Chapter Thirty-Four "They're All Together"

  Qin Zhiyong walked up to the kang and sat down, looking at Huang Xintian.

  Huang Xintian, holding a knife, walked up to Qin Zhiyong and slurred: "Squad leader... are you going to the battalion headquarters? What's the new mission? When do we set off? I'll go with you, old Huang..."

  Qin Zhiyong's tone was calm: "Put the knife away first."

  Huang Xintian carefully put the knife into its scabbard, and Old Yang and Old Cao finally let out a sigh of relief.

  Huang Xintian stared at Qin Zhiyong with wide eyes. Qin Zhiyong: "There is no new task for the time being..."

  Huang Xintian flared up again, drew out his knife and said violently: "What? No task? Are we supposed to stare at the empty bed and eat plain rice every day?"

  Lao Yang and Lao Cao had just let out a sigh of relief and were about to stand up when they saw Huang Xintian draw his knife again, scaring them into sitting back down immediately.

  Qin Zhiyong calmly said: "Liu Canmou has already promised to give us some new recruits, and the new recruits still need to be trained for a while —"

  "Huang Xintian shouted: 'I can't wait! I can't wait!'"

  Qin Zhiyong finally blew up, stood up and roared: "Have you had enough! Do you think only you have an uncomfortable heart!"

  Huang Xintian saw that Qin Zhiyong was really angry and gloomily put his knife back into its scabbard.

  Old Yang gathered his courage: "Old Huang, how come you're different from before?"

  Huang Xintian sat down on the kang with a huff and muttered: "The old Huang of the past is already dead!"

  At this time, Little Cow pushed open the door and came in, holding two bottles of wine, while Su Wa followed behind him, hugging several cans.

  The calf excitedly waved the wine in front of Old Yang: "Uncle, look! What's this?"

  Old Yang hurriedly covered his eyes: "Oh dear, little calf, stop dazzling me, your uncle now sees everything as a knife."

  The calf smiled: "It's wine, uncle, want some? If you don't want it, I'll take it away."

  Old Yang picked up the little cow and said, "If you want it, your uncle just happens to have no wine to drink."

  Huang Xintian gazed lovingly at Su Wa, who put the can on the bed and saw Huang Xintian, then rushed into his arms. Huang Xintian hugged the child tightly and began to sob quietly.

  Japanese military base.

  In the confinement room, a dozen or so confined soldiers sat together on a kang, singing a song:

  "Count one by one, hey, hey,"

  The army that everyone hates

  But there are 'volunteers' who join the army like fools

  It's not just 'voluntary'

  There is an even bigger fool who enlisted for the second time!

  Hey, hey!

  One, two, hey, hey!

  Forget about those old parents!

  Called up for military service, standing at attention with rifle in hand and giving a salute

  Die for the Empire!

  Hey, hey!

  Counting one, two, three, hey, hey!

  Everyone knows the army

  Looks comfortable and happy

  But it wasn't until I came in that I realized

  When cows and horses suffer!

  Hey, hey!

  Count one, two, three, four! Hey, hey!

  Going out on night patrol at midnight

  As soon as it's dawn, I have to be on guard duty again

  Day and night on duty

  The hardships of being a soldier are countless!

  Hey, hey!

  ……”

  Kuroda led Shima into the house, where he had changed back into his uniform. The soldiers inside immediately stopped singing and jumped down from their bunks, standing at attention.

  "Shut up, you bastards! What kind of nonsense song are you singing? Are you not afraid that Captain will hear it?! Stop singing!"

  The soldiers all smiled and looked at Kuroda. Kuroda slapped several soldiers in the face, saying angrily: "Do you understand?"

  The soldiers stood at attention and replied loudly: "Yes!"

  Kuroda pulled Shima aside and whispered, "Shima, did you remember everything I told you earlier?"

  The little island's eyes were empty and hollow, and he shook his head vaguely.

  Kuroda said in a low and patient tone, "Alright, I'll tell you again. Be sure to remember that you fell off the mountain, got injured, lost your way, and were rescued by local Chinese people. Got it?"

  Kojima didn't say a word, his expression dull and lifeless. Kuroda let out a sigh and walked out of the isolation room with a worried look on his face.

