Chapter 27: Familial Love or Friendship

  A series of loud explosions, the enemy bunker collapsed with a deafening crash. Dust filled the sky. The bodies of the devils and puppet troops were buried under the rubble.

  Old Li reported to Liu Tao the results of this battle, "annihilated six little devils, seventeen puppet troops. Seized one machine gun, one pistol, twenty-one rifles including Type 38 Arisaka and Hanyang Arsenal... two boxes of bullets, dozens of hand grenades... two boxes of canned beef..."

  Just received a message from the guerrilla member who went to do propaganda, and today eight more people came to join the guerrilla team. Liu Tao's mouth can't be closed, these days the guerrilla team has increased to over 130 people.

  The guerrilla fighters are now carrying the captured goods on their way back to the camp. Liu Tao walked up to Huo Yao and said, "Huo Yao, I've been thinking carefully for the past few days, and I feel that if you were to lead the guerrilla team, it would definitely be much better than me..."

  "Captain Liu, I'm not leadership material..." Huo Yan hastily interrupted what Liu Tao was about to say. He knew what Liu Tao wanted to say and also knew that Liu Tao was a straightforward man, so these words were absolutely sincere. However, Huo Yan had his own thoughts: firstly, he was used to being lazy and really didn't want to take on such a heavy burden. Moreover, the members of this special forces team had already exhausted him. Secondly, he wasn't originally a person of this era, what if he caused a butterfly effect?

  Liu Tao didn't rush him for an answer either, so he smiled and said to him: "Think about it some more, give me your reply in a few days."

  "Never mind the test, I won't agree anyway," said Huo Yao with a shake of his head.

  "Why?" Liu Tao asked.

  Huoyao shook his head and didn't speak. How could he possibly explain? Even if he told them about his origins, he was afraid no one would believe him anyway.

  To be honest, Liu Tao knew very little about gunpowder. But he believed that gunpowder was absolutely his true partner and a trustworthy person.

  The pace of the advance slowed down. He thought of his relatives and friends from that century again. The swallow silently accompanied Huoyao, and the special forces team members followed behind him. The guerrilla fighters who passed by Huoyao's side all greeted him, but he just responded with a listless nod.

  On a mountain ridge, Fireworks stopped in its tracks. Gazing at the setting sun about to dip below the horizon, it savored the gentle breeze. After a long while, Fireworks sighed with emotion and whispered: "The sunset is infinitely beautiful, but only near dusk... The moon has its phases of waxing and waning, people have their joys and sorrows, partings and reunions..."

  The special forces team members could all feel the slump in morale. They quietly stood guard beside him.

  After a long time, Huo Yao suddenly laughed and said: "Do you know? Although we look about the same age, I'm actually 70 or 80 years younger than you guys."

  The special forces team members didn't know what nonsense Huoyao was spouting again. If they were 70 or 80 years younger than themselves, that would mean they hadn't been born yet. Big Cow laughed "haha" and said: "Then aren't you going to call us grandpa and grandma? I didn't think I had such a big grandson haha..."

  The big shot's words were met with a cold stare from Swallow.

  Gunpowder smiled and said, "Actually, I'm from the next century. My parents haven't even been born yet. I was born in 1985 and traveled back to this time from 2011. People in my era live very well. We can eat whatever we want, wear whatever we want. When we go out, we have cars, trains, ships, and planes. We can also travel abroad, wherever we think of..."

  The special forces team members were all stunned, isn't this a paradise on earth?

  "So, I don't have a single relative here."

  "Yanzi's face turned red as she grabbed Huoyao's hand and said firmly: 'You are my brother.'"

  Zuo Caiyun also said: "And us, we are all your brothers and sisters."

  The special warfare team members all nodded in agreement.

  Huoyao burst out laughing. His heart suddenly felt brighter, and he thought to himself, "Yes, even if I have nothing else, at least I still have all of you. My brothers and sisters. But is this really familial love?" Huoyao's thoughts that had been buried in his heart were finally expressed today. With a improved mood, Huoyao laughed and said: "It's going to get dark soon, let's hurry up and go. We obtained so many cans of meat today, we'll definitely have a supplementary meal tonight. If we return late, we'll only be able to drink soup."

  Every time he hears the addition of dishes, Big Cow gets excited. Then he shouted with excitement: "Comrades, let's rush, good wine and good dishes are waiting for us."

  The county town's puppet army headquarters, the puppet commander Li Quanduan sat on a taishi chair leisurely drinking good tea. He slowly put down his teacup and asked a puppet soldier: "Have all of you brothers gone to my father's place? Was there no mishap on the road?"

  The fake army replied: "All the brothers have arrived at Lao Taitai's place. We went there in batches from multiple routes, and we absolutely won't arouse anyone's suspicion."

  "Good." Li Quan nodded slightly. At this time, Zhang Fugui walked in with a loud "haha". Since Li Quan let him off the hook, Zhang Fugui had become a regular here.

  Li Quan hastily got up to greet him, and invited Zhang Fugui to sit down on another taishi chair. After personally pouring a full cup of tea for him, he asked: "Brother Fugui, how have things been going?"

  Zhang Fugui took a sip of tea and put down his cup. Then he smiled and said, "Younger brother, you can rest assured, I've taken care of everything for you."

  Li Quanxi said: "That's really thanks to Brother Fugui."

  Zhang Fugui continued, "I've lent you four machine guns and two mountain cannons. Moreover, Noda-san knows that you want to avenge your brother personally and has agreed not to interfere with this operation."

  Li Quan thanked Zhang Fu Gui again and said somewhat embarrassingly: "It's just that this mountain cannon, none of my brothers know how to use it."

  Zhang Fugui laughed "haha" and said: "Older brother had thought of it long ago, and also borrowed the gunner for you at the same time."

  Zhang Fugui didn't wait for Li Quan to say any more polite words, and continued: "However, Noda Taikun also has a small request, which I need to pass on to you."

  Li Quan knew that Noda wasn't so easy to talk to. He carefully asked Zhang Fugui, "I don't know what Lieutenant Noda's requirements are."

  Zhang Fugui said: "The woman that Noda Taikun wanted to capture the other day, you've seen her photo. According to reliable intelligence, she has now joined a guerrilla unit. Noda Taikun hopes you can capture her and hand her over to him. If you can't catch her alive, her corpse will do."

  "This, this......" Li Quan did not dare to agree to this request. After all, Noda had mobilized so many people and still hadn't captured her. Li Quan couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, if things didn't go well, he, the fake military commander, would be finished.

  Zhang Fugui patted Li Quan's shoulder and smiled: "Don't be so anxious, little brother. Just do your best. If it really doesn't work out, isn't there still big brother me?"

  "Then, brother really doesn't know how to thank Brother Fugui." Li Quan thanked Zhang Fugui a thousand times. Wiping away the sweat all over his head, he pulled Zhang Fugui and said: "Let's go, Brother Fugui. We'll have fun at Chunman Building."

  "Haha......" The two of them burst out laughing in unison.