Chapter 29

  Spring returns to the earth, all things recover, Feihu Mountain radiates vigorous vitality, and people start another year of labor.

  In the hall, Lü Jizong was reporting on the war situation to Wang Jinlong and three others, suggesting whether they should go down the mountain to fight a battle, but always small skirmishes that couldn't be won. Wang Jinlong pushed 625: For matters of fighting, look for my brother, I'll listen to him.

  Xiao Ming smiled and remained silent, Lin Xiuzhi stood by and watched, Lü Jizong helplessly changed the subject and said: "Alright, let's put this matter aside for now. I have some personal matters to attend to. Please help me with something. My sister has been idle for so long since she arrived, I'm afraid she'll get bored sick. Does anyone know what kind of task would be suitable for her?"

  Wang Jinlong said: "Isn't there Xiaoyue accompanying her? How could it be...?" After thinking about Xiaoyue's temperament, he swallowed his words back.

  Lin Xiuzhi suggested: "Why not let Lü Niang go learn how to send a telegram, that girl is quite suitable." Lü Jizong shook his head: "I've already arranged for two people to go and learn, my sister isn't interested either. Besides, we should avoid suspicion, shouldn't we?"

  Xiao Ming heartily knew that Lü Jizong didn't want his sister to get involved with the Military Commission, so he smiled and said: "There aren't many people on the mountain who can read, why not let Miss Lü go help Mr. Ji? Maybe by keeping busy, time will pass a bit faster."

  Lin Xiuzhi smiled and said: "Then every day after school, there are so many people surrounding him, it's actually causing trouble for Mr. Ji." Everyone burst out laughing.

  Sun Erdou walked into the hall with a big smile on his face and greeted from afar: "Hey, all you old folks are here, be polite, be polite!"

  Xiao Ming smiled and said: "Er Gou is here, you're in high spirits lately, what's making you so happy, did you eat honey bee droppings?"

  Sun Erdou scratched his head: "Isn't this house built well? I'm delighted. Six rooms, front and back, a proper big tile-roofed house, even more spacious than the landlord's house in our village! When you all have time, come burn the kang and take a look at my trained subordinates, absolutely not inferior to the former Flying Tiger Team!"

  Wang Jinlong smiled and said: "You're living a pretty good life now, aren't you? When are you going to have another fat little kid and consider yourself set for life?"

  Sun Er Gou chuckled and said, "Thanks to you all, we both remember! Come to my place tomorrow, let Gui Hua cook a few dishes, and thank you all properly."

  Xiao Ming's eyes lit up and he asked Sun Er Gou: "Those few rooms in front of your house, aren't they unused?" Sun Er Gou said yes.

  Xiao Ming turned to Lü Jizong and said, "Old Lü, why not let Miss Lü go to Er Gou's place in the morning to teach the village children to read, and then go to the back mountain in the afternoon to teach the special agent team, what do you think?"

  Lü Jizong said to go, Xiao Ming let Sun Erdou go buy some paper and pen, prepare for school, ask him if there is anything else. Erdou said: "Master, I have inquired clearly, the prices on both sides are almost the same, I think it's settled in Lin City, what do you say?"

  Xiao Ming nodded and said: "Alright, you decide then. Remember to call Ma Liu when delivering the goods, don't be careless." Sun Er Gou nodded and bid farewell before leaving.

  Pistol and submachine gun bullets are interchangeable, consumption is huge, the village has 200-300 thousand rounds left, Xiao Ming calculated that it can only support three or four more battles like this, so he ordered Sun Erdou to purchase everywhere. Erdou had a good relationship with the National Army troops stationed in Lincheng, of course, the payment method was still opium, and there were more than 2,000 catties left in the warehouse!

  Lin Xiuzhi was nonchalant, but Lü Jizong was somewhat surprised: "Old Xiao, how can you do this? This opium is a harmful thing!"

  Xiao Ming smiled: "I'm telling you, Old Lü, fortunately you're still a student of the Chairman's. Haven't you heard him say that for the sake of resisting Japan, we can sacrifice everything? Besides, if you don't sell, the Japanese will. This stuff was seized from the Japanese, and by doing this, we can stabilize market prices while also getting ammunition to support the war effort - a win-win situation, what's not to be happy about?"

  Lü Jizong was at a loss for words, lamenting that people's hearts were no longer ancient and the world was declining day by day. However, after coming here for so many days, he also understood the difficulties of Feihu Fort, spending money every day like flowing water. Not to mention other things, just the food in Feihu Fort was exceptionally good, which was a considerable expense in itself. He had suggested controlling it, but Wang Jindong said gloomily: Eat, eat this meal, and don't know if you can eat the next one, how can we let our brothers go on an empty stomach?

