Chapter 5 04

It's very hot, but the hearts of the people all over the country are cold, and Peiping has fallen! Li Siye stood under the shade of the locust tree, and said to everyone in a miserable voice: "Prepare a piece of white cloth! If you have to hang a flag, just paint a red ball with rouge at that time! In the Year of Gengzi, we have hung it!" Although his body is still strong, he feels tired today.After speaking, he squatted on the ground, staring blankly at a green locust worm. Li Sima seemed to know that there was some danger in the past two days, but she never inquired carefully.Today, she understood that it was the Japanese soldiers who had entered the city. Her short-sighted eyes blinked again and again, and her face turned pale.She stopped scolding her old man, but came out and squatted with him.

Xiao Cui, who was pulling the cart, swayed in and out with his bare back.I can't get out of the car today, and I don't have a grain of rice at home.After shaking around a few times, he leaned in front of Mrs. Li and said, "Fourth grandma! You have to do me a favor!" Fourth Master Li didn't look up, he was still looking at the green worms on the ground.Li Si's mother, unlike usual, replied in a low voice: "Wait a while, I'll send you two catties of miscellaneous noodles!" "That's great! I'm here to thank Fourth Grandma!" Xiao Cui's voice was not very loud.

"Tell you, good boy, stop arguing with the family! The Japanese devils have entered the city!" Li Sima sighed before finishing her sentence. Barber Sun Qi does not practice his craft in the shaving shed, but works monthly at nearby shops.From a veteran's point of view, he was excellent at piercing eyes, picking out ears, beating backs, and shaving.He doesn't know how to do new tricks, such as parting hair, perming hair, etc., and he doesn't bother to learn -- anyway, he doesn't need this new set of skills as a businessman.Today, the shops were not open, he drank two cups of mulled wine at home, and walked out blushing.With some alcohol, he wanted to complain:

"Fourth Grandpa! You are kind. Tell everyone to hang the white flag, whoever likes to hang it, but my grandson Qi can't hang it! I hate the Japanese devils! I'll wait, if they dare to enter our sheep pen, I will teach them Know how powerful my Sun Qi is!" On weekdays, Xiao Cui and Sun Qi would definitely quarrel because of arguments; the two of them have always been rivals when debating world affairs.Now, Fourth Master Li made a look, and Xiao Cui avoided it without saying a word.Seeing Xiao Cui go away, Sun Qi was quite disappointed, but he still hoped that Old Man Li would chat with him, but Fourth Master Li didn't say a word.Sun Qi felt a little off.After staying for a long time, Fourth Master Li raised his head and said with a bored and almost angry look: "Sun Qi! Go home and sleep!" Sun Qi, although a little drunk, did not dare to resist Fourth Master Li, and smiled. Come on, go home.

No one came out on number six.As usual, Xiaowen and his wife should hang their throats now, but they didn't dare to speak out.Master Liu wiped his single knife vigorously in the room. There were no planes overhead, no gunfire outside the city, and everything was silent.Only there seemed to be a little fluctuation in the clear sky, and some golden stars and white lights jumped out with the pulse of the people.The silence of the subjugated country! Ruixuan, fat and fat, looks a lot like his father.No matter what clothes he was wearing, he always looked so natural and elegant.This gentle and elegant attitude is unique in the Qi family.Mrs. Qi and Tianyou are law-abiding businessmen, their behavior and speech reveal their true colors without any concealment.Ruifeng was educated, and he didn't think much of his grandfather and father, so he tried his best to learn elegance and fashion.However, because he has studied too much, he always shows a bit of comprador or philistinism; instead of being refined, he loses the simplicity inherited from his family.Old Sanrui is a dumb boy, he doesn't care what is elegant and what is rough.Only Ruixuan, I don't know where I learned it, or I learned it without seeing it, always so gentle and natural.Like his grandfather and father, he works very seriously.But, in earnest—and that's different from his old folks—he's still very natural, not rattling.He was frugal, not a penny, but he was also generous--where appropriate, he didn't count.When he is in a bad mood, he is like a cloud of spring, so that no one can rest assured that there will be no violent storms.When he was happy, he could only smile, as if laughing at himself why he should be happy.

