Chapter 21: “……Zhi Yong Ge, you’re still alive!”

  Sun Zhenmou helped Peng Laojie up, and Old Yang pointed at the knife on Peng Laojie's back, saying in surprise: "Isn't this Old Huang's knife?"

  Old Man Peng slightly opened his eyes and said with difficulty: "Second sister is a... devil..."

  Old Man Peng finished speaking and closed his eyes.

  Sun's advisor ordered Qin Zhongyong: "Assemble urgently! Go quickly to inspect the captives!"

  Qin Zhiyong pulled out his shotgun and rushed out of the house with Old Yang, Old Cao, and Zhou Guangren.

  Qin Zhiyong ran while shouting: "Old Yang Old Cao! Gather the troops!"

  Old Yang, Old Cao: "Yes!"

  Qin Zhiyong turned back and said to Zhou Guangren: "Follow me to inspect the captives!"

  "Yes!"

  Qin Zhiyong took Zhou Guangren and ran towards the thatched hut where Guan was holding Ji Cun.

  Sun Zongcai put down Peng Lao and stuffed the "Troop Deployment Map" and documents into his arms, pulled out a shotgun and rushed out of the house.

  The scouts have formed up in line of battle.

  Sun Zanmou met Qin Zhīyǒng and Zhou Guāngrén face to face, Qin Zhīyǒng said breathlessly: "Ji Cun is dead! Ermei is gone!"

  At this time, Huang Xintian was supported by Old Cao to come over, Huang Xintian covered his head, with a painful face: "Ranking officer, Ermei - what happened to her?"

  Old Yang sneered: "You gourd head, your second sister is a Japanese spy, she killed Kijima and Old Man Peng, and ran away."

  Huang Xintian was stunned: "Ah!"

  Sun Zimou said to Qin Zhīyǒng: "He won't be able to run far, chase! We can't let Qian Ermei get away!"

  Huang Xintian listened and hastily pushed away Old Cao, recklessly running down the mountain.

  Old Cao hastily shouted: "Old Huang——"

  Old Yang followed closely and chased after him.

  Sun's advisor: "Sergeant Cao, take a squad and cut off Qian Ermei via the small path. The rest of you follow me."

  Lao Cao: "Alright! First squad follow me!"

  Lao Cao and Zhou Guangren led a group of soldiers out along the small road.

  Sun Zan and Qin Zhongyong led other soldiers in pursuit down the mountain.

  At this time, Yamei was desperately running down the mountain with Huang Xintian's gun on her back. Suddenly, a person jumped out from the side of the hill and blocked her way. Yamei took a closer look and recognized that it was Huang Xintian.

  Huang Xintian stood in front of Ya Mei and said in a low voice: "Second sister, are you really... a spy?"

  Ya Mei sneered and raised her gun at Huang Xintian: "I'm not some second sister, get out of the way! Don't force me!"

  "Second sister..."

  Lao Yang panted and chased up, seeing from a distance that Ya Mei was holding a gun at Huang Xintian, he hastily raised his gun and aimed at Ya Mei.

  Huang Xintian took a step forward and stretched out his hand towards Yamei: "Second sister, let's go! Follow me back!"

  Lao Yang pulled the trigger, a gunshot rang out, Ya Mei was hit by the bullet and fell down shaking.

  Huang Xintian shouted loudly: "Second sister——"

  Xie Xintian rushed over and hugged Yamei, Yamei lay in Xie Xintian's arms, wryly smiled: "Brother, this skin can't be shed -"

  Ya Mei finished speaking and fell into Huang Xintian's arms, dead.

  Old Yang swaggered over, saying in a mocking tone: "Still calling out for Ermei? Don't bother, even if you do call again, it'll just be calling out to her soul. No one can escape Old Yang's bullet."

  "Huang Xintian glared at Old Yang and roared: 'Bastard! Are you going to kill women too?!'"

  Old Yang's face was filled with surprise: "A woman? Is she a woman? She is a female ghost!"

  At this time, Sun Zan and Qin Zhongyong also arrived with their soldiers.

  Sun Zimou walked up to Huang Xintian and said, "Old Yang was right! Qin Ermei is actually Yoshimura's sister, her name is Yoshimura Masami, she's a Japanese spy, an enemy. If it wasn't for Old Yang's shot just now, you Huang Xintian would have ended up like Peng Laojie, dead at her hands."

  Huang Xintian turned his head to one side: "If she wanted to kill me, she would have done it long ago..."

  Sun Zimou turned around and said to Qin Zhongyong: "We can't stay here, let's move the troops immediately!"

