Chapter 38: Beacon Fire One Two Eight

  Old Master Zhang did not come to pick him up, only Second Uncle Zhang Qihua and the three girls, Zhang Zihuan, Tang Yuanyue, and Xiao Yajie. When they saw Zhang Lieyang walk out, the three girls couldn't stop their tears from flowing down. Zhang Qihua said: "Lieyang, you've lost weight, suffered a lot in there? Let's go home!"

  Just as they were about to leave, Li Hailan and Liu Kaifeng squeezed out of the crowd. Zhang Qihu saw Liu Kaifeng and Li Hailan, smiled and said to Zhang Lieyang: "Lieyang, you talk. I'll wait for you in the car!" After finishing speaking, he immediately turned around and left.

  After watching Zhang Qihua leave, Liu Kaifeng hugged Zhang Lieyang and said: "You suffered in there, if it wasn't for you I would also be in there!"

  "What's the point of saying anything! If you're my friend, then don't say anything at all!" Zhang Lieyang looked around and smiled as he said to Liu Kaifeng and the others: "If I'm not caught, how can these students be safe? Speaking of which, even if my grandfather doesn't save us, I have a way to get all the captured students out!" As he spoke, Zhang Lieyang pulled out an American-style hand grenade that was hidden on his body and waved it in front of them.

  At this time, Xiao Yajie, who was beside her, let out a sigh of relief and patted her chest, saying: "I was so scared to death! When I saw you being caught, I rushed home to find my father and told him about it, asking him to come and save you! But unexpectedly, my father slapped me in the face in anger!" As she spoke, Xiao Yajie covered her cheek with her hand.

  Zhang Zihuan continued, "We found Grandfather, but after I finished speaking, you were caught and Grandfather wasn't anxious at all. He just said, 'A real man should take responsibility for his own actions!'". After finishing speaking, Zhang Zihuan seemed a bit frightened and patted her chest to indicate that Old Master Zhang was very serious at the time.

  After listening to their account, Zhang Lieyang smiled and said: "Isn't everything okay now?" As he spoke, Zhang Lieyang looked at Liu Kaifeng and said: "Don't do such stupid things again in the future! Although you might think it's cool and impressive to parade around, but the consequences of this matter are not something you can bear!" As he spoke, Zhang Lieyang glanced around quietly and said: "If it weren't for me and my grandfather covering for you this time, these students would have already been taken away by the Central Organization Department's Investigation Division!"

  Just as he finished speaking, Zhang Lieyang quickly pulled down Liu Kai Feng who was about to collapse. At this time, Liu Kai Feng trembled and said: "I know I'm wrong! I shouldn't have done things without considering the consequences!"

  At this time, Zhang Lieyang suddenly thought of something and looked around before mischievously pulling up Xiao Yajie and Tang Yuanyue's hands, saying: "What I was most worried about when I was locked in there was you two!" As he said that, Zhang Lieyang smiled and whispered in their ears: "To hold your hand, to grow old together with you!"

  Xiao Yajie and Tang Wanyue simultaneously gave Zhang Lieyang a cold look, saying in unison: "Who wants to grow old with you?" As they spoke, the two girls' hearts were filled with sweetness.

  Seeing Xiao Yajie and Tang Wanyue's appearance, Zhang Lieyang was overjoyed in his heart, almost bursting into laughter. The hardships of the past few days were nothing to him now. At this time, Zhang Zihuan standing beside him said: "How disgusting! If you want to be affectionate, don't do it here! Why not go back and let Grandpa talk to Xiao Grandpa, Tang Grandpa, and arrange for your marriage as soon as possible?!"

  Upon hearing Zhang Zihuan's words, Zhang Lieyang smiled and said: "Why don't you and Kaifeng get married early too?"

  "I didn't!" Zhang Zihuan said with a blush, lowering her head and stealing glances at Liu Kaifeng from time to time.

  Seeing Zhang Zihuan's appearance, Li Hailan congratulated him: "Congratulations, Zhang Xuezhang! Successfully released!"

  Upon hearing Li Hailan's voice, Zhang Zihuan smiled and said: "Brother, Hailan is also your admirer. She was worried about you these few days in prison! Are you going to show her some concern?"

