Chapter 1: "Still recognize me?"

  I know one day everything will be alright

  I know that on that day, I will never be able to see again.

  Because a gang of robbers broke into my hometown

  I have no choice but to put down the hoe and pick up the Green Dragon Crescent Blade!

  I want to fight for justice with blood for my loved ones.

  I want to let robbers know that evil has always been punished since ancient times!

  Farewell, dear ones, the bugle for charging has sounded ahead.

  Farewell, comrades, we have heard the victory cannon.

  Do you know how many brothers shed their blood on the battlefield but have no one to remember their names?

  Do you know how many parents are waiting with bated breath for their children to fulfill their filial duties, but it's already too late?

  You don't know, our flesh and blood are still buried in the wilderness of a foreign land.

  You don't know, our souls have lost their way back home!

  Farewell, dear ones! I swear to plant the red flag in the lair of the bandits!

  Farewell, brothers! On the day of triumph, don't forget to climb high and proclaim it to each other!

  You will see how many Chinese sons and daughters have shed their blood for this cause!

  You will see that the butcher's knife of the bandits will forever be unable to intimidate the 400 million compatriots!

  You will see our flesh and blood transformed into those radiant beams of light in the sky!

  You should know that our souls are still guarding the rivers and mountains of our motherland!

  That day, I have seen it.

  The smoky battlefield.

  A shell exploded on the National Army's position, sending mud flying down like raindrops.

  Qin Zhiyong and Duanzi crawled out of the flying soil blown up by the bomb, lay on the bunker, and continued to throw grenades and shoot towards the front of the position. Qin Zhiyong looked back at the Blue Sky with a White Sun flag fluttering in the distance on the Tianxin Pavilion, and suddenly heard a deafening roar in his ears. Qin Zhiyong looked forward again, and another group of Japanese soldiers shouted "Sussa" (Japanese: Forward) under the cover of a Type 97 tank, charging up.

  Grenade bundle in his arms, he jumped out of the trench and rushed towards the tank. He sometimes crawled forward, sometimes stood up and ran wildly, rushing to the front of the tank, stuffing the grenade bundle into the tank's tracks and pulling down the fuse, his body immediately rolled to one side, and the tank was paralyzed in a huge explosion.

  Duanzi had just run two steps when a bullet hit his right leg, and Duanzi knelt down on the ground with his right knee bent. At this time, another tank roared towards Duanzi, rolling over him. Duanzi dragged his injured right leg forward with difficulty, crying out loudly...

  In the trenches, Qin Zhiyong looked at Duanzi in horror as he stumbled forward, crying out loud...

  The tank's track is getting closer and closer...

  Qin Zhiyong crouched in the trench with his head in his arms...

  Another bullet hit the shoulder of the bolt, and the bolt fell to the ground, desperately watching the tank rushing towards itself...

  The shells fired by the tank continued to explode on the battlefield, a soldier was blown up by the shell, and the shattered limbs fell heavily in front of Qin Zhiyong.

  Qin Zhiyong bravely stood up, hugged an explosive package and jumped out of the trench, charging towards the tank...

  The tank that emitted a loud roar changed direction, the barrel adjusted its height and charged towards Qin Zhiyong. Suddenly, a flash of fire appeared at the muzzle, followed by a deafening "Boom" sound...

  Autumn 2005, Xiangxi Longtan.

  Qin Zhiyong sat up vigorously from the bed, sweat dripping down his sparse white hair, as if he had just gone through a life-and-death struggle.

  For decades, the same scene has been appearing in his dreams. At this moment, sitting in a dimly lit room, the loud roar of the Type 97 tank still echoes in his ears. He opens his bloodshot eyes wide and perks up his ears to listen carefully, like a leopard that has spotted its prey.

  The rumble of the tank grew louder in his ears, and amidst the rumble was a faint cry of "Susu". Qin Zhiyong's face twisted with anger, he threw off the quilt, grabbed the pillow, and ran out of the door barefoot, limping towards the gate.

  The daughter-in-law who was kneading dough in the courtyard saw her father-in-law rushing out of the courtyard with a pillow and hastily rushed into the west room to shout: "Tai Ping! Tai Ping, come out quickly!"

