Chapter 19 Chapter One

Wilhelmstrasse was eerily quiet that gray morning.The wind blowing from the east seaside, carrying a fishy smell and water vapor, passed over the empty street without a sound, casting strands of veil of mist in the gaps between the French-style and German-style buildings.The street lamps that have survived the long night are still on, bursting into a pitiful yellow in the white sky.The rain stopped, the street was very wet, and the potholes were filled with water, shining brightly.Occasionally, three or two cars passed by him and Zheng Shaobai alternately, leaving some fleeting sounds and bursts of light blue exhaust gas, reflecting the tranquility and depth.A black Studebaker rolled up the water in the pothole and rushed up from behind them. Ji Boshun dragged Zheng Shaobai to the side of the road and cursed something in English.

The footsteps never stopped, even when dodging the Stubaker and cursing people, the footsteps didn't stop.They stepped on the wet street and walked towards the three-way intersection in the west, walking in a hurry.Zheng Shaobai was obviously a little scared, looked back from time to time, and muttered: "Mr. Ji, it's still early, don't be in such a hurry!" Ji Boshun had already made up his mind to go to Qian's house at No. 75 Mary Road, and the time was not too early for him, so he ignored Zheng Shaobai's muttering and didn't pay attention. Zheng Shaobai said again: "Mr. Ji, if you are in such a panic, people will become suspicious! Right now, there may be spies from Director Zhao everywhere in Qingpu City!" The voice was very low, like a whisper, but after Zheng Shaobai finished speaking, he still turned his head to look around one time.

At that moment, Ji Boshun believed that Zheng Shaobai was unreliable, and Zheng Shaobai's every move in the living room of 125 William Street did not escape his eyes.On the issue of dealing with Zheng Shaobai, Gao Ming's eyesight is obviously flawed, and it would be a mistake to keep Zheng Shaobai in such a harsh environment and persevere in the struggle.There is no need for anyone to say this clearly, Zheng Shaobai's face at the meeting is enough to prove it.It's true that the worker's executive committee killed a stalker last night, but that doesn't mean he's so firm and brave, he can't.It is the survival nature of all animals to fight for the safety of their own lives, and the courage derived from this is actually an expression of an instinctive cowardice to the extreme.Ji Boshun felt that it was really not a pleasant thing to go to Lushunkou with such a person.So he suppressed the contempt in his heart, and said to Zheng Shaobai: "Don't be suspicious, we have a long way to go, we may encounter anything, we must be mentally prepared!"

"Yes Yes!" "I've been to Lushunkou. I have an aunt there, and Mr. Gao is going too. Just listen to us along the way! Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, understand?" "I... I'm not afraid! Mr. Ji, if... If I were afraid, would I dare to join the executive committee! I'm alone, without a wife and children, I... I'm so fucking scared! Last night I..." "Okay! That's good! Oh, pay attention, there are people in front, don't talk!" Ji Boshun and Zheng Shaobai walked silently for a while, and arrived at the street park at the intersection of Sancha Road.

At the gate of the garden, Ji Boshun stopped in his tracks, and told Zheng Shaobai his intention to go to Qian's house, and asked Zheng Shaobai to go to Nikko Wharf to find Lao Liu first, and take out the ticket and the luggage An Zhongliang had prepared for them. Zheng Shaobai agreed. Ji Boshun patted Zheng Shaobai's shoulder, turned around, walked straight through the garden in the middle of the street, and walked to Mary Road. It was the end of Mary's Road, and the numbers on the houses were all big.The first house number Ji Boshun saw was nailed under the gate of a Nanhuo store: No. 185, three blood-red Arabic numerals close together, like a ball of dancing flames.At that time, it was still early, Nanhuo store was not open, and other shops on both sides of the road were also closed, and the whole Mary Road was like William Street, shrouded in a silence soaked in damp mist, and there was hardly any ominous sign. sign.There were not many people on the road, just in twos and threes, and no one gave him a second glance.

Ji Boshun counted the house numbers, and under the temptation of balls of flames, encouraged by the passion of his first love, he gradually forgot the escape he just started, and the labor brother named Zheng Shaobai behind him, and walked step by step towards the gentle land in his dream , The old pictures about love are painted in my heart over and over again. The picture kept changing, and Miss Qian Er's face became clearer and clearer.Now she was reflected on the wet pavement, and now in the dancing flames under the gatehouse.Ji Boshun obsessively planned the final goodbye kiss, imagining how he would caress her, hug her, how he would support a woman's dream world with a man's strong arms...

