War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1242 Dream

"I'm coming!"

As Qiushi muttered, everyone sitting around the table stood up with a roar, but they didn't even dare to turn on the lights, so they swarmed towards the foyer.

By the time Wei Ran was the first to run out of the hall, the car had already disappeared, leaving only three figures, each carrying a suitcase that was not too big, pushing the door and walking into the small courtyard.

Just when Wei Ran saw clearly that these three people were Mei Xiang, Tao Canhua and Cao Yuba, Qiushi and Andy had already quickly ran past him and hugged Mei Xiang who also ran up.

"Miss, you're back!" Qiushi whispered while suppressing her tears, but like Andy, she hugged Meixiang tightly and didn't dare to let go.

"Okay, okay." Mei Xiang comforted the two women with a smile, and nodded towards Wei Ran and others standing opposite with a smile.

"Lao Meng, let's go! Let's go cook!"

Yang's mother wiped her tears, but she didn't even have time to say hello to Mei Xiang, whom she had been longing for day and night, so she hurriedly greeted the limping Uncle Meng and walked into the kitchen.

At the same time, Qiushi finally separated from Meixiang, and then jumped directly into Tao Canhua's arms.

"Come on, let's go inside first."

Meixiang glanced at Tao Canhua and Qiushi beside her, handed the suitcase to Wei Ran with a smile, greeted Andy, Cao Yuba, and the three girls and walked inside.

Out of some tacit understanding, Mei Xiang, who was wearing a fur coat and a fur hat on her head, walked into the storage room without any pause at all and walked towards the already brightly lit basement.

At this time, four Eight Immortal tables had been put together to form a large table in the center of the basement.Not only were several cold dishes and cooked food placed on the table in advance to go with wine, but the wine was also poured in advance.

"We have been hungry all day, but we finally saw something to eat."

As Mei Xiang spoke, she had already taken off the hat on her head, took off her coat and threw it on the sofa in front of the stage. She pulled Andy, whose eyes were red, to sit down, and picked up a piece of pig head meat without any image and threw it into his mouth.

Slowly, Cao Yuba and Wei Ran put down their suitcases, took off their coats and sat down at the table.

"Meixiang, please tell me, are you in danger? Is anyone injured?" Andy grabbed Meixiang's hand and asked nervously.

"No, everything is fine. No one was injured."

Mei Xiang smiled and reassured, "In the past two months, we have been to Fengtian, Tailian, Changchun, and Harbin. With the help of the radio and the code book, we successfully hunted 10 cranes."

Having said this, Mei Xiang took something out of her pocket and threw a handful of small silver seals on the table with a clatter, "There are only the last two left. Now Jasmine is leading the troupe in Chifeng. We are looking for them, and when we find these last two, they will be able to come back."

"Come back, come back!"

Andy didn't even look at the seals on the table, "You won't leave after that, right?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Mei Xiang became quiet, and even Cao Mute put down his wine glass.

At this time, Xiaoyan, Liying, and Meijuan each came down with portions of stews and meat dishes that had been prepared in advance and placed them on the table one by one. A little later, Tao Canhua also walked hand in hand with Qiushi. down.

"Still leaving?" Andy asked cautiously - even though she already vaguely knew the answer to this question.

"Um"

Meixiang finally nodded, glanced at Qiushi, who was sitting next to Tao Canhua, and then at Wei Ran, who was sitting opposite, and finally said, "We have to go. Uncle Mute and I will leave early tomorrow morning. Take the bus Merchant ships go to Hong Kong Island.”

"Where?!" Andy was stunned, "To Hong Kong Island? What are you doing there?"

"right"

Mei Xiang nodded, "It's not just the two of us who are going to Hong Kong Island. When we catch the last two cranes, Jasmine will also bring the Chunhua Troupe and Xiao Su's mother along with us."

"What are you doing there?" Andy asked increasingly panicked.

"Make eyes, make ears."

Meixiang said vaguely but straightforwardly, "Go and see, listen, and do what you can. Besides, the famous courtesan Meixiang who betrayed the country and sought glory has been killed by the Japanese. I went there and started a new life." Life."

"I'll go with you," Andy said abruptly, "I'll go with you."

"You can't move"

Mei Xiang said with a smile, "I was hoping to transmit what I heard and saw over the radio so that you could write it in the newspaper. What's going on with you going with me?"

"Can"

"Okay, this matter has been settled and we won't talk anymore. Let's talk about something else."

Mei Xiang changed the subject at the right time, "Andy, is that wooden box radio station still there?"

