Chapter 50: The Cherry Blossom Plan

  Zhang Lieyang slowly walked into Zhang Lao Taigong's study and respectfully asked: "Grandfather, what do you want me for?"

  "Lièyáng, is there anything wrong with your body?" Zhang old master asked with concern.

  "Grandfather, I'm sorry to have worried you! Nothing's wrong now!" Zhang Lieyang replied respectfully.

  "Wu has already told me everything! Anyway, you've gone a bit too far this time. But that thing you got from Fugang Corporation, I want to know what's written inside!" Old Master Zhang stared at Zhang Lieyang and said.

  "Grandfather, this top-secret document is about the 'Golden Cherry Blossom Plan'! The 'Golden Cherry Blossom Plan' is Japan's plan to plunder China's resources, using China's resources to invade China and make China a colony of Japan just like Korea!" Zhang Lieyang explained calmly.

  "I've got it! I'll keep this document here. You go home and take a good rest for a while!" Old Master Zhang said with a frown.

  "Got it! Nothing else, I'll leave first!" Zhang Lieyang said and left.

  Returning to his own room, Zhang Lieyang saw Xiao Yajie tidying up for him and couldn't help but walk over to her, embracing her from behind and saying: "Yajie, after a while I'll go ask Uncle Xiao for your hand in marriage, so you can marry me soon!"

  Xiao Yajie turned around and looked at Zhang Lieyang, saying: "Don't worry! I'll wait for you, everything will be fine once you're better!"

  On May 5, 1932, China and Japan signed the Shanghai Ceasefire Agreement under the mediation of Britain, the United States, France, and Italy. The Japanese army returned to its pre-war defense zone (the northern district, eastern district, and the area beyond the boundary roads of the Shanghai International Settlement), while Chinese troops temporarily remained in their current locations (from Anting Town on the Shanghai-Nanjing Railway to Baoshan on the Yangtze River). The combat zone was designated as a non-military area. The First Shanghai War came to an end.

  One morning in June, an officer came to the Zhang family and found Zhang Lieyang saying: "I am the company commander of the 722nd Regiment of the 361st Brigade of the 87th Division of the Fifth Army. I saw you on the position on Qingyun Road! After you left, Captain Fang was always at the forefront of the battle, fighting with the enemy dozens of times, and repeatedly repelling the enemy's attack. In the end, he unfortunately died in the fierce battle. When he took his last breath, he asked me to come to Ningbo to find you! He told me to tell you that you are the best fighter he has ever seen, and hoped that you can kill more enemies on the battlefield! His family is entrusted to you!" The company commander saluted Zhang Lieyang and turned around to leave.

  Not long after, the steward found Zhang Lieyang and took him to Zhang Lao's study. In the study, Xiao Shixiong said with a difficult expression: "Lieyang, this time you avenged the Tang family, but it was a bit too much! Now the Japanese side is demanding a thorough investigation of this matter. I just discussed it with your grandfather, and it happens that the recruitment for the 9th term of the Nanjing Central Military Academy is about to start. I think you should go there to study instead! We will help you deal with other matters!"

  Just then, Old Man Zhang said: "I knew your mind when you trained the family guards, but I didn't say it out loud. Now that the Japanese invaders are invading our China, sooner or later we will have a decisive battle with them!" As he spoke, Old Man Zhang turned over the rice paper with both hands and unfolded it towards Zhang Lieyang. "Dedication to the Country"! The four powerful characters flashed before his eyes, and Zhang Lieyang's heart suddenly surged with passion! In that instant, he suddenly understood Grandfather! Tears had already blurred his vision.

  "Ah, my grandson's thoughts are to serve the country, and it won't be in vain for me to have hopes for you as his grandfather! His mother-in-law is just a woman, yet she had 'loyalty and dedication to the country' tattooed on her back. Am I, Zhang Jingzhai, not as good as her? The Central Military Academy in Nanjing was originally founded by Sun Yat-sen in Guangzhou's Huangpu as the Military Officers' School. Think of all the revolutionary martyrs who came out of Huangpu Military School - they sacrificed their lives and shed blood for the revolution! They forged the spirit of Huangpu! My grandson is going to Nanjing to take the entrance exam for the Central Military Academy, and I hope he will do his best! If he gets in, I hope he will study hard, inherit and carry forward the spirit of Huangpu. In the future, when he charges into battle, may he be loyal and dedicated to the country, drive out foreign invaders, and make China strong and powerful again! May he bring honor to our great nation! Only then can I die without shame in front of my ancestors!"

