War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1820 The Lost and Found Inkstone

On the way back to Musashino Photo Studio, Wei Ran, who took the initiative to send Hoshino Ichiro back and insisted on riding in the same rickshaw, told "Teacher Musashi" about "the clay inkstone" that he heard when he was a witness.

"Ryunosuke, tell me what you think." Hoshino Ichiro said as he took the cigarette handed to him by Wei Ran.

"If Captain Yan is not lying"

Wei Ran first threw out a major premise, "Then the inkstone is probably in the hands of the guerrillas now."

"So there is no chance to get it?" Hoshino Ichiro asked with a little disappointment.

"That depends on whether Captain Yan wants to survive."

Wei Ran said, "If he wants to survive, he can only go to the guerrillas to find a way to redeem the inkstone."

"Redeem? What do you mean?" Hoshino Ichiro had already guessed something.

"Teacher, do you want to hear my analysis?" Wei Ran asked.

"Go on," Hoshino Ichiro nodded.

"The imprisoned young master of the Wu family can only be used to threaten Captain Yan."

Wei Ran followed Zhang Taichuan's advice before leaving the theater and said, "First of all, the guerrillas will definitely not rescue a landlord's son, especially since the Wu family's son is not an anti-Japanese element. He just ran away slowly because he was watching the fun."

"continue"

"Then, Captain Yan can convince the guerrillas, or bribe them, and that only leaves them with what they need most."

"Are you talking about weapons and medicines?" Ichiro Hoshino looked at Wei Ran in surprise.

"In order to survive, Captain Yan doesn't care about these things." Wei Ran said sarcastically.

"Go on," said Ichiro Hoshino without comment.

"Captain Yan's troubles come from inside and outside the city"

Wei Ran said, "Inside the city, he bypassed Captain Jin and used the grain collection team to trade privately. He was almost blocked by the wall, not to mention that he lost so many things, but all of this was just a matter of a word from Captain Jin and Mr. Hirano.

But it’s different outside the city. Whether it’s the loss of the weapons purchased by the Su family or the boast he made to the Wu family, if he can’t solve it, not only will he not be able to leave the city, it’s hard to say whether he will push the Su family and the Wu family to the opposite side.”

"Ryunosuke, your analysis makes sense." Ichiro Hoshino nodded in agreement.

“It’s all thanks to the teacher’s good teaching”

Wei Ran's respectful look also made Ichiro Hoshino look proud.

“And it’s still an opportunity.”

Wei Ran said confidently, "I believe that Mr. Musashi must have noticed it just as Captain Jin did."

"Oh?"

Hoshino Ichiro was stunned for a moment, then asked in a testing manner, "Tell me about it?"

"The broken guns that the Su family lost are not worth much at all"

Wei Ran said, "That stupid guy from the Wu family is not an important character at all, so it doesn't matter if he is released.

But if we can solve these two minor troubles by taking advantage of Captain Yan's stupidity, our grain-collecting team will have two friends outside the city instead of two enemies.

At that time, no matter what the grain-collecting team brings out of the city, they can help digest it, and no matter what the grain-collecting team brings into the city, they probably won't mind providing help.

And most importantly, in order to solve the trouble that has been deliberately exaggerated, the idiot Captain Yan will definitely take risks and find a way to contact the guerrillas and trade with them.

Although this is very dangerous, it can increase the sales of our goods. And as long as we pretend not to know, all the risks will be borne by Captain Yan. Even if he can make some money from it, he will have to use it to pay off his debts for a long time.

There is the debt of helping him compensate the Su family for the weapons, and there is also the debt of helping him rescue the young master of the Wu family.

Teacher Musashi, I am a dull student. This is all I can think of. I don’t know if what I said is correct.”

"Souga. Well, I mean, your analysis is correct in the general direction."

Hoshino Ichiro patted Wei Ran on the shoulder and said, "But sell the weapons to the guerrillas."

“How many weapons can the guerrillas consume?”

Wei Ran sneered, "I don't believe there are more than 50 guerrillas outside the city. is already exaggerated. Captain Yan and his men failed. I guess they were ambushed."

After a short pause, Wei Ran lowered his voice slightly and kindly reminded Hoshino Ichiro in his ear, "But they must need a lot of medicines, so it doesn't matter if we sell them as many medicines as possible.

Not only that, if we can trade with them, our grain-collecting team will be much safer. Of course, the risk will still be borne by Captain Yan.