Ji Boshun thought about it a lot, and even wishful thinking that for the sake of love, Second Miss Qian would go with him desperately and go to Lushunkou with him.As for him, of course he couldn't take her with him. He was fleeing for refuge, not on a honeymoon trip. He couldn't let her take the risk of her life for him and the revolution he was following. He was almost moved by her loyalty and his own nobility.When I walked to the first intersection of Mary Road, my eye circles were a little wet and red.He stopped in his tracks, stopped in front of a tea house on the side of the intersection, took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his face.

At this time, the number of pedestrians on Mary Road has gradually increased, especially at the gate of No. 123 teahouse, there are some people in long coats coming and going, coming in and out.Several breakfast shops and restaurants across the intersection also opened their doors, bursts of aroma accompanied by steaming heat wafted from the shops from time to time, which made Ji Boshun tempted.Ji Boshun thought of his empty belly, and he really wanted to go to a shop and get something to eat first.But as soon as the thought appeared, he was forcibly strangled to death, and he couldn't.His time is running out, love is more important than belly.

Ji Boshun stuffed the handkerchief that wiped his tears into his pocket, and wanted to walk across the intersection. Unexpectedly, at this moment, he saw Zhao Heizi from the trade union of Daxing Spinning Mill on the sidewalk across the intersection. When he saw Zhao Heizi, Zhao Heizi might not have seen him. He stood at the intersection and hesitated for a moment, trying to figure out: Should he say hello to Zhao Heizi, or should he just go around the intersection? Unexpectedly, at this moment of hesitation, Zhao Heizi saw him, shouted "Mr. Ji", and rushed towards him like a rabbit.When he ran into the middle of the road, he almost bumped into a middle-aged man wearing a felt hat.

Ji Boshun had no choice but to greet him enthusiastically. "Oh, Lao Zhao! Brother Zhao!" Zhao Heizi took Ji Boshun's hand and said, "Mr. Ji, I see you now! Hey, where have you been these past few days? I asked people to look around, but they couldn't find you! The brothers all said that you are not in Qingpu anymore." , I don't believe it, I told them, the more difficult it is, the less Mr. Ji will leave! No, tell me to talk!" Ji Boshun looked around vigilantly, and lowered his voice very low: "Brother Zhao, what can I do for you?" He was taken aback for a moment, then put on a casual look, and asked, "Hey, today is Are you here to find me?"

