile on her face.

"Xiang Qian, you're back!" Xiao Hong shouted happily.

"Yes, Xiaohong, long time no see!" Li Xiangqian responded with the same excitement.

After a brief greeting, Xiaohong brought Li Xiangqian to Zhang Qiang's home. Zhang Qiang was helping to tidy up the yard, and when he saw them coming, he put down his work and came to greet them.

"Xiang Qian, you're finally back!" Zhang Qiang said excitedly, "We haven't seen each other for a long time."

Li Xiangqian smiled and nodded, "Yes, everyone is busy, and we can finally get together today."

The three decided to meet at their old place in the compound, under the big tree. The tree had no leaves in winter, but it still stood upright, as if welcoming them. Not long after, Wang Gang also arrived, with a sunny smile on his face.

"Brothers, long time no see!" Wang Gang said loudly.

Everyone sat under the big tree and talked about their experiences in the past year. Xiaohong talked about her life in medical school, Zhang Qiang described his struggle in the countryside, and Wang Gang shared interesting stories in the military camp.

"Xiang Qian, how is your life in the art troupe?" Zhang Qiang asked curiously.

Li nodded and smiled, "It was very fulfilling. I learned a lot and made many new friends. Suya was my good friend there. We worked hard together and supported each other."

"Who is Su Ya?" Xiao Hong joked, with a hint of cunning in her eyes.

Li Xiangqian smiled sheepishly, "She is an actress in our troupe, very talented."

Everyone laughed after hearing this, and the atmosphere became more harmonious.

The night was getting darker and colder, but they were still reluctant to leave. This was the moment of their long-awaited reunion, and everyone's heart was filled with warmth and emotion.

"Xiang Qian, do you still remember the snowman we made here when we were kids?" Wang Gang suddenly asked, looking at the snow in the distance.

In school, Li Xiangqian continued to study hard. He understood that only through knowledge can one change one's destiny and find one's place in the future society. He also paid more attention to Wang Xiaomei's growth, helped her solve her learning problems, and accompanied her through many difficulties.

Under the leadership of Li Xiangqian, the children in the compound formed a small mutual learning group. They discussed problems together, shared each other's learning experiences, and established deep friendships in the process. Li Xiangqian's leadership ability was further demonstrated. He was not only a playmate for everyone, but also a role model for learning.

In 1969, Li Xiangqian was already a high school student. He had achieved excellent academic results and began to think about his future. Wang Xiaomei had just entered junior high school and was still growing up under his care. Life in the compound was still intense and fulfilling, and the children gradually grew into responsible young people in this challenging environment.

Li Xiangqian's growth path was full of hardships and trials, but he never gave up hope for the future. He knew that only through his own efforts could he realize his dream and contribute to the future of the country. Under his influence, Wang Xiaomei gradually became stronger and more independent, and began to show her talent and potential.

Li Xiangqian and his friends gradually entered puberty. This stage not only brought physical changes, but also made them start to think about more life issues. One day, Li Xiangqian and Wang Xiaomei sat under a big tree in the yard, enjoying their rare leisure time.

"Brother Xiang Qian, what do you think will happen when we grow up?" Wang Xiaomei looked up at the sunlight shining through the leaves, with a hint of confusion in her eyes.

"I don't know either, Xiaomei." Li Xiangqian smiled and patted her shoulder. "But no matter what, we have to work hard so that we can have more choices."

Wang Xiaomei nodded, with a determined expression on her face: "Well, I will definitely work hard!"

Meanwhile, Li Xiangqian's friends Zhang Dazhuang and Chen Xiaohu are also discussing their future. Zhang Dazhuang is outgoing and dreams of becoming an engineer. He often says that he wants to build his home with his own hands. Chen Xiaohu is a taciturn boy, but he has an extraordinary artistic talent. He likes to draw and always takes a picture book with him to sketch.

"Xiang Qian, do you think we can realize our dreams together in the future?" Zhang Dazhuang patted Li Xiang Qian's shoulder hard, his eyes full of longing.

"Of course, as long as we stick to it." Li Xiangqian responded with a smile. He knew that everyone had their own path to go, but their friendship would always support each other to move forward.

In the dead of night, Li Xiangqian often tossed and turned in bed. He thought about his father and the road ahead. He knew that the responsibility on his shoulders was getting heavier, but he never backed down. He silently vowed in his heart that he must become a person that his parents would be proud of and protect every friend around him.

Once, Wang Xiaomei was bullied by some boys at school. They laughed at her poor grades and called her a "vase". Wang Xiaomei ran back home, tears streaming down her face. When Li Xiangqian found out, he rushed to her home and took her to the open space in the compound.

As the Spring Festival approaches, Li Xiangqian decides to go home for the New Year. This is also his first time going back since leaving the compound. Along the way, he is both excited and nervous. He is looking forward to reuniting with his childhood friends.