War Photographer's Notebook

The day after returning from Donetsk, Wei Ran stayed in bed all morning with Suisui, who went to bed just before dawn. It wasn't until the girl was finally willing to go to the office next door that he finally He got up and took his dog Beria to the basement of the library.

After locking the heavy explosion-proof door and getting into his own room, Wei Ran turned left and right and took out the food box, taking out all the remains of electronic equipment, blood-stained bullet heads, bullet casings and even the spare mobile phone inside. Come out, smash it with a hammer, put it into a small plastic basket, and sink it into the plastic box filled with electrolyte in the corner.

After turning on the power and waiting until a series of tiny bubbles emerged from the electrolyte, he slowly took out a few paper towels and carefully wiped the inside and outside of the food box, then opened a locker and took it out. Various seasonings and spices commonly used in China were packed in, as well as a new spare mobile phone and phone card, making up for the losses previously discarded to make room for space.

After finishing these tasks, he opened another safe and took out a few silent bullets from it. Then he waved out the OTS38 silent pistol and the VSS silent sniper rifle, preparing to make up for their previous losses. .

"Hey? This bastard has a conscience?"

Wei Ran couldn't help but muttered when he saw the VSS silent sniper rifle he had just taken out.

For no other reason, this gun unknowingly turned into an improved VSSM type - just like the ones he seized from the enemy's corpses last night.

Compared with the previous one, the polymer stock, the adjustable cheek rest, the leather rail that replaced the mirror bridge, and even the previously unavailable folding bipod, new scope, and other elements undoubtedly make this gun look pleasing to the eye. A lot.

But after the praise, he inevitably regretted it. For him, the "old model" has advantages over the new model. The old model can still be used in historical fragments, but this new model
Is this a reward or a punishment?
After reacting, Wei Ran cursed secretly, but in the end he could only choose to accept it silently. Without saying a word, he took out the magazine and filled it with bullets, then reloaded it and took back the metal book.

After changing the bullets for the silent runner and throwing the ejected cartridge cases into the electrolytic cell, Wei Ran, who had finished his business, turned around and went into the darkroom next door, taking out the negatives from the metal book. I developed all the individual photos and a few group photos of the guerrillas one by one, scanned the negatives, and sent electronic copies to Anfiya.

Naturally, he doesn't need to worry about the follow-up matters. Anfiya and Lola will help hang some of them in the library. They will also update the photos for the sold albums and send a copy to Mr. Alexander.

In the next few days until the end of March, Wei Ran honestly didn't go anywhere. He did morning exercises and walked the dog every day, accompanied Suisui to work, went to bed or went shopping.

At most, I just took advantage of the weekend and personally drove Suisui to the Hongqi Forest Farm. I negotiated with the studio about helping Marta edit the frontline video. I also bought a dozen action cameras and civilian and agricultural cameras. The drone was sent to her companions on the front line in Marta's name.

Fortunately, after almost a week of hibernation, there was no news or topic on the Internet about his connection with Donetsk. Instead, first-hand frontline news from Marta’s friends mentioned that Mr. Kudlik and his village were not far from each other. Not far away from the front line, the enemy had recently been hit by intensive firepower and lost a lot of people and positions.

Among these trivial matters, Alexander, who was far away in Volgograd, also called Weiran at noon the day before April Fool's Day.

"Victor, when will you return to Volgograd?" Mr. Alexander asked straight to the point, "Many things here are waiting for you now."

"whats the matter?"

Wei Ran, who had just had lunch and was basking in the sun with Suisui on the sofa in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, asked drowsily.

"What did you say?"

Alexander reminded with dissatisfaction but helplessness, "I am going to bury the Soviet guerrilla Yeremei who was sealed in resin. Is it time for you to come back and accept the interview arranged by me as agreed? This is what we agreed."

"When?" Wei Ran asked with a yawn. This was a promise to the other party, so naturally he couldn't refuse it.

"tomorrow?"

Alexander asked jokingly, "It doesn't matter if it's a day or two later. These contents won't be broadcast until Victory Day, but I am really prepared to bury the guerrilla as soon as possible."

"Are you free tomorrow?" Wei Ran asked Suisui in Chinese.

"Have time"

Suisui replied without thinking, "Thanks to those international student employees, I am free at any time now. By the way, take Marta with you, let her feel at ease when she sees that what you said is true, and we can also Spend a lot of money and let Arili fly us back."