  Zhang Lieyang was now tearfully, stepped forward a few steps, "thud" knelt down and said: "The grandson is unfilial, from now on I'm afraid I can no longer serve my grandfather! Now the Japanese clown is causing chaos in China, although the grandson is not talented, if he cannot drive out the Japanese invaders, then he will not return home!"

  Mr. Zhang got up from behind the table, walked to Zhang Lieyang's face, helped Zhang Lieyang up, and also had tears streaming down his face, trembling with speech: "Grandson! Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety have been hard to achieve at the same time. At this critical moment for our country, my grandson should show the true spirit of a Chinese man, serve the motherland, put the country first and the family second. Grandpa will wait quietly at home for your triumphant return!"

  Zhang Lieyang took a deep breath and said, "Grandson obediently follows grandfather's teachings! However, grandson hopes that grandfather and the Xiao family will move to Chongqing together. This way, grandson can also be at peace fighting against Japan!"

  "Alright! Grandfather promises you!" Zhang Lao Tai Ye said, looking at Xiao Shi Xiong and continued: "For the next two days, go keep company with Ya Jie! Once we've helped you prepare everything, we'll send you off on the train!"

  "That's all for today!" Liuyang said, leaving Mr. Zhang's study and driving to Zhejiang University, where he found Xiaoyajie just after her class: "Yajie, do you have any classes this afternoon? Let's go out and take a stroll!"

  "Alright!" Xiaoyajie said, pulling Zhang Lieyang away with her.

  Two people strolled along the small street near the Temple of Seven Towers, looking at the dazzling array of goods. Xiao Yajie carefully selected and only bought a pair of mud figurines of a couple. Zhang Lieyang looked at this pair of mud figurines and suddenly thought of "The Song of Myself". He smiled and hugged Xiao Yajie, saying: "You and I, too sentimental, our emotions burning like fire. Take a lump of clay, shape one into you, mold one into me. Smash us together, mix with water, then knead another you, mold another me. In my mud there's you, in your mud there's me. We'll share the same quilt when we're born, and the same coffin when we die."

  After listening to Zhang Lieyang's "My Nostalgia", Xiao Yajie blushed and said, "When did you learn to be so cheesy?!"

  Zhang Lieyang smiled and looked at Xiao Yajie, who suddenly lightly kissed her on the mouth. Zhang Lieyang turned around and ran away! Blushing Xiao Yajie chased after him quickly, shouting: "You rascal, wait till I catch you, how will you be dealt with!" As they ran, Zhang Lieyang suddenly stopped, and Xiao Yajie, who was following behind, couldn't stop in time and bumped into his arms. She quietly enjoyed the warmth of Zhang Lieyang's strong embrace.

  It wasn't until after a while that Xiao Yajie suddenly remembered they were on the street! She quickly pushed Zhang Lieyang away with force. Zhang Lieyang was taken aback at first, but as soon as he saw the passersby beside them, he immediately understood and his face turned red in an instant. He quickly separated from Xiao Yajie and when he stole a glance at her again, he found that her face had already turned bright red!

  As they walked, the crowd saw the loving couple and most of them couldn't help but smile. But Zhang Lieyang still pulled Xiao Yajie's hand and quickly left. On the way, Zhang Lieyang told Xiao Yajie that he was going to take the entrance exam for the Central Military Academy. Xiao Yajie looked at Zhang Lieyang and said: "No matter what happens, I, Xiao Yajie, will follow you for this lifetime! If you die on the battlefield, then I, Xiao Yajie, will immediately follow you! I will not live alone in this world!"

  "Idiot!" Zhang Lieyang said, embracing Xiao Yajie with one arm and continued: "The bullet that can kill me hasn't been invented yet! And besides, I don't want to die before marrying you!"

  Suddenly, Xiao Yajie looked at Zhang Lieyang and said: "Lieyang, now that Yuanyue is gone, I think Li Hailan has deep feelings for you too. If possible, why not accept her?"

  Zhang Lieyang took a deep breath and said, "My heart can't hold it in right now, can we talk about this later?" Upon hearing Zhang Lieyang's words, Xiao Yajie nodded obediently and said, "Okay! I won't force you on this matter!"