Chapter 32 31

One parade, another parade, the students and beggars are used to "swimming", and Xiao Cui and Sun Qi are also used to watching it.The two of them no longer scolded the student, and the student no longer bowed his head deeply.Everyone is helpless, living so-so.Depression, worry, confusion, coldness, and shame make everyone feel that life is a kind of "tiredness" without much interest and hope.Even so, there is no way to live without it. There is only one hope, and I hope that we will win in every battlefield.Peiping is already a cloud that has rained, floating uselessly; it can only hope that the clouds elsewhere will rain well.In the various battlefields, everyone pays special attention to Shanghai; Shanghai is more than half of their hope.They ask for news about Shanghai all the time, even a piece of fake news is good.Only Shanghai's victory can cure their subjugation disease.They even went to temples to burn incense and churches to pray and pray for victory.They loved the little newspaper boys on the street, for their high-pitched voices always shouted the good news—just the opposite of what the papers said.They would rather believe in the "prophecy" of newsboys than in newspapers run by the Japanese.

But we lost in Shanghai! How about Nanjing?If Shanghai is lost, can Nanjing still defend?Are you still fighting?I'm afraid we have to reconcile?How to reconcile?North China is probably going to be ceded, right?In that way, Peking will always belong to the Japanese! Sun Qi was shaving the head of a shop assistant in a small grocery store.There are "extras" sold outside the door.According to the experience of the past two or three months, "outside the number" is "obituary"!The newsboys shouted, always in unpleasant low voices; they were not happy to shout victory to the enemy.A child with a red nose from the cold poked his head into the shop, purely for business, not for publicity to the enemy, and asked softly: "Look outside the account? The shopkeeper!" "What's the matter?" Sun Qi asked, the razor was not Scratching anywhere.

The newsboy rubbed his nose: "Shanghai—" "How is Shanghai?" "--retreat!" Sun Qi let go of his razor.The knife rolled from the clerk's shoulder to his leg before falling to the ground.Fortunately, the shopkeeper was wearing a cotton jacket and trousers, so he was not injured. "Is this just a joke? Master Qi!" the store clerk blamed Sun Qi. "Shanghai is over!" Sun Qi slowly picked up the knife, dazed. "Oh!" The clerk was no longer angry, he knew what "Shanghai is over" meant.The newsboy was also stunned. Sun Qi handed over a copper plate.The newsboy sighed, left a small ticket, and walked away.

The one with the shaved head and the one with the shaved head competed to see: "Shanghai Imperial Army wins!" The clerk snatched the paper, rolled it up, threw it on the ground, and rubbed it with his feet.Sun Qi continued to shave his face, his nearsighted eyes squeezed and squeezed, and he couldn't do it anymore! Xiao Cui blushed, Cheng Changshun grumbled, and the two argued fiercely.Changshun said: Although we were defeated in Shanghai, Nanjing may surely be able to defend!As long as Nanjing can defend for half a year, and the enemy soldiers come and lose one after another, Japan will be defeated!Think about it, Japan is such a small country, how many people are there to die!

Xiao Cui is very satisfied that Nanjing can hold, but the defeat of Shanghai hit him too hard, and he can no longer be optimistic.He is a person who lives on the street all day long. He knows that there must be winners and losers in fights and wars. "As long as you dare to fight, it is not shameful to lose." Based on this reason, he doubts whether Nanjing will continue to fight. .He hopes to continue the battle and to win the defeat; however, hope is hope, and facts are facts.On January 28, didn't Shanghai make peace as soon as it lost?He expressed his doubts to Changshun. Changshun found out the elementary school textbook, and pointed it to Xiao Cui: "Look at this picture of Nanjing! Look at it! This is Yuhuatai, and this is Dajiang! Hmph, if we guard well, not even a bird will be able to fly." go in!"

"Nankou and Niangziguan are dangerous places, why..." Chang Shun didn't wait for Xiao Cui to finish speaking, and rushed over: "Nanjing is Nanjing! Niangziguan is Niangziguan!" His face turned red, and there were tears in his eyes.He originally kept his voice low, afraid that grandma would hear him, but the more he spoke, the louder he sounded.He doesn't easily quarrel with others, so when he quarrels, he is very serious; when he is serious, he forgets about his grandmother. "Changshun!" Grandma's voice. He knew what grandma's next sentence was, so he went back to the house before she could say it, and argued with Xiao Cui again when he had a chance.

