War Photographer's Notebook

On August 1945, 8, on this special day, Wei Ran had a rare sleep and waited until seven o'clock in the morning before he was willing to get up from the bed.

However, he was not in a hurry to leave the room to wash up. Instead, he took out a Nissan five-lamp radio from the cabinet that he bought from the Japanese Concession's Japanese Trading Company when he was "walking the dog."

This thing is not the three-lamp rubbish dumped by the Japanese. Not to mention those stupid radio stations of the Japanese and puppets, even the local radio stations of the Japanese can be heard clearly.

The radio's antenna was stretched out of the window to its maximum length. After some adjustments, Weiran fixed it to a Japanese local radio station channel that could be listened to clearly.

Without listening carefully to the Japanese content on the radio, Wei Ran just turned up the volume to the maximum, then picked up the pocket watch on the bedside, glanced at it, and threw it on the table.

"Master Ciao, are you learning Japanese? Why is there such a big movement?"

Outside the door, Yang's mother knocked on the door and asked, "Want to get up for breakfast?"

"No hurry!" Wei Ran responded through the door, "In half an hour, right? I'll listen to the radio first."

Hearing this, Yang Ma outside the door muttered and then stopped. However, Wei Ran in the room turned up the sound of the radio louder, and then sat on the bamboo deck chair on the balcony. He slowly lit a cigarette and picked up the silver pocket watch again.

As he waited patiently, time passed by. At [-]:[-] in the morning, Wei Ran threw away the pocket watch he had been holding in his hand, opened the cigarette case again, lit a new cigarette, and changed to a more In a comfortable posture, with eyes closed amidst the puff of mist, I listened more and more carefully to the content on the radio.

When the second cigarette was halfway smoked, the originally clear broadcast suddenly had seemingly normal clutter interference for a moment.

Glancing at the pocket watch case on the table next to him, a smile appeared on Wei Ran's face. On August 1945, 8, at 6:[-] a.m. Tokyo time, a cute little boy was born.

"Happy birthday"

Wei Ran murmured to himself, then reached out to adjust the volume of the radio to the normal range, and then turned it off, allowing the room to return to its usual silence.

Of course, as a historian, he knew very well that even without the newly born little boy and his follow-up good brother Fatty, it was only a matter of time before the Japanese surrendered and were defeated.

It can even be said that the dropping of these two atomic bombs did not end World War II as the Yankees propagandized in later generations, but rather used two atomic bombs to steal the fruits of victory against the French.

Of course, even so, Wei Ran must admit that these two atomic bombs, which are actually somewhat delayed, will undoubtedly bring huge shock and panic to the Japanese.

By the way, it will also divert a considerable amount of attention from the enemies facing Xu Qing Shu Apartment today - for Wei Ran at this time, this is the most practical significance of this atomic bomb and the subsequent atomic bomb.

Slowly taking the towel and toothbrush bowl, Wei Ran opened the door and walked into the bathroom. After brushing his teeth carefully and washing up, he returned to the room and changed his clothes.

He cleaned himself up, and Yang Ma had already put the breakfast left for him on the table.

"Master Cousin, please come up, Miss."

Just when Wei Ran was about to use his chopsticks, Jasmine came down from the second floor and extended an invitation to him.

"immediately"

Wei Ran put down the porridge bowl he had just picked up, got up and followed Jasmine up to the second floor.

At the same time, Mei Xiang, who was obviously carefully dressed up, also wore a cheongsam and walked down from the third floor.

"What's your order, cousin?" Wei Ran asked with a smile as he stood at the top of the stairs and raised his neck.

"Take your camera," Mei Xiang said as she stopped, "take some photos for everyone."

"Now?"

"Be quick and easy"

Mei Xiang said very gently, "There will probably be guests arriving around nine o'clock, and we will have to take a lot of photos."