  Three consecutive Long Gao Shouyi came to report: captured two Japanese prisoners of war, tied up in the playground, how to deal with them.

  Before the three companies were stationed in Hu Lu Valley, they were later replaced by Sichuan troops. Xiao Ming made them a reserve team and stationed them in the mountain stronghold. This time when they came down from the mountain, they ambushed a Japanese transportation team and two Japanese soldiers were knocked unconscious by hand grenades. Perhaps inspired by the previous exchange of prisoners with the enemy, a platoon leader took charge and had the two men tied up and brought back.

  Lü Jizong asked: "Is it an official? If it is an official, you can review it."

  Xiao Ming curiously asked: "Old Lü, can you speak Japanese?"

  Lü Jizong nodded and said, "I know a bit, I studied it in the special training class back then, but I'm not very proficient." Those who can enter the special training class are all outstanding in ability, excellent in work, and have a promising future. And yet they study Japanese, it seems that Chairman Wei has also put in a lot of thought.

  What disappointed Lv Jizong was that these two were just ordinary soldiers, and they were very fierce, staring at him with anger, but not saying a word. Lv Jizong didn't really want to ask anything out of them, he just wanted to practice his Japanese, shook his head and walked away.

  The news of capturing two Japanese soldiers quickly spread throughout the mountain village. Those who had never seen a devil (Japanese soldier) before came to the playground one after another, pointing and staring, occasionally spitting or kicking them. Seeing the two soldiers with fierce eyes, they shouted loudly, and the crowd burst into laughter.

  This lively scene would not be complete without Xiao Yue. Upon hearing the news, she hastily pulled Lv Jiying to the playground and teased two Japanese soldiers with a wooden stick for half a day until they were exhausted. Lv Jiying couldn't bear it in her heart and advised Xiao Yue to stop. Xiao Yue then pulled her to the main hall, saying that they had come to see their adoptive father and master.

  Wang Jinlong met Xiaoyue, and naturally they had a good time together. However, when Xiaoyue saw Xiao Ming, she didn't show the same fear as before, and her speech became more confident. Xiao Ming repeatedly praised Xiaoyue for making rapid progress under Lü Jiaying's guidance, saying that she had become a big girl. But what Xiaoyue was actually thinking was: since Lü Jiaying arrived, it has been compulsory to take self-defense classes, and Xiao Ming would either ask Shan Wawa to call her over or have Shan Wawa teach her directly. From this, Xiaoyue concluded that the master is afraid of Lü Jiaying, and as long as she is around, the master won't do anything to her.

  Lü Jizong told his sister about the teaching job, Lü Jiying was very willing, but worried that the special agent would make trouble. Xiao Ming smiled: "When you go, bring Xiaoyue with you and let her help you maintain order. Xiaoyue, this task is up to you, can you complete it?"

  "Rest assured, Master. I'll take care of those kids from Ma Liu's gang. Whoever dares to cause trouble will know who my master is!"

  Xiao Ming smiled and patted her head: "Little devil, you have a bright future!"

  The captured Japanese soldier would not eat or drink, and by the third day he was hanging his head. Gao Shouyi thought it wasn't good and went to ask Xiao Ming what to do. Xiao Ming didn't give a clear answer, just said "you handle it yourself" and turned around and left. With no other choice, they went to find Lin Xiuqing, as Gao Shouyi had previously been a squad leader under him.

  Xiao Ming didn't say anything, and Lin Xiūqīng also didn't know what to do. After thinking for a moment, she came up with an idea for Gāo Shǒuyì: "You go find Sūn èrgǒu, this kid has many clever ideas, but you have to speak politely."

  Sun Erdou and Ma Liu were driving their cart, about to leave, when they were stopped halfway by Gao Shouyi. "What's going on, Master Sun? You're leaving? Come, have a smoke." Gao Shouyi greeted them warmly.

  Nowadays, Er Gou is in his prime, and when someone calls him "Sun Ye", he is over the moon. He glanced at Ma Liu with a smug look and responded: "Oh, it's Old Gao, didn't go out to make money today!"

  "What a fortune! These two days, another one has gone down the mountain." Gao Shouyi smiled and said, "How can anyone compare to Master Sun? You are all-powerful, the commander's right-hand man, everything relies on you!" He hastily lit a cigarette for Sun Er Gou.