Master Liu on the 6th almost got into a fight with John Ding.On weekdays, the two of them just nodded, not talking too much; John Ding thought he belonged to the British government and Jesus, so he looked down on Lao Liu; Master Liu knew that John Ding belonged to the British government and Jesus, so he looked down on him even more.Today, John Ding just came back from the British Mansion, and brought back some butter, planning to send it to Guan's family - he had already seen the red newspaper outside Guan's house.In the courtyard, he met Master Liu.Although he hadn't seen each other for five or six days, he was not prepared to talk to Lao Liu.He just gave a cold - and must have been haughty - nod.

Master Liu decided to ignore the arrogance of the fake foreigners, but wanted to inquire about news; he thought that the news from the British government must be plentiful and reliable.He gave a friendly greeting and asked with a smile: "Just came back? How is it?" "What's the matter?" John Ding's face was clean-shaven and his back was straight, like a mechanized person. "Shanghai!" Master Liu moved a bit, blocking John Ding's way; he was indeed anxious about Shanghai. "Oh, Shanghai!" John secretly smiled. "It's over!" After saying that, he seemed to feel that he had done his duty, and wanted to walk away.

But Lao Liu asked again: "How is Nanjing?" Ding Yuehan frowned and became unhappy. "Nanjing? Why should I take care of Nanjing's affairs?" He was telling the truth. He belonged to the British government, so why should I take care of Nanjing.Old Liu lost his temper.He blurted out, and he asked, "Isn't Nanjing our capital? Are you not Chinese?" John Ding's face sank.He knew that Lao Liu's questioning was tantamount to calling him a foreign slave.He is not afraid of being called a foreign slave, Master Liu - a stinking hut - but he is not qualified to be called him! "Oh! I'm not Chinese, you are, so what? I didn't see the Zun family knock down a Japanese!"

Lao Liu's face immediately turned red beyond his ears.John Ding poked his wound.He has a bit of martial arts, a lot of patriotism and arrogance, but he didn't fight the Japanese!If John Ting was a slave of the British government, he—Liu Pengjiang—was a slave of the Japanese, because Peiping was occupied by the Japanese.There is no difference between him and John!He is still speechless! John Ding took a step aside, trying to walk away. Old Liu also moved a step, still blocking the way.He wanted to teach John that the two of them were fundamentally different, but he couldn't talk for a while, so he had to hold on to John for the time being.