  Old Yang suddenly found someone moving in the distance on the mountain slope and shouted: "What's going on? Who is it?"

  Everyone quickly got down on the ground and took cover.

  Iwai's troops were lurking at the foot of the mountain. Iwai, hiding behind a boulder, whispered a few words to Nagayama.

  Under the moonlight, Changshan poked his head out from behind the mountain top, revealing a pale face. He hastily shouted: "Hey! Brothers up there, don't misunderstand, I... we are the 57th Division Search Regiment of the Central Army!"

  Qin Zhiyong and Old Yang let out a sigh of relief, stood up, Qin Zhiyong: "It's one of us."

  Sun's advisor hastily got up and went to push Qin Zhīyǒng and Old Yang, shouting: "Be careful! It's the devils!"

  Qin Zhiyong and Old Yang were pushed to the ground, Iwai raised his gun and shot at Sun's advisor, the bullet hit Sun's advisor in the chest.

  Lao Yang, Huang Xintian and the soldiers hastily fired at the enemy, and both sides exchanged fire. Zhangshan took advantage of the chaos to crouch down and run into the grass thicket.

  Qin Zhiyong picked up Sun Zemou and shouted: "Sun Zemou! Sun Zemou!"

  Sun Zimou pulled out the blood-stained "troop deployment map" and documents from his pocket, stuffed them into Qin Zhiyong's hands, and blood kept gushing out of his mouth. He gripped Qin Zhiyong's hand tightly, didn't say a word, and sacrificed himself.

  Japanese troops fired mortar shells, and artillery rounds exploded continuously among the reconnaissance platoon soldiers.

  Lao Yang saw that there were fewer and fewer soldiers beside him, the enemy's firepower was getting fiercer and fiercer, and he became anxious: "Squad leader, there are a lot of enemies, let's retreat!"

  Qin Zhiyong silently looked at Sun's mourning attire.

  Old Yang became more urgent: "Company Commander! Don't be stunned, give orders quickly!"

  Qin Zhiyong wiped away the tears on his face, handed over the "troop deployment map" and documents to Old Yang: "You lead the team to retreat, be sure to send back the intelligence to the regiment headquarters, I'll lure the devils away."

  Old Yang grasped Qin Zhiyong's arm: "How can that be! How could we let you take this risk?"

  Qin Zhiyong didn't say a word, pushed open Old Yang, and ran into the dense forest, firing his submachine gun at the enemy as he ran.

  Old Yang hastily rushed towards Qin Zhiyong's back and shouted: "Zhiyong—"

  Qin Zhiyong's firepower attracted the Japanese army, and Iwai waved his military sword, shouting: "Charge!"

  Leading soldiers to chase after Qin Zhiyong.

  Lao Yang stuffed the map and documents into his bosom, and together with Huang Xintian led the remaining soldiers to run down the mountain, where they met Lao Cao, Zhou Guangren and a group of soldiers.

  Old Yang scolded Old Cao in anger: "Why did you come so late?"

  Lao Cao: "It's dark and I took a wrong turn. Why are there only a few of you? Where are Sun Zhen and Qin Pai Zhang?"

  Old Yang lowered his head and remained silent.

  "Speak up!" Zhou Guangren urged impatiently.

  Huang Xintian: "Sun Zemou sacrificed himself for the country. Qin Pai Zhang covered us and lured the devils away."

  Lao Cao heard this and picked up his machine gun, ready to charge forward. He was stopped by Lao Yang: "Where are you going?"

  Lao Cao: "Go find Qin Pai Zhang!"

  Old Yang: "The commander ordered us to advance..."

  Old Cao suddenly pushed Old Yang: "You go and turn in! At the beginning, I didn't save Feng Lianchang, how did you scold me? Qin Pai Zhang saved me once, I, Old Cao, cannot forget kindness and righteousness!"

  Old Cao was about to leave when Old Yang shouted: "Wait a minute!"

  Lao Cao stopped in his tracks.

  Lao Yang pulled out the map and documents from his bosom and handed them over to Huang Xintian: "Old Huang, take a team and go, you must deliver this intelligence back to the regiment headquarters. This was obtained by Director Sun at the cost of his life."

  Huang Xintian took over the documents and maps and stuffed them into his bosom.

  Lao Yang reached out and took a light machine gun from the shoulder of a machine gunner, saying to Lao Cao: "Those in power are not afraid of death, I, Lao Yang, am not a domestic cat either. Let's go! Together!"

  Lao Yang and Lao Cao carried machine guns and disappeared into the darkness in the blink of an eye.

