20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 476 Enemies meet on a narrow road
After the beginning of spring, northern laborers began to return home one after another, and the Fengtian Provincial Government immediately began to resettle and demobilize them.

However, the workers arrived in Fengtian in batches, seventy or eighty today, three hundred or two hundred tomorrow, and they came and went intermittently. As a result, the resettlement and layoff work cycle has become extremely long, and it is expected that it may even continue until the end of next year.

When summer comes, Western workers begin to return.

The Beijing authorities have high expectations for overseas workers and require active cooperation from all regions. Those who perform well can receive medals of honor from the authorities.

At the beginning, many people hoped that they could bring foreign industrial technology back to the country, but the reality was that most workers were only engaged in heavy physical labor on the front line, and there were very few so-called skilled workers.

In addition, among the nearly 200,000 people who returned from overseas, no one could guarantee whether any of them had been instigated by the great powers to become spies for the foreigners.

So, expectation quickly turned into suspicion.

Fengtian is not the only city that conducts investigations on returned laborers.

…………

"Woo--Woo--"

A train loaded with workers slowly pulled into the platform, and a group of young men in their twenties and thirties walked out of the carriage one after another.

They carried tattered luggage tied with hemp ropes on their shoulders. Their faces were tanned and they looked a little thin. Their eyes were dull, and their expressions seemed more like confusion after waking up from a nightmare than joy after returning home.

God knows what they went through in the north!
"Beep-beep-"

Seven or eight station guards walked towards the workers while blowing their whistles and loudly asked:
"Are they laborers returning from the North?"

Everyone looked at each other, as if they had not yet recovered from the shock, and no one answered for a moment.

"I'm asking you a question, but you're all mute?" The station guard's tone was obviously a little impatient. "Are you the laborers who came back from the north?"

"Yes."

Finally someone answered, and asked, "Can we arrange food and lodging here?"

The station guard ignored him, turned around, raised his hand and said, "Follow me, this way out!"

Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief, hurriedly shook the luggage on their shoulders, and swarmed behind the police officer, fearing that they would fall behind and miss the resettlement fee issued by the provincial government.

"Who is the leader among you?" the police officer asked as he walked.

"I, sir, am the leader." A dark-faced man in his thirties jumped out of the crowd, speaking with a Jiaodong accent.

"What's your last name?"

"The surname is Huang."

"Okay, come on, follow me."

The station police called Team Leader Huang to his side and took the group of workers who had just got off the train, and soon walked along the exit to the square in front of the station.

As soon as the workers showed their heads, they were greeted by thunderous cheers.

Looking around - wow, what a big scene!

Although there were not many people or colorful flags flying, the square was filled with representatives from all walks of life in Fengtian.

The Beijing authorities regarded the proper placement of the returning workers as a "glorious political achievement" and required all localities to respond actively and not to neglect it.

The political, business, industrial and academic circles in Fengtian also sent representatives, leading their own small groups, to the scene to welcome the guests.

The United Chamber of Commerce, the Youth Association, government offices, several schools' teacher-student associations, and various guild halls in other provinces, all hung up golden signs here and colorful flags and banners there.

"Warmly welcome our returning workers!"

"Work instead of fighting, heroes return triumphantly!"

Unfortunately, many workers were illiterate, and when they suddenly saw this scene, they felt a little at a loss.

Just when everyone was confused and bewildered, they saw an official of high rank, "Lao Chai", wearing a neat suit, walking quickly towards the laborers, stepped forward, grabbed the hand of the labor leader, and shook it heavily twice.

"Thank you for your hard work, fellow villagers. We are home now!"

Team Leader Huang nodded blankly, but asked, "Master, where can we arrange for food and lodging?"

Old Chai seemed not to hear him. He just turned around, waved his hand, and shouted, "Where are the reporters? Come over and take pictures!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a group of reporters swarmed over, knelt on one knee, held up their new cameras, and pressed the shutter buttons one after another.

Although the sun was high in the sky, the workers couldn't help but squint their eyes. They felt confused and noisy.

"Master, we——"

When the reporters finished collecting information and Team Leader Huang was about to speak again, he found that the "Lao Chai" had disappeared.

