A young boy from the 1970s, separated from his family, fled famine and led his younger brother into

"Brother, why are you looking at me? Is there something on my face?"

As soon as Lu Nianci entered the room, she met Lu Xingzhou's probing gaze.

She reached out her little hand and touched her face, asking innocently.

Lu Xingzhou coughed lightly, quickly averted his gaze, and said with a stern face, "Who was looking at you? Don't flatter yourself."

After saying that, he turned and went into his room, his movements so fast it was as if he were dodging something.

Lu Nianci couldn't help but chuckle as she watched his retreating figure, which seemed to be fleeing in disarray.

This brother who says one thing but means another is getting more and more interesting.

Little did she know the turbulent emotions churning within Lu Xingzhou's heart at that moment.

Back in his room, Lu Xingzhou leaned against the door, his mind replaying the scenes from the courtyard.

He recalled how Lu Nianci remained calm and composed, speaking eloquently, even when surrounded by a group of adults.

He remembered her squatting in the snow, explaining the complex architectural structure clearly with just a small stick.

He recalled how those usually arrogant family members were now like schoolchildren, surrounding her and calling her "Teacher Nianci" with faces full of admiration.

At one time, he, like those others, doubted her, tested her, and thought she was a scheming "little liar."

He used his special forces reconnaissance skills to observe her and pressed her with the most pointed questions, trying to uncover all her pretenses.

But the result?

She repeatedly shattered his doubts with facts.

From the life-or-death gamble in front of the military region gate to the astonishing "military strategy" on the chessboard;

From the noble cause of pleading for the exoneration of Teacher Gu Jiusi, to the "heating technology" that is now capable of changing the winter life of the entire Northern Military Region.

Everything she did was far beyond the capabilities of a five-year-old child.

The wisdom, vision, and magnanimity she displayed even made him, a seasoned special forces company commander, feel inferior.

Lu Xingzhou took a deep breath, walked to the window, and looked at the figures in the yard who had already begun to bustle about with clanging and clattering.

Once upon a time, although this compound was orderly, there was no shortage of gossip and comparisons among the neighbors.

But now, because of Lu Nianci, because of that small greenhouse, the entire courtyard is full of vitality and an unprecedented sense of cohesion.

Instead of shutting themselves away and living their own lives, people helped each other, figuring out how to build scaffolding and how to sew plastic sheeting together, their faces beaming with hopeful smiles for the future.

And the one who brought about all these changes was his five-year-old sister.

An indescribable emotion welled up in Lu Xingzhou's heart.

It was a complex emotion mixed with shock, admiration, and... a touch of pride.

For the first time, he felt genuinely proud to have such a younger sister.

"This girl..."

Lu Xingzhou murmured to himself, his usually cold eyes now revealing a tenderness he himself was unaware of.

He thought he had seen through all her "trump cards".

But now he realizes that what he saw was perhaps only the tip of the iceberg.

Her small body seemed to contain an endless treasure; just when you thought you had reached the end, she could always bring you new and bigger surprises.

Just as Lu Xingzhou was lost in thought, there was a gentle knock on his door.

"Brother, come out for a second, I need to talk to Mom and Dad about something."

It was Lu Nianci's voice.

Lu Xingzhou composed himself, reverting to his icy demeanor, and opened the door.

"What is it now?" he asked, feigning impatience.

In the living room, Lu Zhenguo and Zhou Yayun sat upright with serious expressions.

Lu Nianci, on the other hand, stood in front of them like a little adult, holding a densely written "report" in her hand.

"Dad, Mom, Brother."

Lu Nianci cleared her throat and said seriously, "The success of the housewarming party is only the first step in our plan."

"What? There's a second step?" Zhou Yayun asked in surprise.

Lu Zhenguo also showed a curious expression.

Lu Xingzhou calmly crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame, giving off an expression that said, "I'd like to see what tricks you're up to this time."

"Yes!" Lu Nianci nodded emphatically.

"My next goal is to ensure that my family, and indeed the entire military compound, can not only eat fresh vegetables in winter, but also... fresh meat and eggs!"

