War Photographer's Notebook

On December 12th, except for the members of the theater troupe, almost everyone else was surrounding the sick Yumi.At the same time, Meixiang also asked Jasmine to call the foreign bank from time to time to pay attention to the movements of the missing Walker.

Youmi, who hadn't slept well in the past few days since her arrival, rarely felt that the people on this floor were quite nice. Even Wei Ran, who brought her water and medicine, felt a little more pleasing to the eye for a moment.

On this weekend, with less than 24 hours left before the start of the Pacific War, Xu Qing Shu Yu rarely lived a peaceful life.

The only thing that worried Yumi was that Ueda didn't come to take her back until she went to bed that night.And because Qiushi stayed in the room to take care of her, she had no chance to open the suitcase containing the radio.

Compared to Youmei who was "restricted in freedom", at the same time in the basement, Wei Ran also carefully pushed open the huge mirror, and Tao Canhua sent down the two food boxes they were carrying, and then put the spittoons inside. The urine bucket was taken out and replaced with a new one.

In the end, even the thermos inside was replaced with the ones that had been placed in the basement in advance. Tao Canhua simply turned around and went upstairs to guard the door of the storage room. Wei Ran also got through the small door and entered the underground printing room.

After not seeing her for just a few days, Andy looked visibly haggard, and the smell of tobacco and alcohol still lingered on her body.

Without waiting for the other party to ask questions, Wei Ran took the initiative and said, "Brother Tang has been buried. The person who betrayed him was Volk and has been dealt with."

The moment he heard these words, Andy was obviously dazed. Then he reacted and lowered his voice and asked in shock, "Who? Volker? Volker from Deutsche Bank?"

Wei Ran nodded and followed the other person through the thick cotton curtains and finally entered the underground printing room.

However, contrary to Wei Ran's expectations, Andy did not continue to talk about Brother Tang and Walker. Instead, he asked, "Is there any new printing work recently?"

"Have"

Wei Ran came to his senses and responded quickly, reached into his pocket and took out the cigarette case, took out two films and handed them to the other party.

"When did it arrive?"

As Andy spoke, he took out a goggle-type magnifying glass from the drawer and put it on his head. Then he picked up a flashlight with rice paper covering the head and placed one of the negatives on it.

After careful observation, Andy picked up the pen on the table and started copying the letters one by one on the stack of letters.

"This afternoon" Wei Ran replied in a low voice, and then took the initiative to recount in detail what happened in the past two days.

After hearing that Youmi was bedridden with a cold and a fever because of Wei Ran's little trick, Andy finally had a smile on his face.

At the same time, she also handed over the copied content to a little girl named Cuilan.The latter took the letter raft and immediately, together with her two other companions, began to adjust the printing presses.

"When will you teach me how to send a telegram?"

As Andy spoke, he carefully wrapped the two negatives with a piece of letter paper, and then wrote the date of the day. Then he took out a large glass jar from under the bed, threw it in and closed it. Frosted glass lid.

Wei Ran also noticed that this glass jar, which was about the size of a cooking oil barrel, was almost filled with paper packages like this.

"At least we have to wait until Yumi leaves."

Wei Ran said, taking out a stack of letter paper from his pocket, "But I have written down some basic knowledge of sending telegrams in advance today. You need to memorize the Morse code first, and then you can Let’s practice using the electric keys first.”

"I will practice hard and learn it as soon as possible."

As Andy spoke, he unfolded and flattened the pieces of paper that Wei Ran had written on, pressed the corners with the paperweight on the table, and then started reading seriously without stopping.

Sighing secretly, Wei Ran took out a few more packs of cigarettes from his pocket, placed them on the table, and silently left the dark underground printing room.

That night, the Love Letter Apartment was exceptionally quiet. There were no mice or anyone upset. Instead, in the brightly lit underground printing room, Andy and the three girls were busy all night, busy copying the two articles. Printed on paper, busy to awaken more sleeping and numb compatriots.

In the blink of an eye, the next morning, the members of Chunhua Opera Troupe got up early and started their routine business.Wei Ran, who also got up early, wiped the small PPK pistol carefully and put it temporarily in the food box.

Although it could not be said clearly that the Japs were going to enter the concession today, Wei Ran took advantage of the troupe members to have breakfast and disguised the photo frame in the basement, and told Andy and others who were hiding inside that today Be sure to keep quiet.

At 08:30 that morning, Wei Ran and Jasmine drove out of the apartment and went to the German hospital to ask for the doctor who gave Youmei the injection.

"Excuse me! Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in the United States! Excuse me!"

Before the two of them drove out of the British Concession, they heard the newsboys shouting over and over again along the street.