Just when he was about to ask his attendants, a bouquet of flowers that came from nowhere was shoved into his face.

Huang impatiently pushed aside the bouquet, only to see a female student in a blue shirt and black skirt standing in front of him. She shouted at him excitedly, "You are the heroes of the country and the backbone of the nation. On behalf of the Fengtian academic community, I welcome you home and thank you for winning a seat for us in the victorious nation."

After saying that, the female student jumped forward like a rabbit, not caring about the workers' filthiness, and gave Team Leader Huang a big hug.

"Oh, girl, how can you be so disrespectful?"

Team leader Huang was a rough man. When the scent of the girl's hair entered his nostrils, his face immediately turned red. Then he asked, "Girl, how about our food and lodging——"

Before she finished her words, the female student suddenly turned around and shouted to the teachers and students in the square:

"These are our heroes! They have earned us an international reputation with their blood and sweat. History will remember their contributions!"

After he finished speaking, there was thunderous applause in the square.

Before Team Leader Huang could recover from his shock, he saw the president of the United Business Association coming over. As usual, he shook his strong hand and said earnestly, "Great, hero! Great, great!"

"Well, sir, our board and lodging——"

"Hero, don't worry. Our Fengtian Chamber of Commerce has specially raised a sum of money for the returning workers. We hope it can help you through this difficult time!"

Hearing this, Team Leader Huang's eyes finally lit up, and he immediately asked, "Oh, that's great. The Russians have been deducting wages, and the brothers have suffered so much. Where can we get our money now?"

"Don't worry, heroes. You will definitely get the money." The Chamber of Commerce President turned around and called out to the person behind him, "Come here, bring me the calligraphy I wrote. I want to give it to the heroes personally!"

Someone rushed out and handed a scroll to the president of the Chamber of Commerce. When he unfolded it, he saw eight big characters written on it: Go through fire and water and serve the country generously!

"Come on, come on, take a picture!"

"Hero Huang, please smile and look at the camera, please?"

"President Jia, please raise the words a little higher. Yes, yes, yes, this is just right."

"The United Chamber of Commerce generously raised funds to assist in the resettlement of workers. This is truly a great act of solidarity!"

"Come, come, come, please let me pass. The envoys and consuls of the Western Allied Powers are here to express their condolences. Everyone, please make way, please make way!"

The laborers were at the mercy of others, and the noisy voices of people could be heard everywhere, while the people in front of them took turns to perform.

After being so busy for a long time, this simple question remained unanswered until the crowd dispersed.

When the scene was cleared, all I saw was the blood-red setting sun, which finally turned back to its human color when the wind blew.

Little do they know that their "treatment" is already considered good, and there are many workers who don't even have this empty scene!

Seeing the welcoming team disperse like birds and beasts, the workers were left alone in the square, no one cared about them anymore. Team leader Huang quickly grabbed the station guard's hand and asked anxiously, "Sir, I just want to ask, where are the food and accommodation for us?"

The station guard raised his hand and pointed to the distance, and replied unhappily: "Go to the west gate and find someone to register."

"Um...where is the Great West Gate?"

"Tsk, can't you ask someone halfway? Do I have to take you there or something?"

"No, no." Team Leader Huang hurriedly apologized with a smile, "Thank you very much for your guidance, sir. Thank you very much for your guidance, sir."

……

……

It was early summer, and many of the old houses outside the western city gate had been razed and demolished. It would not be long before new villas and shops would rise up here.

The provincial government's military and political leaders had already taken possession of the best territories.

The remaining "leftovers" were divided up by the Fengtian gentry headed by the Jiang family.

Everyone was eating with their mouths full of grease and having a great time.

Team leader Huang brought a group of workers to the outside of the western city gate, and saw from afar that a temporary "checkpoint" had been set up there.

There were several small tables, behind which sat reception staff who looked neither official nor private, and who seemed to be non-staff members. Each of them held a pen in his hand, with striped paper in front of his eyes, quietly waiting for the workers to come over.

"Master Hu, it's time to do the work." A calligrapher turned sideways and smiled politely at the person beside him.

