War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1746 Delicious Pasta

"I want to take him back with me," Wei Ran said as he hung the camera around his neck.

"Let me help you," Clemont said without thinking.

"Is your foot okay?" Wei Ran said as he picked up Dylan's body again.

"Much better. You have good skills." Clemont said as he lifted up the short soldier. "How did you do it?"

"The Chinese way," Wei Ran said, raising the camera with one hand and taking a picture of Clement carrying the corpse.

“It’s amazing”

Clement followed Wei Ran while muttering to himself, and at the same time, he raised his camera with one hand and took a picture of Wei Ran's back.

At this point, both men's attention was focused on the bodies they encountered along the way and the wounded who were being helped.

They captured the position, but the losses were heavy, as evidenced by the corpses almost lying next to each other and the dying wounded.

"This battle is more brutal than I thought," Clemont murmured.

"yes."

Wei Ran sighed, then put Dylan's body down, took off the three-pointed star pinned on his collar, and put it into his pocket along with his belongings and letters. "Clemont, we can't send them back. We have to save the survivors first."

"it is good"

Clemont responded simply, placing the unknown body next to Dylan, and also took the three-pointed star from his collar and put it in his pocket along with his belongings and letters.

Each of them carried a wounded soldier, and they quickened their pace and ran in the direction they came from, sending them all to the field hospital in the forest. By the way, the wound on Wei Ran's face was also simply cleaned and bandaged.

Without any rest, the two men ran back again, each picked up a wounded person, and continued to run back despite their fatigue.

But this time, after they sent the wounded to the medical tent, a captain stopped Clermont.

"Clemont, come here for a moment."

The captain looked at Wei Ran and said, "Is he the postman you recruited?"

"That's right"

Clemont replied.

"Comrade, wait here for a moment. I have a mission for you." The captain said in French, then saluted in French style and took Clermont to the command tent in the distance.

Seeing this, Wei Ran was no longer curious and simply returned to the side of the medical tent. He raised his camera and took a picture of the busy rescue work inside.

"Brother Wei! You're still alive!"

Just as he put away the camera, he heard Yu Yanlin's surprised shout from behind him.

Turning his head, Wei Ran also noticed that the other party was carrying a wounded person on his back.

"Where have you been?"

Wei Ran said this and hurriedly helped the other party put the wounded man down.

“I rushed to the front.”

When Yu Yanlin said this, he suddenly burst into tears.

"What's wrong?" Wei Ran asked immediately.

“I met another fellow countryman.”

Yu Yanlin squatted under a tree, wiping away tears and said, "He said his last name was Zhang."

"he"

"he died"

Yu Yanlin suppressed his sadness and said, "He died. I didn't even have time to ask him his full name before he died."

"Did he leave anything behind?" Wei Ran asked, "Letters or something like that."

"No, nothing is left."

Yu Yanlin shook his head. "I couldn't even bring back his body. There were too many wounded soldiers around, so I had to squeeze in the living ones. I only brought back his collar badge."

"Ugh"

Wei Ran sighed, he didn't know what to say.

"I'm fine. I'm really fine."

Yu Yanlin rubbed his face vigorously. "I feel sad just thinking about it. I'm in a foreign country and finally met a fellow countryman. But before I could even finish my sentence, he... Oh! I don't know if I can meet fellow countrymen again in the future."

“I’m sure I’ll see you again”

Wei Ran sat down next to him and gave him a cigarette, lighting it. "When the war is over, we will meet more and more fellow countrymen in Spain, France, Germany, Europe, and the world."

“How can there be so many people studying abroad?”

Yu Yanlin sighed and said in despair, "Our family is considered to have a little extra money, but they almost emptied their family's wealth just for me to come out and stay in this foreign country. But in China, there are still so many people living in hard times, and they can't even get enough food.

For example, my adopted daughter-in-law Chuncai, if her parents really couldn’t afford to support her, why would they abandon her on the riverbank?”

"Are you studying abroad just to avoid disaster?" asked Wei Ran, who is also an international student.

"If I really wanted to escape the disaster, what would I come here for?"

Yu Yanlin sighed, "Learn from the foreigners to defeat them. I want to learn some real skills so that I can develop the country through industry when I return."

"Then why did you come here?" Wei Ran continued to ask.

"Of course, it is to resist the invasion of Faxusi!" Yu Yanlin answered without thinking.

"After driving away all the Faxus in the world"

Wei Ran said with a puff of smoke, "When you go back and develop the country through industry, you will make China as powerful as the United States, or even more powerful.