Seeing that Lao Liu was speechless, John knew that he had the upper hand; so, even though he knew that Lao Liu had martial arts skills, he was still willing to say a few more thorny words: "What are you doing blocking me? If you have the ability to block Japanese tanks ah!" Master Liu didn't want to fight at first, he knew that his hands and feet were strong and he could easily injure others.Now, pissed off, he rolled his eyes. Ding Yuehan was not fooled and hurried away.He knew that if he gained the upper hand in words and avoided Lao Liu's fists and feet, he would be a complete victory. Master Liu was very angry, but he didn't catch up; John Ding didn't dare to fight, so why bother to press him so hard. Xiaowen stood motionless under the eaves with his hands in his hands.He had a cigarette in his mouth; the ash formed a long spike and fell to his chest little by little.He is planning a new accent for his wife.He didn't pay attention to why Ding and Liu were arguing, just as he didn't pay attention to who won and who lost in the Shanghai war.He concentrated on creating a new accent for Ruoxia.This new tune will cause some fluctuations in the opera teahouses and box office in Peking, bring more honors to Ruoxia, and also put a few smiles on his own face.He has neither China nor Japan in his mind.He only knows that there must be beautiful piano sounds and tactful songs in the universe. Ruoxia had a cold and didn't dare to get up. Xiaowen, after both Ding and Liu left, suddenly had an idea, he hurried into the room and picked up the huqin. Although Ruoxia was not feeling well, she was still very concerned about that new accent. "How? Got it?" she asked. "Don't interrupt yet! It's almost done!" John Ding holds the butter.Go to Guanzhai to say congratulations. Da Chibao did some calculations, and he is already the "director", so is he on an equal footing with someone who puts on a stage?When she saw the butter, she shook hands with John without hesitation.She adores butter.She doesn't know a foreign language, and doesn't know much about foreign affairs, but she often uses butter as an adjective—"That girl's face is as smooth as butter!" Such descriptions make her feel that she knows a lot about foreign affairs, and she seems to be speaking a foreign language! John, who is used to living in the English government, knows how to address people.He mouthed one "superior" and called the big red bun until his heart itched. Seeing that his wife still liked John, Xiaohe showed the politeness and courtesy of receiving foreign guests, as if John was sent by the League of Nations.After meeting Li, he began to ask in an inquiring tone: "How does the British government view the Shanghai war?" "China will not win!" John answered calmly, objectively, as calmly and proudly as a British nobleman. "Oh, won't you win?" Xiaohe asked with narrowed eyes, trying to hide the happiness in her heart. John Ding nodded. Xiaohe gave his wife a wink and said, "Let's do it boldly, the Japanese won't leave Peiping anytime soon!" "Hmph! He bought me, but sold his daughter! What a joke!" Tong Fang said in a low voice and fiercely. "I can't marry that man! I can't!" Gaudí said sadly.That person is Li Kongshan.The director of the big red bag got it, and Li Kongshan asked for Gaodi. "However, it's useless to just worry about it! You have to think about it!" Tong Fang didn't think of an idea herself, but only because she said it like this, she felt that "thinking" is much more important than "talking". "I have no idea!" Gaudi said frankly. "A few days ago, I thought that if Shanghai won the battle, everyone like Li Kongshan would have to go back to Tianjin, so I didn't rush. Now, I heard that Shanghai lost, and Nanjing can't hold it... "She doesn't need to work hard to continue, Tong Fang will guess what follows. Tong Fang is the most positive person in Guan's family who pays attention to state affairs.She pays attention to state affairs because she considers herself a Northeast native.Although she doesn't know where her hometown is in the Northeast, she always wants to go back to the people who speak her language.She still clearly remembers the "Xiaoheyan" in Shenyang, at least she hopes to see the scene of "Xiaoheyan" again.Therefore, she pays attention to state affairs; she knows that only when China wins, can the Northeast be recovered, and she herself can return to her hometown. However, when she knew that there was no possibility of returning to her hometown for a while and felt desperate, she sometimes laughed at herself helplessly: "Is the big event of a country just for you, a little bitch?" Now, when she heard Gaodi's words, she realized in surprise: "It turns out that everyone's private affairs are related to the country! Yes, Gaodi's marriage is related to the country!" After realizing this truth, she was terrified.If Nanjing fails to win, and Beiping is occupied by the Japanese for a long time, Gaodi must be captured by Li Kongshan, who used women as a plaything!Gaudi is her good friend.If she herself is already a toy in the family who only sleeps with men, and a trash in society who eats and drinks, she doesn't want any other woman to be like her, let alone her good friend. "Gao Di! You have to go!" Tong Fang said boldly. "Let's go?" Gaudi was stunned.If there was a young man like Qian Zhongshi by her side, she would not be afraid to leave.For love, every young girl hopes that she can fly once.However, since there is no lovely young man by her side, and no fixed destination, how can she go?On weekdays, when arguing with her mother or sister, she always feels very brave.Now, she felt that she had no courage at all.Looking for imitable facts from the little historical events she knew, she could only find Hua Mulan.But she couldn't find all the detailed methods and experience of Mulan joining the army.There are so few records in Chinese history that can be used as a reference for women's actions. She felt that she was the loneliest person since ancient times! "I can go with you!" Tong Fang could see that Gaodi didn't have the guts to escape alone. "You, why are you leaving?" If