"it is good"

Wei Ran nodded and walked directly into the darkroom. Using the cover of the door, he took out the Rollei double-lens reflex camera from the metal book. Then he wandered around the darkroom to find a few films and put them in his pocket.

When he walked out of the darkroom, he found that the men and women in the troupe were all dressed up and walking downstairs talking and laughing.

After following the crowd to the first floor and walking out of the foyer, within a short time, several benches had been placed in the yard outside the door, and Mei Xiang sat in the middle seat without hesitation.

“Taking pictures today is different from usual days.”

Seeing that Wei Ran and the members of the theater troupe had come out, Mei Xiang cleared her throat and said loudly, "Let's take pictures later. Let's stand next to the people we like each other."

As soon as these words were spoken, some of the young men and women in the troupe immediately looked at the people next to them subconsciously.

It's a pity that although some people get the other person's eyes in response immediately, others get the other person's eyes looking at other people.

Feeling either sweet or sour, Tao Canhua was the first to hold Qiushi's hand, bravely walked to Mei Xiang and sat down.

Soon, another pair of men and women imitated the two of them, either sitting beside Mei Xiang, sitting on the horse in front of her, or standing behind her.

At the end, the lonely boys and girls looked at each other and divided into two teams, male and female, and stood in the last row.

At this time, Wei Ran, who seemed to be busy adjusting the camera, secretly sighed. He knew that the smiling Meixiang sitting among the young people, that strong woman who had already been stigmatized, was probably ready. I am not prepared to sacrifice any of these young people next.

Suppressing the random thoughts in his mind, Wei Ran placed the already adjusted camera on an Eight Immortals table. After pressing down the selfie pick, he ran as quickly as possible between Mei Xiang and Yang Ma, and sat in the space vacated for him. Come down.

After taking this group photo, Wei Ran, under the command of Mei Xiang, was in the basement, the lobby on the first floor, the banquet hall on the second floor, or next to the car specially driven out as the background.

For everyone, for everyone, for every slightly ignorant couple, I took photos one after another full of laughter and happy smiles - except for Andy and the one hiding in the underground printing room. Three girls, and a kid with the same hatred hiding in the printing room with them.

Near 09:30 in the morning, when Wei Ran took a group photo of Mei Xiang and Jasmine, Qiu Shi and Tao Canhua on the third floor terrace, a rickshaw also stopped at the door of the study apartment and sent the first person to attend. The rich lady at her Monday tea party.

Almost in the blink of an eye, everyone in the study apartment except Wei Ran fell into the busy state they were accustomed to. The high-spirited young men enthusiastically led the rich lady to find a place to sit down.

Immediately afterwards, a girl brought fruits and refreshments that Yang's mother had cut long ago, and several more girls took the opportunity to bring breakfast into the kitchen that Wei Ran had not even had time to eat.

When Mei Xiang walked downstairs alone, the girls and boys immediately entered the basement in twos and threes to prepare for the next performance.

Compared to the excitement downstairs, Wei Ran and Jasmine, as well as Tao Canhua and Qiushi, were all left on the terrace on the third floor intentionally or unintentionally.

"Qiushi, you and Canhua go to the second floor first." Jasmine said, "Young Master Biao and I have something to say."

"it is good"

Qiushi and Tao Canhua responded, and they left the terrace on the third floor together and disappeared into the stairs.

"What do you want to give me, Sister Jasmine?" Wei Ran asked with a smile.

"no"

Jasmine shook her head and just took out a Lignos pocket pistol that could be loaded with one hand from her pocket and handed it to Wei Ran, "Take it."

After taking the pistol, Wei Ran couldn't help but smile. He remembered clearly that this gun was confiscated when he killed Ueda's female companion, and then he gave it to Jasmine.

"Let's hold it for self-defense when I go to play the piano for Ueda in the afternoon," Jasmine said.

"Keep it to yourself"

As Wei Ran spoke, he pushed the pistol to the other party again, "You can't bring this gun with you. It will be troublesome if Zhitian recognizes it as his mistress's gun."