We will see our compatriots all over the world. They may not be going abroad to study, but may just go there to have fun and have a look when they are tired of work or life. "

"What a wonderful day that would be." Yu Yanlin murmured as he looked at the pale sky above his head.

“It’s a good life that I never dared to imagine,” Wei Ran sighed.

"Will that day really come?" After a moment's silence, Yu Yanlin took out a blood-stained triangular star from his pocket and asked to himself.

"Really, that day will definitely come." Wei Ran answered with great certainty.

"If that day really comes, Brother Zhang's death will not be in vain."

Yu Yanlin held the triangular star, supported by the tree trunk and stood up, brushing off the dirt on his body while saying, "After we drive away the French invaders in Spain, we will go back and drive away the French invaders who invaded China. After we drive them all away, we will build China into a country that is even more powerful than the United States."

“So that our compatriots can be seen all over the world in the future”

"That's right!"

Yu Yanlin pulled Wei Ran up and said, "So that our compatriots can go anywhere in the world to study, play, and see."

"Is there any place you've always wanted to go?" Wei Ran asked, "When the war is over, we can go there together."

"Yes, yes."

Yu Yanlin flicked away his cigarette butt and said excitedly, "I read in a book that the North and South Poles have daytime for half a year and nighttime for half a year. When I have the chance in the future, I will definitely go and see it.

I've been to the Berlin Zoo before, and I saw penguins there that were captured from Antarctica."

“That thing doesn’t taste good”

Wei Ran said almost subconsciously, "Smelly. Smelly, smelly, very greasy, but the claws are quite delicious. If you stew them in tiger skin, the meat is more than goose feet."

"Have you ever eaten penguin?!" Yu Yanlin asked in disbelief.

"I have," Wei Ran smiled, "in Antarctica."

“You’ve also been to Antarctica?!”

Yu Yanlin looked at Wei Ran in surprise. He looked a little unconvinced at first, but then he asked with great interest, "What does it look like there?"

“There are flocks of penguins there”

Wei Ran gave the other person another cigarette and recalled, "The shit from those flat-haired beasts can stain a large area of ​​snow. If you go against the wind, you will be killed by the stink."

As Yu Yanlin couldn't help but smile, Wei Ran refilled his cigarette and said, "But their fur is really warm. I have a German friend who made me a sleeping bag with those penguin down."

"Did you go with the Germans?" Yu Yanlin asked curiously.

"yes"

Wei Ran smiled, and suddenly he made up a story out of a sense of humor, "I am studying theology. Mr. Daofu wanted to go to Antarctica to see if there is a God there, so he took me with him."

"You didn't find it?" Yu Yanlin said firmly.

"How do you know?" Wei Ran asked with a smile.

"There has never been a savior, and we don't rely on gods or emperors."

Yu Yanlin sang softly, "To create human happiness, it all depends on ourselves!"

"Yes, there has never been a savior in this world, and we don't need gods or emperors. Only we can save ourselves."

As Wei Ran spoke, he took out his harmonica from the cover of his pocket and started playing the Internationale from the beginning.

Yu Yanlin smiled and started singing the Internationale again along with the harmonica music.

Gradually, the wounded soldiers who still had the strength to sing around and those who were busy transporting the wounded also started singing along.

This song sung in various languages ​​seemed to have magical power that dispelled the sadness of companions and comrades who died in battle and brought smiles to everyone's face again.

As the song spread farther and farther and finally reached its end, Clement also ran out from a tent not far away.

"Victor, Louis, go and help me get the letters from our mailbox and my backpack." Clemont said loudly, "We have to deliver the mail, so hurry up!"

"it is good!"

Wei Ran put away the harmonica and ran to their field post office with Yu Yanlin.

During the day yesterday, Yu Yanlin used an ammunition box to make a simple mailbox - he just carved out a finger-wide delivery hole on the ammunition box.

After untying the two leather straps tied to this simple mailbox, Wei Ran and Yu Yanlin immediately saw the letters that almost filled the ammunition box.

"You go get his bag, and I'll pack these letters."

As Yu Yanlin spoke, he began to collect the letters together as quickly as possible.

"Have you finished writing your letter?" Wei Ran asked as he entered the bunker.

"not yet"

Yu Yanlin responded vaguely, "Give me the canvas bag with the flag."

Hearing this, Wei Ran did not ask any more questions, but handed the canvas bag containing the flag to the other party as quickly as possible, then collected Clemont's backpack, and put Dylan's relics and letters, along with the flag, in it. When he came out with the backpack, Yu Yanlin had already put the letters into the canvas bag, and tied the mailbox with a belt again, and placed it on the other side of the bunker again.

