War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1229 It's almost dawn
From the day the Japs took over Tianjin in 1937, when he was in his twenties, Wang Guier, who was originally just a water seller, began to work as an errand in the patrol house of the Japanese Concession.From patrolling the streets at the beginning to directing traffic at intersections, Wang Guier thought that he was definitely good at getting things done. He knew his facial features, knew how to advance and retreat, was loyal and cautious enough.

Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to be among the first to be transferred to lead a small team to maintain law and order after the Japanese took over the British Concession.

Now, although he dare not say that he has identified all the households and business owners in this large British concession, he absolutely knows who can be offended and who cannot be offended.

For example, there are five people and six people walking in front of Wei Ran right now. He is a mad dog who cannot be messed with. But compared to this bastard who can fall out faster than flipping through a book, he has already taken off the cannon from his waist and is wearing a thousand-layer coat. Wang Gui'er, who was wearing new cloth shoes and followed him to the basement, knew even more clearly that what really shouldn't be messed with in this small building was Miss Mei Xiang, a famous prostitute who was very popular in the early years but is rarely mentioned now, and her His nephew Tao Canhua and the servant Jasmine who was walking behind him.

Miss Meixiang cannot be messed with, simply because this powerful woman not only has close contacts with many rich wives in the concession and even the wives of famous traitors, but has also been friends with many rich Japanese businessmen for many years.

As for her nephew Tao Canhua, according to Wang Guier's knowledge, he often visited the homes of several powerful Japs in the Japanese Concession. Although he, a little policeman, didn't know what Tao Canhua was doing when he went to the Japs' homes, he knew that the more this happened, As long as a person casually mentions his faults, the lethality will probably be greater than that of a mad dog like Wei Ran who bites people at every turn.

Finally, Wang Guier secretly glanced at Jasmine, who was following behind with snacks.

This girl who is stronger than him cannot be messed with. Several of his subordinates who have been in gangs have already said that when they see Jasmine, the Qinghong Gang who doesn't even care about anything will give a respectful shout. Where's the eldest sister?

Although he didn't know what the relationship was between Jasmine and the Qinghong Gang, he knew clearly that not only could he not offend the Japanese, but he could not afford to offend those who were full of food every day and just wanted to fight fiercely for territory. Gangs.

Who the hell did I offend?Why were you sent here to do this thankless job?

Wang Guier secretly chewed his teeth and thought about it. Of course, he didn't know who gave him the order to search here, but he knew that he had to do it. As for whether he could find any results.
At this time, he thought about it and understood. He would rather not find anything. After all, if he really found it, wouldn't it prove that this small building is related to the person he is looking for?

I really let the secrets here into the hands of the devil, how dare I sleep with my eyes closed at night?What if you don’t want to open your eyes anymore?

Thinking about the current situation and the anti-Japanese leaflet he picked up when he was taking a shit in the latrine in the morning, the devil's eyes are now as cold as the end of the kang in the summer. Compared with whether he can find anything, he is indifferent. We can't offend the people in this building.

I’m so stupid, but I’m also a big-headed person myself. Why did I just figure it out at this time?
Wang Guier, who followed Wei Ran into the basement, wanted to slap himself in the face. He was in such a hurry this morning that he only thought about making contributions and getting rewards, but he actually forgot about this incident.

"Hey! What are you thinking about?"

Just when Wang Guier was secretly lost in thought, Wei Ran stopped at the end of the stairs and called out to Wang Guier, the pseudo-policeman who almost bumped into him.

"Father, you order."

After Wang Guier came back to his senses, he subconsciously bent down and responded with a smile, but he didn't care that he had lowered his status to another level. What's wrong with the low level?No matter how low the grade is, it's better than losing one's head and becoming shorter, isn't it?
Having said that, Wang Gui'er felt a little aggrieved. He had already voted for the Japanese, so why was he still inferior to others?Wasn't that special code a waste of money for the Japanese?

"Just wait here"

Wei Ran, who was standing at the corner at the end of the stairs, ordered with disdain, "Moli, bring him a stool later."

"The lady said that the young master is not allowed to bully others."

Jasmine, who was holding a plate of snacks in her hand, said helplessly, "I'll take him to sit in the last row."