"What?!"

Everyone was stunned by these words!

Zhou Yayun dropped all the knitting needles in her hand to the ground.

Lu Zhenguo's eyes widened in shock.

How can we enjoy fresh meat and eggs in winter?

This...this is even more outlandish than growing vegetables!

You should know that meat and eggs available on the market now are rationed, and most of them are frozen. Getting a fresh one is practically impossible.

"Nianci, you...you're not joking, are you?" Zhou Yayun asked cautiously.

"Of course not!"

Lu Nianci spread the "report" in her hand on the table, pointed to the pictures and words on it, and began to explain her even bolder, even crazy, plan.

"Dad, Mom, look! The temperature in the greenhouse is just right. The leftover vegetable leaves and roots, as well as the bean sprout scraps, are all excellent feed. We can use the residual heat from the greenhouse and these 'waste materials' to start a small-scale breeding operation!"

"Aquaculture?" Lu Zhenguo frowned. "What kind of aquaculture?"

"Raise chickens! Raise rabbits!"

Lu Nianci's voice was filled with excitement.

"Chickens lay eggs, rabbits grow quickly and have lots of meat! Plus, they're small and don't need much space, making them perfect for building a small shed next to our greenhouse in the backyard!"

She became more and more excited as she spoke, as if she could already see the yard full of chickens and rabbits, and the steaming chicken soup and braised rabbit meat on the dining table.

However, her "grand plan" left Lu Zhenguo and Zhou Yayun speechless.

It wasn't that they didn't believe in their daughter's abilities, it's just that the plan sounded... too far-fetched.

"Nianci," Zhou Yayun said hesitantly, "raising chickens and rabbits isn't like growing vegetables. They're living things, they can get sick. What if they all die? Wouldn't that be a waste of all our efforts?"

"Besides, where are we going to get these chicks and rabbits? They're much harder to find than vegetable seeds," Lu Zhenguo raised the most practical question.

Lu Nianci remained calm in the face of her parents' questions.

She had already thought of these problems.

She was about to explain when a cold voice rang out first.

"Not doing one's proper job."

Lu Xingzhou leaned against the door frame and coldly uttered four words.

"You're not studying properly, all you do is think about is growing vegetables and raising chickens. Do you want to be a farmer in the future?"

His words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the little bit of warmth that had just begun to ignite in the living room.

Zhou Yayun and Lu Zhenguo's expressions also darkened.

"Xingzhou! How dare you talk to your sister like that!" Zhou Yayun scolded playfully.

Lu Nianci wasn't angry. She turned her head and met Lu Xingzhou's eyes, which held a scrutinizing gaze and a hint of... mockery.

She knew that her brother was deliberately provoking her.

He wanted to see how she would handle the doubts and difficulties.

Lu Nianci's lips curled up slightly, revealing a sly smile.

"Brother, you're wrong about that."

"Do you think farmers are just idlers? Grandpa Yuan Longping researched hybrid rice, enabling people all over the country to have enough to eat. Does that mean he was also idle?"

With just one sentence, she elevated Lu Xingzhou's "accusations" to the level of ideological awareness.

Lu Xingzhou's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

What a quick-witted little girl!

"That's not what I meant," he explained calmly. "I just think you should focus your energy on your studies."

"Learning and practice are never in conflict," Lu Nianci argued. "My plans also require a lot of knowledge in biology, physics, and mathematics. This is itself a more advanced form of learning."

She paused, her gaze fixed intently on Lu Xingzhou.

"Besides, brother, can you honestly say you don't look forward to eating fresh scrambled eggs and braised rabbit in winter at all?"

This question is... so tempting.

Almost instantly, images of golden, tempting scrambled eggs and richly flavored rabbit meat flashed into Lu Xingzhou's mind.

His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

Damn!

This little girl is so good at manipulating people!

Looking into her bright, all-seeing eyes, the iceberg of "principles" in his heart cracked once again.

He found that he seemed unable to say "no" to her at all.