One of them carried the letter and the other carried a backpack and ran to the rear of the position. When they met Clermont again, he had already got three bicycles.

"Follow me later"

Clermont said, "We have an urgent letter to deliver to Carabanchel's command post. If anything happens to me on the way, the letter is in my satchel."

As he spoke, Clemont patted a map bag slung across his waist, which he had not had with him when he left just now.

As he spoke, Clemont had already boarded the bicycle.

Seeing this, Wei Ran immediately put on Clement's backpack, and he and Yu Yanlin each rode a bicycle to catch up.

"Let's take the letter to Carabanchel first"

Clemont waited for the two of them to catch up before saying, "Then we'll go to the field post office to sort the letters and packages, and then we can come back."

Carabanchel

Wei Ran shook his head. He didn’t think they could come back. A fighting was about to break out there.

Although he knew clearly that the battle was about to take place, Wei Ran did not stop them from moving forward. He had no reason to stop them.

Led by Clermont, the three men rode bicycles, leaving their positions behind, crossing the heavily guarded French Bridge and rushing to Carabanchel.

Along the way, the three of them on bicycles received warm welcome from the surrounding citizens and passers-by.

However, what was ridiculous was that although Wei Ran understood Spanish this time, it was better for him not to understand it - what the citizens of Madrid shouted was "Long live Russia".

"What are they shouting?" Wei Ran pedaled hard a few times, caught up with Clemont and asked curiously.

"They. Um. They are welcoming us," Clemont said slightly embarrassedly.

"Are you sure?" Wei Ran asked suspiciously.

“Yes, I’m sure of it,” Clemont said. “They’re saying we’re welcome.”

"But why do I feel like they are saying Long Live Russia?" Wei Ran asked.

“You understand Spanish?” Clemont’s eyes widened.

"Look ahead, you're going to hit the telephone pole." Wei Ran reminded directly in Spanish.

"Well, they did say Long Live Russia," Clermont explained helplessly in French, "They mistook us for soldiers from the Soviet Union."

"All right"

Wei Ran shook his head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. In this era, the Soviet Union and communism were almost equated in many cases.

"So how many languages ​​do you know?" Clemont asked.

"Many ways. I can even speak sign language." Wei Ran said.

"I've never met someone who knows so many languages," Clement said in disbelief. "Are you really studying theology?"

"He has even been to Antarctica," Yu Yanlin said without surprise. In his opinion, compared with going to Antarctica, knowing a few more languages ​​is nothing to be surprised about.

"Is the threshold for studying theology so high?" Clement said in surprise.

"It's always a good idea to learn a few languages, so that God won't be confused."

Wei Ran joked, "What about you? I never asked you what you studied when you were studying in France?"

"literature"

Clement replied, "By the way, I also found a job as a postman. This job will save me a lot of money on sending letters and packages home."

"International letters and parcels are indeed too expensive," said Yu Yanlin with deep sympathy.

"So I found a job as a postman," Clemont said proudly, "but I never thought I would be delivering mail here."

"You seem familiar with this place?" Wei Ran pointed around.

“Quite familiar”

Clemont pointed to a building and said, "See that house with the red roof? My father was born and raised in that house. When I was a child, my father brought me back several times.

My uncle is using that house now. I will take you there after the war is over. My uncle is a chef and his cooking skills are excellent. "

"There will be a chance," Wei Ran said, looking at the red-roofed house again.

"Do you Chinese have anything delicious to eat?" Clement asked.

“There are a lot”

Yu Yanlin couldn't help swallowing his saliva, and recommended traditional dishes that Wei Ran had heard of or had not heard of, like reading out the names of dishes.

While chatting about food, the three of them walked through the city and finally came to a suburban area under the leadership of Clement. There were houses scattered all over the place, but barricades and patrolling soldiers could also be seen.

Led by Clement, the three eventually arrived at the door of a building guarded by soldiers.

Leaving the task of watching the car to Wei Ran and the other two, Clement trotted into the building and ran out shortly afterwards.

"Let's go to the post office," said Clement, and gave Wei Ran and Yu Yanlin each a pack of cigarettes and two oranges.

There was no rush to leave. The three men, who had not eaten breakfast at all, finished their oranges and lit a cigarette at the door of the building that seemed to be the command post. Then they rode their bikes slowly back to the city and finally stopped in front of a building with a tricolor flag hanging on it.

“This is the post office that serves international travelers.”

Clemont said as he led them into the not-so-busy building after putting away their bicycles. He randomly found a table against the wall and said, "I'll go see if there are any parcels for us. How about you sort the letters by country? Also, give me my backpack."

