Chapter Sixteen "I'm also thinking for the sake of everyone in the village!"

  The Zhang family was having dinner when a sudden knock at the door came from outside the courtyard.

  Changshan arrived at the gate of the courtyard and asked tremulously: "Who is it?"

  "It's me, Seventh Uncle."

  Changshan let out a sigh of relief: "It's Seventh Uncle."

  Changshan hastily opened the courtyard gate and Seventh Uncle pulled his granddaughter into the yard.

  Seventh Uncle pulled Changshan to one side and said in a low voice, "Changshan, I just came back from the town, saw Captain Iwai, and was appreciated by Captain Iwai. He let me be the head of the security squad, and I recommend you as the deputy head, how about it?"

  Changshan was terrified: "Ah! No way, Seventh Uncle, I can't do it."

  Seventh Uncle's face fell: "What can't be done?"

  Changshan: "My family's guest is about to give birth in a few days, I can't leave."

  "Are you out of your mind, Changshan? All the young men in our village followed Lu Baochang to fight against Japan, and not one has returned. And what about your own son, Shuangzi? If the Japanese find out, will anyone in this village be left alive? We'll all be killed!"

  Changshan was frightened: "That... what to do?"

  "Right now we have to cooperate with the Japanese and improve our relationship. That's the only way for everyone in the village to survive!"

  Changshan bowed his head in deep thought. Qiushu continued to persuade him: "The village is now old and young, you don't come forward, who can I find? Let me tell you, last time when repairing the road, Yamai team leader was very satisfied with you!"

  Changshan looked up at Seventh Uncle, still a bit hesitant.

  "Seventh Uncle: 'I'm also thinking for the sake of everyone in the village!'"

  Changshan worriedly said: "Seventh Uncle, I heard the Japanese..."

  Seventh Uncle: "What? You say it!"

  Changshan: "I heard Japanese people kill... kill people... set fires... what... they do everything..."

  "Seventh Uncle: 'You take a gun and hit him, of course he will hit you back. Japanese are also human beings, they also need to be reasonable, we must cooperate with them well, Captain Iwai said that China and Japan should mutually "befriend", "support" - what else was it? Seventh Uncle scratched his head, 'There's another one, "befriend", "support" - Ah, do you understand "support"?'

  Changshan shook his head.

  " 'Ti xie' means being like friends and helping each other."

  Changshan's head was shrouded in mist: "Carrying shoes?"

  Changshan nodded as if he understood but didn't really understand.

  Seventh Uncle said with a smile as he pulled out an "Overseas Chinese Return Certificate" from his pocket: "Take a look at this!"

  Changshan: "Huh?"

  Seventh Uncle: "Amulet! I got one for you too, take it."

  Seventh Uncle said as he handed over the "Return Certificate" to Changshan, Changshan took the "Return Certificate" and flipped through it: "What's written on this?"

  "Guarantee life safety, welcome to participate in peace, after consultation with the Japanese army front-line troops, understanding has been reached. Please show this certificate to the Japanese sentry and you will be protected."

  "What's the meaning of this?"

  "Seventh Uncle: 'As long as we show this paper to the Japanese, they will protect us.'"

  Changshan couldn't help but feel delighted: "That's really a treasure!" Changshan carefully tucked the "Return Certificate" into his bosom, "Alright, Seventh Uncle, I'll give it a try."

  "Alright then, the imperial army is about to build a stronghold in town and will be conscripting you, so listen for the summons."

  Seventh Uncle finished speaking and pulled his little granddaughter away excitedly.

  Changshan said to Qiushu's back: "When giving birth, we'll still have to trouble Qiuniang!"

  "Hey, Xi!" came a voice from outside the courtyard, belonging to Seventh Uncle.

  Changshan looked puzzled: "Want to wash? Want to wash what? Seventh Uncle!"

  Changshan stood stupidly in the yard, somewhat at a loss, when Changshan's wife, daughter-in-law and Dongmei came out of the house.

  Changshan's wife worriedly said: "Changshan, we can't work for the Japanese, what will people in the village think of us later?"