He is very hardworking and has a considerable understanding of Chinese and European literature and art.It is a pity that he does not have the opportunity, or the financial resources, to go to a foreign country for further study.When teaching at school, he is the best colleague and teacher, but he is not the most lovable, because he is not sloppy with the students' homework at all, and always treats colleagues in moderation.He keeps a considerable distance from everyone.He doesn't intentionally be indifferent to anyone, and he doesn't want to go around the corner to curry favor with others.He eats according to his ability, so he doesn't need to buy good food on purpose.

In terms of thinking, he is very close to Lao San, and perhaps a little deeper than Lao San.Therefore, in the whole family, he only got along with the third child.However, unlike the third child, he is unwilling to express his opinions frequently.This is not because he is proud and disdains to play the piano to the cow, but because he is always a little ashamed in his heart-he knows A, but can only do B, or even only C or D.He seems a bit feminine, and he always seeks total consideration in his actions.For example: when he reaches the age to get married, he already knows what love is sacred and marriage is free.But he married the "Yunmei" that his father had set for him.He knew that he shouldn't tie his whole life to a woman he didn't love, but he couldn't bear to see his grandfather and parents' tears and sad faces.He thought about them, and also about his fiancée.After thinking about it, he understood everyone's difficulties and wanted to be fully understood.He had to marry her.He laughed at himself for being so weak.At the same time, when he came to him and saw that the faces of his grandfather and parents had changed from sorrow to joy, he felt a little pride—the pride of self-sacrifice.

After the snow falls, he must go to Beihai, climb up to the Little White Pagoda, and see the snow-capped peaks of Xishan Mountain.There he could stand for an hour at a stretch.The white and distant mountain led his thoughts to far, far places.He is willing to get rid of all ordinary things, go to the far-reaching mountains to study, or take a big boat and travel around the world in the sea.When he had to get down from the tower, his heart was withdrawn from the mountains and wild seas, and he thought of his responsibilities to his family and school.He can't let go of his responsibilities in the world and go to the ideal world.So, he conveniently bought some snacks for his grandfather and Xiao Shun'er on the way, like a mother-in-law like a virtuous grandson and loving father!Well, since we can't go far away, let's go home and make everyone smile!His helpless smile lines appeared on his frozen red face again.

He hardly has any hobbies.Rice wine, he can drink a catty.But it's never time to drink alcohol unless it's the Chinese New Year.He doesn't smoke.There is no difference between tea and water.His only entertainment is helping his grandfather plant flowers, and going to "Ping An" to watch movies once or twice a week.His movie-watching has a practical purpose: his English is pretty good, but his speech is not very fluent, so he would like to study with sound movies.Whenever he went to "Ping'an", he always went very early so that he could get a seat in the front row - saving money and listening.Sitting there, he didn't even turn his head, because he knew that if the second master Ruifeng and his wife were there, they would definitely sit in the first-class seats; he was not ashamed to sit in the front row, but he was afraid that the second and his wife would feel uncomfortable.

Beiping fell, and Ruixuan was like an ant on a hot pot, going in and out, not knowing what to do.He lost his usual calmness, and he didn't want to hide it.After leaving the house, he looked up at the sky, the sky was so clear and beautiful, he knew that he was still under the blue sky of Peiping.As soon as I lowered my head, it seemed as if it was flashed by the strong sunlight, and my eyes went dark for a while—the sky was still so clear and blue, and Peiping no longer belonged to the Chinese!He hurried back to the house.In the house, he infers the relationship between the Sino-Japanese war and the world from the knowledge he has accumulated on weekdays.Suddenly hearing the voice of his wife or Xiao Shun'er, he jumped back from the dark cloud of the general trend of the world as if startled: he knew that the war between China and Japan would definitely change the geography and history of the world, but the situation before him It is the safety and food and clothing of this family of young and old.Grandfather is over seventy years old and can no longer work hard to earn money.My father earns a limited amount of money, and he is also in his fifties.My mother is sick, and I can't help but panic.The second master's income will be enough for the two of them, while the third child is still studying.The world is peaceful, and they can live a life free from disasters and troubles without worrying about food and clothing.Today, Peiping is dead, what should we do?On weekdays, he is already in charge; today, his responsibilities and difficulties will increase many times!On the one hand, he is a citizen, and he is a citizen with some knowledge and ability. He should do something for the country when the country is in great danger.On the other hand, the old and the young in the family depended on him on weekdays, and needed him even more now.Can he just walk away?cannot!cannot!However, if he didn't leave, he would have to be a subjugated slave at the feet of the enemy, he couldn't bear it!Can't take it!

