Chapter Fifty-One

  The inspector's surname was Cao, in his forties, slightly chubby, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, looking like a businessman. Lü Jizong recognized him, and back in the special training class, this person had taught camouflage classes, also considered to have a teacher-student relationship.

  The commendation letter was issued by Lü Jizong's superior, not the rumored Chairman. Upon reflection, it is also understandable that the Chairman would be busy with state affairs and beset on all sides, worrying to the point of losing hair, and wouldn't have the energy to bother with a small bandit group like Flying Tiger Fort. However, the letter attached by the superior expressed sincere sentiments, considering the sensitive location of Flying Tiger Fort and deeming it inappropriate for excessive publicity, acknowledging that they had neglected Flying Tiger Fort for two years, hoping they wouldn't take it to heart, and continuing to resist the enemy for the sake of the nation.

  "This made Xiao Ming grab his tail and start pouring out his grievances: "You see, we're not easy! No money, no guns, and even the land that was given to us for grain collection has to be taken back by ourselves from the devils. You say these years have been how we've gotten by! Our ancestors aren't close, our uncles aren't kind, and the job of fighting and risking our lives has ended up on our heads! Go take a look at the back mountain, there are several hundred brothers buried there! What about rewards? What about compensation? So many lives lost, exchanged for a piece of toilet paper. You say what's the point of all this?!

  "Commander Xiao, young Master Xiao! Your stronghold is located behind enemy lines, and in such a harsh environment, you still persist in resisting the war, repeatedly achieving great merits. It's truly admirable to our nation, making us ashamed! However, the government also has its difficulties, please understand, putting the bigger picture first!

  Commissioner Cao hurriedly placated Xiao Ming, then revealed a smile, and changed the subject, "However, it seems that your stronghold isn't as unbearable as you said? I heard that you've suppressed quite a few landlord traitors, and this time even more..."

  "Oh, this..." Xiao Ming turned his head and glared at Lü Jizong fiercely, but Lü Jizong looked completely innocent.

  "Xiao Lao Di, don't misunderstand Jizong, he actually takes good care of your mountain stronghold!" Cao Zhuan Yuan said with a smile.

  It must be Lü Jizong's colleagues! Xiao Ming felt a bit heartbroken. In order to shut their mouths, he gave each of them five gold bars. He didn't know if it was because they thought it was too little or because they thought Lü Jizong got more. People are never satisfied, and the gold bars were wasted!

  "Oh my, look at this! This isn't over yet!" Xiao Ming suddenly put on a smiling face. "What I said earlier was in the past! It wasn't until Old Lü, oh, I mean Director Lü came and led us to fight against the Japanese devils and eliminate traitors that our lives got a bit better. Of course, Director Lü has strict military discipline and firmly requires that spoils of war be turned over to the public, it's just that it's really inconvenient. This Director Lü is truly a dragon among men, and everyone in the mountain stronghold admires him greatly! You as his teacher, Commissioner Cao has an eye for talent, he is a thousand-mile horse, you are Bo Le, a thousand-mile horse is common, but a Bo Le is not common! With Commissioner Cao's selfless dedication, the people are fortunate, the country is fortunate, the nation is fortunate..."

  Xiao Ming's spittle stars flew wildly, and everyone was shocked. They all looked at him with strange eyes, wondering what kind of wind he had caught.

  "Cough, cough, Xiao Lao Di's excessive praise makes me feel ashamed, haha! Seeing that Xiao Ming was getting more and more carried away with his words, although he enjoyed it, Director Cao hurriedly interrupted him. This kind of flattery isn't something to be taken lightly! 'Xiao Lao Di, the country is in a state of emergency, we should put aside our differences and work together to save the nation from danger, rescue the people from disaster, and only then can we show our true heroic spirit! Alright, you all draft a list, when I return, I will definitely fight for compensation with the authorities, to comfort the spirits of the martyrs in heaven, and to ease the minds of the soldiers who are about to die!"

