War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1778 Social Terror

In a certain amusement park in Shanghai, it is nearly the end of the year and there are enough remaining holidays to make the place lively enough.

But in this overly lively crowd, there was a particularly eye-catching young man. He brought at least 10 to 20 girls, each one more beautiful than the other, and they went through the Premium Express again and again, shouting and screaming to experience various game projects - just like the time when this young man became famous in another amusement park last year.

Or maybe it was a little different. This time, behind and behind him and this group of beautiful girls, there was another group of girls who were probably equally beautiful, but all wearing masks, gloves and baseball caps.

Of course, Jima, Niner, and even Xia Shushi and others, who did not want to join in the limelight, naturally kept a distance from them so that no one noticed that they were actually from a "tour group".

So the Soviet Union's chief prostitute even had beautiful bodyguards?

When Wei Ran became the topic of discussion again, he had already rushed to the cemetery with Sui Sui and others.

Still watching from afar outside the camera, Mrs. Hanika, who came from faraway Spain, replaced Comrade Estelle who was unable to come. Under the watchful eyes of Estelle via video link, the surrounding Yu family members, and many cameras, she personally placed the silver jar containing Armani's ashes into Ke Laimin's tomb.

It has to be said that although the Yu family did not know Ke Laimin's identity in advance, they were extremely careful when relocating the grave that year.

In that small tomb, there was not only another silver jar painted in three colors containing Clement's ashes, but also the tombstone from that year was placed tightly underneath the jar.

At the same time as Clement and Armani were buried together, a separate stone tablet was erected next to the three adjacent tombstones to prove that they were internationalist fighters and that Huang Youze was an anti-Japanese hero.

"Have they all gone home?"

Off camera, Sui Sui asked contentedly while clutching the lotus pendant hanging around her neck.

“Wherever my heart is at peace is my hometown”

Wei Ran also picked up the koi pendant hanging around his neck and took a look at it, "For Yu Yanlin, this is where the spring is waiting for him and the China of his dreams.

For Armani, this is her Clermont.

For Clermont, no, for Colin, here are the comrades he once fought with, the fire that has spread across the prairie, and the Internationale that is still being sung.

For Huang Youze, this is where we are and where the beautiful mountains and rivers are. For them, this is their hometown.”

Just at this moment, Hanika took out her harmonica and played the melody of the Internationale. Inside and outside the camera, Hanika's twin grandson and granddaughter, the two young people named Clement and Armani, sang the Internationale in French and Italian respectively. The old man of the Yu family and his family sang the Internationale in Chinese.

In the video, Comrade Estelle, who is almost the same age as Mr. Yu, sang the Internationale in French.

A moment later, Sui Sui started singing the same song in Russian, and further away, the girls in black formal dresses and masks also sang the same song in the language they were most familiar with.

This is the only way they can think of to express their respect, and it is also the best way, just like the International Brigade back then, with people from all over the world singing the same song in various languages.

As the song played, Wei Ran lit the alcohol lamp heater he had prepared in advance and placed the coffee pot that Estelle had asked him to bring on it.

At the same time, the grandson of the Yu family, a man named Yu Jianxing, also opened the tea canister he brought, picked up a handful of tea leaves and threw them into a large silver-skinned pot that seemed to be specially made. Then he opened the thermos he brought and poured the boiling water into it.

Amid the singing in many different languages, the aroma of coffee and tea wafted around the cemetery.

It was also at this time that a brother and sister named Clement and Armani opened the thermos they brought with them.

While singing, the brother and sister scooped out portions of pasta that they had cooked in the Yu family's kitchen before they came, and carefully poured the red sauce made by Hanika and the olive oil brought from Spain on them.

Amid the singing, plates of pasta, cups of coffee and tea were placed in front of the tombstone. Wei Ran also took out his harmonica and joined in the melody of the Internationale. However, he couldn't help but think of the promise made by those romantic young people.

“I’m waiting to have coffee with you guys.”

“And Chinese tea”

"And pasta. Preferably pasta made by your mother. And preferably we can sit in chairs at the table, not in trenches or ruins."

"There will be coffee and Huaxia tea, as well as pasta made by my mom and a decent table and chairs. All of these will be there, and all three of us will be there."

Now we have them all.

Wei Ran sighed as he put down his harmonica. Then he picked up a cup of bitter Italian coffee, gently touched it to the stone tablet that proved their battle, and drank it all in one gulp.

Putting down the silver-skinned coffee cup, he picked up a small cup of fragrant tea, gently touched it with the stone tablet again, and then took a small sip.

As he watched quietly, the brief ceremony came to an end, and Hanika took the initiative to walk over, supporting Mr. Yu, who was a generation older than her.

