Back to 1973

“Hey, little girl, have some of this.” Xu Cancan heard someone call to her and instinctively looked up. A large yellow flatbread was being held out in front of her. What did this mean? Had she been mistaken for a beggar? She looked down at her clothes. She'd been drenched in rain, struck by lightning, and rolled around in the dirt. She was covered in mud and soot, and looked even more disheveled than a beggar. At least the beggar grandpa and grandchild across the way looked tidier than she did. Then she looked at the flatbread the owner was offering her. It was only half a piece; he was holding the other half in his other hand, and it was clearly bigger than hers. “If you're giving me some, why not give me a whole one? This little bit isn't enough to eat.” The flatbread owner: ... Had he run into a beggar thug? This story takes place in an alternate timeline and a fictional history. It focuses on everyday life, from food, clothing, housing, and transportation to family matters. There are occasional romantic moments and cute scenes, but it does not debate historical victories and defeats or the merits and faults of the great figures of the past. It won't stand up to rigorous scrutiny by historical accuracy enthusiasts, so please go easy on it.