  Xiao Dao sat on the kang, staring blankly at the distant mountains outside the window.

  The soldiers in the house climbed onto the kang and began to sing softly again:

  “……

  Counting one, two, three, four, five! Hey, hey!

  "Roll call" is really deadly!

  Getting up at midnight

  The class monitor gave the order

  "Report" "Disperse" Tired of being bothered!

  Hey, hey!

  Counting one, two, three, four, five, six! Hey, hey!

  The officer is talking nonsense!

  Still insisting it's an order

  Soldiers must absolutely obey!

  Hey, hey!

  Counting to seven, hey, hey!

  It's finally Saturday on this rare weekend!

  Uniforms, arms and duties must all be subject to inspection.

  Checking and rechecking is really hard to bear!

  Hey, hey!

  ……”

  Inside the team, Iwai paced back and forth irritably, Kuroda looked at him with a sense of unease. Iwai stopped in his tracks and stared straight at Kuroda: "Kuroda, what do you think we should do? This thing with Kohshima is really putting me in a difficult spot!"

  Kuroda: "I... I've already locked up the little island."

  Iwai sneered: "Do you think this is enough?! Little Island has been missing for several days, and now he's back alive. How am I supposed to explain this to my superiors?"

  Kuroda: "I-I mean I got lost..."

  "Damn it! Do you want me to deceive my superiors? In front of the entire platoon, Shima still wants to run away, isn't this desertion?! This damn fool! He's even wearing the clothes of a Chinese civilian, losing face for the Imperial Army!"

  Kuroda remained silent, and Iwai slowed down his tone: "There's no way, Kuroda-kun. If we don't hand over the little island to the military tribunal, more soldiers will follow his example, and how can I be a squadron leader then?!"

  Kuroda tried to defend himself: "Kojima's brain seems to have some problems—"

  Iwai's patience snapped: "Stop covering for him, Kuroda! You're really disappointing me! Have you forgotten the words of 'Senjinkun'? Recite it again!"

  "I would rather die than be captured and humiliated as a prisoner. I will not leave behind the name of a guilty man."

  Iwai nodded: "This is a matter of honor for the Imperial Army! Kuroda-kun."

  Kuroda said with a heavy heart: "But once he is handed over to the military tribunal, he will surely be sentenced to death. How can his family hold their heads up afterwards..."

  Iwai beckoned to Kuroda and Kuroda walked a few steps forward.

  Iwai leaned in close to Kuroda's ear and lowered his voice: "Yes, for the sake of his family, perhaps it can be done this way..."

  Iwai whispered a few words into Kuroda's ear, and Kuroda's face turned pale with surprise: "Ah! This—!"

  Iwai: "This way we can also explain to our superiors, mainly considering his family members. If he is sentenced to death, not only will they not receive compensation, but they will be shunned for life. Even beggars will throw stones at their home. Think about it, what kind of expression his mother would have when she goes to collect the ashes of a dead prisoner."

  Kuroda hung his head in silence. Iwai: "You go and take care of this, it's the only way, he'll listen to you, you need to make him understand how serious this is."

  Iwai turned around and walked out of the squad, Kuroda stood still, staring blankly at the sun flag with "Buun Choukyuu" written on it hanging on the wall.

  Qin Zhiyong, Old Yang, Old Cao and Zhou Guangren sat around a small table on the kang, with wine dishes, cured meat and canned goods on it.

  Old Yang held a "crooked handle" machine gun in his hand, and was telling the little cow sitting next to him: "...look, here's where you put the bullets," as he opened the cartridge cover plate and inserted a clip, "at most six clips can be loaded..."

  Kuwa sat beside him, also listening attentively. Huang Xintian lay on the other side, snoring loudly.

  Qin Zhiyong muttered to himself: "Shouldn't Congzi be home by now?"

  Old Yang put down his machine gun: "It's about time. Forget it, squad leader, let's have a drink!"

  Everyone raised their wine bowls and took a big gulp. Little Bull pulled the machine gun's bolt, and Old Cao quickly stopped him: "You little scoundrel, don't go off half-cocked, this isn't child's play."

  The calf discontentedly said: "Who played?"

  Lao Cao smiled: "Want to learn? I'll teach you."