"It's up to you," Wei Ran said nonchalantly, then switched back to Russian and made an appointment with Alexander.

That evening, Wei Ran followed Suisui and her small team back to Volgograd on a special plane that nominally belonged to Jima.

Less than ten days passed before and after. The professor couple and Zoya, who had gone back to resign, still had not returned from Murmansk, so naturally the only person who came to pick them up at the airport was Alexander's new assistant Saveli.

Obviously, this young man didn't know what had happened to Wei Ran these days. The only thing he was secretly curious or envious about was why there was another girl beside Wei Ran - a girl who looked injured even though she was sitting in a wheelchair. Very heavy, but still a beautiful girl.

Suppressing curiosity, he sent Wei Ran and others to Golonid Island. After stopping the car, Saveli said, "Victor, Mr. Alexander asked me to take you to see something."

"Now?" Wei Ran, who had just driven the dog out and was busy helping the girls move their luggage, asked in surprise.

"It doesn't matter if it's late," Saveli, who was helping to carry the luggage, said nonchalantly, "It's not a very important thing."

"Okay, wait a minute." Wei Ran said, and moved the last large suitcase in the carriage.

After helping the girls carry their luggage to the second floor of the wooden house in the small courtyard, Wei Ran got into the Iveco loaf driven by Saveli and let him drive him back.

"Where are we going?" Wei Ran asked curiously.

"The abandoned factory"

As Saveli spoke, he had already turned the car onto the branch road leading to the factory, and explained at the same time, "About a week ago, Mr. Alexander suddenly accelerated the repair and reconstruction work there. At most, there were nearly a hundred workers working there every day. The factory was busy, and all the work was finally completed yesterday afternoon."

After a pause, Saveli continued, "This morning, there were ten elderly people, ten disabled people, and 20 children living there."

"What did you say?" Wei Ran, who had been secretly surprised just now, finally came back to his senses, "Where do you live?"

"Not only that," Saveli said with a strange expression, "but the boss also opened a shuttle bus."

"What shuttle bus?" Wei Ran asked quickly.

"There is one trip every morning and evening on Mondays and Fridays."

Saveli said in a dumbfounded voice, "The driver is my father. He drives 20 children to schools in satellite towns every morning. He also takes a few disabled people to work in Mr. Alexander's factory and museum, and then waits for another visit in the afternoon." Send them back."

Glancing at Wei Ran, who looked dull, through the rearview mirror, the young man added, "Even my mother has been working in that factory since yesterday. She is responsible for taking care of the elderly and the disabled who have lost the ability to work. , responsible for cooking and cleaning for them, and my wife Zoya will also serve as the health doctor there after she returns."

"Saveli" Wei Ran looked out the window, "Turn around, let's go back."

"We'll be there soon, don't you go and take a look?" Although Saveli said this, he immediately reduced the speed of the car and started to turn around and walk back.

"Go and see it, of course."

Wei Ran smiled and said, "But we still have to pick up someone. No, let's pick up all those girls."

"I should have told you about this in advance on the way back." Saveli shook his head, stepped on the accelerator and increased the speed.

After driving the car back to the entrance of the small courtyard, Wei Ran called Suisui and her assistants, and then asked them to help Marta and her wheelchair into the car.

"Where are we going?" Suisui asked curiously.

"You'll find out later," Wei Ran deliberately let it slip, and even deliberately didn't look at Marta, who had an equally curious look on her face.

Seeing that Wei Ran didn't say anything, Saveli wisely kept his mouth shut and also slowed down the car slightly, lest the beautiful wounded patient could not bear the bumps of the country road.

No matter how slow it was, in almost 10 minutes, the car arrived at the gate of the abandoned factory.

In less than half a month, the abandoned factory where the gypsy people once stayed has been completely renovated. A circle of ungerminated flowers and green plants has been planted inside the red brick and cast iron fence. The yard full of weeds was not only paved with lawn, but also paved with stones for several walking paths.

Even the three factory workshops and the two-story office building that used to have ventilation on all sides have been beautifully renovated, especially those workshops, which are all equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows that are two meters high.

But compared to these, what concerned Marta the most and brought tears to her eyes was the line written in Russian on the iron sign hanging on the beam above the door - Marta's House.

"Don't look at me, these are Mr. Alexander's masterpieces."