"Still there?" Andy nodded and said, "You want to take it with you?"

"I won't take it with me anymore"

Mei Xiang was silent for a moment and said, "Put a signed photo of Mr. Shang on that radio station, and then find a place to hide it. If someone checks the radio station and finds this place, just blame it on me." "

"Can"

"Since Mei Xiang, the famous prostitute in Jinmen, is dead, why should she care about getting more infamy?"

Mei Xiang smiled, then picked up her purse, opened it, pulled out a brown paper envelope and said, "This is the delivery document I wrote. From now on, this building will be sold to you at a price of 12 large yellow croakers."

After saying that, Meixiang pushed the receipt to Andy, "The date above is the August Festival last year. You can take this receipt to change the property deed in a few days. Xiaoguan will help you then. Andy, From now on, you will be the owner of this small building."

"you"

"Let me finish first. There's a lot to do."

Meixiang waved her hand and continued, "Is the suitcase that Someya and his wife kept here still there?"

"Yes, still here." Andy, who was already in tears, nodded hurriedly.

"Take me to see"

Meixiang said but looked at Wei Ran and others, "Cousin, Canhua, and Qiushi, you guys should follow us."

"Hey"

Wei Ran was the first to respond. He stood up and quickly ran to the mirror frame with Tao Canhua. He reached in and opened the latch, pushed the large mirror open, and revealed the small door.Following Meixiang and Andy, they walked into the underground printing room again. Andy also pulled out the suitcase with Yukio Someya's name written on it from under the bed.

Reaching out to touch the locked suitcase, Meixiang sighed and said, "Ever since I learned that the Americans dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese home, I have been trying to contact Mr. Sometani and Mr. Feng to inquire. But these two It’s been over a month, and there’s been no news from these two couples.”

Andy sighed, "I read in the newspaper that the Japs killed many people because of those two bombs. Someya and his wife may have died."

"Maybe"

Mei Xiang sighed, "But I always feel that these two couples may still be alive. Andy, another thing I need to ask you to do is to keep this suitcase for them. If you have the conditions, try to help me." Inquire about their whereabouts.”

"Okay, I promise you." Andy agreed seriously.

"Speaking of which, we still owe you four a scene." Mei Xiang said with a smile, "But now I think this battle may still have to be fought, and the theater troupe has not come back with us, so we can only do this scene Pushed back."

"How long do you plan to delay?" Andy suddenly laughed, and his tone returned to its usual frivolous tone.

"Just wait until the war is completely over!"

Mei Xiang set a new time as if she had already thought about it, "At that time, we will still be on the stage in the basement. Let Canhua and Qiushi lead the Chunhua Theater Troupe to perform in the play, and I will sing to the four of you." !”

"Okay, I'll wait." Andy nodded and agreed while wiping the tears from his eyes.

"Where's my suitcase?" Mei Xiang continued to ask with a smile.

"Here he is too," Andy said, pulling out a suitcase from under the bed with great difficulty.

"This includes the private money saved by Xiao Su's mother, as well as the large amount of money she defrauded from Furukawa. It also contains almost all the wealth I have accumulated in the past 20 years."

Mei Xiang did not open the box when she spoke. She just bent down and patted the box gently, and said in a joking tone, "Andy, I asked you to keep this box for me, just in case one day I We are in trouble outside, but we still count on this money to save our lives.”

"All you need is a telegram, and I'll send it to you anywhere in the world." Andy promised again seriously.

"I'm afraid it will be harder for you to stay here than it is for me."

Meixiang straightened up, took out another envelope from her pocket and handed it to Andy, her tone was much more serious, "Yingluo, if you encounter difficulties, if these yellow goods can buy your life, no matter how much it costs, no matter what, people will definitely Stay alive. Besides, only you can read this letter."

"I know I know."

Andy, who was in tears, nodded vigorously and took the envelope. She didn't know that Mei Xiang was making a will at this time.And not just her?How could these people present not know Mei Xiang’s intention?
"Canhua"

Meixiang turned around with a smile, "When will your best Guangling Powder be as good as Master Biao's?"

"I"

"Let's wait until the day the war is over."

Mei Xiang patted Tao Canhua on the shoulder, "When the time comes, you will not only have to sing the scene well for Andy, but you will also have to play your Guangling San for me, right under the ginkgo tree in the yard. If You're still not as good at playing as Mr. Ciao, and I won't prepare a dowry for Qiushi."