According to Captain Jin, Captain Yan bribed the patrol captain of the stronghold, the same patrolmen at the intersection where we were attacked, and together they faked the scene of a firefight.

When necessary, we just need to capture the captain and find a way to get the captains of the grain collection team to come out and identify him."

"Indeed."

Hoshino Ichiro couldn't help but nodded repeatedly, but then he asked, "Did you think of these?"

"Some are, and some are the result of discussions with Senior Kawaguchi and Captain Jin."

Wei Ran answered truthfully, "Captain Jin asked me to ask if you want to..."

"I will go meet the young master of the Wu family."

Hoshino Ichiro said reservedly, "I guess Mr. Hirano will also help prepare compensation for the Su family's losses."

"It all depends on Captain Yan now," Wei Ran agreed with a smile.

“He has it with the guerrillas.”

"According to reports from several squad leaders"

Wei Ran whispered into Ichiro Hoshino's ear, "The person who betrayed the grain collection team and caused them to suffer huge losses was Captain Yan's confidant, so I guess Captain Yan must have a way."

When Wei Ran was squeezing in the rickshaw to instigate Ichiro Hoshino, Zhang Taichuan, who was sending Daxiang Hirano back to the military station, also explained similar content to Daxiang Hirano.

"I want to get that inkstone which is more valuable than gold"

After a long silence, Hirano Daito spoke when the rickshaw stopped.

"I'll help you find a solution," Zhang Taichuan promised with a smile.

Compared to the Japanese who were "loved and cared for", Captain Yan had actually reached a dead end at this time.

He knew he couldn't run away, and he knew even more clearly that if he wanted to survive, he had to get the inkstone back as soon as possible, and secondly, to compensate for the losses of all parties as soon as possible, and thirdly, to appease Captain Jin.

But he had no way or clue about any of these three things. The only thing he knew clearly was that if he hadn't owed a huge amount of debt, he would have been drowned in the Huangpu River long ago.

Full of worries and despair, Captain Yan, whose body was covered with bruises from being beaten by Zhao Jingrong, did not dare to return to the house he had borrowed money to buy. He could only return to the coffin shop at the junction of the county town and the concession.

As the saying goes, when disaster strikes, everyone flees. This coffin shop no longer has the bustle of the past. The coffin boards are no longer filled with all kinds of food and drinks as before. Even the heating stove that uses sawdust as fuel does not have a single spark.

"Ugh"

Captain Yan sighed, walked to the stove, sat down, picked up a match, lit a few newspapers, and then ignited the sawdust. He then took out a pipe and a box of opium from a child's coffin. Soon, the coffin shop was filled with a pungent stench.

"bang bang bang"

Just when the dizziness brought by the pipe made Captain Yan temporarily forget his worries, the door of the coffin shop was gently knocked from outside.

"Who the hell is this? Do you know this place?" Captain Yan hadn't finished his words when a cloth bag the size of a palm was thrown in through the crack in the door.

Captain Yan subconsciously touched his waist and realized that his gun had been confiscated by the guerrillas.

After a little hesitation, he finally picked up a wooden bar used to lift the coffin, carefully moved the cloth bag to his feet, and then picked it up carefully.

However, when he poured out the contents, he was stunned and a look of horror appeared on his face.

This is a Japanese-made lighter that once belonged to him but was confiscated by the guerrillas!

"you you you"

"Captain Yan, I have a business deal here. I wonder if you would like to do it or not?" asked the person outside the door.

"What business?" Captain Yan was silent for a long time before asking, "Who are you?"

"I am just one of them. Someone asked me to give this thing to you and also to pass on a message."

"What? What did you say?" Captain Yan asked after swallowing.

"It doesn't matter who you sell the goods to. Captain Yan has the opportunity to be the master of this grain collection team."

The person outside the window said, "This is your only chance. Captain Yan, you must think carefully before giving us your reply. This is the last chance that Aqing is giving you."

"What should I do?" Captain Yan swallowed nervously.

"Ah Qing said that Captain Yan usually saves a lot of in-demand goods that should have been taken out of the city by the grain-collecting team."

The person outside the window reminded him, "Captain Yan, think about it yourself. Those things are like hot potatoes to you now. You might as well sell them to people who need them."

"I"

Captain Yan gritted his teeth and said, "I can sell it to you, but I want the inkstone you stole today."

“I’m just an average person”

The person outside the door said, "I will help you convey it, but I don't know if it will work."

