An Shi

In the second half of the 20th year of the Republic of China, many things happened, which caught people off guard.

At the time of the "September [-]th" Incident, Sima Yan was sitting in the library studying with his classmates.Overnight, the Anti-Japanese Association was established in the school, and all kinds of slogans, leaflets, and big-character posters were overwhelming, and the words were thrilling.

As the top local university, Harbin Institute of Technology has become the center of the city's Anti-Japanese Association. The teachers and students of the school are divided into departments such as general affairs, picketing, propaganda, and investigation. Each department is divided into several groups. Everyone works separately, and the atmosphere is quite tense. .

Because of his tall stature, Sima Yan was assigned to the picket team.He was concerned about the safety of his family, so he tried his best to send a letter to Pei Xiu to inquire about the situation at home.His letter was filled with eloquence for a few pages, but Pei Xiu's reply was relatively simple; fortunately, all the things he was concerned about had been answered, so he stopped asking questions endlessly.

What is interesting is that Pei Xiu's judgment that day really came true.

On the evening of September [-], the Japanese army attacked the North Camp in Shenyang, and Shenyang fell that night.

On the 21st, the Japanese army going north occupied the capital of Jilin Province; in the next ten days, many important cities in the two provinces of Liaoning and Jilin fell.

In November, General Ma Zhanshan led the government army to fight fiercely with the Japanese Kwantung Army in Jiangqiao, but was eventually lost.Qiqihar fell.

At this time, Harbin has become an isolated island in the three eastern provinces.

Listening to the impassioned speeches in the school, Sima Yan felt angry and at the same time a little confused.

By the time Sima Yan returned home from school again, it was already January.

He saw that his father seemed to have aged several years all of a sudden. Although he was not yet fifty, his hair had already turned gray a lot.

It seemed like it just happened overnight, and it took him by surprise.So he quietly pulled Sima You over, and asked eagerly, "What's the matter at home?"

Sima You said calmly: "The Japanese are coming, so father closed the pharmacy, dismissed all the servants, and packed up all the belongings."

"Then, what about our grandpa's house?"

"It's the same. Our two families plan to go to Shandong together in a few days."

Sima You stepped on the snow on the soles of his feet, suddenly raised his head and said to Sima Yan, "Brother, can you build a snowman with me?"

His eyes were clear, full of anticipation.It is impossible to refuse.

"……All right."

Sima Yan rolled a bigger snowball and made it into a snowman's body.Sima You made a smaller one and made it the head of the snowman.

The two brothers picked up stones and branches in silence, and put eyes, nose and arms on the snowman.Sima Zhao happened to come out of the house with his hands in his hands at this moment. Seeing this, he laughed and took off his felt hat and put it on the snowman's head.However, the weather was too cold, and as soon as the north wind blew, Sima Zhao sneezed hugely. In a panic, Yanyou and Yanyou hurriedly took off the snowman's hat and put it back on their father's head, and pushed him into the room again. house.

When the father and son were eating at the same table with Pei Xiu, Sima Zhao sighed, "I really didn't expect that this year's winter would be so cold. I really didn't expect that even Boss Ma lost to the Japanese slave..."

Pei Xiudao: "The Japanese army is well-equipped and has been planning for a long time. The combat strength of the two armies is already inferior. Besides, Young Marshal Zhang obeyed the government's order of 'non-resistance', and the Jinzhou army remained silent. General Ma was alone and helpless, so he was defeated."

Sima Zhao said again: "If I still have half the strength of my youth, I would go to fight in the army. But now..."

Sima Yan and Pei Xiu pressed Sima Zhao's hand from left to right.

Sima Yan comforted: "Father, it is enough for everyone to do their best. 'If you are successful, you will benefit the world, and if you are poor, you will be alone'. The most basic thing for me as a commoner is to live well in troubled times. … Only by living can we fight against this world."

Pei Xiu opened her mouth, as if to say something, but suddenly covered her mouth, turned her back and coughed violently.

Only now did Sima Yan see clearly that Pei Xiu was much thinner than when he saw her last time, her whole body was like a piece of paper, as if she could be blown away by the wind.

The caring words lingered on the tip of the tongue several times, and only turned into a harmless sentence "Sir, it's cold and warm, don't fall ill."

Pei Xiu covered her mouth and nodded reluctantly.But he stared at Sima Yan with piercing eyes, and never moved away.