  Changshan's daughter-in-law held her belly: "Mother, we can't go against the Japanese."

  "Mother, I'm doing this for the village too. As long as our whole village and family are safe and sound, I'd be willing to polish shoes for the Japanese. Who cares what others think?"

  "Dongmei: 'Japanese devils are not human, can't trust them, brother Changshan!'"

  Changshan listened and was somewhat dissatisfied: "What's the use of not believing? Can we fight back? Can we hide? If the Japanese find out that our Tuanzi is participating in the resistance, we're all done for."

  Dongmei lowered her head deeply.

  Lao Cao and Lao Yang hid behind a tree outside the barracks, poking their heads out to stare at the barracks.

  Old Yang covered his face and grumbled: "......Today is really exhausting, and I was slapped by that little devil of a Japanese boy. Now it's still burning, ah, look at my half-face, isn't it swollen?"

  Old Cao stretched his neck and took a look at Old Yang's face: "It's swollen! It must be swollen! How can it not be swollen?!"

  Old Yang: "This little devil, wearing that suit of theirs, really thinks he's one of them!"

  Old Cao sneered: "Hmph, a dog can't change its nature of eating shit!"

  Old Yang indignantly: "Damn it, when will he dare to hit us! And in front of all the brothers, damn it, wait till he comes out and teach him a lesson."

  Old Cao: "Right! He's not even worthy of kneeling in front of us brothers and begging for mercy!"

  At this time, Zhou Guangren walked out of the barracks, and Old Yang hurriedly nudged Old Cao with his elbow, whispering: "He's coming out."

  "...When the peach blossoms are about to bloom, I'll be getting married! Wait for me, dear husband..."

  Suddenly, Old Cao flashed out from behind the tree, blocking Zhou Guangren's path, and shouted loudly: "I've been waiting for you for half a day!"

  Zhou Guangren was startled and saw that it was Old Cao, his heart secretly cursing. At this time, Old Yang also emerged from behind the tree, and the two of them stepped closer to Zhou Guangren step by step.

  Zhou Guangren looked at Old Yang and Old Cao, step by step backing away, stuttering: "Y-you... what do you want?"

  Lao Yang sneered: "Second Ghost, my brother and I want to have a chat with you."

  Zhou Guangren: "Chat... what about?"

  Old Yang: "Let's talk about when you were shouting orders during daytime training."

  Zhou Guangren: "What's up? Want to chat?"

  Old Cao stretched out his fist and waved it: "Use this to talk! What's the point of talking nonsense with him?"

  Lao Cao took a step forward, wanting to grab Zhou Guangren, when suddenly a shout came from behind: "What are you doing?" by Sun's advisor.

  Old Yang and Old Cao turned their heads to look back, seeing Sun's advisor standing not far behind them, staring at them.

  Zhou Guangren let out a sigh of relief.

  Old Yang hastily reached out and secretly pulled Old Cao, somewhat unnaturally: "Ah - Advisor Sun ah - nothing - nothing, just chatting with the two devils about training matters."

  Lao Cao: "Right, right, Sun advisor, nothing much, just discussing training matters, is it the second ghost?"

  Lao Cao stared at Zhou Guangren with his eyes, Zhou Guangren's eyeballs rolled around and he hurriedly smiled at Sun Canmou: "Yes, Sun Canmou, I was just thinking of strengthening them again." He said loudly in Japanese, giving orders, "Attention!"

  Old Yang and Old Cao quickly stood at attention.

  "Take a short rest!"

  The two of them took a short break. Sun's advisor smiled and turned around to leave.

  Zhou Guangren glanced at Sun's back and continued giving orders in Japanese to Old Yang and Old Cao without changing his expression: "Attention!"

  Old Cao cursed in a low voice: "Are you done yet?"

  "Shut up! Director Sun is watching."

  The two of them stood up straight again.

  Lao Yang was just about to turn his head to take a sneak peek when Zhou Guangren scolded, "Don't move!" and then gave an order in Japanese, "Fusagu!" (Down!)

  "What?"

  "Get down! Get down quickly!"

  The two were still hesitating.

