“Where are you from?”
“Sichuan.”
“I’ve never been to Sichuan. Is it fun there?”
Li Changsheng nodded. “Lots of mountains, not like here where it’s all plains.”
“Is this your first time in Nanjing?”
“Yes.”
Meng Yuan lay down on her side, gazing at him quietly. “You haven’t seen Nanjing at its best. Xinjiekou, Taiping Road – at night they’re ablaze with lights, colorful and incredibly bustling. And there’s Wuzhou Park, Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Qinhuai River, Yuhuatai…” She fell silent for a moment. “I heard that the roads at Yuhuatai were all stained red with soldiers’ blood.”
Li Changsheng gave a low “mm” in response. “That was the 88th Division.”
Meng Yuan stared at the ants on the ground for a while, lost in thought. Such fragile lives still struggling to survive. “Which division are you from?”
“36th Division.” Li Changsheng stole glances at her from time to time. “We’re a German-equipped division.”
“What does German-equipped division mean?”
“Our weapons and equipment are basically German-made.” Li Changsheng tapped the steel helmet beside his leg. “M35.”
“Does that mean you’re really powerful?”
Li Changsheng was at a loss for words. “But we still lost.”
“You didn’t lose. As long as people are still alive, you haven’t lost.”
Li Changsheng sadly lifted the corner of his mouth and said nothing more.
“Are all the troops remaining in the city from your unit?”
“No, most of our division has already withdrawn. Because we suffered heavy casualties in Shanghai, when defending Nanjing, our superiors didn’t assign us to the front lines. We were responsible for guarding the Yijiang Gate and Xiaguan area. Most of those who didn’t withdraw from the city are from the 88th and 87th Divisions, the Training Corps, and some others.”
“With so many defending troops, why didn’t they resist?”
“No command, too frightened from the fighting, plus many were new recruits who didn’t know how to fight well. The devils said they’d treat prisoners kindly, tricked our brothers into surrendering, then killed them all. Big brother was right – the devils are completely untrustworthy, can’t listen to them.” Li Changsheng clenched his fists. “A bunch of animals worse than pigs and dogs!”
“Then why didn’t you two withdraw with your unit?”
“Big brother wouldn’t leave, so I stayed with him.” Li Changsheng’s expression softened. “These past few days we’ve killed quite a few devils.”
Meng Yuan turned over to lie on her back, silent for a long time, then sighed. “Do you think Nanjing can return to what it was before?”
“I don’t know.”
Meng Yuan closed her eyes. “If the devils ever get driven out of Nanjing, I’ll treat you to lots of delicious food. We’ll go to Qifang Pavilion, Deyue Terrace, Yonghe Garden and eat all the delicacies. Four-happiness glutinous rice balls, osmanthus rice wine, sugar lotus root porridge, begonia cakes, steamed buns, thin-skinned dumplings. I really want to eat water bamboo shoot dumplings, dried tofu sesame cakes, and oil crisp cakes.” She smacked her lips and smiled. “The oil crisp cakes at Yingshui Terrace are simply exquisite, and there are sesame oil twist crackers, crispy twisted doughnuts, and all kinds of soda pop sold on the street, bubbling and fizzing, drinking a whole bottle in one gulp.”
Meng Yuan took a deep breath, but all she smelled was gunpowder smoke.
Li Changsheng listened quietly to her talking, and his stomach actually growled.
Meng Yuan looked at him and laughed. “You’re hungry.”
Li Changsheng rubbed his stomach and smiled shyly with his head down, then stood up. “I’ll go out and find you something to eat.”
“Your leg is still injured.”
“It’s just a minor wound.” He shouldered his gun and climbed out.
“Be careful—”
…
In the middle of the night, Li Changsheng suddenly woke Meng Yuan. She woke up groggily. “What’s wrong?”
Li Changsheng smiled and pulled out a bottle of soda from behind his back. “Look at this.”
Meng Yuan immediately became alert, sat up and took it, exclaiming in delight, “Where did you find this?”
“I don’t know what kind of place it was, full of empty bottles, and I dug out this one that hadn’t been opened. Is this the bubbling and fizzing one you mentioned?”
“This is it!” Meng Yuan used her teeth to pry open the bottle cap and took two big gulps, so happy her features scrunched up together. “This is the taste! I haven’t had it for so long!”