"up to you"

Wei Ran snorted nonchalantly, walked over to Mei Xiang and sat down, but was soon chased to another single sofa by Mei Xiang with a wave of disgust.

"Officer Wang, come with me."

Jasmine greeted Wang Gui'er with a smile on her face, and the latter quickly nodded and thanked her in a low voice, then followed Jasmine to the deepest part of the basement and sat down on a master's chair next to the table.

After thanking Jasmine with a grateful expression, Wang Guier looked at the basement, which was better decorated than his own home, then at the police uniform that was soaked by the rain and the dry, loose and comfortable thousand-layer cloth shoes on his feet, and finally at the Looking at the waxed teak floor under my feet, I couldn't help but feel more and more cramped. Then my buttocks, which were half sitting on the Taishi chair, also moved forward, for fear that my soaked clothes would be stained. Chair back.

While he was secretly competing with himself, Jasmine brought him a tea tray and a small wicker basket filled with fried peanuts and melon seeds. By the way, she also brought him a clean white towel.

Jasmine poured tea for Wang Guier and whispered politely, "Officer Wang, let's have some tea first and watch the show!"

"Hey! Hey! No hurry, no rush!" Wang Guier quickly stood up and responded, taking the towel handed by the other party and wiping the rain on his face.At the same time, he became increasingly uneasy.

As Wei Ran sang Red and White Face, she invisibly gave the police chief a killing blow. Jasmine wisely did not say more or do anything. She turned around and left the basement with only three spectators, carrying the tea tray.

At this time, on the small stage, Tao Canhua, dressed as Zhaojun, was still meticulously performing the play of Concubine Han Ming.The other members of the troupe on the stage and side seemed not to notice the extra policeman below the stage, and were busy singing and playing.

Sitting on the sofa facing the stage, Wei Ran slowly lit up a cigarette, smoking one after another while trying hard to distinguish the contents of the performances of several people on the stage.

In contrast, Wang Guier, the fake policeman who was left in the last row, was already following the storyline on the stage without waiting for a cup of tea to be finished. At the same time, he couldn't help but secretly admire the singing skills of these people on the stage. , but really no worse than those corners of the Liyuan.

Of course, compared to Wang Gui'er who was listening to the play in the basement, the only entertainment item for the miserable policemen under him at this time was to tease the colorful bird under the ginkgo tree at the risk of being pecked. A colorful big parrot. At the same time, you and I were discussing how many dollars it would cost to buy such a big bird.

Nearly two hours passed by in a flash. Tao Canhua and others on the stage sang the whole performance of "Han Ming Fei". Mei Xiang in the audience also corrected the poor singing and poor music one by one as if no one else was there. .

After this round of troubleshooting, Meixiang didn't even say hello to the pseudo-policeman Wang Guier, and went upstairs alone. Jasmine, who had been waiting beside her, also picked up a ruler and gave it to the troupe members who had just made mistakes. Each of his hands came up.In the end, Tao Canhua, who was in charge of the theater troupe, was slapped three times on the hand before giving up.

"okay"

Wei Ran waited for Jasmine's side to finish the corporal punishment, stood up, clapped his hands and said, "Let's all take off our makeup quickly and go back to our respective rooms. Canhua, later you will take a few people and accompany the police to check each room. Now Some people suspect that we are harboring criminals here."

"Young Master Biao, you said this."

Wang Guier hurriedly came over with Smiley Face, "It's a routine matter, just a routine matter."

"I don't care whether it's your business or your mother's business, just hurry up."

Wei Ran waved his hand impatiently, pointed around and said to Wang Guier, "While they are taking off their makeup, call all your people down quickly and search the basement carefully. Finish it as soon as possible. Don't delay me. I'll wait." go out."

"I can just take a look at it myself."

Wang Guier hurriedly said, but he just walked around the stage, tapped the stage lightly with his baton, then knocked on the surrounding floor, and finally tried to push the big mirror, and gave up immediately when he saw that it didn't move at all.

"Would you like to take a look below the stage?"

Tao Canhua, who was taking off his tiara with the help of other troupe members, rubbed the palms of his hands that had been struck by the ruler and said, "Little Wuzi, lift off the blanket."