  The calf sneered: "I don't want to learn from you, if I want to learn, I'll learn from my uncle Yang. Those two tricks of yours were taught by my uncle Yang too!"

  Everyone burst out laughing, Old Yang laughed and said: "Well said!"

  Old Cao said with a sly smile: "Hey, Little Niu, didn't your mother ask you to bring something for your Uncle Yang?"

  "Nope."

  Lao Cao was unwilling: "Didn't even bring back any news?"

  "Nope."

  Old Yang: "Don't talk nonsense in front of the kids!"

  Qin Zhiyong glanced at Huang Xintian who was fast asleep: "Wake up old Huang and let him have something to eat too."

  Old Yang hastily stopped him: "Forget it, Paichang, spare everyone, always brandishing that broken knife."

  "Right, let him calm down for a while."

  Lao Cao: "These past few days have been tough on us."

  "He's unhappy about it."

  The calf fondled the "crooked handle" and said to Old Cao, "Uncle Cao, can I borrow this 'crooked handle' for a few days?"

  Old Cao said with a smile: "Play for a few days? It's easy to say, is this play? This is what I, Old Cao, exchanged my life for! If you have the ability, get one from the devils yourself!"

  The young calf said with a huff: "What's the big deal?! Just you wait and see, sooner or later I'll get one from those devils, no, two!"

  Old Yang burst out laughing: "Good kid, you have spirit!"

  Kuwa also smiled slightly, Old Cao stroked his head: "Why doesn't this little guy like to talk?"

  The calf fiddled with the "crooked handle" machine gun and said without lifting his head, "I call him bitter doll, he never speaks, ask him and he won't say anything."

  "Will he be mute?"

  Kuwa stretched out his small hand and touched the holster of Qin Zhiyong's rifle, which was slung over his shoulder. Qin Zhiyong took out the gun and asked in a gentle tone, "Kuwa, do you want to play?"

  Kuwa nodded, Qin Zhiyong retreated and ejected the magazine, handing the gun to him. Kuwa took the gun, slowly raised it, pointing it out the window, and pulled the trigger one by one, mimicking the sound of gunfire with his mouth: "Bang, bang, bang..."

  Everyone silently watched him.

  Japanese military base.

  Inside the confinement room, the confined soldiers sat on the plank beds, still singing songs:

  “……

  Counting to eight, hey, hey!

  If you don't want to live such a life

  Ran out of the camp gate and played for seven or eight days

  Twenty days of confinement is still quite a good deal!

  Hey, hey!

  Counting to nine, hey, hey!

  The discipline of the army is great!

  Wake up and go to bed with the sound of bugle calls

  Shift change, report, roll call, meal time

  Everything has to be done at the sound of the whistle!

  Hey, hey!

  Counting to ten, hey, hey!

  Close the salary every ten days!

  Only one dollar and eighty-five cents.

  A meal of bread is not enough to fill one's stomach

  Still enough for a brothel! Hehe!

  ……”

  Xiao Dao sat at the desk, writing a letter to his mother: "Mom, I'm fine, you should take good care of yourself..."

  At this time, Kuroda carried a lunch box and pushed the door in. The soldiers in the house quickly closed their mouths, got down from the bed, and stood at attention.

  The little girl still sat there, writing: "How I miss you! Mom..."

  Kuroda yelled at the singing soldiers: "Get out of here!"

  The soldiers quickly lined up and walked out of the isolation room. Kuroda sat in front of Shima, silent, not knowing what to say.

  Kojima put down his pen and sat quietly. Kuroda: "Is... are you writing a letter to your mom?"

  The little island nodded.

  Kuroda arranged the dishes from the food box on the table, then poured sake for Kohshima and himself.

  "Alright, let's get started!"

  "Let's go!"

  "To the Emperor! To the victory of the Empire!"

  "To...to all those who have passed away, may they rest in peace!"

  The two men drained their cups in one gulp.

  Kuroda put down his sake cup: "Shimada, have some fish."

  Xiao Dao picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of the fish and said wistfully as he gazed out the window: "Do you still remember when we used to go fishing together in the river when we were kids? Those were the days!"

  Kuroda's voice became a little hoarse: "Yeah, I really miss those days..."