  "You little scamp, what nonsense are you spouting! As punishment for you, I'm suspending your allowance for a month!" Zhang Lieyang said with a smile.

  Upon hearing Zhang Lieyang's words, Zhang Zihuan pretended to be pitiful and said to Xiao Yajie and Tang Yuanyue: "Two elder sisters, please help me! Brother wants to stop my allowance!"

  At this time, Xiao Yajie smiled and said to Zhang Zihuan: "Your brother won't stop your pocket money, I and Wanyue both want to stop your pocket money!" Then Xiao Yajie looked at Zhang Lieyang and said: "Lieyang, Wanyue and I have discussed it, we don't object to you being with Hailan!"

  Upon hearing Xiao Yajie's words, Zhang Lieyang looked at Tang Yuanyue, and Tang Yuanyue smiled and nodded at Zhang Lieyang. Helplessly, Zhang Lieyang said: "I'm hungry, let's go home for dinner and talk about it later!" He then walked towards Zhang Qihuas car.

  Although Zhang Lieyang and others repeatedly invited Li Hailan to their home for lunch, Li Hailan did not accept the invitation. After all, a young woman going to a young man's home for lunch was somewhat inappropriate. In the end, Zhang Lieyang and others had no choice but to give up and send Li Hailan back home. When they sent Li Hailan to her doorstep, she waved at them with a shy smile and ran into her house - Zhang Lieyang remembered that Li Hailan had mentioned that she had an uncle and aunt in Ningbo.

  Back home, Old Man Zhang seemed very calm and didn't say much, just waving his hand for Zhang Lieyang to go take a bath and change clothes first. It was true that after staying in prison for so many days, he had become unbearably smelly. So Zhang Lieyang immediately put down his hands and rushed towards the bathroom.

  After witnessing many of their fellow students go through the ordeal of imprisonment, many students at Zhejiang University became subdued. The school authorities also felt a sense of trepidation after the students were arrested and spent several days trying to intervene, even asking Chen Guofu and Chen Lifu to intercede on their behalf, but to no avail. Although the students were eventually released, the president of Zhejiang University did not receive any criticism, but left an impression in the Nationalist government that they were "ineffective in discipline", and it is hard to say whether there will be repercussions in the future.

  Zhejiang University, which was suspended due to student arrests, has resumed classes, but the entire campus is filled with a depressing atmosphere.

  This atmosphere continued after the New Year. What a troublesome autumn! With the worsening situation in Northeast China, the gradual loss of territory, and the growing numbness of the people, the New Year of 1932 finally arrived amidst strong winds and heavy rain. Although the National Government had long advocated for the new year, ordinary people still didn't buy it, except for government agencies and schools that accepted new ideas relatively quickly, ordinary people were all waiting to celebrate what was known as the old lunar new year.

  But the old calendar New Year has not yet arrived, and the pain of 918 has not been smoothed out for the Chinese people. Japanese imperialism has again added new pain to the Chinese people! On January 28, 1932 (the 21st year of the Republic of China), the Japanese army launched a battle in Shanghai in order to change its invasion plan from north to south to east to west, which was beneficial for long-term warfare.

  This morning, Zhang Lieyang came to Zhang Lao Taigong's study as usual. Zhang Lao Taigong saw his grandson and smiled: "Lieyang, I've noticed you've been running to Shanghai a lot lately?"

  "I'm going to find my dad's friend and ask about my dad's situation! It's been a long time since we've had any news from them!" Zhang Lieyang said, putting on a worried expression. Suddenly, he turned to Old Man Zhang and said: "Grandpa, I got some information from one of Smith's friends! In the next two days, the Japanese are planning to create another incident in Shanghai similar to the 9/18 Incident! I went to find Uncle Xiao, but he's gone to Nanjing for a meeting!"

  Upon hearing Zhang Lieyang's words, Old Man Zhang smiled and said: "You should just focus on studying well! Don't forget that after the New Year, you still have to accompany me to...!" Before Old Man Zhang could finish his sentence, Zhang Lieyang smiled and said: "Is it to go shopping at each of our family's stores?!"

  "Yes! You go down first! Don't forget to come home early tonight, it's your grandmother's birthday!" Old Man Zhang reminded with a smile.