"How do I contact you?" Captain Yan stood up and asked subconsciously.

"We'll contact you when we need you," the person outside the door reminded, "Let's not meet. It's better for everyone."

"I'll wait for your news," Captain Yan said anxiously, "I'll go home and prepare all the medicines."

This time, there was no movement outside the door.

After waiting for a while, Captain Yan, who was still holding the wooden bar in his hand, was about to muster up the courage to open the door, but the door of the coffin shop was opened from the outside, and Xiao Wu also walked in through the curtain, and as expected, scared Captain Yan, who was in a highly nervous state.

"I knew you were here!"

Xiao Wu said before Captain Yan could speak, "Captain Yan, let's go."

"Go? Where to?" Captain Yan asked with a pale face.

“Where else can we go?”

Xiao Wu said as a matter of course, "Several drivers are waiting at your door with wine and food. They haven't seen you come back, so they sent me to come over on my bicycle to check. Come on, I'll carry you back. Everyone is waiting for you to open the door."

Captain Yan was so moved by this sudden "loyalty" that he couldn't help but wipe his eyes.

Watching Xiao Wu riding his bicycle away with Captain Yan, Wei Ran, Zhang Taichuan and even Zhao Jingrong, who were hiding in the dark corner of the coffin shop, also came out.

"This kid has fallen for it," Zhao Jingrong whispered with particular satisfaction, "How's the situation over there?"

"The beast will prepare a batch of weapons to compensate the Su family tomorrow, but he wants to get that inkstone." Zhang Taichuan said in a low voice.

"The old ghost should go to rescue the young master of the Wu family," Wei Ran said in a low voice, "He also wants that inkstone."

“This kind of thing is easy to say”

Zhao Jingrong whispered, "Captain Yan gave the piece of rubbish to the beast as a sweet treat. I'll ask Mr. Wu to give another piece to the old ghost. There are enough of those broken things in my cousin's pond to pave the ground with bricks."

"Alright"

Zhang Taichuan lit a cigarette and said with a hint of envy, "Let's go back too. Captain Yan might be able to join the guerrillas in the future. It's not like we're leaving and going home!"

"You are the heroes," Wei Ran, who was following behind the two, couldn't help but say, "You."

“You are a hero too”

Zhang Taichuan patted Wei Ran on the shoulder and said, "Let's stop bragging and go back to rest early."

"I'm not." Wei Ran couldn't help but mutter, but he couldn't help but think of many people.

When the three of them were walking back, Captain Yan had already returned home on Xiaowu's bicycle. At this time, the drivers of the grain-collecting team, as well as Wang Fu and Wang Gui, two of Captain Jin's confidants, were all waiting with some food and drinks.

After all, I have the final say over this grain-collecting team!

Captain Yan subconsciously touched the place on his body where Zhao Jingrong had hit him with the belt, and then opened the door at the enthusiastic urging of the drivers. He had already made a decision.

The following night, Captain Yan and the drivers had a great time drinking at their home, and the drivers patted their chests to show their loyalty.

After drinking another glass of wine, Captain Yan, who was already a little tipsy, was about to say something when someone knocked on the door from outside.

"Who is it?"

Captain Yan, who was holding a glass of wine, was no longer drunk. He stood up and asked questions while walking through the not-so-big patio to the door.

"Is this Captain Yan's house?" a voice asked outside the door.

"Yes, it's me," Captain Yan responded and opened the door.

However, outside the door there was only a rickshaw driver wearing a felt hat, and he had two food boxes in his hands.

"Captain Yan, a waiter asked me to deliver these two food boxes to your house, saying that they are the midnight snacks you ordered." The rickshaw driver said cautiously.

"I ordered it?"

Captain Yan was stunned for a moment, then he opened the food box in the other party's hand and took a look. Then, he was completely awake. The food box contained a box gun! The box gun that was taken from him not long ago!

Swallowing his saliva nervously, Captain Yan reached out and opened the top lid of the second food box. Inside was actually the clay inkstone!

"The waiter said his name was Aqing, and he didn't want to delay your meal. Once you have vacated the food box, just leave it at the back door. He will come and take it away when he has time."

After the rickshaw driver finished speaking, he handed the two food boxes to the stunned Captain Yan, and then drove away in his rickshaw.

Captain Yan shivered involuntarily and looked at the food box in his hand. He felt like he was dreaming. He didn't expect that the inkstone would be back in his hands so quickly.

I should be able to survive this time.