  The two dogs seemed to have all their sweat glands open, very comfortable, and politely said: "Where, where, it's all the master's kindness, is the old man okay?" After taking a puff of smoke, he felt that something was wrong, "Hey Old Gao, you won't have anything happen, will you?"

  Gao Shouyi chuckled and said: "Still, Grandpa Sun's eyes are sharp, you saw through it at once. There is something I want to ask of you, I don't know if you'd be willing to help an old man out!"

  "Lao Gao, we're all brothers from the same family, no need to mention helping or not, just say what's on your mind, I'll take care of it!" Er Gou was instantly filled with enthusiasm.

  "This is it, I caught two devils, originally thought to exchange for some money, but they're dying in my hands!" Gao Shouyi had a hapless expression, "These two kids won't eat or drink, looking like they won't live much longer, and Commander Xiao hasn't given any clear instructions, so we can't handle it. They say you, Old Master Sun, are righteous, isn't that why I'm coming to ask for your advice?"

  "That's it, if it were the big boss, it would be easy to explain, but the second boss is really hard to deal with!" Sun Erdou's eyes rolled around, "Since you've found me, I'll take care of it. I'll go and bring them away, if anything happens, I'll take responsibility. After all, we're brothers."

  Gao Shouyi thanked him a thousand times, and hastily sent someone to load the Japanese soldiers onto the truck for Sun Er Gou. He patted his chest and said: "Old Sun, thank you! If there's anything in the future, just let me know, I'll be willing to die for my brother!" Sun Er Gou smiled, waved his hand and left.

  "Grandpa Sun, do you still know that you're crippled? I look at you walking and it's like you're floating! " Ma Liu laughed and looked at Sun Er Gou, "You said what's wrong with taking on a task, but getting two half-dead devils, isn't this asking for trouble?"

  "Get out, you're just like Gao Shouyi, a brainless fool!" Sun Erdou said disdainfully. "Do you know why the second master hasn't taken a stand? That Lü Jizong must have been sent to some war zone to gain merit. The master doesn't have time for that and doesn't want to bother with him, so he just ignores it. You see, these two are worth at least 200 big yuan each. If I go back and the master scolds me, he'll definitely be praising my ability to get things done in his heart. You bunch of kids, you've followed the second master for so long and still haven't made any progress!" Sun Erdou looked very distressed.

  As expected, when they arrived at Lin City and finished the transaction, the head of the military supplies department curiously asked: "Old Sun, why are there two dead bodies on the truck?"

  "Dead? He's alive," Sun Erdou kicked twice, and indeed he was still moving. "Japanese soldier, one thousand oceans, don't take the bean bag for granted!"

  "A thousand taels? Don't be ridiculous, who wants that." The section chief took a look and indeed it was alive, but didn't know what it was used for, and wasn't convinced.

  "Who wants it? They're all scrambling to get it!" Sun Erdou sneered, "Do you know how much a dead foreign devil is worth? One hundred big oceans! Let alone the living ones, five hundred for one. Do you know what they want to go back and do?" The director shook his head.

  "Now my troops have launched an attack on the Japanese army, killing hundreds of enemies and capturing two prisoners. My troops suffered some casualties and ammunition losses," Sun Erdou muttered to himself, "What do you think our superiors will do next?"

  The director suddenly realized, patted his thigh: "Right! The reward money is indispensable, the bullets must be replenished, this can be counted on Laozi's nose!"

  "Hmph, don't you understand?" Sun Erdou sneered with a smile, "With more military achievements, won't the officer also get promoted?"

  Chu Chang thought for a moment and then hastily pulled Sun Er Gou to one side, lowering his voice to say: "Old Sun, give them to me, two 500-dollar bills, is that okay?"

  "How can that be! I've already promised someone else," Sun Ergou said with difficulty, "In the west, wait for a while and send it to them, maybe next time."

  "Alright, old Sun, 600 big ones! Next time I'll give it to them, our friendship will be settled like this! Wait a moment, I'll go get the money."

  After finishing, the director rushed back to the house, and soon came back with two bags, running quickly to Sun Erdou: "Old Sun, this is 600 silver dollars, these are cigarettes and wine, a gift from your brother."

  Sun Ergou let out a sigh, with an unwilling expression, "Alright, I'm doing this just for your sake, but don't do it again next time!"

  Ma Liu was shocked and kowtowed: "Niang niang, no wonder Xiao Mian Hu always lets you take the lead, you two are a perfect match, both of you have calculated everything to perfection!"