Chapter 3 This damn thing is China

  It's a woman's nature to like shopping, almost every woman likes it, except for the feudal era when girls were confined to their rooms and didn't leave their embroidery building.

  Since the founding of the Republic, when democracy and freedom were promoted, women's status has truly improved, although in some places it is still backward and women's status has not been raised as it should be.

  But as the largest city in the economic and political center of the three eastern provinces, Fengtian is clearly not an exception, and it is extremely open and prosperous compared to remote and backward areas.

  As the daughter of the commander-in-chief of the Shengjing City Garrison, Wang Ruo Ying had gone abroad and her thoughts and ideas were even more open and refreshing. Without any hint of shyness as a woman in a feudal society, she walked hand in hand with Zhang Xing Han, looking around at this and that, completely immersed in the joyful atmosphere of being together with the one she loved.

  After a short stroll, Zhang Xinghan had seven or eight large and small bags in his hands. However, Wang Ruoying's purchases were not cosmetics or other feminine products, but almost all of them were for Zhang Xinghan, including cigarettes, foreign liquor, watches, and several suits.

  The two of them went east along Fengtian Street and soon arrived at a crossroads in the central area of the city.

  It's very prosperous here, with vendors and pedestrians everywhere. The streets are lined with shops side by side, and the streets are bustling with people coming and going.

  If he wasn't familiar with history, Zhang Xinghan would really think that he had arrived in a prosperous and flourishing era. In fact, the three northeastern provinces have been doing quite well in terms of local people's livelihood economy and military power under the management of Zhang's father and son for many years.

  In financial terms, the Northeastern Government was self-sufficient and quite affluent, not only did the government have money, but the people's standard of living was also relatively good, at least much better than the central provinces that had been plagued by warlord battles for years.

  The city of Fengtian is so prosperous and beautiful, the rich Northeast is also a good brocade river and mountain, I even more cannot let it fall into the hands of the Japanese people. Zhang Xinghan's heart became even more determined.

  As they strolled along, a sudden commotion came from the intersection ahead, and many pedestrians gathered around to see what was happening.

  "The Japanese devils are beating people! The Japanese are beating people!" Some cries of Fushun citizens entered Zhang Xinghan's ears.

  "Let's go take a look," Zhang Xinghan called out to Wang Ruo Ying as they walked quickly into the crowd.

  Pushing through the crowd, Zhang Xinghan saw that two Japanese ronin were actually beating up an elderly couple with white hair, next to whom a bamboo basket lay on the ground, with over ten fish scattered all over the place.

  It was clear that the old man was a fishmonger, who had been beaten by two Japanese ronin until he spat blood. Although many onlookers surrounded him, they only dared to shout and did not dare to come forward. After all, both Japanese ronin were wearing steel knives, and they knew that the Japanese were cunning and deceitful. The government couldn't do anything about them, turning a blind eye to their misdeeds, trying to avoid trouble. If you offended the Japanese, it was very likely that you would end up suffering yourself!

  So, no one dares to stop them.

  "Stop!" Zhang Xinghan's eyes blazed with anger, and he threw the gift to the ground, shouting loudly as he rushed towards the two Japanese ronin who had not stopped.

  Just then, Zhang Xinghan kicked out with one foot, carrying the force of his running, and sent it flying towards a Japanese ronin who had just turned his head to ask something.

  "Whoosh!" Zhang Xinghan kicked the Japanese rascal in the chest with one foot, and his immense strength instantly sent him flying backwards, heavily slamming onto the ground.

  "Hah!" Another Japanese ronin saw this and became furious, but what responded to him was Zhang Xinghan's heavy punch. In his previous life, Zhang Xinghan was one of the best special soldiers in the Republic, excelling in both shooting and hand-to-hand combat. Now, with his reborn body possessing excellent physical qualities, Zhang Xinghan's explosive power was extremely strong in an instant.