"Bring me a newspaper"

Wei Ran stopped the car and opened the door. He called a newsboy and bought a copy of the Times. Without waiting for the newsboy to give him change, he saw the extra headline in the newspaper about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in the United States.

Before he could take the newsboy's change in his hand, there was a noise in the distance, and soon after, he saw the Japanese army marching into the concession with great fanfare.

Looking at Jasmine, who was still in the car, Wei Ran immediately threw the change in his hand to the newsboy, then got back into the car, put the reverse gear on and stepped on the accelerator, and then roughly completed the U-turn. , drove back to Xu Qing Shu Apartment as quickly as possible.

"Let the girls hide in the basement! The Japanese have invaded the concession!"

As Wei Ran drove the car into the yard, he reminded loudly, "Seal the entrance to the basement and put water, food and valuables into the basement in advance."

After saying that, he also stepped on the brakes. After receiving the reminder, Jasmine immediately pushed open the car door and ran into the room.

Wei Ran closed the iron gate of the small courtyard as quickly as possible, controlled the car to block the gate, and then ran in.

In a short time, the girls from the Chunhua Opera Troupe, led by Qiushi, ran into the basement as fast as possible, while the young men moved all the ready-made food and drinks in the kitchen into the basement.

"What's going on?" Meixiang asked as she took the shawl from Qiushi and put it on her body.

"The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in the United States, and now they have sent troops into the British Concession." Wei Ran said, handing the newspaper in his hand to the other party with only enough time to read the headline.

"Jasmine, lock the basement." Meixiang paused and continued, "Qiushi, you go down too."

"I don't." Qiushi took out the small pistol from her arms as she spoke, "I want to protect you."

"Be obedient and go down."

As Meixiang spoke, she handed a wooden box filled with gold bars and silver dollars to Qiushi, and then exchanged her own small pistol for the one in Qiushi's hand, "These money and this Take the gun down and hide it, and you will have to take care of the sisters. Tell them to keep quiet and don't make a sound no matter what happens outside. Go quickly."

"Go quickly," Jasmine urged while once again pulling out the wooden board that had been used to imprison Wei Ran and Tao Canhua.

After hearing this, Qiushi gritted her teeth and followed the other girls into the basement, letting Tao Canhua and Jasmine lock the board.

Immediately afterwards, Jasmine asked the half-grown men to bring in the table, wardrobe and bed, completely blocking the entrance and exit of the basement.

"What happened?" At this moment, Yumi, who heard the noise, also walked down the stairs.

"The war is on"

Meixiang sighed helplessly, switched to Japanese and described the news headlines in the newspaper and the situation outside.

"Let me live in this room!" Yumi unexpectedly pointed to the storage room and said in Japanese.

"You, what did you say?" Mei Xiang couldn't help but be stunned, and even the expression on Wei Ran's face was almost surprised.

But soon, he guessed Yumi's intention.This devil bitch is trying to gain the trust of Mei Xiang and everyone around her!
"I said, let me live in this room."

Youmi said again, "I am a recruiter, and my mother comes from a recruiter aristocracy. At least those soldiers dare not do anything to me, let alone break into my room."

After a moment of hesitation, Meixiang bowed solemnly and said in an extremely serious tone, "Miss Youmei, thank you for your blessing."

"It's nothing." Yumi coughed, "Help me move all my luggage. Also, help me put on my kimono."

"Jasmine, take two people upstairs to move Miss Youmei's luggage." Meixiang immediately ordered.

"Yes" Jasmine responded and ran upstairs with the three young men. After unloading the luggage as quickly as possible, she helped Yumi put on a loose kimono and skillfully helped Yumei change into a loose kimono. She pulled up her hair in a Japanese bun.

After a while, groups of Japanese soldiers appeared on the street outside the small courtyard, and a few Japanese soldiers even started knocking on the door.

"It seems that today's tea party cannot be held. Cousin, the doctor has not been invited, right?"

"Not yet," Wei Ran said apologetically.

Meixiang sighed, then took Yumi's hand and said, "You should go back to your room and rest first. I will try my best to find a doctor for you."

"It's okay, I already feel much better." Yumi shook her head, "If you can, please get me some food."

"Mama Yang, Uncle Meng, get some food for Miss Youmei, as light as possible." Meixiang immediately ordered.

"I'll sit here with you." As Yumei spoke, she had already led Meixiang to sit on the sofa on the first floor. "Let those soldiers come in."

Hearing this, Meixiang held the small pistol and sat on the sofa on the first floor. She took a deep breath and said, "Canhua, take out your guqin and play a few of your best songs. Cousin , open the door."

