In the disappointed eyes of his parents, Jiang Xinyu embarked on his way home...
On the train, Jiang Xinyu kept hearing the news that Zhengzhou had fallen again. Jiang Xinyu didn't believe it at first. After all, how could such a big change happen in just one month.
It wasn't until the train pulled into Zhengzhou Station and saw Japanese soldiers with guns and live ammunition everywhere that Jiang Xinyu knew the rumors were true.
Every passenger is subject to strict inspection, and any suspicious person will be arrested immediately.
It was Jiang Xinyu's turn. The person in charge of the inspection was a Japanese second lieutenant. He spoke in blunt Chinese and said: "Open the box and take out the documents!"
Jiang Xinyu carried two certificates with him. The real certificate was used in occupied areas, and the fake certificate was used in Kuomintang-controlled areas.
The second lieutenant carefully checked the ID and said, "Are you the captain of the Yanjin Detective Team?"
"Yes. (Japanese)" Jiang Xinyu said.
"where did you go?"
"I was ordered to go on a business trip to Zhejiang. If you have any questions, you can call Major Hattori of the Yanjin Military Police to verify my identity."
The second lieutenant returned the certificate to Jiang Xinyu, bowed slightly and said, "Captain Jiang, I'm sorry."
Now that his identity was confirmed, Jiang Xinyu's suitcase was not inspected.
After leaving the station, I saw sun flags flying everywhere, and groups of Japanese soldiers walking on the street. When Jiang Xinyu came and went from Zhengzhou, the sky here had completely changed!
After buying a newspaper on the street, Jiang Xinyu quickly understood that in order to open up the mainland's communication line, the Japanese North China Front Army's 150,000 elite troops deployed nearly 300 tanks from various ministries and launched the so-called No. 1 combat plan at the beginning of the month.
The first theater of the National Army, led by the two officers Tang and Chiang, went through repeated tug-of-war and hard battles, repeatedly inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. In the end, due to overall considerations, Henan had to be abandoned.
Jiang Xinyu was not in a hurry to buy the ticket back to Yanjin. The business had already been done and he decided to go find Xiao Taohong's father.
I inquired at more than a dozen merchants near the station and found that many people knew Ma Laosan, but none of them knew where he lived now.
I went to the Household Affairs Section of the nearby police station to inquire. Since I couldn't provide my real name, I spent a long time and still couldn't find Ma Laosan's whereabouts.
There is a huge crowd, and it is really difficult to find someone you don't know.
The weather is very good today, the sky is clear and the sun is shining brightly. People are coming and going on the street, making it a busy and lively scene.
There were more than a dozen coolies in shabby clothes and dirty faces squatting on the street, looking eagerly at everyone who passed by. They were the lowest class of people who had eaten one meal without finishing.
Seeing a half-grown child squatting among them, Jiang Xinyu felt unbearable. Although he couldn't help everyone, he could still help one and a half.
He waved to the child and said, "Follow me."
The other coolies immediately gathered around and said all at once: "Sir, do you still need people? I can do any kind of work..."
"Sir, he is too young and is not qualified for his job. Shall I go with you?"
"gentlemen……"
Jiang Xinyu pointed at the timid half-year-old child and said, "It's you, follow me."
The child stood up and followed Jiang Xinyu.
"What's your name?" Jiang Xinyu asked casually.
"My name is Mao Dan..."
"how old are you?"
"Sixteen years old."
Jiang Xinyu sighed inwardly. Maodan had a sallow face and thin muscles, and his wrists were as thick as hemp rods. It was obviously due to malnutrition and he looked several years younger than his peers.
"You came out to do hard labor at the age of sixteen? Where are the adults in your family?"
Mao Dan lowered his head and said: "My father went to build fortifications for the Japanese outside the city. My mother is sick again. I want to make some money and give him medicine to see a doctor..."
It is said that children of poor people become rich early, and this is absolutely true.
"With your body, who would be willing to hire you? Think of another way out." Jiang Xinyu took out his wallet, took out a stack of bills and handed it to Mao Dan.
Mao Dan said in a panic: "Sir, you gave me so much money, what kind of work do you want me to do?"
Jiang Xinyu smiled and said: "You don't need to do any work, just go home and get medicine for your father."
"Sir, don't look at me because I am small, but I am strong and can do anything..."
"I know, go home."
"Sir, are you a foreigner? If you don't know the way, I can show you the way!"
Although Mao Dan is young, he still feels that he has to do something for others after taking so much money for nothing.
"There's no need to lead the way..." Jiang Xinyu thought for a moment and said, "Maodan, do you know a blacksmith named Ma Laosan?"
"You're talking about Uncle Ma, I know you."
"Where is he?" Jiang Xinyu was happy. He didn't expect that after working hard for a long time without finding any clues, he actually found out from Mao Dan.
"Uncle Ma was taken away by the Japanese."
"Why did the Japanese capture him?"
Mao Dan explained: "It's not about arrests. A Japanese soldier came here a few days ago and said that the Japanese military camp was short of a handyman to cook and cook. Everyone was afraid that the Japanese would not give them money and no one was willing to go. Ma San
My uncle didn’t know what was going on, but he said he was willing to go.”
"Ma Laosan is also working here as a coolie?"
"I have been doing this for several years."
"...Does this Ma Laosan have a daughter?"
Mao Dan shook his head and said, "I don't know. We asked him who was in his family, and he said they were all dead."
"Where does he live?"
"He has no home...Oh, he sometimes spends the night in the Chenghuang Temple."
"Where is the City God's Temple?"
"There is only one City God's Temple in Zhengzhou City, two streets across it. You will know as soon as you ask. The temple enshrines General Ji Xin... Otherwise, I will show you the way."
Jiang Xinyu thought for a while and said, "No, I'll go as a rickshaw. You can quickly get medicine for your mother."
Mao Dan bowed deeply, turned around and ran away.
Jiang Xinyu flagged down a rickshaw and said, "Go to the City God's Temple."
Mao Dan was right. Sure enough, after crossing two streets, about ten minutes later, a large temple appeared in front of us.
The Chenghuang Temple has extraordinary carved beams and painted columns, and the halls are all covered with glazed tiles. Although it looks dilapidated and in disrepair, it is still a majestic Taoist building.
Jiang Xinyu walked into the mountain gate with his suitcase, and a Taoist priest was cleaning the fallen leaves in the yard.
"Excuse me, does Ma Laosan live here?" Jiang Xinyu walked over and said politely.
The Taoist priest shouted without raising his head: "Old Ma, someone is looking for you."
Only then did Jiang Xinyu notice that there were two rows of simple shacks built on the left and right sides of the mountain gate. These were built in the temple for homeless people.
A man in his forties emerged from inside and said, "Who is looking for me?"
Jiang Xinyu walked over and said, "Are you Ma Laosan?"
The man spat and said, "A person like me can still pretend to be?"
"Is your daughter's name Lanhua?" Jiang Xinyu further confirmed.