"Hey!"

A young man responded immediately, and asked his companions to roll up the big red blanket on the stage, and then opened the cover, revealing the lifelike big mouse, the silver dollar that was almost drowning the mouse, and the gold ingot hidden inside.

Not surprisingly, these yellow and white things almost blinded Wang Guier's eyes.It's a pity that this building is not a Kuhaha building that can be bullied and robbed by roadside docks. All he can do is take a quick glance and swallow, and then he has to accompany the smiling face to help cover the cover and lay it. carpet.

In just a short time, the troupe members also took off their clothes or packed various musical instruments and put them into camphor wood boxes piled in the corner.

"If you can't find it, go upstairs and check."

Wei Ran urged, "Canhua, come with me to Quanyechang later. We have to buy some light bulbs to replace the chandeliers on the second floor before the dance in the evening."

"Okay, I'll be done here soon."

Tao Canhua responded, took the wet towel from Qiushi, and while wiping the paint on his face, he greeted the troupe members to go upstairs.

Seeing this, the pseudo-policeman Wang Guier took one last greedy look at the stage and followed the members of the theater troupe upstairs.

In such a short time, the few policemen under him had also slipped into the thousand-layer cloth shoes prepared by Yang's mother. The only two who had guns also removed them and placed them on the first floor. On the long table.

At Wei Ran's urging, Wang Guier and the policemen, accompanied and supervised by several young men led by Tao Canhua, hurriedly checked the rooms on the first floor, and then the two parties went up to the second floor together. Each room was inspected equally hastily.

"This is my cousin's room up there. Your hands and feet should be cleaner."

Wei Ran, who was waiting at the top of the stairs, gave Wang Guier and others a pair of gloves each as he spoke. After they had put them on, he took them upstairs in person and checked everyone's room.

"Master Biao, there seems to be an attic upstairs?" Wang Guier asked carefully, pointing to the top of his head.

"Yes, come with me." Wei Ran nodded happily and opened the study door as he spoke.

"I'm alone. I can just go up and have a look."

Wang Gui'er was afraid that some of his subordinates might be short-sighted. After finishing speaking, without waiting for Wei Ran's consent, he turned back and said, "You guys, please go downstairs and wait."

Seeing this, Wei Ran neither objected nor supported. He just called Qiushi to get the key and opened the locked cabinet door. He led the cautious Wang Guier upstairs on the narrow stairs full of debris.

However, Wang Gui'er only made it halfway before he stopped and said, "Master Ciao, I don't think there's any need to go up. Look at the thick layer of dust on the stairs. If there is someone on it, there must be footprints."

"You are smart"

Wei Ran looked back at the policeman following him in feigned surprise, but then used the key Qiushi had just given him to open the padlock on the door leading to the attic, and lowered his voice and said, "Let's go up and take a look. , I can’t get up to this place easily, I don’t even know what’s up there.”

Before he finished speaking, he was the first to walk into the attic where no one had been up for a long time.After a moment's hesitation, Wang Guier also walked in cautiously.

However, just by looking at the thick dust everywhere, he was sure that there was really nothing here.

"Ask you something"

Standing in the center of the attic, Wei Ran lit a cigarette, then took out a small yellow croaker from his pocket and tossed it, "The answer satisfies me, this thing is yours." "You said, as long as I know, I am the only one I won't hide anything from you!" Wang Guier stared at the dazzling little gold bar in Wei Ran's hand, and his attitude became more and more enthusiastic.

"Tell me, who gave birth to a child without an asshole and said someone escaped into our place last night?" Wei Ran asked with a trace of anger.

"This"

Wang Guier grinned, "Young Master Biao, I really don't know this. What did the boss above tell me? I will do what I did. Who saw this? I really don't know!"

"that line"

Wei Ran gave the other party a cigarette, lowered his voice and asked, "Then do you know if Fatty Guan and his daughter are still alive?"

"This"

"You don't know?"

Wei Ran's tone also contained a hint of dissatisfaction.