  "Bang!" A heavy fist slammed into the face of the Japanese rascal, instantly sending him reeling backward.

  He retreated several steps, and the rascal finally stopped, covering his bruised face with one hand, too busy to wipe away the blood flowing from the corner of his mouth. Only then did the rascal get a clear look at Zhang Xinghan.

  Seeing him wearing a military uniform, the Japanese ronin was taken aback for a moment, but immediately returned to normal, his eyes still filled with excitement and anger, shouting at Zhang Xinghan in stiff Chinese: "Baka yaro, despicable Shina soldier, I am an overseas citizen of the Great Japanese Empire, how dare you hit me!"

  Zhang Xinghan sneered but didn't speak. At this time, the rascal who was kicked down by Zhang Xinghan earlier also stood up with his mouth covered in blood, thinking that Zhang Xinghan was afraid of them since he didn't say anything.

  The ronin who had been punched by Zhang Xinghan suddenly gained strength, pointing at Zhang Xinghan and saying: "Chinaman pig, kneel down and apologize to us, or you'll be dead."

  Zhang Xinghan still didn't answer, but instead let out a loud roar and charged at the two Japanese werewolves with lightning speed. The two ronin hastily drew their swords, but Zhang Xinghan's speed was faster than they could imagine.

  Before they could draw their swords, Zhang Xinghan suddenly jumped up and kicked the two men with his feet, one foot kicking each of them. The two Japanese ronin dodged too late and were simultaneously kicked by Zhang Xinghan, tumbling to the ground.

  One blow knocked both of them down, Zhang Xinghan didn't continue but stood proudly with a disdainful gaze at the two Japanese men lying on the ground with faces full of terror, and said in a deep voice: "Listen up, you guys, this is China's Fengtian, not Tokyo, if you want to act wildly here, there's no door for you!"

  "Bastard!" Having been beaten by Zhang Xinghan one after another, and hearing Zhang Xinghan's words, the two proud Japanese ronin suddenly became furious, almost simultaneously drawing out the Eastern sword they carried with them, roaring as they charged at Zhang Xinghan together.

  "Be careful, Xing Han!" Behind him, Wang Ruo Ying saw two Japanese ronin draw their swords and immediately shouted a warning.

  Zhang Xinghan was not tense at all, his fists clenched tightly, and he roared forward: "Looking for death!"

  One of the Japanese ronin swung his steel sword, Zhang Xinghan dodged to the side and grabbed another Japanese ronin's arm with one hand. With a twist of force, the Japanese ronin let out a pained cry, and the Eastern sword in his hand also fell silently to the ground.

  Zhang Xinghan quickly caught the Japanese sword with his right hand, kicked down this Japanese ronin with one foot, and swung the sword to slash at another Japanese ronin.

  "Clang, clang, clang!" A series of sharp, ear-piercing sounds rang out as Zhang Xinghan wielded his Eastern sword and clashed with the Japanese ronin in a fierce duel. The powerful force of his blows sent the ronin stumbling backward repeatedly.

  Zhang Xinghan's final horizontal sweep shook the Japanese ronin's tiger mouth, splitting it open, and his Eastern sword flew out of his hand.

  "Whoosh!" Zhang Xinghan held the knife rack against the Japanese ronin's neck with one hand, the sharp blade only two inches away from his carotid artery.

  Feeling the chill on the back of his neck, the Japanese ronin's forehead suddenly broke out in cold sweat as he stared at Zhang Xinghan with a terrified expression.

  "When beating up the elderly in our country, and holding a knife to harm our soldiers, you little Japanese are too arrogant." Zhang Xinghan said coldly with a fierce killing intent in his eyes.

  Just then, several shrill whistles suddenly rang out.

  As the crowd opened up, several policemen in black uniforms from Fengtian rushed over with a flustered expression.

  The leading policeman looked at the Japanese ronin who had been knocked down, and saw Zhang Xinghan holding a knife to a Japanese man's throat, and was suddenly frightened pale.