Hearing this, Jasmine hesitated for a moment, and finally put away the small pistol and said in an extremely serious tone, "Come back alive, no matter you or Canhua, you must come back alive."

"You too," Wei Ran responded seriously, "You also have to stay alive and wait for us to come back."

"Everyone has to live"

Jasmine paused and said as she walked downstairs, "Be quiet when you go downstairs and let Canhua and Qiushi stay for a while. You don't have to do anything this morning, just take it as a break. , if you don’t want to go down, just rest in the lady’s room.”

Hearing this, Wei Ran nodded and watched the other person go downstairs, but he did not follow him. Instead, he just lay on the lounge chair on the third floor terrace and lit a cigarette leisurely.

After spending this leisurely morning waiting patiently, Wei Ran ate the lunch that Yang’s mother brought to the third floor and took a nap again. He waited until about 01:30 in the afternoon, then got up and went downstairs to meet up. Tao Canhua, who was wearing a long gown, and Qiushi Lihua looked on with rain, each picked up one or two musical instruments, went downstairs and got into the car.

"I brought the gun that Mr. Somegu gave me," Tao Canhua said proactively before the car drove out of the courtyard.

I don’t know if Someya and his wife are still alive.
Wei Ran muttered to himself, and then said, "When I enter the door later, I will hand over the gun of my own accord. If I ask you why you brought the gun, do you know what to say?"

"In this world of unrest, wouldn't it be normal to carry a gun?" Tao Canhua replied with a smile.

"We have to go back alive," Wei Ran reminded without looking back, "Qiushi is still waiting for you."

Hearing this, Tao Canhua was stunned for a moment, then nodded seriously, "I know, we all have to go back alive."

Having said that, Wei Ran stopped talking too much, just stepped on the accelerator, increased the speed, and drove the car in the direction of the Japanese Concession.

He bought two packs of cigarettes along the way, and when he parked the car at the door of the small building where Xiao Su's mother and Mr. Furukawa lived, he found that Xiao Su's mother was already waiting at the door.

"Mother Su, are you waiting for us?" Wei Ran asked after he parked the car and opened the door.

"No?" Xiao Su's mother waved impatiently, "Come in quickly!"

Upon seeing this, Wei Ran and Tao Canhua immediately took out the several musical instruments they had brought with them from the carriage, carrying them with both hands, and followed Xiao Su's mother into the foyer. Then they saw Furukawa drinking tea in the living room on the first floor. gentlemen.Before they could put down their instruments, Xiao Su's mother said, "You guys probably have to wait. Mr. Ueda answered the phone in the morning, and then he and Yumi hurried out, and they haven't come back yet. .”

Looks like you got the news?

Wei Ran muttered to himself, but said, "Don't worry, we are both free this afternoon. By the way, Canhua, give your gun to your aunt."

"Hey!"

Tao Canhua responded quickly when he heard this. As if he didn't see Mr. Furukawa looking up in the distance, he took out the revolver that Mr. Someya had received from his green bag and handed it to little Su's mother.

"What are you kid doing with a gun?" Xiao Su's mother complained angrily, but at the same time, she reached out and took the revolver without any delay.

"My cousin and I usually have to protect my aunt. After all, this world is not peaceful."

Tao Canhua explained honestly, "I was in a hurry today and forgot to put down the gun. I thought I would put it in the car to avoid misunderstandings from people passing by and causing trouble to my aunt."

"You're a sensible kid." Xiao Su's mother rolled her eyes as if she didn't notice Furukawa's expression behind her. She opened a drawer and threw the pistol in.

Before it was over, Xiao Su's mother looked at Wei Ran again, "Nephew, your kid doesn't also have a gun, right?"

"I'm not a stupid person like Chanhua."

Wei Ran said, not forgetting to turn his trousers pockets inside out, then patted various parts of his body and turned around, "How about you search?"

