Chapter 34: Memories Brought Back by Photos (Part 1)

  Zhao Zhibang looked at the photo, and the events of several months ago clearly floated into his mind. That was still after he came out from Beiping.

  Zhao Zhibang originally had no intention of becoming a soldier when he left Beiping. His mind was set on avenging his family by killing Inoue Masao and Yanagawa Tsugujiro. After escaping from the city, he didn't plan to go anywhere else, but due to getting 'lost', he inadvertently ended up in Quyang County, Hebei Province. Along the way, he hadn't eaten a hot meal for several days, and with his great revenge unfulfilled, his mood was extremely low. As a result, he didn't bother asking anyone for directions, instead wandering aimlessly like a headless fly, getting further and further away. When he came to his senses, he had already left Beiping far behind.

  That day, he walked to a small town in Quyang County. The sky was already dark, and because it was a rural area, the restaurants and hotels were scarce. After the news of the Japanese invasion arrived, the owners of the originally struggling restaurants and hotels closed their doors one by one. Although the Japanese had not yet occupied this place, the Chinese troops had withdrawn from this area. Since the strategic location was not important, it had not been baptized by artillery fire. Hungry and tired, Zhao Zhibang came to a large house that looked like a wealthy family's residence, hesitated for a while, and finally knocked on the copper door knocker.

  "Excuse me, who are you? Is there something I can help a young person with?" He knocked several times but didn't get any response inside. Just as he was about to leave, the door creaked open and a middle-aged man in his 50s wearing a gray robe and black-framed glasses looked at him and asked.

  "This is the first time Zhao Zhibang has ever asked someone for something, so he can't help but be a bit tongue-tied and his words get stuck in his throat."

  "Hey young man, what's on your mind? Have you encountered some difficulties? Is there anything I can help you with?" The middle-aged man asked Zhao Zhibang with a smile.

  "Oh, sir... I'm from Beiping and it's getting late today, so I was wondering if I could stay at your place for the night. I don't know if it's convenient for you, but please be assured that I can pay the same price as an outside inn!" Zhao Zhibang said with a stutter, feeling the money in his pocket that Lei Zheng had given him.

  "Oh, you're from Beiping. This... this... are you planning to head south?" The middle-aged man said with a faint smile after hearing Zhao Zhibang say he wanted to pay."

  "Ah, yes, yes, yes... Zhao Zhibang saw him shaking his head and thought he disagreed, becoming even more embarrassed and anxious, to the point where he didn't even hear what the other person was asking, just randomly responding."

  "Oh, I see... If I'm not mistaken, little brother is going to join the army in the south!"

  "Alas... is... is... is... joining the army..."

  "Ah, good, good... young man has guts, come on in quickly!" The middle-aged man's face, which had just smiled, turned serious after hearing Zhao Zhibang's careless response. He said as he respectfully opened the door to invite him in, making it seem like Zhao Zhibang was a honored guest rather than someone coming to borrow a place to stay. This made Zhao Zhibang feel somewhat uneasy, knowing that the middle-aged man was willing to take him in only because he had heard about his intention to join the army, which wasn't true at all.

  "Little brother, you must be hungry, hurry up and get something to eat"

  "Thank you, Uncle Li... I'm sorry to have disturbed you." Zhao Zhibang now knew that the middle-aged man's name was Li Guangmao. Judging from his home, he should be considered a wealthy family in this small town.

  "Little brother said what, little brother wants to go to the battlefield to defend the country and kill the enemy, I Li Guangmao admire him so much, it's just a pity that I'm old... haha...". It turned out that Li Guangmao really took Zhao Zhibang as a young man who went south to join the army.

  Before long, a middle-aged woman who was dressed simply but very clean came out of the inner room with a bowl of noodles and said to Zhao Zhibang with a smile: "Oh dear, there's nothing much at home today, little brother just make do with eating a bowl of noodles to fill your stomach."

  "Thank you, Auntie... Hehe..." Zhao Zhibang took over the noodles with some embarrassment.

  "Eat quickly while it's still hot..."

  "Ah... okay..." Zhao Zhibang was really hungry, since he ran to this remote town, he hadn't had a proper meal. Seeing the steaming noodles with egg on top, tears welled up in his eyes. Looking at the middle-aged woman urging him to eat, he thought of his mother and almost finished the bowl of noodles in one breath, holding back tears.

  After a bowl of noodles, Zhao Zhibang's spirit improved a lot. After finishing the meal, Li Guangmao chatted with him about some things in Beiping and his family. When he heard that Zhao's whole family was killed by the Japanese, Li Guangmao's face was filled with indignation, while his wife on the side covered her face and burst into tears.

  "Zhibang, you should be calm and adapt to the change. Don't be too sad. I think your parents in heaven would also be proud of your decision today. Okay, you've run such a long way and must be tired. Take a rest first." Li Guangmao comforted Zhao Zhibang, who was heartbroken at this moment thinking of his parents.

  "This is the room of my son Jing Zhong, he's now studying outside, you can sleep here." Li Guang Mao said as he led Zhao Zhi Bang to a room and pushed open the door.

  "Thank you, Uncle Li..." Zhao Zhibang choked with sobs as he bowed deeply to Li Guangmao.

  "Alright... alright... go ahead and rest now, get a good sleep, don't think too much about it... ah, if there's anything just call me."

  Zhao Zhibang wiped away the tears on his face and walked in. The room was not very big, but it was clean and tidy. There was a row of bookshelves against the wall beside the bed, with many books on them. It could be seen that the owner of the room was a cultured person. On the wall by the door hung a photo frame, with Li Guangmao and his wife sitting in the middle. To their right stood a child who looked like he was fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing a student uniform. Behind him stood a tall and thin young man holding a baby of several months old. Next to him stood a young woman who looked a bit shy. Zhao Zhibang knew that this was Li's family photo, and the young man in the student uniform should be the owner of this bedroom.