Li Changsheng watched her happy expression, his heart sweet as if honey had melted in it.
Meng Yuan handed the soda to Li Changsheng. “You drink some too.”
Li Changsheng pushed her hand away. “You like it, you drink it all.”
Meng Yuan happily took another small sip. “Have you ever drunk this soda before?”
Li Changsheng shook his head. “I’m from the countryside, never had this kind of thing.”
Meng Yuan insisted on giving it to him. “Try it quickly.”
Li Changsheng pressed against the ground and scooted his bottom back a step. “I won’t drink it, there’s only this small bottle.”
“Just taste a sip.”
“I won’t taste it.” Li Changsheng avoided her gaze. “You drink it quickly.”
Meng Yuan held up the bottle. “Then I won’t drink it either, I’ll pour it out.”
“Don’t do that.” Li Changsheng quickly steadied the bottle, accidentally touching her hand, then quickly pulled back and hid his hands behind him. “I’ll just drink water.”
Meng Yuan was about to pour it out again, so Li Changsheng quickly took it. “Fine, I’ll take a small sip, just taste it.”
Meng Yuan smiled and nodded.
Li Changsheng took a small sip. It was sweet and had an indescribable fizzy quality that bubbled in his mouth.
It was really delicious.
Meng Yuan licked her lips and watched him smile. “How is it? Does it taste good?”
Li Changsheng nodded repeatedly, wiped the bottle mouth with his hand, then cleaned it again with his clothes, looking at her guiltily. “Sorry, it’s even dirtier now. You should wipe it yourself.”
Meng Yuan took it without wiping and drank it all in one gulp down to the bottom, even burping. “Ah—so refreshing!”
Li Changsheng stared blankly at her smiling face. Having been here for two days, this was the first time he’d seen her laugh so happily. Thinking of what she’d said before, his heart couldn’t help but pound.
Meng Yuan put down the bottle. Li Changsheng immediately looked away, picking at the corner of his clothes. “If you like it, I’ll go out and find you more.”
“No need. Every time you go out, there’s more danger. In times like these, being able to drink one bottle already makes me very happy.” Meng Yuan tilted her face up again, holding the bottle upside down to let the last two drops drip into her mouth.
Li Changsheng caught a glimpse of her slender neck and sat helplessly, sometimes scratching his head, sometimes picking at his leg.
“So delicious.” She licked the bottle mouth and placed the bottle on the ground. “Thank you.”
Li Changsheng kept his head down, pretending to fiddle with his military boots. “No need to thank me.”
Meng Yuan’s gaze inadvertently swept across the corner, and she suddenly stood up. “Where’s the head?”
Li Changsheng followed her line of sight. The head that had been placed in the corner was gone. “I don’t know.”
Meng Yuan anxiously searched everywhere. “How did the head disappear?”
“Maybe big brother took it away.”
Meng Yuan was stunned for two seconds, then sat back down. “That’s right, the head couldn’t have run away by itself.”
She became dejected again, hugging her legs and sitting against the wall. “It’s all my fault. I’m the one who harmed Mr. Xiao.”
Li Changsheng saw she was unhappy and wanted to say something but held back, sitting quietly beside her.
Meng Yuan sighed heavily, then suddenly pounded the wall hard. “I want to kill them!”
“Don’t punch it, be careful not to knock it down.”
Meng Yuan pulled back her hand, covered her head, and went to sleep.
…
There were people on night duty at the hospital. He Feng surveyed the surrounding area before going in. A nurse had just spotted him when she called out, “We don’t treat injuries here—”
He Feng covered her mouth. “I’m just looking for someone, I’ll leave in a moment. Don’t shout.”
The nurse nodded.
“Sorry, please call Xie Wanzhi out for me.”
The nurse looked him up and down. “Who are you?”
He Feng was afraid of causing trouble for Xie Chi, so he didn’t reveal their relationship. “I’m a wounded soldier she saved. I want to say a few words to her and then leave.”
The nurse wasn’t stupid. She asked with her mouth but guessed their relationship in her heart. She didn’t ask more questions and went upstairs to call for her.
He Feng waited outside.
Xie Chi came running out. He hid in the shadows and whistled to her.
