roccoschili Chapter 391 Today, Just Pretend I Didn’t See Anything
Chapter 391 Today, Just Pretend I Didn’t See Anything
At noon, the sun was high in the sky, its rays pouring unimpeded down the county streets. Zhao Fugui, dragging his feet like heavy lead, returned home. As he opened the door, his mother's angry and heartbroken voice pierced his ears: "Fugui, all you do is work for those devils. Are you still Chinese?"
"Mom, I don't want this to happen either, but that bastard Zhao Changli brought you to the city to please the Japanese. If I don't listen to them, I don't know how they will torture you!" Zhao Fugui's voice was filled with tears, his legs softened, and he knelt in front of his mother with a plop, his heart full of helplessness and despair flooding like a broken dam.
The mother sighed, her eyes filled with heartache. She slowly squatted down and gently stroked Zhao Fugui's head. "Fugui, I know it's hard for you, but if you continue like this, you'll die sooner or later! When your father was alive, he always told me that people should have backbone and not be treated like dogs by outsiders. If you continue like this, I really don't know how I'm going to face your father."
Zhao Fugui's heart ached, tears welled up in his eyes and flowed freely down his cheeks. His mother was right. He knew that his current situation was precarious. If he continued like this, he would end up in trouble sooner or later. However, the Japanese army had his lifeline in their grasp and he could not find a way to resist. He gritted his teeth and whispered, "Mom, I know I was wrong, but I really can't do anything now. Please wait a little longer, maybe I can find a chance to get rid of them."
His mother shook her head, her eyes filled with disappointment and worry. She sighed heavily, turned around, and staggered back to the house. Zhao Fugui knelt on the ground, watching his mother's departing back, his heart filled with confusion, as if he were in a dark abyss, unable to find a single ray of light.
He stood up, dejected, and mechanically walked out of his house, wandering aimlessly like a soulless body to the city gate. The checkpoint at the city gate was still bustling with activity, with Imperial Army soldiers, like ferocious dogs, interrogating those entering the city. Zhao Fugui leaned against the wall, his eyes hollow as he watched the crowds coming and going. His heart was filled with confusion, and the road ahead was blurry in his vision.
Just then, he saw a group of people slowly approaching the checkpoint. Leading them was none other than Lei Tao, disguised as a middle-aged villager in plain, coarse clothing. He looked like an ordinary villager, and behind him were several porters. They were pushing wheelbarrows piled high with baskets filled with pancakes, rice, firewood, and other goods.
The puppet soldiers surrounded them like sharks smelling blood and began to inspect them carefully. Zhao Fugui looked at the group of people and his intuition told him that there was something wrong with them. Although they were wearing ordinary villagers' clothes, their aura was completely different from the timidity of ordinary people. Zhao Fugui's heart was alarmed. He walked up quickly and said to the middle-aged man, "Stop, where are you from?"
Lei Tao smiled slightly, with a bit of calmness in his smile, and replied: "We came from the countryside to sell pancakes, rice, firewood and other things in exchange for some oil, salt, sauce and vinegar. Boss, please be kind and let us pass." Then he took out a pack of Camel cigarettes from his pocket, took out one and handed it to Zhao Fugui.
Zhao Fugui nodded, stretched out his hand to take the cigarette handed to him, and skillfully took out a pack of matches from his pocket. With a "click", he struck the match, and the flame jumped up, lighting the cigarette butt. He took a deep breath, slowly exhaled a smoke ring, looking satisfied, and then raised his chin, signaling his men to search carefully. Then, he personally walked towards a woman carrying a basket - Meng Xiaoyu. He reached into the basket and rummaged around casually, and the cabbage leaves rustled. Suddenly, he stopped, picked up a pancake, took a bite, and said to the leader Lei Tao while chewing, "Oh, I remember now, you are Lao Zhang from Rongshantun, are you coming to the city to sell pancakes again? But this time the pancakes have a little less stuffing."
Lei Tao smiled slightly, nodded, and said calmly: "Yes, business has been bad recently, so I can only put less stuffing."