Wang Guier looked back at the stairs coming up, and then at the gold bar in Wei Ran's hand. After a moment of hesitation, he moved closer and lowered his voice and said, "Young Master Biao, to be honest with you, I really know this, but Hehe, our leader gave me a death order not to spread the word."

"Two?" Wei Ran asked bluntly.

"Uncle Guan is dead!"

Wang Guier immediately said like pouring beans through a bamboo tube, "Last night, in order to save his girl, the uncle of the Guan family led a dozen people to fight with the Japanese. We were called over in the middle of the night to help carry the body. The uncle of the Guan family was My three other brothers and I carried him into the car with our own hands, but his chest was smashed by a gun and his intestines were spilled all over the floor."

"Hey! Is this really such a good thing?" Wei Ran suppressed his emotions and muttered pretending to be excited.

"Is this a good thing?" Wang Guier looked at Wei Ran in confusion.

"It's not a good thing! Fatty Guan is dead. Now I can find a wife. Hey! Why are I telling you this!"

Wei Ran almost finished speaking before he reacted, and looked at Wang Guier with a threatening look, "You didn't hear anything just now, did you?"

"no no!"

Wang Gui quickly waved his hand, and at the same time finally remembered the rumors between Zeng and the eldest lady of the Guan family a few years ago.

Thinking of this, Wang Guier also took a puff of cigarette, lowered his voice and said in the slowly dispersing smoke, "In addition, the eldest lady of the Guan family is also dead!"

"What?!" Wei Ran exclaimed with increasing surprise, and at the same time it became increasingly difficult to hide the grief in his heart.

"I heard that the eldest lady of the Guan family committed suicide by taking poison."

After Wang Guier finished speaking, he subconsciously looked around and then at the stairs leading to the attic, "Master Biao, please don't spread nonsense. The Japanese have blocked the news and even sent the body of the eldest daughter of the Guan family. The hospital, I think they are planning to trap her in a trap."

"Capture Guan Bingwen?" Wei Ran asked.

"No, if you don't protect everything, you can still catch more!"

Wang Guiyi guessed pointedly, "Whoever is involved in this matter will have to suffer eight lifetimes of bad luck. Even if they don't die, they will have to peel off a layer of their skin."

"take this"

As Wei Ran spoke, he threw the small gold bar in his hand to Wang Gui'er, and then without waiting for him to say anything, he took the initiative and said, "This is the only one I have in my pocket. When you get downstairs, you can get your money back." Come on, I'll give you two more."

"Ouch! My cousin is open and bright!"

Wang Gui immediately patted his chest with gratitude and made a promise, "We have never known each other before fighting. If you don't mind, just tell me if you need me, Wang Gui'er, to do anything in the future!"

"I really need to trouble you."

After Wei Ran finished speaking, he took a big puff of his cigarette and deliberately waited for a look of anxiety to appear on the face of the pseudo-police leader. Then he blew out a thick cloud of smoke and said, "To tell you the truth, that guy Guan Bingwen and I have some differences." During the festival, if you catch him, send me a message regardless of life or death, and I will still have one when the time comes."

"Hey! Just be careful about this!"

Wang Guier patted her chest and promised, "I will definitely keep an eye on you. As long as there is any information, I will ask my third aunt to give you a pair of cloth shoes. Now I will wear these shoes later. You see." How about it?"

"You're such a smart kid!"

Wei Ran patted the other party's shoulder with satisfaction, "You have to hide this from me, especially not from my cousin. You can't let her do anything wrong. Not only her, but also the people under you can't know. I I don’t want to be misunderstood again and have anything to do with them.”

"Don't worry, don't worry!" Wang Guier swore pointing to the sky, "We are the only ones who know about this, I will definitely be rotten in my stomach!"

"That's okay." Wei Ran pointed around, "Take a closer look?"

"Hey! Didn't we just carefully go through these boxes one by one? There is no need to go through them a second time!"

Wang Guier said, stretched out his hand and wiped it on a camphor wood box, and then wiped the dust on his face and trouser legs randomly.

"That's right, that's right!"

Wei Ran gave the other party a thumbs up, "Now that we've seen it all, let's go down and ask your brother to check the yard carefully, and I'll take you to wash your face."

