Chapter 3: Rebuilding Home
Yan Jufan's eyes opened dazedly, and the newly risen sun shone warmly, making him feel especially comfortable. A new day had begun, and Yan Jufan thought happily that he didn't know how those unfamiliar yet familiar villagers were doing, but he should have earned enough time for them. Yan Jufan also felt a little strange, thinking that his unfamiliar yet familiar father must be organizing everyone to hide well. Now all he needed to do was find the way out.
In Yan Jufan's memories of the two lifetimes, for some reason, he suddenly had a strong desire to see them. He rummaged through the ashes that had been burned, and the mountain yam buried in the soil below emitted a tempting fragrance. A big fat fish also turned into fragrant dried fish, and he was smart himself. Thinking of Yan Jufan, he smiled happily.
Yesterday's twisted foot, after applying a layer of medicinal herbs to promote blood circulation, the injury has greatly subsided. The creek water winds its way down the mountain slope, finally flowing out of the valley through a mountain crevice, and the mountains here can finally be traversed. Yan Jufan looked back, the valley was shrouded in green under the sunlight, sparkling with dew, and the stream flowed like a jade belt decorating the emerald. Farewell to my birthplace...
Yamamoto Kitaro, in addition to excavating an old printing press in the village of Pheasant Rock, gained almost nothing. In a rage, he burned down all the thatched huts, ate all the domestic fowl they could catch, and left behind countless yellow and white objects before departing in anger. It wasn't that he didn't want to search, but this mountain was too big, and it was impossible to find food in the village. If they didn't retreat soon, because of their light advance, the troops who had thrown away their heavy equipment would go hungry.
Mei Huan-yu secretly delighted in his heart, had said that this place was not easy to find, and the mountain people were also fierce and difficult to tame. The Japanese did not listen, and as a result, they ended up with nothing but a broken printing machine after searching for 100 kilometers. Mei Huan-yu couldn't help but burst out laughing when he thought of this. The several agents beside him exchanged glances in confusion, they really didn't understand why the Japanese army had made such a big fuss and yet returned empty-handed, how could their captain still laugh about it?
After seeing the devils retreat, Yan Xi Wu was still uneasy and waited for another half day. After sending someone to investigate from a distance again, he led his fellow villagers back to clean up the village. The mountain village that had been ravaged by the devils was desolate everywhere, just like a huge garbage dump, with almost no houses not emitting smoke, countless eaten bones, and feces visible everywhere.
The villagers cursed and cleared their own homes, having only heard of the brutality and shamelessness of the devils before. Which village was killed off, which village was exterminated? Today they finally saw it, and everyone admired Yan Jufan, the son of Yan Xiuwu from the village, who led the devils on a wild goose chase. If not for him, everyone would have suffered disaster. Thinking about this, people couldn't help but feel secretly sad for Yan Jufan, who had not yet returned. This child was usually mischievous, not stealing chickens or dogs, but playing tricks on others with strange things. It really made people cry and laugh at the same time. No one expected that this clever and resourceful little devil would stand up and save the villagers in this critical moment.
Yan Jufan's attitude had greatly changed before he even returned to the village, and this was something Yan Jufan never expected as he was still wandering in the mountains towards home.
Yan Yu was wiping away tears as she stared at the collapsed house, where she had just experienced warmth and happiness. At the moment her parents were killed by the devils, she thought she would never be happy again. When she hid in the cellar and looked outside, the devils used bayonets to pierce her mother who was resisting, killing her beside the vegetable garden. Her father had just hidden himself well, but when he returned and saw this scene, he picked up a shovel and smashed one of the devils. However, he was soon shot three times by the devils and fell dead beside her. Even his corpse was mutilated by the enraged devils. Probably because several people were killed here, the devils didn't search carefully. At that time, she felt like the sky had collapsed, and her beloved parents were killed in front of her eyes. But she didn't dare to move.
The next day, when she was crying and hugging the dead body, Dad rescued him. Yes, this quiet-faced man adopted him and called himself Dad. So he had a home again. But now this home has been burned by devils, and even her two-year-older brother Hei Fan, who always teased her, is uncertain whether he is alive or dead. Tears flowed out as she thought about it.
Yan Xi Wu was holding a wooden stick and clearing the rubble, when he looked up to see Yu Nong crying. He smiled bitterly and walked over, "Yu Nong, don't be sad, the house can be rebuilt, as long as everyone is fine. Come help Dad clean this up and set up a temporary shelter. Tomorrow we'll find people to help us fix the house." "You go with Zhang Shu to prepare dinner for everyone," Yan Xi Wu said while working with several villagers to repair the foundation.
Yu Nong responded, helping to pick out the sand from the hidden grain. Zhang Shu whispered: "Yu Nong, don't cry, look at you, all tear-stained, hehe. Don't worry about Jifu, his life is hardy, nothing will happen to him. When he comes to see you crying like this, he'll definitely laugh at you."
"Zhang Auntie, who cried? It's just that the sand got into my eyes. You said Second Brother is really okay, right? I also know he's very clever and should be fine, but I still feel uneasy in my heart." Yu Nong said with a pout.
"Our Rain has grown up, she knows how to think of others now." Zhang Shu narrowed her eyes and stared at Rain.
"It's not like that, but I really miss Fan Gege. I couldn't sleep without him." Yu Nong said shyly. Knowing a bit about the situation, Yu Nong hastily explained.
Zhang Aunt just smiled quietly, and soon her face turned red like a string of chili peppers. After Rain Concentrate's parents passed away, she would have nightmares every night. It was strange to say that whenever someone had teased her a few times and then coaxed her into laughing, her heart would slowly calm down, and she could sleep at night. Thinking about these things, Rain Concentrate's face grew even hotter. "Brother Jifu, where are you? Rain Concentrate misses brother so much..."
Many people in Kuishi Village moved here this year, some lost their relatives, homes and land in Northeast China, while others were refugees who survived by chance and made a living in the mountains. Yan Xi Wu, with his broad-mindedness as a mountain dweller, helped them settle down here. Unexpectedly, the Japanese devils invaded the pass this year, and soon they arrived at this place. People have to live on, so they discussed ways to cope with the situation in twos and threes.
Yan Jufan led the devils away and ensured everyone's safety. Everyone was grateful in their hearts, and they all worked together to help Yan Wuxiu build his house. Zhang Yuntian also directed a few editors to help out, but these new recruits who had just joined the newspaper were mostly university students who had recently fled south to escape the war. They were physically weak. It took four people to lift one wooden beam, but they didn't complain. Zhang Yuntian thought they were all good young men. Having just started working, they harbored a deep hatred for the devils in their hearts. Staying behind in the enemy-occupied zone, they dodged and weaved with the devils. At night, they had to work on editing and printing, while also listening to broadcasts from the People's United Party. Even if they slept late, they still had to participate in daytime labor the next day.