  At this time, Qin Zhiyong's submachine gun had run out of bullets. He took out the revolver and shot at the enemy behind him while running towards a mountain. Iwai led his soldiers to chase closely behind.

  The bullets of the rifle were soon used up, Qin Zhiyong threw away his gun and climbed to the top of the mountain. He was exhausted and looked around at the other side of the mountain, which was unfathomable. At this time, Iwai led Japanese soldiers to climb to the top of the mountain and approached him step by step. Qin Zhiyong gritted his teeth, hugged his head, and rolled down from the other side of the mountain.

  Iwai tightened his pace and looked down at the mountain, where the sound of falling rocks echoed from below.

  Qin Zhiyong, who had rolled down the mountain, was not dead, but had only fainted. After an unknown period of time, he vaguely heard someone shouting in his ear: "Squad leader! Brother Zhiyong! Brother Zhiyong..."

  Qin Zhiyong slightly opened his eyes, only to see a blurry figure, and then he fainted again.

  He shouted at him, and when he saw that Qin Zhiyong had fainted again, he was about to shout once more. Suddenly, rocks slid down from the mountain slope above, and he looked up to see, in the moonlight, the glint of steel helmets and bayonets halfway up the slope. He hastily slung Qin Zhiyong over his back and took off running.

  The sky is gradually brightening.

  Changshan didn't come home for a whole day and night, so his family also spent a sleepless night.

  Changshan's wife muttered anxiously: "The guns that rang out all night yesterday, Changshan still hasn't come back, what if something happens?"

  "Dongmei: 'Mother, Zhangshan is clever and can handle it, nothing will happen. It's all because of me and Tuozi causing trouble...'"

  Changshan's wife hugged Taiping and burst into tears: "I told you so, we shouldn't have provoked the Japanese!"

  Changshan Niang was somewhat dissatisfied: "What are you crying about! It's them who broke in, who invited them!"

  Suddenly there was a rapid knocking sound from outside.

  Changshan's wife suddenly stood up and exclaimed: "It's Changshan! Changshan is back!"

  Changshan Niang ran out of the house, and Dongmei followed her out.

  Changshan Niang nervously opened the courtyard door, and Shuizi slipped in with Qin Zhiyong on his back.

  Changshan Niang let out a loud cry: "Zhuāngzi!"

  Dongmei was also startled: "Dui! How did you come back again?"

  Changshan Niang saw the person on Zhangzi's back and burst into tears: "Is... is it Changshan?"

  "Stacked: 'No, we've been hurt for a long time! Auntie! Quick! Close the door!'"

  Changshan Niang hastily closed the courtyard gate.

  Zhuāng zi bǎ qín zhì yǒng bèi dào dōng méi wū lǐ, guān shàng wū mén, bǎ qín zhì yǒng fàng dào chuáng shàng tǎng xià.

  Translation:

  Zhuangzi carried Qin Zhiyong to Dongmei's house, closed the door, and put Qin Zhiyong on the bed to lie down.

  Changshan Niang: "Dongmei, hurry up and go light the fire and cook dinner."

  Dongmei responded with a sound and ran towards the kitchen.

  Changshan's daughter-in-law held Taiping and ran out of the house, saying to Changshan's mother: "Mother, who is it? Isn't it Changshan coming back?"

  At this time, the door bolt came out, pulled Changshan Niang into her room, closed the door, and said to Changshan Niang: "Auntie, don't be afraid, it's our Second Brother who is injured, the devils are chasing him, I really have nowhere else to go..."

  Changshan Niang: "Zhuangzi, this place isn't safe either. The Japanese were here yesterday and they want Changshan Ge to lead the way to capture the people who killed those two Japanese soldiers."

  Changshan's daughter-in-law suddenly pushed open the door and begged: "Zhuangzi brothers, sister-in-law is asking you! You'd better leave quickly!"

  Zhuāngzi sat wearily on the bamboo chair, silent for a moment, then said: "Sister-in-law, once Erlong wakes up, we'll leave and won't implicate you. I haven't eaten all day..."

  Changshan Niang: "The rice will be ready soon."

  The old man fell asleep on the bamboo chair.

  Dongmei carried a bowl of thin porridge and pushed the door into her own room, putting the rice on the table. She swept a glance at the person lying on the bed, turned around just about to leave, when suddenly she felt a burst of thunder in her mind, "Zhiyong!" Dongmei blurted out. She stumbled over to the bedside and carefully examined the person on the bed, tears streaming down her face.

  "Dongmei: 'Zhiyong ge! Zhiyong ge! Is it really you?'"