  Zhou Guangren whispered again: "Sun Zong is watching, what are you waiting for? Get down quickly!"

  Two people reluctantly fell to the ground.

  "Target - barracks ahead, crawl forward!"

  Old Yang cursed on the ground: "Speak human words!"

  "Target - barracks ahead, crawl forward!"

  Two people were lying still.

  "Be quiet! Director Sun is walking this way!"

  The two of them reluctantly crawled forward towards the barracks.

  Zhou Guangren looked at the two of them in a sorry state and couldn't help but sneak away with a sly smile.

  Qin Zhiyong and several soldiers came out of the barracks and saw Old Yang and Old Cao crawling towards the barracks, they were all surprised.

  Qin Zhiyong was puzzled: "Old Yang, Old Cao, what's going on here?"

  Lao Yang secretly turned his head to look back, and found that Zhou Guangren was running towards the distance, and didn't see Sun Canmou either. He quickly got up from the ground, kicked Lao Cao's foot, and angrily said: "Get up quickly!"

  Lao Cao got up from the ground, looked back and forth, patted the dirt off his body, and said in a daze: "Old Yang, it seems like we were fooled by the Japanese devils?"

  Old Yang angrily: "What the hell does it have to do with anything! It's just that!"

  Qin Zhiyong and others all burst out laughing.

  Lao Yang and Lao Cao walked into the barracks with their heads hung low in grief, brushing off the dirt from their bodies.

  Huang Xintian sat on the kang, molding a small Buddha with mud, while Zhuangzi sat beside him, lost in thought.

  Huang Xintian looked up and saw Old Yang and Old Cao covered in dirt, and couldn't help but mock: "Ha! You Hans are really made of yellow earth, aren't you? So dirty that you're shedding dust everywhere! Hahaha!"

  Old Yang and Old Cao were laughed at until their faces turned bright red. Old Yang said: "You gourd head, get out of here!"

  Lao Cao: "Don't mess with us!"

  Two people panted heavily, one of them lying down on the bed.

  Huang Xintian stared at the two of them in a daze, thought for a moment, and suddenly realized: "Ah! Is it because you were 'welcomed' by the Japanese devils during the day? Haha! The whole squad is laughing at you two! Hahaha!"

  Lao Yang and Lao Cao couldn't help but blush all over their faces.

  Lao Cao looked at Lao Yang lying beside him and said reluctantly: "Is that it?"

  Old Yang closed his eyes: "Let me think."

  Huang Xintian said to Zhangzi with a mixture of joy and gloating: "You deserved that beating!"

  The pill didn't work, and he looked worried.

  Huang Xintian: "Dingzi, what are you thinking about?"

  Dingzi shook his head, and Huang Xintian laughed: "Missing your wife, huh?"

  "Thinking of my wife and aunt, I wonder how they're doing. I really want to go back to the village to take a look."

  Huang Xintian: "Which village?"

  "River West Village."

  Huang Xintian pinched the small Buddha in his hand: "I heard that the Hexi Village area has been occupied by devils."

  "Who said that?" Zhangzi asked in surprise, staring at Huang Xintian.

  Huang Xintian put the small Buddha he had pinched into the Buddhist niche on the wall: "I heard it from the old villagers nearby."

  "Then I must go back and take a look."

  Huang Xintian clasped his hands together and bowed slightly towards the small Buddha, saying sympathetically to Zhuozi: "Then you can't go back now."

  " Why?"

  Huang Xintian: "Director Sun has just given an order that no one is allowed to take leave or go out for the next few days."

  "Where did Pailong go?"

  "Huang Xintian: 'And Sun's advisor has gone to the team department.' Huang Xintian leaned his head close to Shuizi's ear, 'I reckon that in these few days, there will be a mission.'"

  At this time, in the team department, Director Dong stood in front of the sand table, giving orders to Sun Consultant and Qin Zhiyong who were standing in front of him: "... must think of a way to get the enemy's combat plan and troop deployment, best to capture a valuable prisoner."

  Sun and Qin Zhiyong answered in unison: "Yes!"

  Comrade Dong: "Departure in three days."

  Sun's advisor and Qin's brave warrior stood at attention and saluted: "Yes!"

