Operation Sea Lion Has Spring Arrived?

  When Zhou Tianlei's special car arrived at the entrance of the Army Hospital, Lafen pointed to some Asians who looked suspicious at the entrance and said to Zhou Tianlei: "General, it's these people, but I can't tell their identities."

  Zhou Tianlei took a closer look and found that he hadn't seen these people in Chinatown last night. But some more obvious characteristics told him that these people were likely to be Japanese. He furrowed his brow involuntarily.

  He knew that these Japanese must have been resentful of Li Xia for bringing in the Germans and disrupting their action last night, and wanted to take revenge on her and her family. They had definitely gone to Chinatown but hadn't found them there, but they knew they were at the German army hospital, so they followed them here. Although these people may not have dared to enter the German army hospital, it was also a headache for the Japanese to be wandering around outside the hospital like a swarm of flies, because the hospital couldn't protect them forever.

  He got off the car and walked into the hospital with Lafen. When they arrived at the door of Li Xia's ward, two tall and handsome naval soldiers stood up and saluted Zhou Tianlei and Lafen behind him, then hurriedly opened the door to the ward.

  The German's movement at the door startled the people in the room, and they all turned their heads to see Zhou Tianlei and his deputy entering. Yesterday evening was quite dark, so they didn't get a good look. Today, seeing Zhou Tianlei wearing a German naval general uniform with lieutenant general epaulets, most strikingly, there was a medal hanging from his collar. However, they couldn't tell what kind of medal it was (which wasn't surprising, as not many people in the German army had this medal at this time). He looked very majestic.

  Li Xia saw Zhou Tianlei come in, she was originally lying on the bed, after seeing him, she hurriedly struggled to sit up. Zhou Tianlei quickly stepped forward, pressed Li Xia's shoulder and said softly: "You are still recovering from your injuries, just lie down and rest." But Li Xia insisted on sitting up. Her brother quickly used a pillow to support her back against the bed and helped her sit up.

  Zhou Tianlei took the flowers from Lavin's hand and handed them to Li Xia, saying: "These are for you." Li Xia took the flowers, a flush rising to her face, but quickly faded away. She said: "Thank you." Then she handed the flowers to her younger brother, indicating that he should put them in a vase.

  Mr. Chow said: "I'm deeply sorry, due to the mistake of our German troops, we failed to carry out our patrol mission properly, which resulted in the loss of your Chinese property. We are now calculating your losses and will compensate you according to your losses later." Then he bowed to them.

  Li Xia's father hastily said: "We can't afford to offend you, you are a high-ranking official in Germany. It's already good that you don't collude with the Japanese, how dare we ask for compensation from you?"

  Li Xia said: "Dad, look at what you're saying?"

  Mr. Zhou Tianlei smiled and said, "Sir, I don't blame you for misunderstanding us. After all, we have an alliance with Japan, and Japan has invaded your country. So you must think that we are colluding with Japan. But these are matters for politicians, I am a soldier, and soldiers take orders as their duty. However, we are not beasts, we will not do things that beasts do, and when we see beasts harming others, we will stop them. Isn't there a Chinese saying that goes 'when you see injustice on the road, draw your sword to help'? And another one: 'a distant journey tests the strength of a horse, time reveals the heart of a man'. Can't you observe us a bit more before making a conclusion?"

  Zhou Tianlei's words were spoken fluently. The entire speech was in Chinese, and it even included Chinese idioms. Li Xia and her family were all stunned, they had not expected the German naval lieutenant general to speak such good Chinese. Not only was there not a single mistake, but his pronunciation was also very accurate. Moreover, he could even use idioms.

  Zhou Tianlei saw Li Xia and her family stunned by their own Chinese. Laughing, he said: "Everyone sit down. I haven't even introduced myself yet, my name is Gao Te. Prinzen, German Navy Lieutenant General, he's my deputy, Bilafu. Lafeng."

  "My name is Li Xia, this is my father, Li Shan, and he's my younger brother, Li Xiao Hu. We run a Chinese restaurant in Paris' Chinatown. We're from Hunan Province in China and have been living in France for over ten years."

  "Your Chinese is very good, where did you learn it? We've been in France for so many years and have never heard a French person or anyone from another European country speak Chinese as well as you do."

  "It was when I was studying at the German Naval Academy that I had several Chinese exchange students as friends, they taught me Chinese and I taught them German. That's how I learned to speak Chinese."

  Li Xiaohu suddenly asked after repeating Zhou Tianlei's German name more than a dozen times: "General Prien, may I ask you a question?"