Out and in, out and in, he couldn't think of a good idea.His knowledge informs him of his highest duties, and his consideration compels him to consider the most pressing concerns.He thought of Wen Tianxiang, Shi Kefa, and many, many national heroes, as well as Du Fu's poems in exile. The second child is still listening to the radio in the house - the Japanese radio. How high the third child jumped up in the courtyard: "Second child, if you don't close it, I will smash it with a stone!" Xiao Shun'er was startled, and hurried to her grandmother's house.The grandmother's faint voice called, "Third! Old!" Without a word, Rui Xuan dragged the third child into his room. The two brothers stared at each other for a long time, wanting to talk, but didn't know where to start.The third child first broke the silence and called out: "Brother!" Ruixuan didn't agree to come out, as if a date stone blocked his throat.The third child forgot what he remembered. In the house, in the yard, everywhere, there was no sound.The sky is so clear and the sun is so bright, but the whole big city - with its nine gates closed - looks like an ancient tomb under the sun! Suddenly, there was a sound in the distance, like rolling stones down from a mountain. "Third, listen!" Ruixuan thought it was the voice of a heavy bomber. "The enemy's tanks are demonstrating on the street!" The corner of the youngest's mouth was a little bit trembling to stop his lips from trembling. The boss listened again. "Yes! Tanks! There are a lot of them! Huh!" He bit his lip. The sound of tanks got louder, and the air and the ground were trembling. The most peaceful China, the most peaceful Beiping, with its lakes and mountains, palaces, shrines, temples, gardens, pavilions and screen walls of nine colorful dragons built with the wisdom and painstaking efforts of all ages, with its The embracing ancient cypresses, the upside-down green willows, the white jade bridge, and the flowers and plants of the four seasons, with its lightest language, gentle politeness, honest transactions, slow steps, and operas sung for the court ...No reason, no reason, suddenly its sky and asphalt road were raped by planes and tanks! "Brother!" the third child called out. The tanks on the street were beating wildly as if several iron mines had exploded, and Ruixuan's ears and heart seemed to be completely deaf. "Brother!" "Ah?" Ruixuan tilted his head slightly, and used his ears to find the voice of the third child. "Ouch! Say it!" "I have to go! Brother! You can't be a subjugated slave here!" "Huh?" Ruixuan's heart was still moving forward following the sound of the tank. "I have to go!" Ruiquan said emphatically. "Go? Where are you going?" The sound of the tank is slightly quieter. "I can go anywhere, but I can't live under the flag of the sun!" "Yes!" Ruixuan nodded, a layer of white bumps appeared on his fat face. "However, don't be too busy, right? Who knows how things will turn out. If a peaceful settlement is resolved in a few days, wouldn't it be unnecessary? You still have a year to graduate!" Peiping, did you say something again?" "Unless all the interests of North China are given to him!" "Without North China, there is still Peiping?" Ruixuan was stunned for a while, and then said: "I mean, if we allow him to use economic aggression, he may withdraw troops. Military aggression is not as cost-effective as economic aggression." The sound of tanks has become like light thunder in the distance. After listening, Ruixuan continued, "I won't stop you from leaving, but please wait a little longer!" "What should I do if I can't leave?" Ruixuan sighed. "Hmph! You...I can never leave!" "Brother, let's go together!" Ruixuan's shallow and miserable smile appeared on his depressed face again: "How do I get out? Could it be that this family..." "It's such a pity! Look, brother, how many people like you are there in our country who are highly educated and capable?" "I can't help it!" The boss sighed again, "You have to be loyal, and I will be filial!" At this time, Fourth Master Li had stood up and was talking softly to Inspector Bai.Inspector Bai was over forty years old, his face was shaved clean, and