Chuanghu stretched his neck to look at the workers walking towards him from afar, and couldn't help but remind the calligraphers: "Do a good job of sorting. Send some people to Mr. Li Sanye and some to Wen Tingge. Don't be careless." The calligraphers nodded hurriedly. Many people, including Chuanghu, didn't know the purpose behind this job. They just did what their boss told them to do.

Moreover, because Nanfeng had been involved in the recruitment business before, the Jiang family also had their own information to compare and check.

A laborer came over and asked, "Sir, are we arranging food and lodging here?"

"What's your name?" the calligrapher asked directly.

"Huang Fugui."

The calligrapher wrote the name on the striped paper and asked again without looking up, "Where is your native place?"

"there."

"My fellow countryman, what kind of work do you do in the north?"

"Dig trenches, but..." The laborer quickly took out a few pieces of paper from his pocket, "My contract says I work for the light bulb factory. I used to work there, but when I got there, the Russians refused to acknowledge my work and told me to dig trenches instead."

The calligrapher ignored him and wrote the four characters "Battlefield Fortifications" on the striped paper in tiny characters. He then said, "Take your contract and go to the coach inn in the east of the city. Someone there will arrange for your food and accommodation, and you will be able to go home in two days."

"Will you reimburse me for the train and boat tickets?"

"Ask over there."

"Where is the big carriage shop?"

"Ask over there."

"My fellow villager." The laborer smiled and took out a piece of paper, handed it to the calligrapher and asked, "Can you help me find out where I can cash my wages?"

"You just have a receipt and a passbook?"

"What passbook?"

The calligrapher shook his head helplessly: "How can you exchange money without a passbook? Have you exchanged the Qiang tickets there? Have you remitted the money home? If you have none of these, then you can't exchange them."

"Why can't we cash it?" the worker said anxiously, "The Russians said that this means they have received the money!"

"That can't be redeemed."

"Why can't I redeem it?"

"Next one, next one."

"You have to explain to me clearly why I can't redeem it. I clearly have the receipt. You can't bully me!"

The workers wanted to make trouble, but a few Jiang family members rushed out from the side, pushing and shoving them, saying, "Why are you yelling? Your failure to fulfill the contract has nothing to do with us. Get out of here right now. Don't be so shameless!"

After a dispute, the laborer finally left in disgrace without finding out the reason. He became resentful and even suspected that the government had embezzled his wages.

There are simply too many farces like this to count.

Some people took the receipt but not the passbook, some took the mailing receipt but forgot the money, and even worse, when remitting money home, they did not fill in the detailed address clearly, resulting in the wages they worked hard for disappearing.

If there weren't a few tough thugs watching over the scene, there would probably be nothing but bickering and quarreling all day long.

The resettlement and demobilization work is still ongoing, and as usual, questions such as name, place of origin, and type of work are asked.

"What kind of work do you do there?"

"Painter, the one who paints the gun barrels."

After hearing this, the lettersmith made a note on the striped paper and asked, "Do you have proof of your skills? How many years do you have left on your contract?"

"There are still two years left."

"Take your contract and skills certificate and report to the Overseas Chinese Workers Bureau tomorrow. We will arrange for you to work at the Fengtian Arsenal in a few days."

Chuanghu was not idle either. Workers came to him one after another, and he interrogated them, arranged their food and accommodation, and purchased tickets for them.

Suddenly, a dark figure loomed over.

Chuanghu craned his neck and looked up, only to see that the man was about thirty to forty years old, which was a bit old for a laborer. His face showed a weather-beaten look, and his every move was that of a tough guy.

Compared with other laborers, his expression was very calm, as if he had long been accustomed to the bitter cold in the north and the abuse of the Russians.

"What's your name?"

"Li Qun." The man spoke with full energy and a heavy chest voice.

"Where is your origin?"

"Over at Dagu Mountain."

"Oh, what do you do there?"

"I've done everything. I started as a miner, dug trenches, worked in an iron smelter, and an arsenal."

"What a talent!" Chuanghu responded and made a note, then asked, "Did you bring the contract?"

Li Qun handed over the contract.