  Zhou Tianlei said: "You say."

  Li Xiaohu said: "What is your relationship with the German submarine commander who sank the British warship 'Royal Oak' last year?"

  Raven had been holding her breath for a long time, and now she hastily took over the conversation: "Our general is the commander of that submarine."

  Li Xiaohu had guessed that the person sitting in front of him was Gottfried Prien, the German national hero who was a household name in Europe. However, he hadn't expected that he would actually be sitting right in front of him, and he stared blankly for a while before saying: "You're the German...the German hero they always talk about on the radio?"

  "What's wrong, doesn't it look like it?" Zhou Tianlei said with a smile.

  "But I must remind you that it seems like the Japanese who tried to destroy your property last night but failed are now targeting you. Right now, I've noticed some Japanese people lurking outside the hospital entrance. Although they don't dare enter our German military hospital, we can't rule out the possibility that they might attack you when you leave the hospital. So, I suggest it's best for you to find a place to hide." Zhou Tianlei said.

  "Japanese? Where are they? I'm going to find them." Li Xiaohu clenched his fists and was about to rush out.

  Zhou Tianlei reached out and grabbed his fist, Li Xiaohu felt that his own fist was like being clamped in a pair of pliers, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't pull his fist out of Zhou Tianlei's hand.

  Zhou Tianlei saw that his face was completely red, and suddenly let go of his hand. Li Xiaohu did not expect the other party to suddenly let go, and with a few loud noises, he was forced back several steps by his own strength. If there hadn't been a bed behind him, he would have landed on his butt on the floor.

  Li Xia and Li Xiao Hu's father, Li Shan, who had been silent until now, said after Li Xiao Hu fell: "Xiao Hu, don't be reckless. You're not his match."

  Li Xiaohu struggled to get up, one hand rubbing his waist and the other supporting himself on the bed. Li Xia saw this and hastily said: "Tuzi, come here, sister will help you."

  Li Xiaohu walked over, and Li Xia carefully massaged his waist for him.

  Li Shan said: "Since the Japanese won't let us go, I wonder if the general has any arrangements for us?"

  Zhou Tianlei said: "I think you can't stay in Paris either, others can't protect you forever, it's impossible for someone to protect you for a lifetime in Chinatown. I suggest you go to Germany. If you can't find a house for the time being, you can come and live in my house. And you can also continue your business in Germany, where Japanese people will never come to make trouble."

  Li Shan said: "I'm old, I don't want to run around anymore. I just think that when the time comes, this old bone can return to its own village. Besides, I have many friends there and I couldn't leave them behind. No matter how the Japanese behave, they wouldn't dare to cause trouble in our Chinatown. Hu Zi, Xia Zi, follow this general and take good care of yourselves."

  "Dad, I won't leave if you don't," Li Xia said to her father.

  "Silly child, you think your dad is really old now? Your dad may have white whiskers, but he's still as strong as four or five men put together. No one can get close to him. And what you did just now... never mind, I won't say it out loud. You're too thin-skinned. Anyway, you know the truth in your own heart."

  "Dad, what are you talking nonsense about!" Li Xia's face flushed again, but this time it took much longer to fade than before.

  "General, this way." Li Shan pointed to a corner of the room. Zhou Tianlei and Li Shan walked over together.

  "Since General spoke fluent Chinese, he must also have a good understanding of our Chinese history and cultural landscape." Li Shan asked.

  Zhou Tianlei nodded and said: "Yes, I know."

  "Then you should know that in China, there's a saying: 'Men and women do not give or receive things directly from each other.' You followed my daughter here last night, and after the accident, you even hugged her in front of everyone and got on your ambulance together. You should know what this means in China! But this isn't China. However, when I saw her this morning, I knew how she felt about you... A father knows his child best, after all. Xiazi has been raised by me for many years, so naturally, I understand her thoughts. What I want to ask is, General, what do you think of her? To be frank with you, she's already fallen in love with you. Now, I'd like to know if you like her or not. Whether you like her or not, I hope you can give me a straightforward answer. You Westerners are different from us Easterners."

  Zhou Tianlei is now in a dilemma, to say that he has no good feelings towards this girl would be a lie, but if he says that he also likes this woman, it doesn't seem right either.

  He only then felt the severity of his parents' orders in old China. Although he had come to this era, his thoughts on this matter had not changed much. He too had indeed wanted to marry a Chinese woman. But he hadn't thought it would be in this form. He still wanted to pursue free love, but in these war-torn times, wanting to have a free love was also a very extravagant idea for him.