  Qin Zhiyong's son Taiping hastily put on his clothes and shoes and rushed out of the west room.

  His wife shouted at him: "Hurry up, run out of the yard!"

  Two people ran out of the courtyard, one in front and one behind.

  Outside the courtyard, on the dirt road, Qin Zhiyong stood at the side of the road with a pillow in his arms. The dazzling sunlight made him narrow his eyes, looking at the huge "monster" rumbling in the distance amidst the swirling dust. He let out a loud roar and charged towards the "monster".

  A farm tractor was driving over, enveloped in dust, "putt putt putt", and the young man operating it was looking back at the brand new Japanese LCD TV he had just bought with great joy. Suddenly, he saw an old man rushing towards him holding something, and he was so shocked that he hastily grabbed the brake handle, and the tractor stopped in front of Qin Zhiyong.

  Qin Zhiyong hugged his pillow and crawled under the front of the tractor.

  Tai Ping and his daughter-in-law rushed over and pulled Qin Zhiyong out from under the tractor.

  The young man looked at Qin Zhiyong with dissatisfaction and disdain: "At such a big age, you still come out to swindle people!"

  Qin Zhiyong hugged his pillow and stared blankly at the tractor.

  "No! No! He's ill!"

  Young man: "If you're sick, get treated, don't come out and harm others!"

  He stepped on the accelerator and started the tractor. The tractor drove past Qin Zhiyong, and the two words "Japan" printed on the TV packaging box in the carriage made Qin Zhiyong's eyes widen again.

  Tai Ping coaxed her father, like coaxing a child: "Dad, let's go home, let's go home."

  Tai Ping and his daughter-in-law escorted Qin Zhiyong back to the courtyard. As they walked, Qin Zhiyong saluted in one direction and waved in another.

  "It's all right, it's all right, everyone has left."

  Qin Zhiyong muttered to himself: "They're all gone, they're all gone."

  Tai Ping and his wife helped Qin Zhiyong back into the house, where he lay on the bed. Tai Ping's wife used a towel to wet with water and wiped away the mud from Qin Zhiyong's feet. Tai Ping covered his father with a quilt.

  Qin Zhiyong lay on the bed, his face against the wall, his whole body trembling.

  Tai Ping sat on the edge of the bed and comforted him: "Dad, you had a nightmare again, didn't you? It's okay, it's okay, just go back to sleep."

  Tai Ping's daughter-in-law walked out of Qin Zhiyong's house and ran into her son Qiang Jun.

  Qiang Jun furrowed his brow: "Mom, did Grandpa get confused again?"

  Tai Ping's wife nodded helplessly, took out two freshly baked rice cakes from the pot and put them in a bowl to hand over to Qiang Jun: "Go, send it to your grandfather."

  Qiang Jun: "I'm not going."

  Tai Ping's wife was busy with something and said impatiently: "What's wrong? Your grandfather won't eat you."

  Qiang Jun reluctantly took the bowl: "That's hard to say, he looks at me with a gaze as if I were a Japanese devil! I'm really afraid that one day he'll make a mistake and give me a good beating.

  Tai Ping's wife laughed: "You deserve to be beaten! You said you, what else can't you learn, must learn Japanese, your grandfather hates the Japanese the most, how can he not be angry!"

  Qiang Jun: "What's with learning Japanese? I'm planning to study in Japan in the future!"

  Tai Ping's daughter-in-law looked nervously at the east house: "Speak softly, don't let your grandfather hear. Also, put away your Japanese textbooks, or your grandfather will see them and tear them up..."

  Qiang Jun: "I'm not afraid of him."

  Tai Ping's daughter-in-law poured a bag of glutinous rice into the wooden basin filled with water: Hurry up, I still have many things to do here.

  Qiang Jun could only hold his bowl and walk towards Qin Zhiyong's house.

  At this time, Qin Zhiyong was sitting on the bed watching TV, puffing on a cigarette.

  On TV, Japanese lawmakers and young people dressed in the uniform of the invading Japanese army are visiting the Yasukuni Shrine. Outside the shrine, a long queue waiting to visit...