"Coffee or tea?" Wei Ran asked Hanika in French.

"Tea, thank you." Hanika replied with a smile.

"Grandpa, would you like tea or coffee?" Wei Ran switched back to his native language and asked.

“Coffee Bar”

Mr. Yu said with interest, "It's that Italian coffee."

"This is very bitter." Having said that, Wei Ran still picked up an eggshell cup and handed it to the other party.

"It's like a taste of the hardship my second uncle and his family went through."

Mr. Yu took the cup and clinked it with Hanika's, then drank the coffee in the small cup.

"This foreigner's bitter medicine soup is really not tasty"

After saying this, Mr. Yu shivered uncontrollably, which made Wei Ran see him and the young soldier on the outskirts of Madrid overlap.

“Huaxia’s tea is really good”

Hanika said in French, "It tastes completely different from the black tea I usually drink."

“It tastes different from yerba mate”

Young Clement and Armani said after they each took the tea handed to them by Yu Jianxing and took a sip.

"Just pick a handful of leaves from any green belt around here and they'll be no worse than yerba mate."

Wei Ran couldn't help but mutter, which made the man named Yu Jianxing smile.

"Comrade Postman, can I talk to you alone?" Hanika asked at this time.

"Now?"

"That's right"

"sure"

Wei Ran nodded happily, then explained something to Grandpa Yu, and waited for Clemont and Armani, the brother and sister, to support the old man. Then he and Hanika walked a few steps away.

"Is there anything I can do for you, Mrs. Hanika?" Wei Ran asked after the other party stopped.

"Mr. Miguel, who went to our coffee shop with you, invested a lot of money in us."

Hanika said gratefully, "We'll continue to run our cafe, and maybe we'll open another one in Shencheng in the future."

“Shanghai is probably the most coffee-loving city in China.”

Wei Ran looked at the scenery in the distance and said with a bit of bad taste, "You will be welcomed here. Remember to bring the stories of the 28 stars with you."

"I'll let my children tell those stories well," Hanika said, looking at the twins in the distance.

"Let them open a cafe here?" Wei Ran asked with interest.

"They were the same age when the young men went to fight in Spain"

Hanika said with extra confidence, "Besides, we have family in Shencheng, and Uncle Yu promised to take good care of them."

“Thank you for telling me the good news.”

Wei Ran said, pulling out a USB flash drive from his pocket and handing it to the other party, "This is the electronic version of the negatives from those albums I found. Those photos may be able to be displayed in your cafe."

"I heard from Armani that you have a library in Kazan, which is full of various old photos?" Hanika asked after taking the USB drive.

"That's true," Wei Ran nodded.

"Will there be a chance that these photos will be hung there?" Hanika asked expectantly.

"Of course, it's my honor." Wei Ran answered confidently, "It's also the honor of that library."

"If we really open a cafe in Shencheng, you must come over then."

Hanika said seriously, "We will reserve a seat for the postman comrade." "It would be even better if you could provide pasta," Wei Ran said with a smile.

"Of course, there will be noodles," Hanika said expectantly, "and Chinese tea and the Internationale."

“This time you won’t have to worry about no one singing the Internationale with you.”

Wei Ran pointed to the city skyline in the distance and said, "There are a lot of people here who know that song. A lot, a lot of people."

“I’m already looking forward to it.”

Hanika glanced at the direction of Wei Ran's finger, and then extended an invitation, "Comrade Postman, would you like to take a photo with us?

How about taking two pictures here with the camera you gave to my mother and the camera you gave to Uncle Yu?"

"Can I bring my girlfriend?" Wei Ran made a small request.

"Of course, and remember to show your pendants." Hanika also made her small request.

"certainly"

As Wei Ran spoke, he waved to Sui Sui first, and then waved to the Kajianka sisters.

After repeating Hanika's proposal, Wei Ran took over the cameras from the two families, loaded them with the film they had prepared in advance, and made some adjustments skillfully.

After handing the two cameras to the Kajianka sisters, Wei Ran called over the relatively taller Marta and handed her the Rollei twin-lens reflex camera that he had deliberately hung around his neck today.

While the three girls were finding the angle, Wei Ran and Su Su tacitly took out the pendants hanging around their necks. Then the former opened the briefcase and unfolded the tricolor flag with 28 stars on it. The two of them gently unfolded it together and got ready.

At the same time, the twins, Clement and Armani, also picked up the long horsehair bag and the silver-polished coffee pot.

"Fighting for your freedom and ours"

Wei Ran suddenly suggested, "We must have a slogan. I guess this is the best slogan."

"Fight for your freedom and ours!"

