The Daily Life of a Second-Generation Military Brat Living a Laid-Back Life [1960s]

Xia Qinqin is a five-year-old girl born into a privileged military family in 1965 Haishi. As the only child, she enjoys a life of comfort, wearing leather shoes, drinking imported soda, and eating chocolate, while her parents, grandparents, and uncle all hold stable formal jobs. Her father, Xia Junshan, serves as a regiment commander stationed at the border, while her mother, Meng Yufei, works as an accountant at the People's Bank of China. The family lives in a spacious staff quarter allocated by the bank, surrounded by loving relatives who dote on the young girl. Xia Qinqin’s life is characterized by leisure and indulgence, as she sees no reason to struggle when her family provides for all her needs.

The narrative shifts when Meng Yufei receives news that Xia Junshan has been transferred to Nanya Island in Qiongzhou. The family decides to relocate, leaving behind their comfortable life in Haishi for a harsher military environment. Before departing, Meng Yufei and her mother shop extensively, purchasing clothes, shoes, and foreign exchange goods in preparation for the move. During the twenty-hour train journey, Meng Yufei displays unexpected combat skills when she apprehends a thief attempting to steal their luggage, revealing that she was trained in martial arts during her childhood. The family arrives in Qiongzhou and takes a ferry to Nanya Island, where they are welcomed by Division Commander Li’s staff. They move into a stone house with a yard in the military family compound, marking the beginning of their new life on the island.

Upon settling in, Xia Qinqin discovers that she can occasionally hear the inner thoughts of others. This ability reveals that she and her family are characters in a novel, destined to play the roles of cannon fodder. Neighbors and compound residents harbor malicious intentions, viewing Meng Yufei as a wasteful city woman and Xia Junshan as a future big shot who will eventually be ruined by his marriage. These thoughts expose a plot where the family is expected to suffer and die as background characters for the novel’s protagonists. Xia Qinqin, unaware of the literary context, simply reports these hostile thoughts to her parents, who become furious at the disrespect shown toward their family.

In response to the impending cannon fodder fate, Xia Junshan and Meng Yufei decide to focus entirely on their careers and personal strength. They resolve that as long as they become powerful enough, no one can force them into tragic roles. Meng Yufei takes a job at the island’s supply and marketing cooperative, while Xia Junshan continues his military duties with increased dedication. Xia Qinqin embraces her laid-back lifestyle, enjoying the local fruits, seafood, and natural surroundings of the island. She befriends Zheng Sanmei, a local fruit seller, and explores the beach with her family. The couple’s determination to secure their own happiness leads them to navigate the complex social dynamics of the military compound, avoiding the traps set by those who wish to exploit them. The story follows their efforts to build a secure and happy life, defying the predetermined tragic fate assigned to them by the novel’s original plot.