  Hearing a familiar voice, Qin Zhiyong slowly opened his eyes. The blurry figure in front of him gradually became clear, and he recognized the person in front of him as Dongmei.

  Qin Zhiyong: "Winter plum - impossible - am I dead - or in a dream -"

  Qin Zhiyong stretched out his hand and grasped Dongmei's hand, muttering: "It's not a dream, Dongmei! It's really you!"

  "Dongmei excitedly nodded her head: 'It's me, Zhīyǒng brother, you're still alive!'"

  "Where is this? How did I end up here?"

  "This is——"

  At this time, Dongzi pushed open the door and came in, saw Qin Zhiyong sitting on the bed, and couldn't help but be delighted: "Squad leader, you've woken up!"

  Zhuāngzi walked to the bedside and suddenly saw Qin Zhiyong holding Dongmei's hand, stunned.

  Qin Zhiyong looked at Duanzi: "Duanzi, what are you doing here? Where is this?"

  Duanzi looked at Qin Zhiyong with a puzzled expression as he held Dongmei's hand: "This is...my family."

  Dongmei gently pushed away Qin Zhiyong's hand and retreated behind Zhangzi.

  Qin Zhiyong looked at the wooden stake again, then looked at Dongmei hiding behind it, and seemed to understand something...

  At this time, Zhangshan was running towards the village with a thud, panting...

  Changshan Niang walked to the door of Zhangzi's house with a bowl of rice, just about to push it open, when suddenly a quarrelsome voice came from inside. Changshan Niang stopped in her tracks, feeling uneasy.

  At this time, the door was suddenly opened, and Qin Zhongyong pulled Dongmei out of the house with a burst of energy, followed closely by Shu Zi.

  Qin Zhiyong roared: "Dongmei! Come with me!"

  Changshan Niang was shocked and asked: "Zhuāngzi, what's going on?"

  Changshan's daughter-in-law heard the commotion and was also frightened out of her wits.

  Dongmei turned back with tears all over her face, looking at Shuanzi. Qin Zhiyong dragged Dongmei out of the hospital door, but Shuanzi suddenly took a few quick steps forward and blocked Qin's way. The two men glared at each other angrily.

  "Get out of the way!" Qin Zhiyong growled.

  "Or what if I don't let you?"

  "Then don't blame me for being impolite."

  "Qin Zhiyong, I won't let you take Dongmei out of this yard!"

  Qin Zhiyong sneered: "I don't care what you think, I must take her away. She is my woman."

  "Then you shouldn't have abandoned her to the devils and jumped into the river yourself."

  One sentence struck Qin Zhiyong's sore spot, he took a deep breath and suddenly raised his hand to punch Zhangzi's face heavily, knocking him to the ground.

  He got up from the ground and rushed towards Qin Zhiyong, punching him to the ground again. Qin Zhiyong's mouth was also bleeding, he stumbled and stood up, raised his fist to rush towards Dongzi, when Winter Plum suddenly blocked in front of Dongzi, staring straight at Qin Zhiyong.

  "Dongmei said dejectedly: 'Zhiyong ge, I'm already a married person...'"

  Qin Zhiyong slowly lowered his raised fist, looked at Dongmei, and burst into tears. He turned around and walked towards the gate with heavy footsteps.

  Dongmei also cried: "Zhiyong brother, I didn't know you were still alive..."

  Qin Zhiyong didn't even turn his head back and coldly replied: "You can just consider me dead."

  Qin Zhiyong walked out of the hospital gate.

  Duanzi wanted to chase after them, but Zhangshan Niang held him back and implored: "Duanzi, let's not go anymore. We've fought battles and shed blood. It's time for us to stay home and live a good life with our wives."

  "Ah, Auntie..."

  Qin Zhiyong trudged along with heavy footsteps, his heart filled with despair and disappointment as he walked towards the outskirts of the village, where he ran into Zhangshan who was hurrying home.

  Qin Zhiyong saw the Long Mountain, and he was taken aback for a moment, feeling as if he had seen it somewhere before. Suddenly, in his mind's eye, he flashed back to the pale face behind the rocks under the moonlight.

  Qin Zhiyong recognized Changshan and couldn't help but feel indignant: "Damn it! The 57th Division's search battalion? You traitorous dog! It was you who killed Sun's advisor!"

  Changshan was so scared that he turned his head and ran, but Qin Zhiyong caught up with him, pinned him to the ground, and started punching him. Qin Zhiyong vented all his anger on Changshan's body, who cried out in pain repeatedly.

  At this time, Iwai led Japanese soldiers to rush up and surround Qin Zhiyong and Zhang Tuan.