Gaodi felt that she was still a "homeless ghost", she regarded Tongfang as a bird in a cage-with food, water and a fixed place to sleep, everything It's all fixed and can't move anymore. "Why do I have to be here?" Tong Fang smiled.She wanted to tell Gaudi: I can't stand your mother alone, and your mother is also the director!But when the words came to her lips, she cut them off.Her sophistication made her take care - no matter how bad the big red bag is, I'm afraid Gaudy would not be happy to hear others attack his mother. Gaudí didn't say anything, she was very confused.She couldn't decide whether she should go or not, let alone decide for Tongfang.She felt that she had to make up her mind quickly, but the more anxious she became, the less she could make up her mind.She let out a long sigh. Tianyou met Fourth Master Li at the entrance of the alley.The two of them were very affectionate in their conversation and greetings, and they came to No. 5 together without knowing it. Old man Qi was extremely unhappy these two days, and he didn't even like to comb his white beard much anymore.He had many reasons to blame his second and third grandchildren for leaving home, and he had many reasons to forgive them.But he neither blames nor forgives them.He just felt panicky in his heart.His proud life of four generations living under one roof is about to crumble; two grandsons have already passed away!The three months he had hoped for would be safe and sound, but it did not come true; Shanghai was also lost!Although he doesn't understand state affairs very well, he can see that if Shanghai is lost, there is no hope of regaining freedom in Peiping, and anything can happen to Peking in the hands of the Japanese—after the third grandson left, the second grandson didn't. Are you gone too?Seeing the empty house where Ruifeng Ruiquan lived, he understood exactly what war and chaos are! Seeing his son coming back and still following Fourth Master Li, the old man smiled again in his small eyes. God Bless's thoughts made him more lenient than his father.San'er's escape and Er'er's moving out did not cause him any pain.He would like the whole family to live in one place in harmony, but he also knows that young people have gained a lot of value in recent years, while old people are no longer as expensive as they used to be.He understood: sons have their own thoughts and methods, and it is best for old people to turn a blind eye and not take it too seriously.Therefore, he didn't worry much about Ruiquan, and he didn't want to meddle in Ruifeng's affairs. However, in the past two months, many strands of his hair suddenly turned gray!If he is more lenient than his father in the relationship between father and son and family, he is more concerned and worried about state affairs than his father.Most of the old man Qi's years belonged to the emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and Tianyou met the revolution in his prime.From worrying about the country, he has been worrying about his business; the country and his small business are as inseparable as skin and flesh.He has nothing against getting rich.He can pay more attention to "rules".His wealth must be distributed in a regular manner.He never thought of "taking advantage of the fire" and "fishing in troubled waters".He never imagined that he could walk a few steps to Jinshan when the world was in chaos.Therefore, he must know that as long as the country is in chaos, his business will inevitably be depressed, and his step-by-step and honest plans and expectations will all come to an end!His hair couldn't help but turn gray. Among the three old men, fourth master Li is of course the strongest, but his back is more bent than it was two or three months ago.He didn't worry about food and clothing, and didn't worry much about state affairs, but the direct and indirect pain the Japanese inflicted on him was enough to make him feel as if there was a stone on his back.Whether leading the pole or moving house, he was often inspected at the city gate. Facing the enemy's bayonet, he had to spend a lot of words and pay a lot of money to get things done; After arriving outside the city, the city gate was closed.He has to squat in a small shop outside the city.At the age of seventy, after a tiring day, he needs to go home to rest, eat hot food, drink hot tea, and scald his feet with hot water.However, he was locked up outside the city.He had to spend the night crowded with beggars in a small shop.Sometimes, the gate of the city will not be opened for three or five days in a row; he has to deposit a piece of clothing on a stall or a small shop to keep himself from starving.His time was wasted for no reason!He hates the Japanese!The Japanese closed the city casually, just kidding with him!The Japanese robbed him of his time and freedom in vain. The smile in Old Man Qi's eyes didn't last long.He originally wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with Fourth Master Li and Tianyou for an hour or two, to expel all the depression in his heart at once.However, he couldn't find the words.His prophecy, which has always come true: "The disaster in Peking will not last for three months", obviously did not come true this time.If he is right again this time, he can easily describe the disasters and hardships of the past one paragraph after another like a drum.Unfortunately, he was not able to guess correctly this time.He had to guess again.He can't guess about state affairs.He felt that he was in some ecstasy, unable to see east, west, north, south.He lost his confidence. God Bless, seeing that the old man didn't speak, he himself felt ashamed to complain.If he voiced his worries, he would surely attract his father's attention--noticing his many new gray hairs.That would make father and son very sad! Fourth Master Li has more to say than both the Qi family and his son.On the street all day long, he heard a lot and saw a lot, so he naturally had a lot to say.However, he couldn't summon up the energy to make a report—what he saw and heard recently were all things that made people panic, and talking about it would