  Xiao Dao looked out the window, reminiscing: "Dong Zheng Ge wasn't as brave back then as he is now. He would cry over the death of a frog and blush when talking to girls. I really miss those days!"

  Xiao Dao thought of Dong Zheng's appearance at that time and couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  Kuroda's hand slowly moved towards the gun holster at his waist.

  The little island was still immersed in memories of the past: "The most interesting thing is that once I climbed up from the river and couldn't find my pants, nowhere to be found, I was so anxious that I almost cried, it turned out that Dong Zheng Ge had hidden them."

  Kojima drew back his gaze and suddenly saw Kuroda's hand slowly pulling out a handgun from its holster.

  Xiao Dao slowly put down his chopsticks and calmly said: "I'm done eating."

  Kuroda gently placed the pistol on the table, tears streaming from his eyes: "Kojima, Captain said..."

  "Never mind, I understand."

  Kuroda: "The captain said that this way, we won't have to report as deserters, and Auntie will receive consolation money... it's still 'Jokoku no Ie'..."

  Kojima sneered and said to Kuroda: "The captain is also kind..."

  Kojima interrupted Kuroda: "Please don't mention that person again."

  Island picked up his pen and wrote on the letterhead after the two words "Mom": "Goodbye forever."

  Kojima put down his pen, folded the letter and handed it to Kuroda with both hands: "Please take care of this."

  Kuroda took the letter with trembling hands and wept, saying: "Please be at peace."

  Kuroda put the letter in his breast pocket.

  Xiao Dao picked up the handgun on the table, knelt down facing east, slowly raised the gun, and aimed at his own head.

  Kuroda turned away in grief, tears streaming down his face. With a single gunshot, Kojima fell to the ground.

  Upon hearing the gunshot, Iwai, who was hiding outside the door, immediately pushed it open and came in, bent down to carefully examine Koushima's body, nodded in satisfaction, and then sighed: "Koushima-san, rest in peace."

  Kuroda remained standing there, his back to the body of Oshima, unable to bring himself to look at it. Iwai walked up to him and said in a sorrowful tone, "Let's report again as if he were killed in action."

  Kuroda didn't say anything. Iwai: "This is the best result, Kuroda."

  Kuroda bowed slightly: "Yes."

  Iwai rushed out of the isolation room.

  Under the moonlight, Hei Tian crouched beside a well outside the barracks, loudly shouting towards the well mouth: "Xiao Dao... Xiao Dao... Xiao Dao..."

  The sound traveled very far away...

  Guo stood in front of Dongmei's tomb, with Changshan Niang and Changshan's wife holding Taiping standing beside him.

  "...... Dongmei, you've been following me and haven't had a good day in ages... wait till I'm done fighting the devils, then I'll come see you again..."

  Changshan's wife suddenly grabbed Changshan daughter-in-law's arm and dragged her to the front of the grave, shouting: "Kneel down! Kneel down for Dongmei!"

  Changshan's daughter-in-law knelt in front of the grave, holding Taiping and crying: "Dongmei sister, heaven and earth are witness, I was scared, I didn't mean to harm you! I've committed a sin!"

  Taiping was frightened and cried loudly, Changshan Niang hurriedly held Taiping in her arms and comforted him.

  Zhuāngzi walked up to Zhangshan's wife and said, "Auntie, I'm leaving."

  Changshan Niang: "Zhuāngzi, your brother is gone, and now Dongmei... you can't have anything else happen to you..."

  "Uh-huh."

  "Ah, these days... I keep dreaming of you and Little Mountain playing together when he was young, carrying you on his back and running..."

  "Ah... Aunt..."

  Changshan Niang: "Everyone says you two are like brothers, but I know you're different."

  Zhuangzi silently looked at Changshan Niang, Changshan Niang: "I heard Qiū Shū say that he wanted to get the reward money from the Japanese and report it. Qin Pai Zhang didn't know that Changshan was your cousin... This is all his fate..."

  "Uncle, in the future I will support you and see you through your old age..."

  Changshan Niang: "Ai, okay. Zhuāngzi, you must come back..."

  "Zhuāng zi: 'I will definitely come back, Auntie, take care of yourself.'"

  Changshan Niang cried and nodded: "Ah."