  Qin Zhiyong stared at the TV screen, puffing on his cigarette one mouthful at a time.

  Qiang Jun carried a bowl of congee into the house.

  Qin Zhiyong raised his head and narrowed his eyes: "Who are you?"

  Qiang Jun smiled and said: "Grandpa, I'm Qiang Jun, your grandson you raised with your own hands. Mom made these rice cakes, try one first."

  Qin Zhiyong: "Strong army, okay, okay, put it down."

  Qin Zhiyong picked up a piece of rice cake and started eating it.

  Qiang Jun sat down beside Grandpa: "Is it delicious?"

  Qin Zhiyong chuckled: "Delicious, delicious."

  After eating a few bites, Qin Zhiyong seemed to remember something and stared blankly at Qiang Jun: "Who are you?"

  Qiang Jun smiled wryly as he looked at his grandfather.

  Suddenly, Gang Jun saw a torn university Japanese textbook on Qin Zhiyong's bed. He picked it up and shouted: "Grandpa! Why did you tear my book again!"

  Qin Zhiyong put down the rice cake, stared at Qiang Jun, and scared him so much that he took a few steps back. He glanced at the crutch leaning against the headboard, ready to escape at any moment. Qin Zhiyong picked up the crutch and swung it at Qiang Jun, who hastily fled the house.

  Xī wū lǐ, tài píng zuò zài chuáng shàng zhèng kàn xìn.

  Translation:

  In the western room, Taiping sat on the bed reading a letter.

  Tai Ping's wife: "Is Uncle Chang Kung arriving tomorrow?"

  Tai Ping: "The letter says today we arrive in Changsha, tomorrow we'll almost be there."

  Tai Ping's wife: "The two brothers haven't seen each other for sixty years, and tomorrow is also the Double Ninth Festival, so they must have a good drink."

  Tai Ping: "Yes."

  Tai Ping's wife: "But can he still recognize his grandfather, Zhang Shu?"

  Tai Ping sighed: "Who knows? He always said that Zhang Uncle had long been dead. I don't know how to make him believe me..."

  Tai Ping hadn't finished speaking when Qiang Jun burst in, his face red with anger, and threw the torn Japanese textbook onto the bed.

  "Strong army: 'Dad, grandpa tore up my textbook again! And he's going to hit me!'"

  Tai Ping put down the letter and scolded her son: "I've told you so many times, when studying Japanese, you have to take care of your grandfather's textbook too."

  Tai Ping's wife picked up the textbook and took a look, comforting Qiang Jun: "Son, I'll make you some sticky rice..."

  Qiang Jun: "No way! Tomorrow morning I'll be back at school. I can't stand the way he looks at me."

  Qiang Jun snatched the textbook and stormed out of the door with a huff.

  Tai Ping's wife shouted at Qiang Jun's back: "Tomorrow is the festival, your grandfather will come, how can you not be there? This child..."

  The next morning.

  Morning glow shines on the majestic Eagle Mountain, a car is driving on the highway at the foot of the mountain.

  Gu Changsheng sat in the back seat of the car, gazing at the distant Eagle Mountain, lost in thought.

  The town head of Longtan Town, sitting next to him, was introducing: "... Our place has been a must-contend place for the military since ancient times. During the War of Resistance, this was all a battlefield. That is Hero Mountain, which used to be called Eagle-shaped Mountain. At that time, both sides lost many people in the fight for that mountain head. In the early years when we were building terraced fields, we dug up many human bones, ours and those of the devils. Now you can still find bullet heads and shell casings in the soil."

  Driver: "Yes, two days ago when my third uncle was digging the ground, a shell fragment even broke off a corner of his shovel."

  Town head: "This is a common thing. The shrapnel and shells on the mountain, the villagers have been picking them up for decades, and they still haven't finished yet. This hill was also shaved off by two feet at that time, and several years after liberation, not even grass grew."

  Driver: "This mountain must be over 1,000 meters, right?"

  Town head: "More than 1,400 meters."

  "1,450 meters."

  The town mayor was astonished: "Do you know?"

  Gu Changsheng's gaze was still directed at the eagle-shaped mountain outside the car window: "I was there too."