According to the employment terms stated in the contract with Yicheng Company, this person had already gone to the north in the fifth year of the Republic of China, making him one of the earlier workers, and his employment term had already ended.

Chuanghu carefully checked the contract and the skill certificate and found no problems, so he looked up and asked, "Do you want to return to your hometown, or do you want to stay in Fengtian?"

Li Qun smiled and asked, "I heard that the government can arrange jobs for skilled workers who return. Is that true?"

"Yes!" Chuang Hu replied, "If you want to stay, take these things and report to the Overseas Chinese Workers Bureau tomorrow. Now go to Huichuan Hotel first. You don't have to worry about food and accommodation for now."

"Is that so... Then please show me the way, sir. I want to stay in Fengtian."

Chuanghu made another mark behind the man's name - he wanted to stay in Fengtian - and then stood up, pointed to the east, and said, "Once you enter the inner city gate, just ask anyone and you will know."

Li Qun nodded and walked towards the city gate. After walking a few steps, he suddenly turned back, holding a Jiang family's "Xiangzi", and asked casually: "Brother, I want to ask you something."

"What do you want to know?" the man asked unhappily.

Li Qun didn't mind, he laughed twice and asked humbly: "Nothing, I just heard that there is a smoking house in Fengtian, it seems to be called 'Woyunlou', where is this place?"

Jiang family's "Xiangzi" grinned and said, "Oh, I never realized that you are so fond of this, buddy?"

"Haha, it's not that I like it, I'm just curious. Wasn't he quite famous in the past? I want to go and see the world." Li Qun said respectfully.

Jiang family's "Xiangzi" waved his hand and said, "Hey, buddy, what you said is an old calendar from eight hundred years ago. Where is the 'Woyun Tower' now? You should go find another one. There are other places."

"'Woyunlou' is gone?" Li Qun was a little surprised. "How could such a big business just disappear like that?"

"What you're saying is that the fucking Qing Dynasty is gone, so what's the use of Woyun Tower? It's been so many years, and the original broken building has been fucking demolished. You should find some fun somewhere else!"

"Haha, that's right, that's right. There is nothing in this world that lasts forever. Everything is gone in an instant."

A trace of desolation suddenly flashed across Li Qun's eyes, as if he was speaking from inspiration.

He did not ask about the specific reasons, nor was he in a hurry to get to the bottom of the matter.

The man had been displaced in the north for more than ten years, having experienced bitter cold, beatings and abuse. He had managed to survive the most inhuman circumstances and had not died. The vicissitudes of life had long since smoothed out his former edges, and his character had changed greatly as a result.

He bowed and said "thank you" to "Xiangzi" of the Jiang family, then walked through the city gate and headed towards the inner city.

But before he had walked far, he suddenly stopped and stood quietly there, waiting for other workers to follow.

The sky gradually darkened.

Soon, four or five brothers gathered around him one after another.

"Brother Qun, we should be fine now, right?"

Li Qun shook his head and said, "The provincial government's investigation cannot be that simple. Don't be too ostentatious at ordinary times. Do your job honestly and proceed step by step. Don't rush. This is not something that can be accomplished in one or two years. If any of you return to your hometown, stay at home for one or two years and don't rush back. I estimate that there will be our people among the other workers, but don't contact them easily and keep them isolated from each other to avoid being caught in one fell swoop."

"Understood." Everyone nodded.

"Go ahead, don't gather in a group, so as not to make people suspicious."

Li Qun raised his hand to coax everyone away, leaving only one person by his side. He patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "Third brother, now it's just the two of us. Have you forgotten the grudge we had back then?"

The man shook his head and lowered his voice, "Brother, I have been relying on this breath to survive for the past ten years!"

Li Qun nodded heavily and said, "Don't be anxious. Don't be anxious. We have survived for more than ten years. It doesn't matter if we wait a few more years."

"Yeah, I understand."

After saying that, the two of them walked shoulder to shoulder towards the inner city of Fengtian, getting farther and farther away.

The sky is full of clouds and the evening breeze is blowing. Some people are feeling proud and happy while others are making a desperate effort.

(End of this chapter)