Chapter 102: Gentle Dawn Light

The sky was just dimly bright, and the scent of rice drifted into the house. Li Ping'an opened his eyes and saw Ping Le standing on tiptoes stirring porridge, her floral jacket neatly buttoned, her little braids slicked smooth.

Why not sleep a bit longer? He quickly got up; these chores are fine for brother to handle.

Ping Le turned her head, her eyes shining like stars: "I'm afraid I'll wake up and not see brother… This is the most restful night I've had in four years." She smiled shyly, already thinking of making a meal for brother.

Li Ping'an felt a pang in his heart. This little girl, only twelve, already so sensible. He took the porridge ladle: "Come, brother will teach you the trick of cooking porridge—stir in one direction, so the rice oil can come out."

The siblings squatted in front of the stove, watching the rice porridge bubble. Morning light filtered through the paper window, making Ping Le's little face shine.

Le'er, tell brother… Li Ping'an asked softly, "In these four years, how have you been?"

Ping Le's ladle paused: At first I was at Lin's Cloth Shop, Shopkeeper Liu had me learn to recognize characters and use the abacus. Later we also moved to Four Nine City,

because we had business dealings with Zhoufu, people from Zhoufu came to select cloth, said I was clever, and bought me.

She said it lightly, but Li Ping'an heard it with his heart racing. A place like Zhoufu could not possibly be interested only in her learning characters and the abacus.

They… didn't bully you, right?

Ping Le shook her head: Lord Zhou said he would raise us to be ladies, hiring teachers to teach us music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. He also… he wouldn't let us go out, we had to speak in soft, delicate tones; if we didn't learn well, we wouldn't be allowed to eat or sleep. She suddenly grabbed Li Ping'an's sleeve, "Brother, at night I often hear the sisters in the other courtyard crying; they say…"

Before she could finish, the porridge overflowed. Li Ping'an hurriedly lifted the pot lid, the steam scorching his ear. Ping Le burst into a giggle, but tears glistened at the corner of her eyes.

After cleaning up, Li Ping'an solemnly pulled his sister to sit: "Le'er, there's something brother must tell you."

He reached into his close‑fitting clothing pocket and took out a cloth bag, opening it layer by layer. Inside were a wooden comb and a silver bracelet left by his mother.

Father and mother… never survived a famine. His voice was hoarse; when mother left, she still clutched this wooden comb, saying it was to be given to you as a dowry…

Ping Le's tears pattered onto the steamed bun.

Before mother passed, she grabbed my hand and said she must find you, cannot let you suffer alone outside. Li Ping'an's eyes were red, "Le'er, don't resent father and mother. That year in Henan the land was a thousand li of barren earth; villagers either starved or fled the famine. If we hadn't sold you to a wealthy family back then, perhaps…"

"Brother, I don't resent it." Ping Le wiped her tears with her sleeve, "I just… just couldn't bow to father and mother…"

The siblings clutched their heads and wept. Outside, on the Old Locust Tree, sparrows chattered merrily.

After enough crying, Li Ping'an wiped his sister's face: "When peace returns, brother will definitely take you back to our hometown, to repair our parents' graves and erect a monument."

Ping Le nodded heavily, then suddenly said: "Brother, teach me martial arts! Like last night, one punch per villain! Then I can protect myself and help brother fight!"

Li Ping'an was amused: "Girls' families, just learn some self‑defense. Brother will teach you Tai Chi, the kind that uses softness to overcome hardness."

He immediately assumed a stance: "Come, first learn the opening form—this is called Lan Quei Wei; imagine you're holding a big watermelon…"

Ping Le learned earnestly, but her little arms and legs kept feeling stiff. A wild horse's mane almost tripped her. Li Ping'an quickly steadied her, and the siblings burst into laughter.

After the morning practice, Ping Le fetched water to wipe brother's face. The water temperature was just right, and the towel was wrung to a suitable dampness. Li Ping'an felt a warm glow inside; this girl was so sensible.

While eating porridge with salty vegetables, Li Ping'an contemplated future livelihood. He couldn't just live off nothing—though the money from Zhoufu would last a lifetime, he needed to provide his sister a stable life and find an honest trade.

Le'er, what should brother do? Should I pull a Rickshaw?

Ping Le blinked: "Brother knows martial arts, could become an instructor at the escort bureau! Or open a martial arts hall? I think even the street performers on the sky bridge aren't as good as you!"

Li Ping'an let out a helpless laugh. This girl really dares to imagine. Just as he was about to joke, he suddenly heard a sound outside.

He signaled his sister to be quiet, slipped to the door. Through the crack, he saw a man wearing a top hat peeking through the door.

Ping Le, nervous, tugged his sleeve.

Li Ping'an frowned. This person didn't look like someone from the Police Station, nor like a remnant of Zhoufu… rather like…

He suddenly opened the door: "Comrade, who are you looking for?"

The man startled, then smiled: "Good eyes! I'm Lao Zhao, Zhou Zhengwei sent me." He lowered his voice, saying there is an important mission from the organization…

Li Ping'an's gaze hardened, his hand quietly pressing his waist: "How are this year's cuckoo flowers blooming?"

Lao Zhao was momentarily stunned, then replied: "The ones on Xishan have already withered, but Xiangshan's are still blooming."

The password matched, Li Ping'an relaxed slightly, but still stood in the doorway: "How is Political Commissar Zhou's health lately?"

He's got the old ailment, his back hurts again. Lao Zhao smiled knowingly, and before leaving said, "Tell you this: Flying Eagle should return to its nest."

Now the code fully matched. Li Ping'an finally stepped aside: "Sail carefully… the ten‑thousand‑year ship."

Lao Zhao wiped his sweat: "Of course. The situation is complicated now; keeping an extra eye is wise."

Ping Le suddenly brought out a basin of water: "Brother, make way, I'm going to splash water."

A basin of water was precisely splashed at the visitor's feet. Lao Zhao leapt aside, chuckling bitterly: "Little sister, your welcome ceremony is quite unique."

Ping Le planted her hands on her hips: "Who told you to be so sneaky! My brother is a good man!"

Li Ping'an felt warm inside. This little girl already knows how to protect her brother.

He let Lao Zhao in. It turned out the great fire at Zhoufu had alarmed the higher‑ups, suspecting the underground party was responsible. The organization wanted Li Ping'an to use the opportunity to infiltrate the enemy's interior.

Your current status is clean, and you're a victim of the Zhoufu tragedy, Lao Zhao said, so you can conveniently get close to people at the Police Station.

Ping Le suddenly interjected: "Then will my brother be in danger?"

Lao Zhao smiled: "Don't worry, your brother is…" He made a Flying Eagle gesture; at that time our people will protect him covertly.

After seeing Lao Zhao off, Ping Le, worried, cleared the dishes. Li Ping'an patted her head: "Are you scared?"

"Not scared!" Ping Le lifted her chin, "Brother is a hero who fights the Japanese Soldiers! It's just… it's just that I just found brother, afraid you'll disappear again…"

Li Ping'an felt his heart melt: "Brother promises you, wherever we go, I'll bring Le'er." Yet… he deliberately set a stern face, "First, you must master Tai Chi."

Ping Le immediately struck a crooked opening form: "Like this?"

The siblings' laughter startled the sparrows outside the window into flight. Sunlight flooded the courtyard, and the porridge pot continued to bubble.

Li Ping'an looked at his sister's earnest little face and suddenly felt that the days ahead would be as bright as this morning light.