Hearing the sound, Xie Chi saw him and quickly rushed over.
He Feng took her hand to a more secluded place.
Xie Chi stared intently at his back, never willing to miss any moment.
He Feng stopped. A large tree blocked their figures.
Tonight there was heavy fog that obscured the moonlight. Under the tree it was too dark to see each other’s faces clearly.
He Feng looked at her faint smile, not knowing how to begin. He was carrying Xiao Wangyun’s head in his hand. Because it had already rotted to an unbearably stinking state, and Meng Yuan stubbornly refused to leave, he had no choice but to bring it to Xie Chi to dispose of.
But as soon as he saw her, He Feng regretted it. On the battlefield he was used to seeing heads and severed limbs, plenty of comrades whose bodies were in pieces. He had become numb to it all. But Xie Chi was ultimately a woman and shouldn’t have to bear such things. He should have just found some random place to bury it.
“What are you thinking about?” Xie Chi looked at what he was carrying. “What’s this?” She sniffed. “It’s so stinky.”
He Feng hid his hands behind his back. “I need to tell you something.”
“What is it?”
“Well…” He Feng pulled her into his embrace. “A’Zhi.”
“What is it?”
“That man surnamed Xiao is dead.”
The sudden silence made him somewhat panicked.
“A’Zhi.”
Xie Chi suddenly pushed him away and snatched the bundle from his hands.
He Feng held down her hands as she tried to unwrap it. “Don’t look.”
Xie Chi’s hands trembled slightly. “What is this?”
“His head.”
Xie Chi staggered slightly. He Feng pressed down on her shoulders. “Meng Yuan said A’Ru knows where the body is buried. She wants you to go find him.”
“Oh, okay.” She struggled to control herself, not wanting to have an emotional breakdown at this moment, in front of him. “How is Meng Yuan? Is she alright?”
“She’s fine, just traumatized and temporarily unwilling to return to the safety zone. If worst comes to worst, I’ll knock her unconscious tomorrow night and bring her over.”
“How did Xiao Wangyun die?”
“Meng Yuan said it was to save her, he was beheaded by the devils.”
“When did this happen?”
“Not sure, probably several days ago.”
Xie Chi clutched the bundle tightly, smelling the enormous stench of decay.
He Feng saw her in a daze and cupped her face. “A’Zhi, A’Zhi.”
Xie Chi looked at him.
“Let him rest in peace, then keep him in your heart. Don’t be impulsive, don’t act rashly, okay?”
She nodded.
“You save people inside, leave the outside matters to me, okay?”
She nodded.
“It’s not just one person’s life – the blood debt of hundreds of thousands, we’ll slowly repay it. No rush, okay?”
She nodded.
“Are you listening to what I’m saying?”
“I’m listening.”
He Feng caressed her face. “I’m sorry.”
Xie Chi raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck. “I’m fine, don’t worry about me. I’ve been in the hospital so long, I’ve seen all kinds of scenes. I can control my emotions.”
“Good.”
Xie Chi tilted her face up, blinking rapidly, trying to swallow the tears that were about to spill out. She kissed his neck to divert her attention. “How are you? Do you need medicine?”
“Haven’t used it up yet.”
“The devils have been patrolling frequently lately, saying many Japanese soldiers have gone missing. Are the bodies disposed of properly?”
“Don’t worry, no traces left.”
“Is there enough ammunition?”
“Enough.”
Xie Chi calmed down and let go of him, showing a slight smile. “Be extremely careful outside, protect yourself well. Let’s both survive together.”
He Feng lightly kissed her forehead. “Okay.”
…
At dawn, Xie Chi went to find A’Ru. With so many refugees, finding someone was very troublesome. Fortunately, she knew the management staff and didn’t waste much time. She quickly had them help her find him.
As soon as A’Ru saw her, he threw himself at her and cried, saying nothing, just wailing continuously.
Xie Chi didn’t dare use a shovel, afraid of damaging Xiao Wangyun’s body. She used a small spade to slowly dig through the soil. The body wasn’t buried deep, and soon they could see skin.
The moment she saw him, Xie Chi couldn’t hold back anymore. She threw down the spade, knelt down, and used her hands to dig out the soil. A’Ru cried with tears all over his face, kneeling beside her to help claw at the earth together.
