Chapter 48: Mei Xia's Past

  １

  He repeatedly wiped his face with his hands, unsure whether it was rain or sweat.

  At this time, the phone in the guardhouse rang again. The interpreter didn't wait for the Japanese sergeant to answer the phone and immediately ran over to pick up the receiver. The person standing at the front only heard the interpreter's "Hai yi hai yi" voice, put down the phone, and the interpreter rushed out of the guardhouse, saying something to the sergeant in a flurry.

  The sergeant glared at the interpreter and shouted a sentence to the back: "Let him go!"

  The devils on the upper floor put away their machine guns. The bayonet that was pressed against Rui Xuan's chest also withdrew.

  The translator then turned to the crowd: "Mr. Inukawa said that everyone's sad mood can be understood, and Mr. Inukawa himself is also deeply grieved by this accident. Based on the principle of 'friendly treatment during the day', the Imperial Army specially allowed the funeral procession to leave the city, but they must all return before the city gate closes at night. Those who do not return will be treated as traitors!"

  The horses stationed at the city gate were moved away, and the crowd flowed like a dammed river, passing through the city gate and slowly heading towards the frozen lake outside the city.

  On the watchtower of the Japanese garrison headquarters at Leiyang Academy, Inukawa Jirō stood with binoculars for a long time, finally sitting down in his chair with a defeated look. Who would have thought that beneath the gentle and elegant appearance of this place, the humble and honest people had such strong and unyielding hearts? Since intimidation tactics didn't work, what should be done next to win over their hearts? He was deep in thought when suddenly, a sharp pain shot up from his wound below, Inukawa Jirō gritted his teeth and cursed loudly: "Baka-yarou, you Chinese scum!"

  Along with the severe pain, various memories of Mei Xia were also activated in Inukawa Jiro's mind.

  ２

  Inugawa Jiro first met Mei Xia in the back garden of the Mei mansion, on a spring afternoon. At that time, he was still affectionately called "Little Quan Zi", and his public identity was as an assistant manager of the Mei family's silk fabric store; in reality, his true identity was that of a Japanese "Bamboo Agency" lieutenant colonel staff officer, and a high-ranking subordinate of the head of Japanese intelligence, Tōyama Kakudō.

  A string of silvery laughter, suddenly attracted Inukawa's gaze to the peach blossoms below, two lovely figures chasing and playing among the blooming plum blossoms. Their slender waists, swaying gently in the breeze, stretched out in delicate elegance. Every movement, every gesture, rippled with the clear waves of Jiangnan rivers and lakes, flowing with the gentle charm of small streams and winding waters. Suddenly, Inukawa Jiro was stunned, unable to distinguish whether it was the shadow of flowers or the flower of shadows. Suddenly, two lovely figures emerged from the flower cluster, almost colliding with Inukawa Jiro.

  "You're the new fellow, aren't you? How did you end up in my backyard garden? Don't you know the rules of the Mei estate? Aren't adult men not allowed to enter the backyard garden?"

  Inokawa Jiro was taken aback, lowered his head and replied: "I am the new assistant manager of the silk store, came to the mansion to find the steward Mei Cheng ~ forgive my ignorance, may I ask who you are?"

  Listening to Inukawa Jirō's stiff rural accent, the woman behind him burst out laughing: "And yet he claims to be an assistant manager at a silk fabric store, but doesn't even recognize our young mistress!"

  At this time, Inukawa Jirō finally lifted his head and carefully examined the woman in front of him: a blue top, a black skirt blown by the wind, wearing a pair of black cloth shoes with shoe laces, typical of a female student's attire during the Republic of China period. Although the colors were simple, the fabrics were all Suzhou silk, tailored to fit, and exquisite workmanship, revealing the woman's slender figure without a doubt. The woman's long hair fluttered, her eyes were clear, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly upwards, as if smiling or scolding. Her long curly hair was as light as seaweed, and as beautiful as a waterfall.

  Looking at Inukawa Jirō staring straight at the young lady, the woman behind her got a bit angry: "What's wrong with you, do you know the rules? Why are you always staring at my miss?"

  Miss was very magnanimous: "He's new here and doesn't know the rules, let Mei Cheng talk to him more later~ Meixiang, let's continue playing! I'll catch you this time!" The two lovely figures hid in the flower cluster again, only hearing a series of crisp laughter echoing.

  From then on, Inukawa Jirō's heart remained in the backyard with those two lively spirits and that string of laughter.

  Inukawa Jiro was not without family, and when it came to his wife's lineage, it was even more prestigious - she was a relative of the Emperor, a member of the imperial family! Although his colleagues were all envious of him having an imperial wife, only he knew the sweetness and bitterness of it.

  The elaborate royal etiquette created an invisible barrier between husband and wife, even their conjugal relations had to be conducted with strict propriety. The women of the imperial family in the Showa era were far from being as gentle and obedient as ordinary Japanese women, every day they had to maintain a dignified demeanor, even at home they had to be extremely cautious, lest they offend the emperor's countenance. Inukai Toshiro himself was not clear whether his marriage was based on love or transaction.

  Until he met Mei Xia, he was moved by this lively and elegant Jiangnan girl, and all his fantasies about women and love reappeared in his mind. Mei Xia's coquettishness, charm, frowns, smiles, scolds, and angers were all deeply etched in Inukawa Jirō's heart. Even Mei Xia's small temper, Inukawa Jirō found it lovely like a bird leaning on a person, with a gentle and affectionate demeanor.

  Mei Xia's laughter was like the clear and crisp sound of wind chimes under the corridor, bright and not artificial, which struck a chord in Inukawa Jiro's heart and seeped into his heart. Mei Xia's shallow smile and gentle frown, with a warm and tender tone, flowed into Inukawa Jiro's heart, melting the coldness and hardness that had been trained as a special agent. In Inukawa Jiro's heart, Mei Xia was the embodiment of gentleness and kindness, beauty and sunshine. When she was lively, she was like a lively fairy, like a sunflower on a summer day, shining brightly; when she was quiet, she was like a white lotus flower emerging from clear water, pure and flawless. Beautiful as a flower, beautiful as a painting.

  ３

  Since then, he has been finding excuses to come to the backyard, trying every means to see Mei Xia, even if it's just a glimpse from afar, which makes him feel content. But this is undoubtedly drinking poison to quench thirst, as each meeting adds countless times more longing.

  Until early June, he had completed his mission to scout out the Chinese army's firepower and explore the rear roads. Just as he was about to return to his unit, he came to Mei's backyard again, where he found Mei Xia alone in the corridor, cooling off. He went up to her and grabbed hold of her, intending to confess his love, but unexpectedly, Mei Xia's normally gentle and reserved demeanor changed in an instant - her eyebrows furrowed, her eyes widened, and she slapped him squarely on the ear. It was then that Inukawa Jirō learned that beneath Mei Xia's seemingly delicate and ethereal exterior lay a chaste and fiercely proud heart.

  The consequences can be imagined. Ruihui, who was usually warm and gentle, suddenly became furious and immediately drove him out of the Mei family.