"Then I'll trouble you, Master Biao." Wang Guier said with more respect, and walked down the stairs first. Of course he was respectful. This was almost the best result he could have expected. Not only did he not find out any secrets, but he also didn't find any secrets. Offending people, and even becoming friends with the most difficult person to talk to in this book apartment.

More importantly, he also roughly guessed from Wei Ran's strange attitude that the rumors between this young cousin and the eldest lady of the Guan family were probably true. Not only did he despise the death of his father-in-law, Well, the eldest lady of the Guan family is also dead. When the second young master of the Guan family is also arrested, I'm afraid this young master will no longer have any worries. He can really seduce whoever he wants.

No wonder he hasn't had a family and started a business for so many years. Isn't it because he hasn't had enough fun co-writing? Is it because the uncle of the Guan family doesn't allow it?It’s really hard to compare people to each other and throw goods away, tsk tsk tsk!This is a soft meal.

Wang Guier couldn't stop thinking about it. When he got down to the first floor, he immediately ordered his men to check the yard. He also walked into the bathroom on the first floor under Wei Ran's guidance.

While the other policemen were sent out again, Wei Ran also returned to his room, took two more gold bars from the food box and delivered them to Wang Gui.

The latter took the gold bars, but untied his leggings without avoiding Wei Ran at all. He tied all three gold bars he got from Wei Ran inside the leggings. Then he put on his own shoes and tied the clean pair He fastened his cotton-soled cloth shoes to his belt, nodded and bowed to bid farewell to Wei Ran, and shouted to his minions who had gained nothing at all to leave the study apartment.

"Did you ask anything?"

Almost as Wang Guier and others walked out of the door, Mei Xiang also hurried down from upstairs.

"The uncle of the Guan family was beaten to death by Japanese soldiers in order to save Ling Lu's sister and brother. Ling Lu committed suicide by taking poison."

After Wei Ran finished speaking, he took a deep breath and said, "The Japanese blocked the news and transported Ling Lu's body to the hospital, preparing to arrest him."

Hearing this, Mei Xiang relied almost entirely on Jasmine's support to stand firm, but soon she said, "We need to pass this news to the mute uncle as soon as possible. Canhua, do you know who to call?"

"I know." Tao Canhua, who was also standing in the lobby on the first floor, nodded immediately.

"Let's set off now, Jasmine, let's go upstairs and test the dancing skills of the children in the school. Don't delay the dance tonight."

After saying this, Mei Xiang waved her hand, and with the support of Jasmine, she turned around and went upstairs with her weak hands and feet.

"Where?"

Wei Ran asked as he walked to the garage.

"Quanyechang" Tao Canhua whispered, "We have to hurry up!"

"I'll drive"

As he spoke, Wei Ran opened the door and got into the cab. When Tao Canhua also got into the car, he immediately started the car and drove out of the study apartment.

Driving all the way in the rain, when the car stopped at the entrance of Quanyechang, the rain became heavier again.

But even so, as the CBD center of this era, the entrance of Quanyechang is still lively. There are many people selling cigarettes and newspapers, pulling rickshaws, and even begging along the street.

Parking the car on the side of the road, Wei Ran glanced at the vendors crowded at the entrance of Quanyechang and against the wall to take shelter from the rain, took the umbrella from Tao Canhua, opened the car door, and walked out.Immediately afterwards, Tao Canhua on the other side also held an umbrella and pushed open the car door.

As soon as the two of them walked up the steps of Quanyechang, several vendors gathered around them, shouting about their products.

They sell items such as cigarettes and newspapers, as well as emergency umbrellas and transparent plastic raincoats called "glass raincoats."

I casually bought two packs of cigarettes from a cigarette vendor, and Weiran used my change to buy a tabloid that was on sale that day.

However, when he saw the publication date in the newspaper, he couldn't help but froze, and his face almost showed a look of surprise!

1945年8月3号，这天竟然已经是1945年8月3号！
Wei Ran couldn't help but clutch the tabloid that was full of all kinds of romantic news. The sky that had been gloomy for a long time was finally going to clear up, but... Guan Linglu, too many Guan Linglu, but regretful forever Stay at the last moment before dawn.
(End of this chapter)