"You don't have any integrity, come with me."

Xiao Su's mother smiled and cursed, and after greeting Furukawa with them, she walked into a small living room and said, "Just wait here."

"Okay!" Wei Ran responded happily and put the instrument he was carrying against the wall.

"Have you planted that crabapple?" Xiao Su's mother asked in a lowered voice.

"Sown"

Wei Ran nodded, also lowered his voice, and said close to the other person's ear, "We smashed the jar open and planted it on the edge of the boiler room. The sun can't get there, and it's warmer in winter so it won't freeze." die."

Hearing this, Xiao Su's mother immediately smiled on her face and said as she walked out, "You guys sit down and I'll cut a watermelon for you."

"Excuse me, Mother Su," Wei Ran responded with a smile, and then began to observe the living room, which was about thirty or forty square meters.

This room has a typical Japanese style. It is surrounded by paper walls with patterns such as waves or Mount Fuji. He tried pressing the paper walls. The hard texture also let Wei Ran know that there was something behind this paper wall. , I’m afraid it’s still a solid masonry wall.

In addition, there are very few furnishings in this room.

There is a tea table, a few futons, and in addition there is a piano table and a chess table. On this chess table, there is also a game of Go that seems to have not been played yet.

And outside the only window in this room, facing the dense crown of an unknown tree downstairs.Through the lush branches and leaves, he could also see what seemed to be a bird's nest in the crown of the tree.

Before he could take a closer look, Mr. Furukawa, wearing a kimono, opened the door and walked in.

"Uncle"

"Uncle"

Wei Ran and Tao Canhua greeted each other in no particular order.

"Ueda and Yumi probably won't be able to come back for a while."

Furukawa sat down at the tea table and said in Chinese, "Canhua, could you please finish the story about Xue Rengui that you didn't finish last time?"

"Whatever my aunt wants to hear, I will naturally say."

Tao Canhua responded with a wink, put the book drum stand he brought, and then moved a small round stool from outside with familiarity and sat down beside the book drum, then picked up a Sanxian, and He used the third finger of his right hand, which played the third string, to hook the drum hammer that was coiled with pulp.

When he started to tilt the book drum with a drum hammer, Furukawa also motioned to Wei Ran to sit opposite him.

"Drink a cup of tea with me," Furukawa said, then picked up the tea-making tools and ground the tea powder himself.

While Wei Ran waited patiently, Tao Canhua briefly summarized the story about Xue Rengui he told last time, and then began to tell the next story to his own accompaniment.

At the same time, Furukawa also handed a cup of tea full of foam to Wei Ran.Then he picked up a cup of tea himself.

It's like peeing
Wei Ran looked at the foam in the cup and muttered to himself, but it didn't stop him from drinking the slightly hot tea in one gulp.

When he put down the cup, Furukawa also put down the cup in his hand and said, "Germany surrendered three months ago, Wei Ran, you must know the news, right?"

"I know." Wei Ran nodded calmly.

"Soon, even if we recruit nuclear weapons, we will surrender." Furukawa sighed, "This war will be over soon, Wei Ran, tell me what you think."

"What do you think?" Wei Ran asked pretending to be confused.

"Perspectives on the War"

While Furukawa was talking, he took off a set of crocodile skin smoking sets from his waist, took out a small cigarette pot from it, stuffed tobacco into it and said, "Do you want the war to end?"

Wei Ran was not in a hurry to answer. Instead, he took out his cigarette case and shook it, "Seeing you smoking makes me want to smoke too. Can I light one?"

"Of course" Furukawa nodded easily, took out a box of matches and lit a small cigarette pot filled with shredded tobacco.

Similarly, he slowly took out a cigarette, put it on the holder and lit it. Wei Ran puffed out smoke and continued, "It's always a good thing that the war ends as soon as possible. There will be no need to die or worry."

"The war is over, but you may not be free now." Furukawa said similarly.

