Chapter 6: Evacuation from School

  Just after lunch, a student came in a hurry and found Teacher Yang to say that Principal Duan wanted him to go back to school quickly. When asked what was going on, the student shook his head unknowingly. Teacher Yang didn't think much of it and told Director Geng that he had to leave. Director Geng said it wasn't too late to stay here for a night and leave tomorrow, but Teacher Yang said Principal Duan wanted him to go back quickly. Director Geng asked why, and Teacher Yang said he didn't know clearly. However, he quietly pulled Director Geng over and told him that even if Principal Duan hadn't called him back, he would still have to leave. Director Geng understood and said they would meet again in the future. Teacher Yang took these students back then.

  Lu Gong saw that Teacher Yang didn't say a word and thought it was better not to ask too much. Seeing the gloomy atmosphere on the road, he couldn't help but ask: "Teacher Yang, what's wrong?"

  "Teacher Yang?" said with a serious expression: "Lu Gong, Principal Duan called us back. It's estimated that the devils are coming. Don't spread the word to your classmates for now, let's talk about it when we get back to school."

  After returning to school, Teacher Yang came to Principal Duan's office, where several teachers were already seated. Principal Duan saw Teacher Yang arrive and asked him to sit down, then looked around at everyone and said: "As far as I know, the devils have currently occupied Huarong and Anxiang, which is unfavorable for us. The school has decided to disperse all students and let them return home individually. Some classmates from Huarong and Anxiang don't need to go back home, as those places have already been occupied by the devils. Many refugees are rushing towards Nanxian County. Perhaps the devils will launch a full-scale attack in no time.

  The principal also asked the chef in charge of food to prepare rice for the students and told Yang Binglian to gather the students and tell them about their current situation.

  "Principal Duan, Principal Duan..." Just then a hurried voice outside the window interrupted Yang's words. Xiao Lin burst in, panting and saying: "Quickly, quickly, Teacher Yang, there are... planes in the sky."

  Everyone in the house rushed out of the room and looked up at the sky, and sure enough, a plane was flying towards here. When it flew over their heads, a clear round red mark could be seen on the wing. Mr. Yang knew that this was a reconnaissance plane as soon as he saw it. He realized that the enemy would take action soon. He told Little Lin: "You hurry back to inform Old Zhang who strikes the bell, and let all the students gather on the playground." Little Lin responded with a sound and ran out quickly.

  A sudden bell rang out, and the teacher and classmates gathered on the playground. Classmates looked at each other in confusion, still unaware of what had happened, and began to discuss it in hushed tones.

  "Classmates, be quiet, please be quiet." Only then did Teacher Yang stand on a desk, delivering an impassioned speech: "Classmates, since the July 7th Incident, the Japanese devils have been rampaging across China's land, unstoppable and arrogant. The Chinese people have suffered unprecedented humiliation and devastation. Our country's vast lands have been trampled by them. Look, even now," he pointed to the sky, continuing, "they are recklessly flying overhead. They have occupied Huayang and Anxiang, and soon their iron hooves will trample our beautiful homeland, bully us, slaughter us, and deny us peace. Can we tolerate this?"

  "No way!" The words echoed loudly on the playground. The birds in the trees flew away.

  Principal Duan arrived, and Teacher Yang jumped down to help Principal Duan onto the desk. Principal Duan adjusted his glasses, looked around at the students on the playground, and said passionately: "Yes, Teacher Yang is right, you answered well. We cannot give in. But, classmates, we are unarmed, what can we use to fight against the Japanese devils who are armed to the teeth? Only by taking up arms can we engage in a desperate battle with the enemy to achieve victory in the War of Resistance. However, you don't have weapons, and to be honest, I don't either. We are powerless, and you are too. You are still students learning culture and knowledge, I don't want you to fight bare-handed against the devils, that would be a meaningless sacrifice and a foolish act. On the front lines, our Eighth Route Army and New Fourth Army, as well as our allied armies, are defending our homeland. We are not afraid of the devils, only the devils are afraid of us. As long as we survive, we will surely win. But today, I regret to inform you that we have no choice but to temporarily suspend classes, leave this school, and go further away from here. Those who can should find relatives or a place to hide, one day we will return, and the sky above will always be ours. You are still young, China's construction needs you. Later, please take a few bags of rice as travel expenses, go home, and consider it compensation from the school."

  After finishing, he bowed deeply and then scanned the students on the playground with deep eyes. He jumped down from the desk and came to the place where the rice was already prepared for distribution as travel expenses for the students. Silently, he picked up a bamboo rice container and scooped one share after another into his classmates' schoolbags or sleeves.

  Mr. Yang came over and said a few words to Principal Duan, then left. He had no choice but to leave, the superior's instructions were iron-clad, discipline was like that, let alone he had already delayed for more than ten hours. As he was about to leave, he took a look at Lu Gang and Li Xiaolin who were scooping rice for their classmates, sighed deeply, and hurriedly walked towards the school gate.

  When Lu Gan and others finished distributing food, the sky had darkened, with dark clouds rolling overhead, a heavy rain was about to arrive. When Lu Gan and Xiao Lin looked for Teacher Yang again, they couldn't see his figure anymore. Lu Gan felt a little lost, standing outside the school gate, staring blankly into the distance, feeling a bit sour in his heart, he didn't know when Teacher Yang would come back, nor did he know if he could see Teacher Yang again in the future. At this time, a gust of wind blew across the sky. Lu Wei came, Cao Qingman told Lu Gan that he had left first, Lu Gan was speechless, Cao Qingman left, Xiao Lin and Lu Wei stood beside him, Xiao Lin holding an umbrella.

  "Come on, pole brother. It's time to go home, all the classmates have left, and your sister also needs to go home." Li Xiaolin urged.

  Lu Gang looked at Xiao Lin and asked an unrelated question: "Do you think we'll see Teacher Yang again?"

  "I don't know. Let's hurry up and go, if we're late, we won't catch the ferry and will have to spend more money on a hotel." Li Xiaolin replied.

  "Brother, let's go back, it's too late, Father will beat us."