Amid the cheers of everyone, three beautiful girls standing behind the camera each held up an antique camera and gently pressed the shutter button towards them, taking a group photo.

"Grandpa, now that everything has been settled, I'm ready to go back now." After the group photo was over, Wei Ran carefully folded up the flag and said.

"What are you going back for?"

Old Master Yu grabbed his wrist and said unhappily, "Last time you sent my second uncle here you were in a hurry to leave, and this time you are in a hurry to leave again, no, no, this time, you can't leave no matter what you say.

My son has already ordered food at the restaurant. You and your girls... ahem, my friends, you and your friends, don't even think about running away today."

"Master, it's really not possible today."

Wei Ran pointed at Xia Shushi, who had anticipated this and stood far away, apologetically, "We have to rush back to the capital today. One of my clients is also meeting the descendants of a long-lost friend here today, so I have to rush over as well."

“Then let’s finish our meal before leaving.”

Old Master Yu joked, "Young man, why are you hiding? Can I still matchmake for you?"

"Then the pendant you gave me is not enough to share."

Sui Sui also joked with great confidence, "I guess you'll have to give me a lot."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Wei Ran tapped the top of Sui Sui's head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and then said apologetically, "Grandpa, we really have other plans today.

How about this, when Mrs. Hanika opens the cafe in Shencheng, Sui Sui and I will definitely come over?"

"Is there really something wrong?" asked Mr. Yu.

"It's true," Wei Ran said apologetically.

“That’s good too.”

Mr. Yu said, "When their cafe opens, you must come."

"I will definitely come," Wei Ran promised seriously.

After much persuasion, Wei Ran finally took Sui Sui to say goodbye to the Yu family members and Hanika and others who insisted on keeping them.

"Why do I find that you are becoming more and more socially anxious?"

Sui Sui, who was following Wei Ran towards Xia Shushi and Qin Qi, asked curiously.

“Not a social phobia”

Wei Ran glanced at Mr. Yu and others who were waving goodbye to him from behind, "It's just that I feel sad and regretful that Yu Yanlin can't see this happy family scene."

Hearing this, Su Su opened her mouth, but finally just stuffed the pendant back into her collar and held the former's arm tightly.

After getting into the car driven by Qin Qi and leaving the cemetery again, Xia Shushi, who was sitting in the passenger seat, asked, "Have you decided what to do with your flag?"

"Think about it"

Wei Ran asked casually, "What's the progress over there?"

"Just the day before yesterday, the father of the two Mr. Downeys you introduced to me passed away from pancreatic cancer. He finished smoking that signed cigar before he died."

After a short pause, Xia Shushi continued, "Mr. Grant was already on his way to China after taking care of his father's descendants.

Next, I will take him to meet the descendants of Ms. Yang, whom the freelance journalist Grant admired when he was doing news activities in China as "Tang Gewu".

"Same as the meeting here?"

Wei Ran looked at the people in the rearview mirror, and also at the minibus that was carrying the girls who came to watch the ceremony and asked.

"Maybe"

Xia Shushi paused, "What about you? Do you want to go with us?"

“I will not be involved in this matter.”

Wei Ran said without any pressure, "I am a social phobic and don't like this kind of scene."

"You? Social phobia?"

Qin Qi, who was driving, was the first to laugh. "I really don't understand. If you don't show up at this time, when are you going to show up?"

"He is indeed a socially anxious person," Sui Sui happily helped to find excuses.

"If you don't want to go, then don't go," Xia Shushi cut off the topic, "Where are you going next?"

"Where are you going?" Wei Ran said to Sui Sui who was sitting next to him. Now that he had finished all the work he needed to do, it was time for him to enjoy life.

“It’s still a few days until the New Year.”

Sui Sui said in a prepared manner, "Tomorrow we will go to Hangzhou together and take my friend to see Leifeng Pagoda and Aunt Bai who lives in the pagoda. What about you?"

“Go to the High Speed ​​Rail Station”

Xia Shushi said, "We have to rush to the capital to pick up Mr. Downey at the airport."

"That's great, let's go together." Wei Ran said, "We're going to catch the high-speed train too."

“You can’t hide this.”

Qin Qi smiled and joked that Wei Ran was almost completely transparent wherever he was now. There was no way, the beautiful background behind him was too conspicuous.

“I don’t plan to hide,” Wei Ran responded nonchalantly.

While they were chatting, two cars arrived at the high-speed railway station one after another. Xia Shushi and his companion boarded the high-speed train to the capital, while Wei Ran, with the girls who had attracted the boss's attention, boarded the train to Hangzhou after a slightly long wait.

(End of this chapter)