"I"

Before Tao Canhua could say anything, Meixiang looked at Qiushi, who also had red and swollen eyes, "Good sister, live a good life with Canhua from now on. After the war is over, I will give you two a good replacement in this building." A wedding banquet.”

As soon as she said this, Qiushi threw herself into Meixiang's arms again, hugged her tightly and cried.

After finally comforting the girl, Meixiang finally looked at Wei Ran, "Cousin, we have become a family over the years. Whether it's Andy, Qiushi or Canhua, cousin, I can leave everything to you. . Before I come back, you must protect the safety of your family."

"Don't worry, cousin," Wei Ran promised seriously, "I will definitely take good care of our family and protect everyone."

"With your words, I feel relieved"

Meixiang let out a sigh of relief as if she had put down all her burdens, and clapped her hands in high spirits, "Let's go! Let's go up, call Mother Yang, call Uncle Meng, and let's have a good reunion dinner!"

Mei Xiang was so interested that even though the others were holding back a thousand words in their hearts, they finally followed Mei Xiang back to the basement and sat at the table again.They talked about the experience of Meixiang and Cao Yaba leading the troupe to hunt cranes in the past two months, talked about Tao Canhua's experience of returning to Lu'an Mansion, and also listened to Andy talk about her "return to Jinmen" with her same enemy. , the current situation in Tianjin has changed.

When Ma Yang and Uncle Meng came down with a few freshly fried side dishes in food boxes and placed them on the table, this table was also the night when the Japanese in Jinmen surrendered. It was a reunion dinner that meant parting, and a group photo was taken on the much deserted stage, waiting for the reunion again.

That night, Wei Ran picked up his wine glass again and again, clinking glasses with his two cousins ​​who already had some gray hair on their temples, clinking glasses with Tao Canhua, clinking glasses with Qiushi, clinking glasses with Cao Mute, and also clinking glasses with Yang Ma, Uncle Meng, and those The three heroic girls who once stayed in the underground printing room day and night clinked glasses - until he was taken away too much by the alcohol, and amid the vague exclamations, ridicules, and good-natured laughter and curses, he slipped under the table in tears. .

That night, Wei Ran had an extremely clear dream.

He dreamed that the members of the Chunhua Opera Troupe, led by Tao Canhua and Qiushi, sang a lively performance on the stage in the basement. Under the stage were Meixiang and Andy, and Yang Ma and Meng. Sir, the three girls in charge of the printing room were also sitting, as well as Guan Bingwen and the mysterious Feng Maoyun.

Under the stage, sat the couple Guan Linglu and Tang Juechen who share the same hatred, the eternally young Chen Xiuyu and the Xu family brothers, the gentle-faced Rangu couple, and the great traitor Guan. The fat man, the eldest son of the family, laughed and asked Wei Ran who was his son-in-law, between him and Tang Juechen.

He also dreamed that he was driving the milk-white car, driving Mei Xiang and Andy on a spacious but crowded road.

In the middle of the road and around the car, there were countless people beating gongs and drums, holding red flags, and celebrating happily.

On both sides of the road, vendors with smiles and tears on their faces generously grabbed handfuls of candies and packs of cigarettes and forced them on everyone they met.

"The battle is over, it's finally over."

In that extremely clear dream, Meixiang and Andy, who were wearing cheongsam, were sitting in the car and cheering happily. Their no longer young faces were full of pride and pride, and their determined eyes were also full of new hope and hope. Longing.

"Yeah, the battle is over, it's finally over."

Wei Ran looked at the sea of ​​people outside the car window and muttered to himself, but he felt that everything in front of him was becoming more and more hazy because of the tears he couldn't stop.

"Cousin, take care of your home and wait for us to come back." In the hazy vision, Mei Xiang seemed to be saying softly against his ear.

"I will take good care of my home until you come back." Wei Ran replied almost subconsciously.

"When we come back, you must wait for us to come back." Andy also said in his ear.

"When will you come back?" Wei Ran wiped the tears that could not stop from the corners of his eyes, "Canhua has been waiting all his life. He waited until he was a hundred years old. The rest of his life was too bitter. He"

"Hurry, we'll be back soon, soon."

Meixiang comforted Wei Ran who was almost collapsed with more and more gentleness, "Don't worry, we will definitely come back. We will be back soon. It won't take long, it won't take long."

"I will wait for you when you come back, just like Canhua."

Wei Ran, who gradually calmed down, murmured a promise to himself, and everything in front of him became increasingly blurry, eventually turning into a chaotic color ball.

Until - I woke up from the dream
(End of this chapter)