When Wei Ran saw Suisui looking at him, he quickly explained in Chinese, "This is the first time I have seen these, and I have never heard of them before."

"Isn't this old boss planning to use this to repay us for rescuing his daughter?" Suisui asked in Chinese.

"Who knows"

While Wei Ran was speaking, he had already opened the car door, carried Marta's wheelchair down and unfolded it, and at the same time kept saying, "It's not a loss even if it's a favor, the people living here are all Donets." The war refugees from Gramsk are equivalent to helping you build a hundred more layers on your beautiful pagoda."

“It’s really not a loss”

While Suisui was talking, she also got out of the carriage and helped the Katenka sisters to take down the tearful Marta and put her in the wheelchair.

"Did you do this?" Marta asked, wiping away her uncontrollable tears.

"It's the wealthy businessman who is willing to help those refugees. His name is Alexander." Wei Ran explained frankly. "Thank you," Marta said nonstop, "thank you, and thank you, Mr. Alexander."

"No need to thank me"

Before he finished speaking, the door of the car parked in the yard was pushed open by Alexander from the inside, "If it weren't for Victor, I wouldn't have done these things, so it's enough to give these thanks to Victor alone."

After speaking, Alexander asked with a smile, "Victor, how many days has it been? Why is there another beautiful girl beside you?"

"She is Marta, the Marta from Marta's House." Wei Ran ignored the other party's teasing and introduced with a smile, "Marta, this is the kind-hearted Mr. Alexander."

"So you are the angel Marta that the old people and children often talk about."

At this time, Alexander did not have the slightest businessmanlike demeanor. Instead, he took the initiative to walk to the wheelchair, bent down and shook hands with Marta, pretending to be serious and said, "This angel, why don't you let me push the wheelchair for you?" Let’s visit it, so I might have a chance to go to heaven in the future.”

Obviously, the humor of the Lianyou businessman made Marta, who still had tears in her eyes, take over the job of pushing the wheelchair from Lu Xinda.

While leading everyone towards the brand-new factory building, Alexander told Weiran about the two shuttle buses that Saveli had mentioned on his first trip here, as well as arrangements for children and the disabled, etc. It was introduced in detail again.

After he finished introducing the daily meals here, he also pushed his wheelchair into the brightly lit and warm workshop.

Now, the workshop has been renovated and re-arranged. At this time, the elderly, disabled and orphans are eating dinner at two large tables.

"Marta! It's sister Marta!"

Just as they walked in, at the nearest table, a little boy who was missing an arm turned around inadvertently and recognized Marta in a wheelchair at a glance, and subconsciously said: Surprised cheers.

"crash"

After hearing the shout, the rest of the people also put down the tableware in their hands and turned around, and then swarmed around them, pushing Wei Ran, Alexander and others aside.

"The workshop is a place for breakfast and dinner, entertainment and public activities, and a place for rehabilitation training for those with disabilities."

Alexander led everyone to temporarily let go of the reunited people, and continued to walk in while saying, "Before I called you at noon today, I also ordered many books from Mr. Nicholas. Those books and bookshelves will also be placed on the shelves tomorrow. here.

Next, those disabled people will receive tailor-made prostheses, processed by my titanium alloy processing factory, titanium alloy frame prostheses, and they will all become steel warriors.Of course, this takes some time. "

"Mr. Alexander, you have done a good enough job." Wei Ran said gratefully.

"Helping others is a very fulfilling thing," Alexander said with a smile, "and you can get a lot of happiness."

After speaking, he led everyone to the floor-to-ceiling window, pointed to the yard outside and said, "In the future, I will also place some of my military collections in this yard.

Those survivors who experienced the war may serve as commentators here, so that everyone who comes here can see not only the war machines, but also the damage caused by the war. "

"Uncle Alexander"

Suisui asked curiously after Alexander finished speaking, "Why is this place called Marta's House?"

"That's not the name I chose."

Alexander raised his chin towards the people not far away, "They gave the name themselves, and I also heard about Marta from their mouths."

Having said this, Alexander smiled and said, "Aphroel, Victor, I hope you can help me talk to Marta.

If she is willing, I would like her to talk about the situation of the residents near the front line during tomorrow's interview. "

"I promise she will be very happy," Suisui promised before Wei Ran could speak.

“Then I’ll leave this matter to you.”