  Sun Zongmou and Qin Zhongyong walked out of the headquarters.

  At night. In the barracks, all the soldiers were fast asleep, but Zhang Tie was lying on his bed, tossing and turning, secretly worrying: "The village has been occupied by the devils? No wonder Qiuniu is holding a white flag. This won't do, I must go back!"

  Zhuāng zǐ qiǎo qiǎo qǐ shēn, chuān shàng jiā lǐ dài lái de yī shang, niè shǒu niè jiǎo de zǒu chū yíng fáng, duǒ guò gǎng shào, xiāo shī zài yè mù lǐ...

  Changshan's home. Changshan's wife packed the cooked meal into a clay pot, covered it with a bowl and said to Changshan's daughter-in-law: "Let me and Dongmei go deliver lunch to Changshan instead?"

  "Dongmei: 'Yes, sister-in-law, I'll go instead.'"

  Changshan's daughter-in-law: "I can go, I'll go instead."

  "Dongmei: 'Sister-in-law, I'm worried about your body...'"

  Changshan's daughter-in-law: "It doesn't matter, there are still a few days left."

  Dongmei saw off Changshan Niang and Changshan's daughter-in-law as they walked out of the courtyard, carrying earthenware pots filled with rice and water.

  On the small path outside the village, Changshan Niang and Changshan Xifu walked and chatted.

  Changshan's wife: "...... Zhangzi hasn't sent any news, Changshan has gone to build a stronghold for the Japanese again, and all the household chores are left to Dongmei alone."

  Changshan's wife touched her belly and said worriedly: "This child really came at the wrong time..."

  Suddenly, the sound of horseshoes came from behind, and the two turned their heads to look. They were shocked and frightened to see a Japanese soldier riding a horse charging towards them. The Japanese soldier on the horse suddenly saw the two people standing in front of him and hurriedly pulled the reins. The horse's front hooves rose into the air, and Zhangshan's daughter-in-law was scared and fell onto the slope, shattering the clay pot in her hands. She tried to get up but suddenly felt a severe abdominal pain, covering her belly and crying out loudly. Zhangshan's wife was flustered as she tried to help her daughter-in-law up, only to discover that bright red blood had seeped out of her pants.

  "What's going on? What's going on? How can this happen at this time..."

  The person riding on the horse is Xiao Dao.

  Xiao Dao jumped off his horse and ran to the two women. Seeing Lang Shan's wife with a big belly and blood under her body, he understood.

  The little island pointed at the horse and said to Changshan Niang in unskilled Chinese: "Kuai kuai de! Kuai kuai de!"

  Changshan's wife was still hesitating, Xiao Dao didn't say a word, picked up Changshan's daughter-in-law and brought her to the horse, intending to put her on the horseback.

  "No, you can't ride a horse."

  Xiao Dao was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood and picked up Changshan's wife and ran.

  Japanese soldiers Nakamura and Maeda are bathing in the river, their military uniforms and guns placed on the riverbank.

  Nakamura is soaking in the water with his eyes closed, looking very comfortable: "This feels so good!"

  Maeda: "I know, it would be great if we could wash like this every day!"

  Suddenly, the sound of horseshoes came from afar, Nakamura opened his eyes and looked over to see Shōjima carrying a heavily pregnant woman, panting and running along the riverbank path, an elderly woman leading a horse behind her, pointing in the direction as she ran.

  Changshan's wife panted and shouted towards the small island: "The village in front - that village is it."

  Nakamura said to Maeda in surprise: "Isn't that Kojima-kun?"

  Maeda nodded in agreement: "It's Kojima!"

  Nakamura shouted at Oshima: "Hey, Oshima, did you do it?"

  "Really tough, isn't it, Shima? Are you planning on sending him back to Japan?"

  Nakamura burst out laughing: "You run like this, when can you arrive?"

  Maeda also burst out laughing.

  Xiao Dao didn't bother to respond to them and ran over with Zhang Shan's wife, while Zhang Shan's mother followed closely behind, leading the horse.