  Everyone quickly thanked him. After chatting for a while, Director Cao stood up to bid farewell, and Xiao Ming pulled him aside and presented him with ten gold bars. Director Cao's face showed displeasure: "Commander Xiao, what are you doing? What do you take me for?"

  Xiao Ming hastily explained: "Director Cao, this isn't for you! To be honest, with the recent surge in prices, it's not like things are going well even in the Nationalist-controlled areas. We're still okay, we're single and can eat our fill without worrying about others, but you all have families, adults are one thing, but what about the children? They're the future pillars of the nation, they'll be responsible for driving out the Tartars, restoring our rivers and mountains, and upholding the majesty of China. You have to let them eat their fill, dress warmly, and study with peace of mind! We can't make the children suffer no matter how hard things get! So, for the sake of the children, we shouldn't be bound by trivial matters!"

  The commissioner was moved, holding Xiao Ming's hand and saying: "Xiao younger brother has a broad mind for the country, really admirable! In this case, I will not be polite, I thank you on behalf of the children in the rear!"

  Xiao Ming turned around and took out some calligraphy and paintings: "Director Cao, we are all rough men, keeping these things is useless. Director Cao has a refined and elegant style, and in the occupied area, this can be used as a cover! Moreover, when you return, in your leisure time, with three or five good friends, drinking tea and appreciating calligraphy, isn't that a great pleasure?" Director Cao declined at first, but eventually accepted them.

  After seeing off the commissioner, everyone returned to the hall and started talking. Lü Jizong heard that Wang Jinlong had given each of the two attendants of the commissioner two gold bars, and he was very disapproving: "What are we revolutionizing for? The world is getting worse!"

  Xiao Ming gave him a slanted glance, but didn't say anything. Lin Xiūqīng smiled and spoke up: "Old Lǚ, you're too honest for your own good! You should be more mindful of these things! Old Xiāo is just paving the way for you! Sigh, having an older sister is really great!"

  This time the disturbance was too big, Xiao Ming worried about being retaliated against by the enemy, ordered to stop all military actions, raise vigilance, and at the same time, the reconnaissance company spread out everywhere, saying that there had been a feud between Da Baozhuang and Feihu Zhai before, and this action was a private vendetta with Da Baozhuang. Lü Jizong shook his head straight, but Lin Xiucheng consoled him: Struggle also needs strategy, saving oneself is the greatest victory!

  Xiao Ming had some free time, so he went to inspect the defenses in various places and then came to the back mountain to improve his wine brewing skills. However, Ji Hongru told him that the Japanese army had tightened its control over all kinds of living materials, and now it was not easy to buy anything!

  Wang Jindong and Xiao Ming are both the kind of people who have no life experience, don't know the value of money, and are used to being idle. Wang Jindong is in charge of mountain stronghold affairs but doesn't take care of anything. Whenever you look for him, he just waves his hand: You handle it yourself! Or else go find Er Dangjia!

  Ji Hongru was different. Xiao Yuenniang left early, he alone with the child, living a very difficult life, barely scraping by, no food for the next day, every day worrying about the seven things to do when opening the door, really afraid of being poor! Therefore, in the mountain stronghold, he also carefully calculated and organized all expenses clearly, concentrated procurement at the right time, and was able to save a lot of money. These logistical matters were all on Ji Hongru's shoulders alone, and the old master had aged a lot in these two years, with white hair sprouting out everywhere.

  Two days ago, Ji Hongru was informed by the shopkeeper when buying lamp oil that it had been listed as a controlled item and there wasn't much stock. As a regular customer, with Feihu Fort ordering in bulk each time, having good credit, cash transactions, never delaying payment, the shopkeeper secretly told Ji Hongru: Whatever is available now, hurry up and buy it, I heard that everything will be controlled in a few days!

  Xiao Ming had no idea how much a day's consumption of salt was, when Ji Hongru told him that just for food alone, three to four thousand catties of salt were needed per year, he was shocked and only then did he realize the severity of the situation. He hastily brought Ji Hongru to the main hall to discuss countermeasures with Wang Jindong.