  After a long consideration, he suddenly remembered that his grandfather had told him that he and Zhou Tianlei's grandmother were married before they fell in love, and he often saw the loving scenes between his grandparents. It seems that for people of this generation in China, free love is also a privilege that only a few can have.

  He finally opened his mouth and said: "I am willing."

  After hearing this answer, Li Shan seemed to have finally put down a stone in his heart. He said: "Then you can't bully her. She is a high school student at the University of Paris Medical School, and it's just because of the war that she didn't continue reading. I originally wanted to take them back to China during this period, but later found out that the Japanese had already blocked China's coastline. And my body, I also know it's not good. Otherwise, that night, I wouldn't have watched those Japanese people committing crimes, and scolding us as 'East Asian sick men' and 'Chinese pigs'. I just saw your move, okay, you have some skills, but still need to improve. Here is a book, I'll give it to you. Hope it can help you. I entrust my son and daughter to you, hope you won't let me down. Also hope that after I'm old, you can take my old bones back to China. I was born in China, died as a Chinese ghost, I must be buried in the soil of China. Hope you can help me fulfill my wish." While speaking, he took out a small booklet from his pocket and handed it to Zhou Tianlei.

  "Sir, you have some illness on your body, it can be treated in our hospital, don't delay."

  Li Shan shook his head and said, "It's no use, I was too competitive when I was young, now it's too late, the disease has progressed to the point where there is no cure. That's also one of the reasons I didn't want to go to Germany with you. The only thing that worries me is these two children, they haven't had a happy childhood with me either. Now that you, General, are willing to take care of them, I have nothing else to worry about."

  After finishing the sentence, Li Shan turned around and walked towards Li Xia and Li Xiao Hu. Zhou Tian Lei pulled La Fen's sleeve and they both went out of the door. The door was closed. Then only a faint cry could be heard from inside.

  After more than 40 minutes, Li Shan opened the door of the room and said: "General, I'm leaving. I hope you will send the letter of appointment to me at a suitable time according to Chinese etiquette. I know that you are busy with millions of things, so you don't have to come in person, just ask your subordinates to deliver it."

  "Old sir, why did you choose me for this task? Don't you have anyone else who can handle it?"

  He shook his head and said, "No, I have a way of judging people. Although you don't look like one of my Chinese compatriots on the surface, I can sense that in your heart, you are indeed one of us. And you're not that kind of treacherous person either. Alas, why does our great China have so many traitors and scoundrels?" With that, he turned around and left.

  Zhou Tianlei hastily called up Wei Shi to follow together. They walked to the hospital entrance. Li Shan turned around and said, "General, don't bother seeing me off."

  Zhou Tianlei saw Li Shan leaving with a resolute attitude and didn't dare to stop him. He hastily called the guards to open the door of his own carriage, personally helping Li Shan in. He also got in, gesturing for the guards and Lafen to withdraw temporarily. Then he said to Li Shan: "Father-in-law is above, please accept a bow from your son-in-law." As he spoke, he half-knelt down on the seat and bowed to Li Shan.

  Li Shan helped him up and said, "This is a public place, General, no need to be too polite. As for the future marriage with my daughter, you can make your own decision, I may not see that day." He waved his hand, and Zhou Tianlei felt a strong force pushing him off the carriage. Li Shan then closed the door behind him.

  Zhou Tianlei knew that he might be saying goodbye to the old man, so he bowed three times towards the car and called over the driver and bodyguard, instructing them to send the old man back to Chinatown. Zhou Tianlei watched as the car started up and drove out of the hospital gates until it was out of sight.

  He returned to the ward. Seeing Li Xia, who had cried like a tearful person, her brother Li Xiaohu was slightly better, with a gleam of revenge in his eyes. Zhou Tianlei knew that now was not the time to ask these two siblings. He brought over a handkerchief and gently wiped away Li Xia's tears.

  Suddenly, Li Xia rushed into his arms and burst out crying: "Dad is gone. Dad is gone." Zhou Tianlei could only hold her, softly comforting her in a low voice while continuing to wipe away the tears from her eyes.

  At this time, there was a knock on the door outside, and Li Xia awkwardly crawled out of Zhou Tianlei's arms. She turned around to look at the window.

  A German nurse came in through the door, holding a tray of medicine for changing wounds. When she saw Li Xia's red face and red eyes, and then looked at Zhou Tianlei, her face couldn't help but reveal a strange smile.