"it is good"

Wei Ran responded and ran out of the gate quickly. He nodded and bowed to signal to the Japanese outside the gate to wait. Then he moved the car in a panic and opened the locked iron gate.

Before he could stand still, several Japanese soldiers rushed in with guns in hand.

Wei Ran glanced at the Japs without leaving a trace, and with a smile, Wei Ran raised one hand and led them into the study apartment.

As soon as he entered, he saw the scene drawn by the metal quill when he entered this period of history.At this time, Meixiang, who was wearing a cheongsam and stockings, was sitting side by side on the large single sofa. With one hand, she held the small pistol and rested it on the leg exposed at the slit of the cheongsam. He looked at the Japs who came in with disdain and arrogance, their faces full of lust.

Diagonally opposite her, Youmei was sitting dignifiedly. She didn't seem to care about the Japs who broke in. Instead, she focused all her attention on the Guangling San played by Tao Canhua not far away.

"rest assured"

Wei Ran stood behind Mei Xiang's sofa and said, while gently touching the opponent's slender neck with the bayonet blade hidden in his sleeve.

When the sharp and cold tip of the knife touched her neck and caused delicate goosebumps, Mei Xiang felt at ease inexplicably and nodded slightly.

Seeing this, Wei Ran also temporarily put back the Mauser bayonet hidden in his sleeve into the metal book, and looked at the Japanese who surrounded them with a smile.

"What are you going to do?"

Yumi stood up with a cold face and asked coldly in Japanese just as the Japanese soldier with the rank of Commander Cao was about to walk towards Meixiang.

"we are"

"Snapped!"

Before Cao could finish his words, Yumei slapped him in the face, "Who asked you to come here? Call your commander over!"

After this slap, the rosy-faced Cao Zhang was also a little confused, but after taking a closer look at the kimono on Yumi's body, his expression immediately changed, he lowered his head and bent over and said "Hi!", and then hurriedly said hello. Following the intruders, the Japs temporarily retreated into the yard.

"Sorry, Sister Meixiang, I frightened you." Yumi said apologetically while squeezing the hand she had just used.

"It's okay." Mei Xiang quickly stood up and waved her hands, "They."

"Leave it to me," Yumi thought for a while and said, "I want to go upstairs and make a phone call."

"Okay, I'll go with you." Meixiang followed Youmei to the second floor without saying a word.

"The acting is quite similar."

Wei Ran muttered to himself. He was not stupid, so he could naturally tell that most of the time this group of Japs came here to cooperate in the acting. As for the end result of the acting, whether it would be to directly ransack the house and turn it upside down, or to let Youmei sell it. If the favor is completely penetrated, it probably all depends on whether Yumi found anything "forbidden" in the book apartment in the past few days.

At the moment, Yumi probably won't gain anything. The man behind her, Mr. Ueda, is probably planning to use this love letter to continue to take root.

Just as he was thinking wildly downstairs, a Japanese sedan also stopped at the door of the study apartment. Following him, Yukio Someya, who was wearing a suit, also pushed the door and got out of the car with Junko Someya, who was wearing a kimono. , ignoring the few Japanese who bowed towards them, and hurriedly walked into the study apartment.

"Are Miss Meixiang and Miss Yumi okay?" Junko Someya asked hurriedly as soon as they entered the door.

"fine"

Wei Ran replied with a grateful face, "Miss Youmei had just dismissed the soldiers and is now on the phone upstairs."

Hearing this, Someya and his wife breathed a sigh of relief, and then Yukio Someya said, "Wei Ran, come here and help."

"it is good"

Wei Ran nodded, and glanced at each other without any trace of Jasmine. Then he followed Yukio Sometani out of the hall, and helped him take out a few suitcases from the trunk of the car.

"Mr. Sometani, what is this?"

"I will be interviewing those soldiers in the next few days. To facilitate my activities, I plan to ask Miss Meixiang to borrow a house as a temporary office."

Yukio Sometani replied seriously, "After all, I live in the Japanese Concession. Although it's not far from here, it's not as convenient as this, so I asked Mr. Wei Ran to help negotiate a deal. Of course, I will pay the rent."

"Mr. Someya, you're welcome."

Wei Ran said with a grateful face, he didn't know what the other party was thinking. This couple with Japanese nationality planned to protect Meixiang and everyone in this book apartment through their reputation as reporters.

By the time he helped Sometani Yukio carry several heavy suitcases with the Asahi Shimbun stamped on them into the lobby on the first floor, Meixiang and Yumi had also returned to the first floor and were talking to Someya in kimono. Shunzi was sitting on the sofa, listening to Tao Canhua playing music on the guqin and chatting in Japanese.