Alexander smiled heartily, and then everyone saw Mr. Kudlik sitting in a wheelchair, letting his great-grandson and great-granddaughter push him over.

"Victor, thank you for your help." Kudlik said gratefully in the wheelchair, "I didn't expect that you would really like to help us sincerely."

"Just don't blame me for making my own decisions."

Wei Ran responded with a gentle smile. They met again in just a week. The old man had changed into a new set of clean and warm clothes. He even shaved his face cleanly. Naturally, he felt much more energetic.

But did he know that in order to invite this old man over, Uncle Big-eared Chabu's people even asked a well-known local militia leader in Donetsk to act as a guarantee, which made the old man reluctantly let go. Be wary and willing to take his children away from his war-torn hometown.

"No, I don't blame you, how could I blame you." Mr. Kudlik said with a smile, "Victor, we have to have another drink."

"certainly"

Wei Ran responded with a smile, and the old man took out a wine bottle from the wheelchair's bag and shook it, "This is the remaining wine we drank at that time. I have been waiting to meet you and Marta again." Drink it when the time comes."

"It's my honor." Before Wei Ran could finish his words, Saveli had already helped bring a few cups.

"Mr. Alexander, would you like to have a drink too?" Wei Ran handed the first glass of wine to Kudlik and the second glass of wine to Alexander.

"I knew I had a share." Alexander happily took the wine glass.

At this moment, Suisui also pushed Marta over with red eyes.

"Good boy, wipe your tears quickly. It should be a joyful thing for us to be able to meet again here alive."

Kudlik said, but handed the wine glass that Wei Ran had just handed him to Marta, "Come on, let's have another drink!"

"Would you like a drink?"

After Wei Ran poured another glass of wine for Mr. Kudlik, he asked Suisui while pouring the wine.

"Isn't this cup mine?" Suisui asked with a smile while holding the small wine glass.

"It's yours, of course it's yours."

As Wei Ran spoke, he filled his own glass with the last bit of the bottom of the bottle, and was the first to reach out and say, "Everyone, cheers to the victory, to the reunion, and to the House of Marta!"

"cheers!"

The other men, women, old and young all responded in unison, and several crystal-clear small wine glasses clinked together amidst laughter and laughter.

After a glass of wine to celebrate the reunion, Alexander took everyone around to two other workshops that were still being renovated, as well as the two-story office building that had been converted into a temporary dormitory.

There is no doubt that the most significant result of this visit is to dispel the hesitation and uneasiness in Marta's heart during this period, especially Alexander promised that after the place is completely renovated, he will invite as many people again. Victims of the war came to live.

That night, everyone had a sumptuous dinner at Marta's house with Alexander and his wife and daughters who arrived a little later.

Time flies to the next morning, and Wei Ran accepts the interview arranged by Alexander in the renovated public activity room of Marta House.It tells in detail the unknown history that happened in the forests of Bryansk in the autumn of 1941.

Also interviewed were Marta, who was in a wheelchair, and Mr. Kudlik, the son of political commissar Vinya, who was also in a wheelchair.

Of course, there is no shortage of Mr. Alexander, who held the barrel of the 12-star anti-tank gun the whole time, and those Donetsk people who lost limbs or family members in the war.

On the same day, deep in the remote Bryansk Forest, two other interview teams followed Alexander's people to bury the guerrilla Yeremy who had been sealed in resin, and in those two cemeteries, Each of them re-erected a huge titanium alloy tombstone.

The front of these two tombstones, which are as big as door panels, are laser-engraved with the detailed identity information of the people buried here and the photos of the fallen provided by Weiran. The back is engraved with the score of "Bryansk Forest Rumble" and the tombstone. A group photo of members of the three guerrilla groups.

There is no doubt that the businessman Mr. Alexander, whether he is rescuing the refugees, organizing interviews, or reburying the guerrillas, he does all of this with a clear purpose.

Wei Ran and Suisui knew it very well, and Marta knew it too.

Even Mr. Kudlik and even everyone who lives in Marta House know that they have become exhibits in this living museum.

so what?Even if it's just for show, even if it's just to accumulate fame, it's a good thing after all, isn't it?
As the saying goes, it doesn't matter how many manhole covers with oil removal buffs this Lianyou businessman secretly casts.

At least he did these things under the sun, at least he was sincere and kind to those long-forgotten guerrillas and to the poor people in the House of Marta.

At least for Wei Ran and others, this is completely enough.