he looked very energetic.He is very good at talking, and when the residents are fighting and bickering, he can sarcasm and intimidate at the same time, and make big problems small and small things into nothing.Therefore, people in the Xiaoyangquan area are afraid of his sharp mouth, but respect his kindness. Today, Inspector Bai is not very energetic.He knows how great his responsibility is-there is no law and order without the patrol.Although he was only the inspector of the Xiaoyangquan area, he always felt that the whole of Beiping belonged to him to some extent.He loves Peking, and is even more proud of being a police officer in Peking.However, today Beiping is occupied by the Japanese; from then on he has to maintain law and order for the Japanese!Theoretically, since Peiping is owned by foreigners, there is no public order at all.But, he's still wearing that uniform, and he's still the inspector!He didn't quite understand what he was doing! "What do you think? Inspector!" Fourth Master Li asked, "Can they kill people indiscriminately?" "I dare not say anything, Fourth Master!" Inspector Bai said in a low voice. "I seem to teach others to be locked in a big vat, and I can't see the world!" "Where are so many of our soldiers? Where are they going?" "Wars are going on! You can't beat them! In this day and age, you can't just fight with courage and good health! They have powerful guns and have planes and tanks! Let's..." "So, the city of Peiping lost its iron?" "The brigade of tanks just passed by, didn't you hear that?" "Is it iron?" "Iron!" "What should we do?" Li Siye lowered his voice extremely low: "I tell you, Inspector, I hate the Japanese devils!" The inspector glanced around: "Who doesn't hate them! Come on, let's be serious: Fourth Master, you go to the Qi's house later, and the Qian's family will tell them to teach them to burn books and so on. Japan People hate those who study! If you have the Three People's Principles or foreign documents in your home, it will be even more important! I think the two of them have books in this alley. You should go there! I can't go--" Xun He took a long look at his uniform. Fourth Master Li nodded in agreement.Inspector Bai listlessly walked towards the waist of the gourd. Fourth Master went to Qian's house to knock on the door, but no one answered.He knew that Mr. Qian had a weird temper, and it was inconvenient to attract attention during this turbulent time, so he came to Qi's house after waiting for a while. Old Man Qi's sincere welcome made Fourth Master Li feel a little happier.Fearing that old man Qi would forget the business when he mentioned Chen Guzi's rotten sesame seeds, he straight to the point explained the purpose of his visit.Old man Qi didn't like books very much, but books were bought with money, so it would be a pity to burn them.He intends to teach his grandchildren how to choose and sell what should be burned to the "drummer". "That won't work!" Fourth Master Li was sincerely concerned about the safety of his old neighbor. "There will be no drummers these two days; even if there were, they wouldn't dare to buy books!" After finishing speaking, he also told old man Qi that he hadn't been able to open the door of Qian's house just now.The old man Qi called Ruiquan in the courtyard: "Ruiquan, good boy, burn all the foreign books! They were bought at a very high price, but can we keep them to cause trouble?" The third child said to the eldest: "Look! Burning books and burying scholars! How about you?" "Third brother, you are right! You have to go! Since I can't go, I accept my fate! You go! I burn books here, hang a white flag, and become a subjugated slave!" No matter what, the boss couldn't control himself anymore, He wept. "Did you hear that, little San'er?" Elder Qi asked again. "I heard it! Do it right away!" Ruiquan answered his grandfather impatiently, and then whispered to Ruixuan: "Brother! If you are like this, how can I go away?" Ruixuan wiped away tears with the back of his hand. "You go, third child! Remember, always remember, the boss of your family is not a worthless person..." He choked a few times in his throat and could not continue.