only add to the worries! Although the three old men were not completely stunned, their words did not come smoothly.They smiled forcedly and coughed deliberately, but it didn't help.Xiao Shun'er's mother came in to pour tea, feeling the dullness in the room.In order to attract the love of the old people, she suggested that the fourth grandpa should eat noodles in hot mutton soup.The proposal was accepted, but the mood of the host and guest did not improve. Mrs. Tianyou supported Xiao Shun'er and came over to say hello to the Fourth Master.She suffered from shortness of breath again due to the cold weather these days, but she still struggled to get over to hear the news.She had never been so concerned with state affairs as of late.First of all, she was worried about "Xiao San'er", and second, she was afraid that she would die in Beiping, which was controlled by the Japanese—maybe the coffin would not get out of the city, or maybe thieves would dig her out after she was buried.Because of these two things that are always on her mind and worry, she is eager for us to win.Only when we win, "Little San'er"—her "old" son—can come back, and she can die in peace. In order to show affection, she expressed her concerns to fourth master.Her words made the hearts of the three old men tighten immediately.They are all older than her!Old man Qi, who had been optimistic all his life, said something depressing: "Fourth master! It's nothing to suffer all his life. He's old enough to teach the Japanese to clean up and die. Only then..." He couldn't continue. Li Si's mother has almost become a member of the Qian family.Young Mistress Qian, like the others in the Qian family, is stubborn and unwilling to receive more help.However, after getting acquainted with Li Sima, she was no longer so stubborn.Her father-in-law is sick, and her father doesn't come here very often. She needs a friend.Although she doesn't like to talk much, she has a lot to say in her heart-these things to say, in front of a good friend, it seems that she can feel happy without saying them.Although Sima Li couldn't replace her husband, she could indeed replace her mother-in-law, and she was better than her, because Sima Li was a friend, and her mother-in-law was always her mother-in-law no matter what.She missed her husband; because of him, she paid special attention to the child in her womb.She would never see her husband again, but she knew that she would produce a new life within her, and with this new life, part of her husband would still be alive.In this, too, she needs an older woman to tell her some experience.This is her first and last child.She must make him give birth smoothly, and then raise him by herself.If he could be a man—she hoped he was a man—he would be the second Meng Shi.She will raise him up according to Meng Shi's appearance, and make him a person who has all of Meng Shi's advantages and none of his disadvantages!Thinking of this, she thought of going far, far away.However, the farther you think, the more confused and fearful you become.She is not pregnant with a child, but with the expectation and responsibility of "eternal life"!Sima Li could tell her many things that would keep her from getting too flustered.Li Sima's words made her understand: childbirth is childbirth, not some ghostly thing.Li Sima's frankness and sincerity reduced Mistress Qian's anxiety. Old Man Qian was able to sit up for a while.Sitting up he felt lonelier than lying down.When lying down, he can close his eyes and think about it; when sitting up, he needs someone to talk to him.Hearing the four mothers talking nonsense to the young mistress in the west room, he tried to transfer her over.His conversations with the Big Four almost always end with the future dolls, and such endings aren't always pleasant.The four mothers don't know why Mr. Qian likes it so much sometimes, and even names the baby who can only be born in four or five months. "Fourth Mom, do you think it's Qian Yonghao or Qian Qiuhao? The word Qiu seems to be stronger!" She couldn't answer.Normally, she was a little afraid of Mr. Qian, because Mr. Qian's words were so difficult to understand; now, when he asked her which word was good, she was even more confused and unable to answer.However, as long as he is happy, the four mothers can do anything if they feel a little depressed.However, sometimes the old man suddenly gets angry when he hears about the baby in the future.This simply taught the four mothers to be at a loss.Why is he angry?She went to ask Mrs. Qian and found out that the old man didn't want to give birth to a little subjugated slave.Although she had understood the meaning of "subjugated slave" a little recently, she didn't understand why it made Mr. Qian so angry.She thought that "subjugated slave" was at best as unpopular as "fucking".She couldn't figure it out, so she could only grumble and smirk at her old myopia. Even so, Mr. Qian still likes the Four Mothers very much.If she didn't come for half a day, he didn't know how many times he would have to ask.When she came, he would apologize to her sincerely, even in a wordy way, which made her even more puzzled.He thought that maybe he had offended her with his words, but she thought that even if there was even a little bit of contradiction, it would not be worth being so polite. Ruixuan told Mr. Qian the bad news about Shanghai.After he left, the four mothers came.The old man didn't say a word all day, and he didn't bother to eat.The fourth mother was so anxious that she wanted to talk to him several times, but she didn't dare to go in.From time to time, she went out of the window to listen to the movement in the house, and only once she heard the house say: "It must be the little subjugated slave!" After Ruixuan told Mr. Qian the news, he drank six taels on the "wine vat" alone.Walking home staggeringly, he fell asleep.When he opened his eyes again, it was time to light the lamp; after drinking two cups of tea, he continued to sleep.He would rather sleep and never wake up, never to hear bad news again!He had never been so "ridiculous"; today, he had no other choice!