Volume Twenty-Five of Book Two

  Chen Yang and Sun Erpao stared blankly at He Dui, unable to think of any story behind this. In fact, He Dui's current state was deeply shocking to them.

  He Qiu smiled, but the smile was heart-wrenching. He looked at the snow-bright gun in his hand and then at Chen Yang and Sun Erpao, saying in a low voice: "Sun Erpao, this knife that Chen Yang gave you, I won't take it away, but you little devil must remember, what you owe Chen Yang is not just a knife, it's a life."

  Sun Erpao's eyes turned red, it was unclear whether it was the effect of alcohol or something else, but his words became somewhat aggressive: "Isn't a knife just a knife? Why did he say I owed him a life?"

  "Sword? Is this really what you think? Don't forget that this sword is Chen Yang's spoils of war, but do you know where these spoils came from?"

  Sun Erpao was stunned.

  He Qiu's mouth curled up in a sarcastic smile, seemingly with some self-mockery: "That is something obtained by risking one's life, how can there be spoils of war without fighting? Do you know under what circumstances he got this spoil of war? If you don't know, I can give you a hint. Something that was exchanged for with one's life can be given to you without hesitation, do you feel the weight of this gift?"

  Chen Yang was silent.

  Sun Erpao turned his head stiffly and stared at him blankly for a long time. Sun Erpao said awkwardly, "Chen Yang, I didn't know this thing was so valuable... that... that... you take it back, I don't want it." As he spoke, he pushed the trench knife in his hand into Chen Yang's arms.

  Chen Yang couldn't help but frown: "Stupid, what are you pushing for? I said it's a gift for you, just take it and be happy. Don't be like an old woman. If you really have that kind of heart, next time you get war spoils, don't forget to bring me a share."

  Sun Erpao refused to look him in the eye, saying: "No way, you have to take this knife back. It's a spoil of war that you exchanged for your life. I don't want it. But I keep my word, sooner or later I'll get one for you..."

  "Shut up! You got the spoils of war, can't you give me a share? I gave it to you, but you won't take it?! Take it back! Don't push me again!" Chen Yang's face turned somewhat ugly, he really didn't expect Sun Erpao, this mixed-up person, to be so stubborn and refuse to accept the trench knife.

  The two of them pushed and shoved, but it was actually making He's face gradually appear with a hint of a smile: "Stop pushing, Sun Er Hao, put the knife away. That's Chen Yang's heartfelt gift, just remember that. Just like you said, good brothers together don't need to be so particular about things. If you really have a heart, then don't forget this kindness in the future. Don't you think all this pushing and shoving is a bit too much?"

  Sun Erpao's voice became smaller, Chen Yang easily inserted the paratrooper knife into Sun Erpao's arms. Sun Erpao didn't lift his head and after a while, he squeezed out a sentence: "Chen Yang, I'll remember what you said, this knife will always be with me."

  Chen Yang smiled and patted Sun Erpao's shoulder: "Alright, I'll remember too."

  Sun Erpao stretched out his hand, picked up a half-empty wine bottle from the ground, and took a big gulp. After this mouthful, there were at most only two taels of liquor left in the bottle. Without saying a word, Sun Erpao didn't raise his head, but handed the bottle to Chen Yang.

  Chen Yang couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, but then a surge of boldness arose in his heart. Never mind that it was just two cups of wine, even if it were the whole bottle, what's the difference? He tilted his head back and the spicy and pungent liquor seemed like a burning flame that burned from his mouth to his stomach, but Chen Yang knew that he wasn't drinking wine now.

  Sun Erpao's eyes turned even redder, staring tightly at Chen Yang. Chen Yang couldn't help but laugh and scold: "Fool, what are you looking at? Are you jealous that I'm more handsome than you?" Sun Erpao was taken aback for a moment, then a look of surprise flashed across his face, but soon replaced by a disdainful expression: "Don't be ridiculous, with your build, you wouldn't even be able to find a wife in our village. Look at your small body, can't even lift a shoulder or carry a load... what's that phrase again? Ah yes... 'hand no chicken strength'!"

  Chen Yang smiled and felt very happy, but he didn't remind Sun Erpao that the matter was out of his control. He thought it was good this way. Just then, a loud crash was heard as a wine bottle fell over. Chen Yang and Sun Erpao couldn't help but turn their heads to see what had happened, only to find that it was He Dui who had accidentally knocked over the bottle while lost in thought. He Dui, coming back to his senses, saw the two of them staring at him and couldn't help but smile wryly: "Don't look at me like that, I just remembered a brother from the past... this dagger is exactly what he gave me." Chen Yang looked at the gleaming dagger and suddenly asked: "He Dui, can you let me take a look?"

  He hesitated for a moment, but then smiled and handed it over. Chen Yang's first impression of the dagger was that it was sharp, although he wanted to use his fingers to try the blade, every time his fingers approached the blade, they would subconsciously move away. What made Chen Yang even more curious was that the handle was very unusual, this dagger should be an antique, it seemed to be a product left over from the Japanese army during the Liberation War period, but according to Chen Yang's knowledge, the handles of such daggers should all be wooden, but He Dui's dagger was different.

  He carefully examined it again and Chen Yang was certain that he wouldn't mistake this knife. Hei Du seemed to have noticed Chen Yang's confusion and explained, "The handle of this knife was made by my brother, whose ancestors were stonemasons."

  Chen Yang nodded, and indeed, this explained why a dagger from World War II had a handle wrapped in stone. He tried holding the stone handle with his hand, feeling its unique texture and the special patterns carved on it, which allowed his hand to grip tightly. As he swung it around, he felt a cool, silky sensation coming from within the stone handle...

  Good stuff!

  Sun Erpao, on the other hand, looked a bit envious but didn't go over like he usually did. Instead, he tightly grasped the trench knife Chen Yang had given him. He Qiang smiled and said to Sun Erpao, "How about this? This knife is sharper than the one you're holding, want to take a look?"

  Sun Erpao shook his head: "Don't look." As he spoke, he waved the paratrooper knife in front of He Dui and let out a belch, saying: "This is the best one I have."

  Chen Yang was speechless and could only shake his head with a bitter smile. He Qiu couldn't help but pat Chen Yang's shoulder, and the two of them looked at each other and burst out laughing. The more they laughed, the louder their voices became. Sun Erpao's face turned red as he laughed along with them, looking somewhat tipsy and confused, clearly not understanding what they were laughing about.

  The atmosphere had just become harmonious when a discordant noise came from outside the barracks. Sun Er Hao lazily walked to the window covered with camouflage nets, looked out and grinned: "Chen Yang has brought back spoils of war! Heh heh..."