"Not always"

Wei Ran responded with a playful smile, "Can my cousin still starve me? Besides, aren't there Aunt Su and you?"

"I?"

Furukawa smiled, and then issued an invitation suddenly, "Wei Ran, do you, Canhua, and your cousin want to go to the recruitment center with us?"

"Going to recruit?"

"Not willing?" Seeing Wei Ran's embarrassed look, Furukawa immediately pursued him and asked.

"You should have told me earlier"

Wei Ran replied with a grimace, "If I had known I had this opportunity, I would have learned Japanese no matter what."

“Japanese is not a problem”

Furukawa laughed and waved his hand, "As long as you are willing, I can let Miss Yumi teach you personally. I can even go and talk to Ueda and ask him if he is willing to marry Miss Yumi to you."

"Is there such a good thing?" Wei Ran deliberately showed a hint of excitement.

"Xiao Su's mother and I don't have children. You are our children. Of course I hope you can live well."

Furukawa said matter-of-factly, "Well, you and Canhua will stay here today. I will ask Xiao Su's mother to inform Meixiang later. When Yumi and Mr. Ueda come back in the evening, I will ask Ueda if there is any problem. There is no way to take you to the recruitment life."

You old boy took eight detours, but why are you here waiting for your father?
Wei Ran cursed secretly in his heart, but he nodded in agreement without hesitation, and at the same time, he also showed a look of surprise that the other party hoped to see.

After getting the attitude he wanted to see, Furukawa immediately brought the topic to how beautiful his hometown was and how he would arrange the lives of Wei Ran and others in the future.

Even in his words, it seemed that he hoped that Meixiang could bring the members of the Chunhua Opera Troupe to recruit and start a new life together.

For this reason, this skinny monkey-like little devil also made a vague promise that when they come over, he will invest in a theater specifically for them.

Not to mention Wei Ran, a later historian, who didn't believe this nonsense. Even Tao Canhua, who was distracted and eavesdropping, didn't take this nonsense promise seriously.

In addition to disbelief, Wei Ran also had more bad premonitions in his heart. It was obvious that [-]% of Furukawa had other ideas.

But what is the value of the Chunhua Troupe?Could it be those girls in the theater troupe?
This possibility shouldn't be big. Whether it's Furukawa or Ueda, if they are planning so hard just for a few "flower girls", this pattern will inevitably be a bit too unpromising.

Since it's not for girls, is it?
Wei Ran's heart trembled. He finally guessed his vicious plan from the few words Furukawa revealed just now!

This Furukawa deserves to die too!
While he was lowering his head to pick up the tea cup, he sentenced the skinny monkey sitting opposite to death in advance.Although he is not sure yet, he is at least [-]% sure that Furukawa wants to perform a civet cat exchange for the prince!

Of course, there is no need to explain who is the civet cat and who is the prince. Wei Ran is more concerned about what Furukawa's purpose is to replace everyone in the Chunhua Opera Troupe and even Xu Qing Letter Apartment?
From the judgment just now, the other party has obviously made a clear judgment on the current direction of the war.He even had no doubt that if the news of the atomic bomb that exploded this morning had reached Furukawa's ears, it would probably have strengthened the other party's judgment.

Now that the war is destined to end and the nuclear recruitment is about to be defeated, Furukawa's purpose of impersonating the Chunhua troupe has become increasingly clear - he is probably planning to stay in China anonymously!Not only that, those who plan to stay in China with him are likely to have as many "places" as the total number of members of the Chunhua Opera Troupe!
So is this the plan of the Japs in front of me, or the plan of the Japs named Ueda behind the scenes?
Wei Ran drank the tea in the cup again, but the smile on his face became brighter. Now that he knew the other party's purpose, the rest was just to show off his tactics.

But now how to send this news back to Xuqing Letter Apartment in time?

Wei Ran glanced at Tao Canhua, who was still busy not far away, and his mind began to work rapidly, looking for a way to deliver the message.