  Wang Jinlong, although having no other way, shook his head and said to Xiao Ming and Ji Hongru: "I think you're too busy to be confused, isn't it simple? Just ask Sun Erdou over here!"

  Xiao Ming suddenly woke up and hurriedly added a sentence: "Right, how could I forget him. Big brother, old ginger is still spicy! Admire admire!" He quickly dispatched Shan Wazi to find Sun Er Gou.

  Since hearing that Guihua was pregnant, they stopped attending classes in order not to disturb her rest. Sun Erdou felt uneasy and said that country women were not so delicate, and shouldn't delay the mountain stronghold's affairs. Xiao Ming said that there were many things to do at the mountain stronghold these days, it was just right for the special agent team to adjust a bit, or they would become stupid. Ma Liu and others naturally cheered and rejoiced, their joyful emotions overflowing in words.

  "The taste is really good! Damn it, I was busy and confused at the time, should have tied up that cook and brought him back, let you young master also have a taste!" Sun Er Gou and Ma Liu were drinking tea and bragging in the front room, when they searched Cuichun Building, Ma Liu took advantage of the chaos to eat a plate of steaming hot braised pork intestines, until now he still can't get enough of it, thinking about it makes him drool.

  "Alright, alright, you think you can become like this with just one plate of pig intestines? You must have taken a liking to the girls at Drunken Spring Pavilion!" Sun Er Gou didn't attend such a big gathering and felt embarrassed, so he muttered.

  "Get out! Is your sixth brother that kind of person? Besides wine and sausage, I, Ma Liu, really didn't put anything else at heart, it's just that this wine can't be drunk openly!" Ma Liu muttered to himself, feeling a bit regretful. After several years of training, the special forces team had basically taken shape, and Xiao Ming didn't manage them much anymore, letting them fend for themselves. Ma Liu, having been bitten by a snake once, was afraid of the rope for three years, trying his best to restrain himself.

  "Sixth son, I've got something to tell you. Do you want to get married?" Sun Erdou's expression was a bit strange. "I have a distant cousin who is only 20 years old and really not bad. She'll come to serve your wife after childbirth in a while. If you're interested, ask your wife to mention it."

  "Fart! You're twenty years old and still not married, what kind of face do you have? Keep it for yourself!" The mountain girls get married early, sixteen or seventeen is already late, Ma Liu's heart is as clear as a mirror.

  "Good grief! Just find a wife who can bear children, what else do you want? You think you can find someone like Lü's daughter? She'd have to be able to stand the sight of you!"

  "Preposterous! Miss Lü is a goddess-like figure, how dare you say such things! Even if one were to think about it, only our second master would be able to... Suddenly, the sound of a motorcycle could be heard from afar. "Alright, stop it, that little fool has arrived, I wonder who's going to be unlucky!"

  Shanwa stopped the car at the door, took a look inside: "Ah, Liuzi is also here! Dogzi, the master's legacy to you, come with me for a trip!" This little guy was used to being beaten and scolded, but he never lost out in an argument.

  "Hey, Gua Wa, which one of the masters is looking for me? What's up?" Sun Er Gou came out and patted his motorcycle, he had been eyeing it for a while but hadn't found an excuse to ask for it.

  "Little Gua, nothing's up, I'm off! Six Uncle will treat you to a drink another day!" Ma Liu said with a smile, patted Sun Er Gou's shoulder and bid him farewell before leaving.

  "Everyone is looking for you, who knows what's going on, but the master of the house looks like he's in a bad mood, you little guy are probably in trouble! Get in the car, I'll send you back later!"

  "That's a good attitude, or is it that you know how to respect your elders!" Sun Erdou knew that Shan Wawa only gave orders for battle and didn't say anything accurate, nor did he take it to heart. As he got on the car, he smiled at Shan Wawa and said: "Look at your filial piety, I'll fulfill your wish today! Wawa, you're not young anymore, I have a cousin who's about the same age as you... Ah, slow down!"

  Before he could finish speaking, Shan Wa Zi suddenly accelerated and sped away in a cloud of smoke.