Zhao Heizi also lowered his voice: "No! We met by chance. Oh, Mr. Ji, have you heard? The thirteen worker representatives who were captured last time were not released, and the factory was surrounded again yesterday. They captured five of them and wounded many people. Liu Chengzhu and I escaped through the sewer. Liu Chengzhu promised to meet me at this restaurant this morning, but I didn't meet him, but I met you, sir. , this is also our fate?!" Ji Boshun didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so he nodded in response, "Oh, fate, it's fate!" Zhao Heizi was very enthusiastic, and pulled Ji Boshun's hand: "Let's go, Mr. Ji, let's go to the restaurant to order a bowl of dumplings, and wait for Liu Chengzhu while eating. We will tell you what happened in the past few days. road!" Ji Boshun became anxious when he heard this, he was about to evacuate Qingpu, and he had to meet Miss Qian Er no matter what, how could he have time to listen to him? !Then he patted Zhao Heizi's shoulder affectionately, and said as calmly as possible: "I've already eaten, you go and eat! Oh, I forgot to tell you, I have something urgent..." Zhao Heizi didn't know what to do, so he clung to Ji Boshun: "Then...then I'll tell you a simple story, simple! We are also in a hurry here at Daxing Spinning Factory! Brothers and sisters are about to lose their strength, and they were taken away." People don't know whether to live or die, and we don't know what to do next, hey, come on, come on, Mr. Ji, let's have some more food together, and when Liu Chengzhu comes, we'll leave after we finish talking, isn't that okay?" How can this work? !Ji Boshun has decided to dedicate the last precious time before sailing to Miss Qian Er, Zhao Heizi's doing this is tantamount to blocking the way!Ji Boshun really wanted to punch Zhao Heizi in the chest like he did to a robber, put Zhao Heizi on the wet road, and walk away.but can not.It's not because he's afraid that he won't be able to beat Zhao Heizi, but because he's afraid of ruining his good reputation as a gentleman.Besides, Daxing Spinning Mill was his point of contact, so it would be unreasonable for him not to be perfunctory. Ji Boshun was silent for a moment, then nodded, "That's fine, that's fine!" The two walked across the front of the restaurant and sat down at the kang table in the back room. Liu Chengzhu's uncle served a bowl of dumplings for each of them. They ate and talked while talking. After talking for a while, Liu Chengzhu also came and followed suit. At this time, Ji Boshun's mind was in a mess, and he couldn't hear clearly what the two labor brothers were saying.After filling his belly, he only wanted to end this meaningless conversation as soon as possible.He tried not to speak, lest if he said one more sentence, they would provoke more words from them.He also looked at his pocket watch from time to time to show that he was really in a hurry. Liu Chengzhu was worse than Zhao Heizi, but he talked endlessly, boasting about himself and Zhao Heizi. It seemed that not only the Daxing Spinning Mill, but the general strike of the entire Qingpu City was led by their two brothers.They also drew up three struggle plans for the striking workers, and asked Ji Boshun to appreciate them.Ji Boshun gave them the praise insincerely, but they repayed their kindness by pulling one of his arms and asking him to go with them to the Daxing Spinning Mill: "Okay, good! Mr. Ji, since you support us, we will have more confidence Yes! If you can show your face among the workers again and tell everyone your support, the situation will be stabilized!" Forced to this point, Ji Boshun had no choice but to resort to deception. Ji Boshun pretended to think for a while, pressed his hands on the kang table, and stood up: "Okay! Then let's go with you! Oh, by the way, you see, should I also find Mr. An Zhongliang'an and ask him to do the same?" Let’s go together, you are right, especially at this time, the more we need to meet the workers. Wait a minute, I’ll go buy a pack of cigarettes!” Before Zhao Heizi and Liu Chengzhu could react, Ji Boshun walked out the door, slipped into the alley at the back door of the restaurant, and never returned. Looking back afterwards, Ji Boshun had to admit that this scene was so despicable and shameless, it was hard to imagine that Ji Boshun would have done it.Since he was ordered to evacuate, he should tell the two comrades who met unexpectedly the reason for evacuating, and ask them to go to An Zhongliang to solve the remaining problems of Daxing Spinning Mill.But he didn't say that for the bourgeois group, he deceived his fellow workers who shared weal and woe, which is unforgivable anyway. From the alley, it is No. 49 Mary Road.Ji Boshun walked back all the way, and when the big clock on the top floor of the Catholic Church at No. 12 William Street struck seven o'clock, he stumbled into the Qian family compound. The dream lover, Miss Qian Er, Qian Fenfen is not at home.Lao Wu, a servant of the Qian family, said that the second lady and the master had just left in a car and went to the British Consulate at No. 2 Mary Road. Ji Boshun was stunned, propped up on the table in the hall with both hands in a daze for a long time, and then asked nonchalantly, "So early in the morning, he... what are their father and daughter doing at the British consulate?" Old Wu said: "Oh, it's not about the labor movement! I heard that the Japanese insisted on arresting people and killing people, and the Superintendent Zhao agreed. Many old men who participated in the strike and supported the strike panicked, and so did Mr. Qian. It's..." "Master Qian just... took Second Miss and hid with the British?" "Oh, no, no! Master Qian probably wants to ask the British to intercede with the Japanese and Superintendent Zhao, right? Sir, you know that Master Smith of the British Consulate has a little friendship with Master Qian!" Of course Ji Boshun knew about the relationship between Consul Smith and the Qian family.When the disturbance was the worst a while ago, all the Chinese servants in the British Consulate went on strike, and even food, water and electricity could not be supplied normally. Master Qian