  The town mayor nodded thoughtfully: "How many years has Mr. Gu been away from the mainland?"

  "Almost sixty years have passed."

  Town Mayor: "Oh."

  Gu Changsheng fell into deep memories once again, scenes of the past floating before his eyes: wearing military uniform, holding a rifle, the majestic and heroic Zhiyong Ge, as well as Old Yang, Old Cao, Er Guizi, Old Huang, and Dongmei...

  "Gu Changsheng muttered silently in his heart: 'Zhi Yongge, how are you now? We will meet soon, can you still recognize Shuangzi?'"

  The sedan stopped outside Qin Zhiyong's house gate.

  Town head: "We've arrived, it's right here."

  Gu Changsheng woke up with a start from his memories.

  The town head and Gu Changsheng got out of the car, and the driver took out Gu Changsheng's suitcase from the trunk.

  Town head: "This is Qin Zhiyong's home. The old man has been a bit muddled in recent years."

  Gu Changsheng adjusted his excited mood.

  The village head shouted into the courtyard: "Taiping! Is Taiping there? The guest has arrived!"

  Tai Ping hastily dragged his shoes and rushed out of the yard in a flurry.

  Tai Ping saw the town head and hurriedly bowed respectfully: "Town Head, you've come personally?"

  The town mayor introduced: "This is Qin Zhīyǒng's son Taìpíng."

  Gu Changyu took a few quick steps forward and hugged Taiping: "You... you're really Taiping?"

  Tai Ping was also emotional: "Uncle! It's me, how are you?"

  Gu Chang'e carefully examined Tai Ping, stroking his face with her hand: "Alright, alright, you've also grown old like this?"

  Tai Ping smiled foolishly: "Over sixty years old. Uncle, town mayor, please come in quickly."

  Tai Ping led the town head and Gu Changshun into the yard. Tai Ping took over the suitcase from the driver's hand.

  Gu Chang'e pulled Tai Ping's hand and asked while walking: "Did you receive my letter?"

  Tai Ping: "Received, I know you're supposed to be here today."

  "Over the years I've been inquiring about your whereabouts, thanks to this town head, we were finally able to get in touch with you."

  Tai Ping: "Yes, yes, yes. The letter was also sent by the town head."

  Tai Ping's daughter-in-law ran out of the house, wiping her hands with a towel as she went.

  Tai Ping's wife smiled and said: "The town mayor has arrived. Is this Uncle Chang Kung?"

  Tai Ping introduced Gu Zhanggui: "This is my elder brother."

  Tai Ping's wife: "Quickly go sit in the main hall."

  "Where is my brother Zhìyǒng?"

  Tai Ping and his daughter-in-law hastily invited Gu Zhangyong and Town Head into Qin Zhongyong's house.

  In the dimly lit room, Qin Zhiyong sat alone at the table, drinking wine.

  Gu Chang stepped quickly to the front of Qin Zhiyong, stopping in his tracks and gazing at him for a while. Qin Zhiyong raised his head, looking at Gu Chang and the town mayor behind him in shock.

  Gu Changsheng bowed his head: "Zhiyong Ge..."

  Qin Zhiyong hastily stood up, with a smile all over his face, looking at Gu Changshou and nodding continuously.

  Gu Changsheng: "Zhiyong Ge! How are you?"

  Qin Zhiyong still smiled and nodded.

  Gu Changsheng: "Paired with you for a long time, do you still recognize me?"

  Qin Zhiyong's smile suddenly froze, he stuttered and raised his right hand in a salute: "Is... is Commander Feng? No... is Advisor Sun? Also not..."

  Qin Zhiyong shook his head in doubt and sized up Gu Changshou.

  "It's me! Don't you recognize me? Gu Changsheng! I'm Gu Changsheng!"

  Qin Zhiyong still shook his head.

  "Gu Changshuan: 'Zhiyongge, what's wrong with you! I'm Shuanzi!'"

  Qin Zhiyong lowered his head and muttered: "Dingzi... Dingzi..."

  "Ah, I'm Gu Zhongshu! I'm still alive, I followed the troops to Taiwan. It's been nearly sixty years..."

  Qin Zhiyong pushed open the old wooden door and walked shakily to his bedside, lying down with his face against the wall.