  Arriving at the gate of the courtyard, Zhangshan's daughter rushed in first and shouted loudly: "Dongmei! Dongmei!"

  Xiao Dao hugged Changshan's wife and also followed into the yard, Dongmei hastily ran out, lifted her head to see Xiao Dao, and stopped in fear.

  Changshan's wife panted and said: "Quickly... quickly go find your seventh aunt! Don't just stand there!"

  Dongmei saw her pale-faced sister-in-law in the small island's courtyard and hastily responded with a sound before running out of the yard.

  Xiao Dao hugged Zhang Shan's daughter and followed Zhang Shan's wife into the house.

  Changshan's wife rushed out of the house again, frantically: "Changshan, Changshan, why hasn't he come back yet? What's going on?"

  At this time, Zhangshan was leading villagers to build fortifications at a Japanese military base.

  The fort's gun tower stood tall, with a sun flag inserted on top of the gun tower. Next to the gun tower was a row of barracks, surrounded by a wall, and the bastions at the four corners of the wall had not been completed yet.

  Changshan wiped the sweat from his face and shouted spiritedly: "Everyone, let's put in a bit more effort, finish early and go home early!"

  The villagers all looked at him indifferently.

  Iwai walked over and gave Nagayama a friendly punch on the shoulder, saying in Chinese: "Hard work! Nagayama-kun, hurry up!"

  "Ah! Reporting to Your Highness, it'll be done in just three more days."

  Iwai shook his head and said in Chinese: "Three days won't work, it has to be two days."

  Iwai thrust out two fingers.

  Changshan hesitated for a moment, then stood up straight: "Hey, two days!"

  Iwai nodded in satisfaction and turned away.

  Kuroda threw a cigarette to Nagayama, who was following Iwai from behind. Nagayama failed to catch it and the cigarette fell to the ground. Nagayama hastily picked up the cigarette, tucked it behind his ear, bowed deeply towards Kuroda's receding back, muttering repeatedly: "Ari ga tou! Ari ga tou! Ari ga tou!"

  Maeda and Nakamura crawled up from the river, Maeda said while dressing: "Nakamura, hurry back! Don't let Kuroda know about this."

  "Yes."

  The two of them quickly put on their clothes.

  At this time, Zhangzi was walking along the riverbank road with a big sweat, pushing the dagger hidden in his waist to the back. He raised his head and suddenly found two Japanese soldiers tying their legs by the river. Zhangzi had no time to hide, and when he hesitated, Maeda saw him and shouted in Chinese: "Hey! You, come here!"

  Zhangzi hesitated for a moment, then took off running.

  Maeda raised his gun and aimed at Kanai, but was stopped by Nakamura: "Catch him alive, he might be a spy."

  Two Japanese soldiers hastily tied their leggings and chased after Zhangzi.

  Xiao Dao walked out of Zhang Shan's house, his military uniform soaked with sweat, and he wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve.

  Dongmei rushed into the courtyard with Qi Sheng's wife, and then entered the house.

  Xiao Dao sat down on a bench in the yard, panting heavily, and looked around the yard.

  Dongmei carried a bucket of water out, drew a bucket from the water tank and poured it into the pot. She saw Xiaodaos soaked military uniform covered in sweat, so she quickly scooped a ladle of water from the tank and handed it to him. He took it and drank it all at once, then wiped his mouth and smiled shyly at Dongmei.

  At this time, the gate was suddenly slammed open, and Zhang rushed into the yard, seeing the small island in the yard, he couldn't help but be shocked.

  Dongmei was also shocked when she saw Duanzi: "Duan——"

  Dingzi gazed at the small island, subconsciously grasping the dagger hidden at his waist.

  The little island also saw the dagger hidden in Xiaozi's waist.

  Three people stood there, and at this time, the sound of a baby's cry suddenly came from the house. A smile appeared on Xiaodao's face, he quietly returned the water scoop to Dongmei, and slightly bowed, walked out of the yard.

  Dongmei saw Xiaodao walking out of the yard, just about to pounce on the stake, when suddenly urgent footsteps came from outside the yard. Dongmei looked towards the gate and saw two Japanese soldiers running this way...