  He rushed to Zhang Xinghan and saw that Zhang was a lieutenant colonel, so he hastily saluted and asked: "What's going on?"

  Zhang Xinghan turned his head back and felt that the person in front of him was very familiar.

  The police officer was also taken aback and immediately exclaimed in surprise: "Brother, how is it you?"

  At this time, Zhang Xinghan suddenly remembered that the man was Wang Yicai, the deputy director of the Fengtian Police Department. He and Zhang Xinghan were brothers who grew up together since childhood. Originally, he was also a regimental commander in the Northeast Army, but after Zhang Zuolin took control of the Northeast and changed allegiance to the Nanjing government, more than 100,000 troops were downsized, and Wang Yicai was transferred to the Fengtian Police Department as deputy director.

  "They beat up this old fish seller on the street and wanted to hack me, but I gave them a good thrashing." Zhang Xinghan explained nonchalantly.

  "Hey, my brother Zhang Xinghan, why are you so impulsive? Don't you know what time it is now?" Wang Yicai hastily stepped forward and took the knife from Zhang Xinghan's hand, saying in a low voice: "Now Sino-Japanese relations are tense and delicate, and any carelessness may lead to war. General Shao has repeatedly ordered us not to conflict with the Japanese, you know that."

  Two Japanese ronin saw the police arriving and also saw Wang Yicai taking away Zhang Xinghan's knife, so they became arrogant again, pointing at Zhang Xinghan and saying to Wang Yicai: "Your military personnel beat up a citizen of my great Japanese Empire, you must arrest him immediately!"

  "Get the f**k out of here, you're bullying my countrymen and trying to harm our soldiers with knives. This is just a small punishment for you, don't be ungrateful, get lost!" Wang Yicai was not impressed by the Japanese, as a military man he ignored their provocations and sternly shouted at them instead.

  "Hmph, you just wait, this isn't over." The Japanese ronin, seeing things weren't going in their favor, let out a cold snort and led his companions away in disarray.

  After two Japanese ronin left, Wang Yicai waved his hand loudly to the surrounding onlookers and said: "Folks, disperse, disperse, nothing's wrong!"

  After the onlookers dispersed, Wang Yicai turned to Zhang Xinghan and said: "Brother, you'd better hurry back to the barracks first. I'm afraid those little devils will use this incident to put pressure on our superiors. You'll be safer in the barracks."

  "Uh-huh." Zhang Xinghan understood that his previous action might have induced the September 18th Incident to erupt ahead of schedule, and nodded accordingly.

  "Xing Han, are you okay?" Wang Ruo Ying walked over with a concerned face.

  "Oh, I forgot to introduce you, this is my fiancée Wang Ruoying." Zhang Xinghan said with a sidelong introduction.

  "General Wang's daughter, Ruo Ying, I've long heard of your reputation. Today, seeing you for the first time, you're indeed as beautiful and elegant as a celestial being! If my elder brother, Xing Han, can marry Sister Ruo Ying, it would be truly good fortune!" Wang Yi Cai's eyes lit up with delight as he joked.

  "Hey you!" Zhang Xinghan couldn't help but punch Wang Yicai once, and introduced him to Wang Ruoying: "This is Wang Yicai, my childhood friend, currently the deputy director of the Fengtian Police Bureau."

  "If Wang has seen Director Wang." Although Wang Ruo Ying had a bright personality, she still understood manners.

  "Hey, sister-in-law, you're being too formal. In the past, when I first met my elder brother's wife, I had to kowtow to her as a sign of respect. So, don't call me Director Wang anymore, just call me Yicai." Wang Yicai said with a smile.

  "Alright, Brother-in-law." Wang Ruo Ying was not a bashful person and changed her tone quickly, but her cheeks still flushed with a hint of redness. After all, she had not yet formally married Zhang Xing Han, so being called "Big Sister-in-law" by Wang Yi Cai made her feel somewhat shy.