Entering July, rains become more frequent, with light rains occurring every three days and heavy rains occurring every two days. Yanjin seems to have entered the rainy season ahead of schedule.
Hattori Hikoo was idle at home and had nothing to do all day, so he had to find something to do for himself to distract himself from the monotonous life.
Fishing is his biggest hobby. He used to be busy with military affairs and had no time. Now that he has time, he naturally thinks of this hobby again.
It was still raining continuously today. Hattori Hikoo took a car to the Shirakawa River, chose a section of the river that he thought was more suitable, and asked the driver to move chairs, buckets, and fishing rods to the shore.
The driver held an umbrella, and Hattori Hikoo sat on a folding bamboo chair. He put bait mixed with sesame oil on the fishhook and swung the fishing line into the river hard.
Within a few minutes, the fish float moved. Hattori Hikoo quickly reeled in the line, and a crucian carp weighing half a kilogram was hanging on the hook.
The driver helped put the crucian carp into the bucket and said, "Major, I didn't expect your fishing skills to be so good!"
Hattori Hikoo smiled and said: "As long as I want, I can eat fresh fish every day."
On the misty and rainy river, a motorized barge slowly drove over, with the two characters "Yongchang" written in white paint on the bow.
A man wearing a bamboo hat stood on the bow of the boat and said loudly to Hattori Hikoo: "Excuse me, how to get to Sanliqiao Pier?"
Hattori Hikoo and the driver were both wearing casual clothes, and the car was parked far away. People who didn't know them thought they were just two ordinary people, but no one would have thought that this was a major in the Japanese army!
"Two miles north, just turn left." Hattori Hikoo replied.
"Thank you!" The man wearing a bamboo hat clasped his hands in his fists.
Watching the barge go down the river, the driver said: "This guy must be a foreigner. He may not know that Sanliqiao Pier has been abandoned long ago."
Hattori Hikoo stared at the fish float floating on the water and said: "There are many villages near Sanli Bridge. He may be looking for someone...there are fish again!"
In just one hour, Hattori Hikoo had a great harvest, catching seven or eight fish, the largest of which was a carp, weighing at least two kilograms.
Seeing the rain getting heavier and heavier, Hattori Hikoo put away his fishing rod and said, "It's enough for today. Let's pack up and go back."
The driver was busy loading the bucket chair into the car. Hattori Hikoo stood by the river holding an umbrella, looking at the mist-filled river, and felt much better.
At this time, the barge Yongchang came back and passed by Hattori Hikoo again. The man wearing a bamboo hat was still standing on the bow of the boat and waved in greeting when he saw Hattori Hikoo.
Hattori Hikoo didn't pay attention at first, but after watching it for a while, he suddenly became suspicious!
When the Yongchang came, the draft was very shallow, and it was obviously an empty ship. But when it returned, the draft was almost more than half, indicating that the cabin was loaded with cargo.
The problem is that Sanliqiao Pier has been abandoned for many years due to serious silt blockage in the river, making it impossible for ordinary medium-sized or larger ships to dock.
If you want to load and unload cargo at Sanliqiao Wharf, you have to use a small boat to load and unload cargo one by one, and you have to get it onto a two-meter-high barge. This is a cumbersome, time-consuming and labor-intensive job.
Normally, no one would do this. Not to mention increasing transportation costs, it is completely unnecessary!
Back in the car, Hattori Hikoo thought for a while and said, "Go to Sanliqiao Pier!"
The car braved the heavy rain and drove towards Sanliqiao Pier.
There were still a few hundred meters away from Sanliqiao Pier, and the road was getting muddy. The driver looked over and said, "Major, we can't go any further. If we go any further, the car will definitely get stuck."
Hattori Hikoo got out of the car and found a high-lying soil slope. He stood on it and looked up into the distance. The dense reeds blocked his sight. If he wanted to see the whole view of Sanliqiao Pier, he had to go closer.
Would you like to go over and have a look?
If you walk there, you will definitely be discovered by people on the pier. Naturally, you will not be able to see those shady things.
On the way back, the driver asked: "Major, where are you going?"
Hattori Hikoo thought for a moment and said, "Go to Qiaodong Road."
"Are you going to visit Miss Mina?"
"The fish is very fresh. I sent her a few on the way. Mina likes fish very much."
Half an hour later, the car arrived at Qiaodong Road.
The driver carried a bucket and followed Hattori Hikoo to the door of Jiang Xinyu's house.
"Tuk-"
Hattori Hikoo reached out and rang the doorbell.
After a while, Hattori Mina's voice came from the door: "Who is it?"
Hattori Hikoo: "It's me."
The courtyard door opened, and Hattori Mina, who was holding an umbrella, said in surprise: "Brother, why are you here?"
Hattori Hikoo smiled and said, "How about I come to see you?"
"It's raining so hard, I didn't expect you to come."
While they were talking, they crossed the yard and entered the house. The driver said: "Major, where are the fishes?"
Only then did Hattori Mina notice the fish in the bucket and said, "Brother, are you going fishing again?"
"Yeah, I know you like to eat fish, so I'll give you a few on the way."
"Thank you, brother."
"What are you thankful for with two fishes?"
"It's different. I'm thanking you on Xinyu's behalf."
The driver picked a few big fish and put them in the kitchen sink. Hattori Hikoo said: "Go and wait for me in the car."
"Yes." The driver walked out carrying the bucket.
Hattori Mina brought tea and put it on the coffee table, and said, "Is there no news from the headquarters?"
Hattori Hikoo smiled mockingly and said, "Commander Uchida probably forgot about me, and maybe he won't have a new position!"
He got up, looked around and said, "How is Jiang Xinyu treating you?"
Hattori Mina: "It's okay, let me do everything."
Hattori Hikoo nodded and said, "I'm relieved now. The happiness of your life is my brother's biggest wish!"
Looking at her brother's haggard face, Hattori Mina felt a little sad in her heart and said: "Brother, Ayako has been dead for so long, you should also consider remarrying."
Hattori Hikoo shook his head slightly and said, "You don't have to worry about my affairs."
After chatting for a while, Hattori Mina became interested in fishing and said: "Brother, it's raining so hard, can you see clearly whether the fish is floating or not?"
Hattori Hikoo took a sip from his tea bowl and said, "It's raining heavily, so of course we can't see it."
Hattori Mina tilted her head and thought for a while, then said: "I have a good idea!"
Hattori Hikoo smiled and said, "If you have any good ideas, let me know."
"My good idea is to look into the distance and look into the mirror!" Mina Hattori said every word with a proud look on her face.
"Fishing with a telescope, your great idea is too exaggerated!" Hattori Hikoo smiled and shook his head.
His heart suddenly moved, and his sister's words inadvertently reminded him that if he went around to the other side of the Baihe River and used high-power telescopes, he should be able to see the situation of Sanli Bridge clearly.