  Zhuāng zǐ turned around and walked away, Cháng Shān Niáng and Cháng Shān Xí Fù looked at his back, gradually disappearing into the darkness...

  National Army Garrison

  The newly formed reconnaissance platoon is in training.

  Huang Xintian is directing soldiers in shooting...

  Lao Cao is directing several soldiers to dismantle a machine gun...

  Qin Zhiyong stood at the edge of the training ground watching everyone's training.

  On the highway next to the training ground, Zhou Guangren was driving a truck with Old Yang sitting in the passenger seat guiding him. The truck suddenly swayed and rushed towards the ditch, Old Yang quickly opened the door and jumped out, the truck stopped abruptly at the edge of the ditch, almost falling into it. Zhou Guangren crawled out of the driver's cab, his legs were so scared that he couldn't move.

  Old Yang's heart still had lingering fears: "Why are you always driving into the ditch! Driving your car is more dangerous than fighting with devils!"

  Zhou Guangren wiped the sweat from his forehead and panted heavily, suddenly seeing a figure walking along the highway from afar.

  Zhou Guangren excitedly shouted: "It's Zhang Zhuo! Zhang Zhuo is back!"

  Qin Zhiyong heard the shout and looked over, Old Yang and Zhou Guangren ran towards the stake.

  Old Yang: "Back! Zhang, how's your aunt doing?"

  "Okay, okay."

  Zhou Guangren jokingly said: "Your Winter Plum sister is also great, why didn't you stay a few more days?"

  Dongzi sadly lowered his head, and Zhou Guangren asked in surprise: "What's wrong?"

  Old Yang: "What's going on?"

  Qin Zhiyong walked towards Shuanzi, seeing the sad expression on his face, Qin Zhiyong couldn't help but slow down his pace, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

  Duanzi raised his head and looked at Qin Zhiyong who was walking towards him...

  Under the moonlight, Qin Zhiyong and Duanzi sat under a big tree, both with solemn faces. Qin Zhiyong's hand tightly grasped the mandarin duck pouch.

  "......In the end, she still missed Zhìyǒng brother."

  Qin Zhiyong's tears flowed uncontrollably as he wrapped his arms around the shoulders of Zhuozi, and the two began to sob quietly.

  "Zongzi sobbed: 'Qiang Chang, you...do you hate my sister-in-law?'"

  Qin Zhiyong wiped away his tears and gazed up at the starry sky: "Apart from the Japanese, I don't hate anyone."

  Lao Yang, Lao Cao, Zhou Guangren and Huang Xintian looked at them from a distance.

  Alas! What is this thing called love in the world?

  Lao Cao looked at Zhou Guangren in confusion: "What does it mean?"

  "You don't understand, Old Cao. In your heart, there's only Old Yang, no women. You don't know the feeling of being heartbroken."

  Old Cao: "Lao Yang is my woman, if he dies, I will be heartbroken!"

  Old Yang kicked Old Cao's buttocks from behind and cursed with a smile: "Damn it! Why didn't you die?"

  Old Cao exaggeratedly shouted: "Ah yo! This girl, she's still quite strong!"

  Lao Cao turned around to grab Lao Yang, Zhou Guangren scolded: "I'm telling you two, are you still human?! The squad leader and the bolt are so miserable, do you two still have the mood to fool around here?!"

  Lao Yang and Lao Cao both restrained their smiles and stopped horsing around.

  "Huang Xintian: 'Go back and let them talk for a while.'"

  A few people walked dispiritedly towards their barracks.

  Under the big tree, Dangzi looked up at the starry sky and said: "Paichang, look, that twinkling star is Dongmei. She's in heaven watching us."

  Qin Zhiyong also gazed up at the starry sky: "Yeah, she's with her dad and mom now, and my dad and mom are together too... and there's Feng Lianchang, Little White Sister, Sun Canmou, Dong Tuanzhang..."

  "Also present were Lu Baochang and Ma Yingchang."

  Qin Zhiyong choked with sobs: "Uh, and those brothers who sacrificed, they are all together. They said - they said, why are you two crying? Wipe away your tears and kill more devils for us. We're in heaven, protecting you."

  The little girl wiped away her tears and nodded: "Uh-huh."

  Two people gazed up at the starry night sky in a daze...