He Feng had been silently watching her from a distance. He was afraid Xie Chi couldn’t handle this trauma and might do something extreme.
Seeing her constantly clawing at the soil with her hands felt like sharp claws scratching at his heart. Human emotions encompass more than just romantic love. He Feng felt no jealousy whatsoever, wrapped instead in heartache, pain, and humiliation, yet could only watch her helplessly from afar, unable to do anything.
He was filled with regret and punched himself hard.
Xie Chi looked at Xiao Wangyun’s bare upper body. “Where are his clothes?”
A’Ru sobbed, unable to speak clearly. “They were… they were… taken by the Japanese soldiers… taken away… and his watch… and other things… all… all taken away.”
Xie Chi pressed her forehead tightly, controlling her emotions. “Go find a set of clothes, something large – he’s tall.”
A’Ru stumbled to his feet and left.
Xie Chi unwrapped the bundle and looked at the head inside. It had already withered and rotted beyond recognition.
She carefully cradled it and placed it on the neck to piece it together.
Xiao Wangyun’s eyes were still open.
Xie Chi felt as if he were still looking at her. She closed his eyes, but before long, the eyelids lifted again – they wouldn’t stay closed no matter what.
She kept trying, and actually rubbed off his rotted eyelids.
A’Ru came back carrying clothes, only to see Xie Chi with her head down, shoulders shaking uncontrollably. She slowly walked over and saw Xie Chi covering her face, crying uncontrollably.
“Sister.”
A’Ru seemed to hear the sound of her teeth chattering from trembling. She didn’t know how to comfort her – she had never seen Xie Chi like this. In her memory, the boss was always calm, rational, indifferent, even somewhat heartless.
“A’Ru.”
A’Ru immediately responded, “Yes.”
Xie Chi raised her face. Only then did A’Ru see that she had bitten her own lips until they bled. “Sister, your mouth.”
Xie Chi stood up unsteadily, wiped away her tears, and said calmly, “Help him get dressed. I can’t bear to see him like this.”
A’Ru nodded. “Okay.”
Xie Chi turned her back and stood motionless, gazing at the large tree in the distance.
To her, Xiao Wangyun was like a tree – dependable, steady, incredibly tall.
Although sometimes their interactions were quite casual with no regard for seniority, in her heart, he was a mentor, a friend, and also a caring older brother.
She had no one to rely on, drifting alone, and it was Xiao Wangyun who had always led her and guided her.
She still clearly remembered what he looked like when they first met.
He walked toward her through a dim corridor, wearing a white shirt and beige vest, with thin-rimmed glasses, a gentle smile on his face, discussing painting with her.
He was always so refined and scholarly.
“Sister, he’s dressed.”
Xie Chi turned around and looked at the complete Xiao Wangyun, lying quietly in the soil. She gazed at him quietly for a while, then walked to his head and knelt down, bowing until her forehead touched his. “I will avenge you, avenge us both. I’m still alive, and millions of Chinese people are still alive. Just as you said, the descendants of China, for thousands of generations – the Chinese nation will not perish.”
…
Li Changsheng wandered outside for two hours until dawn broke. Normally, he shouldn’t remain outside any longer, because the devils would soon wake up for breakfast.
But he still wanted to find another bottle of that soda. Even if he couldn’t find soda, finding some other food or drink would be good.
He was more careful than usual, because he now had someone to worry about.
Just as he was gently rummaging through things, a male voice came from outside.
It was a Japanese soldier coming out to urinate, not fully awake yet, who heard faint movements in the ruins.
“Who’s there?” The Japanese soldier pulled up his pants, squinting in his direction. “Who’s there?”
Li Changsheng pulled back his foot and drew his knife from his waist.
…
Meng Yuan woke up with a start.
She had been having a nightmare, but actually she was awakened by sounds outside.
There were sounds of cars downstairs, followed by several Japanese people chattering away.
They went around from the east to the west side, then came the clanging sounds of moving things.
Meng Yuan crawled to the window and secretly peeked through a crack. Pots, bowls, ladles, and basins – they were setting up camp here.
There was even a devil officer wearing a robe.
Meng Yuan scanned their faces one by one, and suddenly saw that unforgettable face.