At the same time, the suitcases belonging to Youmei that had just been moved into the storage room were also moved upstairs by Jasmine and a few young men.

Seeing Wei Ran and Yukio Sometani come in, Meixiang immediately stood up and said hello, and then said in her native language, "Cousin, in the next few days, the storage room will be lent to Mr. Sometani for office use. You and your brothers Please help me take care of it and see what is missing and buy it in time."

"Okay, leave it to me."

Wei Ran immediately responded and sent the things belonging to Yukio Sometani into the storage room.

As soon as Someya and his wife's belongings were placed here, a Japanese lieutenant hurriedly walked into the yard. Without saying a word, he gave each of the Japanese a few big slaps, and then said something to the Japanese.

Soon, the soldiers who just broke in quickly ran out of the study apartment and guarded the door of the study apartment.

Immediately afterwards, the lieutenant also walked to the door and knocked lightly on the door.

"Invite him to go upstairs to talk?" Yumi suggested to Meixiang in Japanese, and stood up at the same time, "Mr. Someya, Mrs. Junko, let's go upstairs together?"

"it is good"

Someya Yukio nodded, took his wife, and followed Yumi up to the second floor.

"Jasmine, please ask the soldiers outside to go up to the second floor. The others are waiting on the first floor." Mei Xiang ordered as she stood up, and then followed Youmi up to the second floor.

It was only then that Jasmine opened the door, politely invited the lieutenant in, and led the lieutenant up to the second floor amidst the unstoppable guqin music.

What these people talked about on the second floor was unknown to Wei Ran and others downstairs.But before Tao Canhua finished playing the music, the lieutenant hurried downstairs, bowed politely to Wei Ran and others, and quickly left the study apartment.

Soon after, Mei Xiang and Someya also walked downstairs.

"Let Shunzi take care of Miss Yumi here."

Sometani Yukio stopped and said, "I have to go outside for interviews, so I won't delay here."

"Be careful along the way," Mei Xiang said gratefully.

Yukio Sometani nodded, looked at each other again with his wife, then walked into the storage room that temporarily belonged to him, took out a camera, walked out of the study apartment alone, and got into a car that was already waiting at the door. Sidecar motorcycle.

"Everything is as usual," Mei Xiang told Wei Ran and others, "There is no need to close the courtyard door."

"Where are Qiushi and the others?" Jasmine asked.

After a moment of hesitation, Meixiang said, "Let them hide in the basement for a while."

"What should I do about Miss Youmei's illness?" Wei Ran asked the second question immediately.

"do not worry"

It was Junko Sometani who answered Wei Ran, "The soldier just now went to help Miss Yumei find a doctor."

Having said this, Someya Junko looked at Meixiang and said, "I'll go up and take care of Yumi first. You can arrange your people first."

"Sorry for bothering Mrs. Junko." Meixiang thanked her politely, watched Junko Sometani go upstairs, and then sighed quietly.

"What's going on now?" Wei Ran asked in a low voice.

"Mr. Yumi and Someya serve as guarantees."

Meixiang said tiredly, "The Japanese outside shouldn't make things difficult for us for the time being, but our people can't get out for the time being. I'm afraid... we'll be walking on thin ice from behind."

"I understand Mr. Someya, Yumi. What is her guarantee?" Wei Ran asked doubtfully.

"Whether she refuses to listen to her pledge, it's hard to say whether it's true or not." Mei Xiang sighed with an extraordinarily sober look, obviously not blinded by the drama just now.

"How will the next play be performed?" Wei Ran asked Mei Xiang in a low voice as he looked at the Japs standing guard outside the courtyard.

"I don't know either," Mei Xiang sighed, almost mumbling, "Let's take a step and see."

"Then let's take a step forward"

Wei Ran sighed, feeling that the confusion and despair that permeated Mei Xiang's body had become so thick that it seemed to have substance.

Just when Meixiang was worried about the life and death of everyone in Xu Qing Letter Apartment and the four girls hidden under Xu Qing Letter Apartment, the lieutenant devil who left before also brought a man in a white coat with him, but there was a secret hidden inside. A middle-aged man wearing a Japanese military uniform and carrying a medicine box walked into the yard.

"Let's finish singing the current scene first."

As she spoke, Mei Xiang put out her cigarette butts, opened the closed door with a smile, walked out first, and met the two enemies who were about to walk up the steps.

Behind Mei Xiang, Wei Ran, who was watching silently, sighed secretly.

On this extremely cold morning of December 1941, 12, those arrogant Japanese soldiers did not yet realize what the opening of the Pacific Theater meant to them.

Just like Mei Xiang, who was forcing a smile at this time, she also didn't know how long she and her friends would have to endure such dark days before they could welcome the dawn again.