Zhao Fugui knew in his heart that these people were not ordinary villagers, but had come with ill intentions. He thought for a moment, then, while no one was paying attention, whispered to the middle-aged man, "I know you're not ordinary people, and I don't want to embarrass you. If you have anything to do, leave quickly. Don't linger here, or we'll be in trouble if the Japanese come."
A flash of alarm flashed across Lei Tao's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He stared intently at Zhao Fugui and said in a low voice, "What do you want? Now that you've figured it out, do you want to report us to the Japanese? Or do you want to take this opportunity to extort a toll?"
Zhao Fugui sighed softly, flicked the ash off his cigarette, and said with a wry smile, "I don't mean any harm. I had no choice but to work for the Japanese. My mother was in their hands, so I had no choice but to do things against my will. I don't want to embarrass you heroes who risked your lives to fight the Japanese. Today, just pretend I didn't see anything."
Just as the middle-aged man was about to say something, Zhao Changli, his face flushed from a few drinks, walked past the city gate with unsteady steps. Zhao Fugui caught a glimpse of Zhao Changli from the corner of his eye, his mind racing. He deliberately reached out and slapped Meng Xiaoyu, who was carrying a basket, on the buttocks, grinning obscenely, "Let's go, but after you sell the pancakes, you have to give us a treat." Meng Xiaoyu's body stiffened, a flash of anger in her eyes, but she suppressed it. Zhao Changli saw Zhao Fugui and wanted to mock him again, but at this scene, a mocking smile stretched across his lips. He muttered, "Zhao Fugui, that's all you can do." With that, he staggered away.
After Zhao Changli walked away, Zhao Fugui winked at Lei Tao, signaling them to hurry into the city. Lei Tao nodded slightly, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes, and quickly led his men through the city gate checkpoint. Zhao Fugui watched their backs, feeling a mixture of emotions, unsure whether his decision was right or wrong.
However, just when Zhao Fugui thought the crisis was over, he heard the sound of orderly footsteps not far away. A Japanese patrol was heading towards the checkpoint. Zhao Fugui's heart tightened, fearing that the Japanese would become suspicious of the team that had already left, and that he and this mysterious group of people would be in danger.
He feigned composure, quickly adjusted himself, straightened his collar, and headed towards the Japanese patrol. The Japanese squad leader saw Zhao Fugui, his eyes revealing a hint of arrogance. He asked in awkward Chinese, "Captain Zhao, have you seen anyone suspicious?"
Zhao Fugui, beaming, replied, "Madam, they are just ordinary people coming into town to sell goods. I've checked everything carefully, and there's nothing wrong." The Japanese squad leader glanced around suspiciously, his gaze lingering for a moment on a few figures disappearing in the distance. Zhao Fugui's heart leaped into his throat, fearing the Japanese squad leader would order a chase.
The Japanese squad leader withdrew his gaze, snorted coldly, and took a step closer to Zhao Fugui. The oppressive feeling he emanated made Zhao Fugui's scalp tingle. The squad leader paced around Zhao Fugui, saying as he walked, "Captain Zhao, the intelligence of the Empire of Japan indicates that extreme resistance elements have recently been active in our jurisdiction. You must not let your guard down, or you will die."
Zhao Fugui nodded quickly, forcing a smile uglier than crying, and said, "Don't worry, Madam Madam, I will investigate thoroughly and will not let any suspicious individuals go. I checked those people who just passed by very carefully, and there is definitely no problem."
The Japanese squad leader circled Zhao Fugui several more times, his leather shoes clacking against the ground, each clatter like a hammer hammering at Zhao Fugui's heart. He would occasionally glance at Zhao Fugui, as if searching for any sign of guilt, but Zhao Fugui feigned composure, remaining respectful on the surface.
Finally, the squad leader seemed to feel bored. He stopped, glared at Zhao Fugui, and cursed in stiff Chinese: "Hmph, it's better to do as you say. If I find out that you dare to fool the imperial army, you will be in trouble!" After that, he waved his hand and shouted to his soldiers: "Let's go! Go over there and take a look!"
The Japanese patrol turned neatly and walked off into the distance with a measured pace. Zhao Fugui watched them depart, his frayed nerves finally relaxing. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, his legs giving way, and he collapsed against the sandbag bunker.