It was him who had beheaded Xiao Wangyun.
She was filled with hatred, pinching herself hard.
Son of a bitch, delivered right to the door.
Kill him.
Kill him.
Kill him!
Meng Yuan was dizzy with rage, her head full of the scene of Xiao Wangyun being beheaded. She gritted her teeth and crawled to another corner of the room where He Feng and Li Changsheng had left some grenades.
She was going to blow them all up!
But she didn’t know how to use them, fumbling around blindly before throwing one at the Japanese soldiers gathered together outside.
The Japanese soldiers heard something fall and looked closely – it was actually a grenade. They screamed and scattered to hide.
But it didn’t explode, instead exposing her position.
Several Japanese soldiers immediately went on alert, grabbing their guns and rushing this way. Meng Yuan grabbed a grenade and pulled at it randomly. Just as a Japanese soldier climbed to the window, she threw it at him. This time it exploded, blowing the devil away.
Meng Yuan was overjoyed.
She shouted, “Go to hell!”
“It’s a woman!”
“Capture her alive.”
“Sato, you go.”
The Japanese soldiers were still talking when another grenade was thrown down. They hid inside the walls, heads down, not moving.
Meng Yuan was somewhat confused, and before long, she had used up all the grenades.
The Japanese soldiers waited for her to finish exploding before starting to move.
Meng Yuan pushed boxes to block the window. She knew she wouldn’t survive.
There was a bottle of gasoline in the room and a box of matches. She poured gasoline on the floor and on herself, then climbed onto the roof.
The Japanese soldiers below were about to shoot when the young officer stopped them. “Don’t kill her, she’s more fun alive.”
The room caught fire, and the Japanese soldiers couldn’t get through, so they went around outside to climb up.
Meng Yuan looked down at Nanjing city below.
Half the city in ruins, devastation everywhere.
Since the fall, she had never properly looked at the home where she had lived for nineteen years.
Such a good home, ruined like this by these animals.
These beasts.
The Japanese soldiers below were still laughing and shouting: “Sato! Climb faster, why so slow! Hurry up and pull her down.”
Meng Yuan couldn’t understand what they were saying. She looked at their lewd, smiling faces and only regretted not having more grenades, not killing more devils.
A voice came from behind her: “Flower girl.”
Meng Yuan didn’t look at him. She suddenly laughed maniacally and sang in operatic style to the Japanese soldiers below: “You evil beasts, don’t think you can touch me in the slightest.”
She lit a match and set herself ablaze, aiming at the Japanese soldier who had beheaded Xiao Wangyun and jumped down at him. “Mr. Xiao, I’ve avenged you.”
The Japanese soldiers saw the burning person falling and couldn’t dodge in time. He was knocked down hard. He pushed with all his strength, but Meng Yuan clung to him desperately. Both burned together, rolling on the ground.
He screamed, calling to his companions for help. But the fire was too fierce and quickly consumed them both.
…
When Li Changsheng heard the explosion, he ran desperately, but he was still too late. He watched helplessly as Meng Yuan set herself on fire and jumped down, burning the devil until he screamed.
He had just been fighting with that Japanese soldier and had taken a knife to the shoulder. Suddenly he went mad, raised his gun and started shooting at them.
The soda fell to the ground, the bottle shattered, and the orange liquid seeped into the yellow sand and thick earth.
He glared with rage, shooting and roaring as he charged at the Japanese soldiers. “Damn your ancestors! Little devils – go die – die -“
…
He Feng was too far away. When he heard gunfire from their hiding place, he hurriedly rushed back. Before he could get close, he saw Li Changsheng standing on the ruins across the street, shooting at several Japanese soldiers like a madman. He cursed and raised his gun to help him.
There weren’t many enemies, and they were quickly eliminated.
Meng Yuan was beyond saving.
Li Changsheng was hit by a grenade fragment – half his forearm was gone. He Feng took off his shirt and tightly bound his wound.
The sounds of battle quickly attracted other Japanese soldiers.
He Feng couldn’t fight alone with Li Changsheng so severely injured, so he carried him on his back and ran into the distance.
Li Changsheng lay on his back, groaning weakly. “Big brother, kill them all. Kill them all for me.”
…