  Gu Changshuan looked at Qin Zhiyong's back with difficulty.

  Tai Ping felt a bit awkward: "He's like that now, sometimes good and sometimes bad, maybe he'll be better in a while."

  Tai Ping's wife walked into the house, making a round of conversation: "Uncle Chang Kuan hasn't eaten yet, and Town Mayor shouldn't leave either. Let's taste our homemade chrysanthemum wine."

  Tai Ping: "Right, right, Uncle Chang Kuan, try some of our hometown dishes."

  Town head: "Alright, alright."

  Tai Ping's wife led everyone to the main room, Gu Changshun walked out of the house in disappointment, and reluctantly turned back to take a few more glances at Qin Zhiyong lying on the bed.

  The main hall is furnished with tables and chairs, on the south-facing wall in front of which is enshrined a plaque inscribed "Heaven Earth Ruler Parent Teacher".

  Everyone sat around the table, Gu Changshuo still gazing at Qin Zhiyong's house.

  Tai Ping's wife poured chrysanthemum tea for everyone.

  Gu Changyu took a sip of tea and sighed with emotion: "The tea from our hometown is still so fragrant!"

  Town head to Tai Ping: "Mr. Gu and your old man fought against the devils together back in the day."

  Tai Ping: "Yes, yes."

  Town head: "Has your father ever mentioned it to you?"

  Tai Ping: "When I was young, I heard my grandmother say it, but my father rarely mentioned it."

  "Does your family know about this?" Gu Changsheng asked tentatively.

  Tai Ping nodded: "I know, grandma told me."

  Tai Ping looked at Qin Zhiyong's house with deep affection, "He raised me up, took care of my grandmother until the end, he is my father."

  Qiang Jun helped bring up the wine and dishes, including braised fish in soy sauce, spicy diced chicken, cured meat, rice cakes, chrysanthemum wine, and a plate of chili powder.

  Tai Ping called out to Qiang Jun: "Come quickly and pay your respects to Master Zhang."

  Qiang Jun bowed deeply and asked: "Grandfather, are you well?"

  "Hello! Tai Ping ah, your kid is still so young?"

  Tai Ping smiled self-deprecatingly: "Marrying a wife is late."

  The village head smiled and interjected: "Who dares to marry a son of a black five-category?"

  Gu Changshuan stared at the town head without blinking.

  Tai Ping explained: "Because father used to be a KMT soldier... all that is in the past now, and life has been getting better day by day."

  Gu Zhangshuan looked at the clean and tidy courtyard and nodded in satisfaction.

  Tai Ping: "Father thought you were already gone..."

  Gu Changsheng: "After the victory of the War of Resistance, your father retired due to a leg injury. I didn't want to continue fighting either, who wants to fight a civil war?! But one night, we were suddenly loaded onto a ship in a daze. It wasn't until the ship reached the middle of the ocean that we realized we were being sent to Taiwan. My fellow brothers and I jumped off the ship, trying to swim back to the mainland, but we were caught by another ship behind us and almost got shot."

  Tai Ping: "Father is listening to the escaped person's words."

  Gu Chang nodded: "How have you been living these years?"

  Tai Ping: "Father has been living a hard life all these years, taking care of grandma until the end, and bringing me up... he never remarried..." Gu Chang Shuo: "Where is grandma's grave?"

  Tai Ping: "In the back hill, where Winter Plum Aunt's tomb is together with mine, after dinner I'll take you there."

  Gu Changsheng's gaze became very solemn, and he looked towards Qin Zhiyong's house again.

  Gu Changsheng: "Did your father ever mention your Aunt Dongmei?"

  Tai Ping shook his head.

  Gu Changsheng stood up and walked towards Qin Zhiyong's house.

  Qin Zhiyong was still lying on his back in bed.

  Gu Changsheng walked to Qin Zhiyong's bedside: "Brother Zhiyong, do you still remember Dongmei?"

  Qin Zhiyong's body suddenly moved. He took out a mandarin duck pouch from under the pillow, held it in front of his eyes, and looked at it carefully, as if he could hear Dongmei's crisp laughter beside his ear...