first secretly sent someone to help, and then forced the Chinese servants to resume work.For this reason, there was a small disturbance, which almost caused the general chamber of commerce to split.Now, the situation has changed, and it is natural for Master Qian to ask the British to help him.Perhaps when he was helping Smith back then, Mr. Qian had predicted what he would be like today? Ji Boshun gave a wry smile, then pulled himself together and asked, "So, Second Miss won't be coming back for a while?" "I'm afraid I won't be able to come back for a while! Mr. Ji, you also know that Mr. Qian doesn't understand the English language, only the second lady understands it. If the master doesn't come back, the second lady will definitely not come back first." Ji Boshun was so frustrated that he had no choice but to give up the idea of ​​waiting, and asked Lao Wu to find a pen and paper, and left a note for Second Miss Qian Fenfen.There were only a few words written on the note: "Fenfen: Due to the situation, I have to leave Qingpu for a while and go to Lushun. I will write to inform you after the settlement is settled. It is a pity that we cannot meet each other. Take care of yourself! Bo Shun October 17, 2014". After finishing writing and folding the note, Ji Boshun thought again: Maybe Qian Fenfen can come back before the "Yamato Maru" sails?Maybe he and she could still meet on the pier?Then he unfolded the note again, and added a sentence in the blank space: "I will take the Japanese ship 'Yamato Maru', board the ship at Nikko Wharf, and depart at eight o'clock this morning." It was already half past seven when we arrived at the Nikko Wharf and found Lao Liu.Lao Liu who was waiting there gave him a ferry ticket and asked him to get on the boat quickly.He didn't go, saying he wanted to wait for Zheng Shaobai and Gao Ming, but Qian Fenfen was on his mind. Ji Boshun was surprised that Zheng Shaobai and Gao Ming were not seen on the pier.It was just over six o'clock when we parted ways in the garden on William Street. Even if Zheng Shaobai was climbing, it was time to climb to the Nikko Pier. Why did he disappear?It was even more strange that Gao Ming didn't come. He and An Zhongliang didn't have many things to arrange. What should be arranged had already been arranged at the joint meeting. What is he still doing on the 125th?He asked Lao Liu to look for these two fellow travelers around the pier. Lao Liu searched around and came back. He said there was no one, and he even asked all the people in the box office. Except Ji Boshun, no one had been to the box office this morning. Only then did Ji Boshun conclude that Zheng Shaobai would not come, and most likely he slipped back to his hometown in Zaozhuang, Shandong with the money An Zhongliang sent him.For a peasant worker like Zheng Shaobai who has neither cultural knowledge nor advanced thinking, revolution only means gaining benefits.If it is beneficial, they will come to make revolution; if it is not beneficial, they will not make revolution, or even counter-revolution.The situation in Qingpu is so serious, and there are so many risks on the road to revolution, it is not surprising that Zheng Shaobai will not go to revolution again.But Gao Ming might have changed his mind temporarily and persuaded An Zhongliang to stay and fight with An Zhongliang.Ji Boshun knew Gao Ming, an old classmate and friend. He was too strong and liked to show off sometimes. It was entirely possible for him to insist on staying. A few hours ago, he insisted on doing so! At 7:45, Ji Boshun gave up the last wait, said goodbye to Lao Liu, and boarded the deck of "Yamato Maru" with the large suitcase full of luggage and utensils that An Zhongliang had prepared for him in advance. . At eight o'clock, "Yamato Maru" trembled, like a huge ice floe, gradually drifting away from the port.The people seeing off on the port shore waved their hats and scarves and waved to the ship. At this moment, Ji Boshun noticed that a black car crazily rushed up to the pier.Ji Boshun really saw a petite woman getting out of the black car.The woman was wearing a red cheongsam and a white cardigan, waving a scarf and running wildly towards the edge of the pier, seeming to be shouting something. "Yamato Maru" was getting farther and farther away from the port, and Ji Boshun couldn't see the woman's face clearly, and couldn't hear what she was shouting.However, Ji Boshun stubbornly believed that the woman was Qian Fenfen, the Second Miss Qian, and Qian Fenfen was calling him. Ji Boshun also waved to her.Seeing someone beside him looking at the shore with a binoculars, Ji Boshun hurried up and said, "Mr. Excuse me, can you lend me the binoculars?" The man with the binoculars around his neck was Japanese and couldn't understand him. Ji Boshun pointed to the binoculars, put his hands over his eyes, and made a lookout posture. Only then did the Japanese understand, and gave the telescope to Ji Boshun. Ji Boshun couldn't wait to put his eyes on the mirror hole, and immediately caught the woman on the harbor in front of him.In the end, Ji Boshun was greatly disappointed that the woman was not Qian Fenfen. Ji Boshun smiled wryly, and returned the telescope to the Japanese. The woman was still waving to Ji Boshun, but Ji Boshun couldn't raise his hand. At that moment, Ji Boshun really regretted it. If he didn't borrow this damn telescope, what an affectionate and beautiful memory would be left in his mind! Half a century later, when Ji Boshun reminisced about this incident in his later years, he said unabashedly: "At that time, my eyes were blurred, and I shed tears for some reason. Hazy. Anxiety and depression almost changed my beliefs and choices. After the boat arrived at Lushunkou, I thought more than once: go back to Qingpu, go back to Qingpu... However, when the mood was most dangerous, the party organization decided to send me there Studying at Sun Yat-sen University in Moscow, the Soviet Union cut off my longing for Ms. Qian Er. In the spring of the second year I went to Moscow, this bourgeois lady got married to a comprador of a British company. Then he embarked on the road of a professional revolutionist without any worries..."