"no problem"

Wei Ran readily agreed, "Clemont, there are Dylan's belongings and letters in the backpack, can you send them together?"

"Even if it's a package, I'm afraid we'll have to wait until the war is over."

Clemont said apologetically, "Our post office doesn't have that much capacity."

"Okay, then let's wait until the war is over."

Wei Ran nodded and watched Clemont go into an office. Then he looked away and began to sort out the letters that Yu Yanlin had dumped on the table.

"Pay attention to see if there is any letter from Brother Zhang," Wei Ran reminded.

Hearing this, Yu Yanlin's eyes lit up and he nodded quickly.

However, when the two men sorted the full bag of letters according to nationality, they did not find even a single letter written in Chinese characters.

"What about you?"

Wei Ran looked at the other party again, "Your letter"

"No, I haven't finished writing my letter yet." Yu Yanlin said subconsciously.

"Maybe we will die tomorrow." Wei Ran made his final attempt. He hoped that Yu Yanlin could send the letter.

"Wait a little longer." Yu Yanlin shook his head, "I haven't finished writing yet."

Hearing this, Wei Ran said no more. He tied up the letters sent to various parts of Europe with the hemp rope on the table and placed them together.

Just as he finished his work, Clemont also ran out. He was holding a not-so-big package in one hand, and in the other hand he was holding a canvas messenger bag that could be hung on the frame of a bicycle.

"Is that all?" Yu Yanlin asked.

"No, no, no, there are a lot of them, and the letters in this messenger bag do not belong to us."

Clement said, "The only package in my hand is the one my mother sent me. We have to go to the place we just went to deliver an urgent telegram and help them pass these letters over. Then we can come back here to pick up the package and go back to complete our work."

"Then hurry up"

Wei Ran suppressed his uneasiness and said that he knew that after Franco's army failed in their position, they would soon launch a feint attack on Carabanchel.

"Don't be impatient. Let me see what my mother sent first." Clemont said as he tore open the tightly wrapped package.

The stuff inside was extremely substantial: three tin cans without even any packaging, a large piece of ham as thick as a calf, and a bottle of red wine wrapped in a towel.

In addition to these, there is also a silver leather tube wrapped in a towel, with beautiful hammered patterns like the eggshell cups, and a cylindrical paper tube with a letter tied to it.

"Looks like we can have a nice drink tonight."

As Clemont spoke, he had already opened his backpack and put all these things in it. Then he opened the letter and walked outside hurriedly while reading it.

"My mother said she was worried that the coffee powder I brought wouldn't be enough for the Italians here, so she sent me a big tube of the best coffee powder."

“She also sent me a bottle of red wine that my dad made and canned beef that she made herself, and a big portion of red sauce and olive oil for pasta,” Clement explains with a laugh.

Friends, tonight I am going to treat you to the most authentic pasta, which my mother specially asked me to share with my best friends. "

"Your mother is so good to you," Yu Yanlin said enviously.

“She was actually worried about me.”

Clement put away the letter. "You won't believe it, but she specially used a pure silver jar to store the coffee powder. She said that if I was captured or needed to escape, I could at least cut the silver tube into pieces and use it as banknotes."

"I guess your coffee pot has the same function?" Wei Ran asked with a smile.

"Thank you for reminding me, I know now."

Clemont spread his hands in self-mockery, got on the bicycle, put the messenger bag on it, and said while pedaling hard to make it move, "My mother is just an ordinary person. She doesn't even care about French silk. She just wants me to stay away from the war."

"But you still came," Wei Ran said.

"Yes, I came after all. Although my mother was worried about me, she still helped me prepare everything she could."

Clemont smiled and changed the subject, "Have you ever eaten pasta? I remember Louis just said that you Chinese have many kinds of noodles?"

"I have not tried"

Yu Yanlin shook his head, then asked with certainty, "Brother Wei, you must have eaten it before, right?"

"Eat"

Wei Ran smiled and said, "I ate it in the desert of North Africa, with a German friend, a British friend, and some Italian friends."

"How do you think it tastes?" Clemont asked with interest.

“It’s very good, there’s no better pasta than that.”

Wei Ran glanced at the two young warriors riding bicycles side by side with him and said with a smile, "Clemont, I hope the pasta you cook tonight will be as delicious as the pasta I ate last time."

"Of course!"

Clemont said confidently, "I promise to give you the best pasta!"

"We are friends, right?" Wei Ran asked suddenly.

"certainly"

Clemont said as a matter of course, "Of course we are friends, and even more so comrades."

"I am now sure that the pasta tonight will be absolutely delicious." Wei Ran murmured to himself.