War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 2010 Children's Day

On Children's Day, the Eye of Horus, which has stirred up countless sensitive nerves over the past two weeks and has been unilaterally designated as a terrorist organization by some countries, has not rested.

Instead, as if they were deliberately celebrating the holiday, they once again released a large number of photos of the torture and dismantling of lotus roots, and even photos of using dismantled lotus roots for freight elevator experiments.

"It seems this so-called Eye of Horus and the scholar are indeed friends."

In the western suburbs, Qin Shi Huang, who had once hosted a banquet for Wei Ran and Sui Sui, poured a cup of tea for his sister-in-law, Jia Ya, as he spoke.

"What are your plans?" Jia Ya asked, picking up her teacup and examining it closely.

"There are too many unfounded rumors. Does the sound of cicadas stopping people from farming mean they're not going to farm anymore?"

Besides, how many scandals has this kid had? Eighty girlfriends and six hundred lovers? Only someone with a brain full of air would believe that.

Qin Shi Huang picked up his teacup, took a sip, and after swallowing, continued, "Isn't that Horus Big-Eyed Thief founded by that little Korean assassin?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Ya smiled and said, "It was indeed founded by him."

That's it then.

Qin Shi Huang paused, then reminded him with some concern, "Also, everything else is negotiable, but this cultured man must not have any dealings with your cousin."

"Damn, if those two knew each other, they could team up and piss into a hole in the sky."

"We've been on guard all along."

Jia Ya smiled and said, "My uncle hasn't been thinking about this lately; he's busy with other things."

"That's fine then."

Qin Shi Huang put down his teacup. "You and your sister can talk. Remember to take those pickled duck eggs to your uncle when you leave."

"Okay," Jia Ya replied gently, and got up to leave the study.

Also on Children's Day, Sui Sui, leveraging Wei Ran's identity, finally began making large-scale investments in China.

While the Queen and her entourage were busy with their affairs, Xia Shushi, along with his girlfriend and their "temporary Steve" Zhang Yang, went to find Wei Ran, who was enjoying a peaceful time in a small Western-style house in Tianjin.

"What are you doing?" Xia Shushi asked Wei Ran, who was fully armed, with curiosity.

"You've come at the perfect time."

Wei Ran pointed to the boiler room not far away, "I was just harvesting honey, I'll take some back with me later."

"Are you sure the honey produced by your bees, which you keep in the city, is safe to eat?"

Xia Shushi asked suspiciously, "No wonder it has excessive heavy metals."

That's why I'm giving it to you.

Wei Ran replied matter-of-factly, "I wouldn't dare eat it myself."

"You old man!"

“My uncle is over seventy, be gentle.” Wei Ran’s quick retort shattered Zhang Yang’s illusions about these cultured people once again.

"Fine, I can't argue with you."

Xia Shushi waved his hand and pulled Qin Qi to sit down at the stone table under the ginkgo tree. "Let's get down to business. One is about the cartoonist we're raising, and the other is about the kettle. Which one do you want to hear first?"

"casual"

As Wei Ran spoke, he took off his beekeeping protective suit and put the freshly harvested honey into the electric honey-shaking bucket that had just arrived that morning.

Once the honey-shaking bucket started spinning rapidly with a buzzing noise, he had already turned on the tap at the bottom and called Qin Qi for help, filling each of the four people's cups with some honey.

As for whether heavy metals exceed the standard or not, that's just something babbling away at the bottom of the cup.

Furthermore, the three of them clearly didn't care whether the honey was clean or not. Xia Shushi wasn't in a hurry to speak; instead, he watched Wei Ran busy himself with great interest.

Seeing that Xia Shushi didn't speak, Wei Ran didn't urge him. He used the small red clay stove that was already lit in the middle of the table to roast a few dates, then used bamboo tongs to break them open and put them into their respective cups.

After completing these somewhat complicated preparations, he picked up the warm water that had been cooled down in advance and poured some into everyone's cups.

"Does this stuff even taste good?"

As Xia Shushi spoke, he picked up a small spoon and stirred the gradually turning scarlet liquid in the cup.

"I just mixed it up randomly, how would I know if it tastes good or not?" Wei Ran rarely spoke the truth. "Are you going to tell me or not?"

"Say"

Xia Shushi took a sip of the sweet honey and jujube tea, and as he put down the cup, he switched to his grammatically incorrect Russian, "Let's start with that cartoonist."

It's been a whole month now, and Hirano Haruto's results are excellent.

In addition, the recent exposure of bloody photos online has thrust his comics into the spotlight.

At this point, Xia Shushi couldn't help but pick up his cup and take another sip. "You might not believe it, but Hirano Haruto is now known as the conscience of recruiting core members."

"A conscience in recruiting nuclear engineers? Where did this idea of ​​theirs even begin?"

Wei Ran asked noncommittally, "Are the Japanese trying to glorify themselves?"

"What right do they have to pat themselves on the back?"

Xia Shushi scoffed, "Now the Japanese are not only not trying to embellish their image, they've even issued a forced recall for Hirano Haruto."

"He went back?"

"Going back where?"

Xia Shushi joked, "This guy and his girlfriend's family have already obtained free citizenship with the help of that person."

Xia Shushi seemed very satisfied with the astonishment on Wei Ran's face, and continued on the topic in Russian, "Just a few days ago, he publicly stated that he welcomed the police who wanted to extradite him and those who wanted to assassinate or kidnap him to come to Mianbei to find him. He even posted the detailed address."

This is some kind of magical clash, isn't it?

Wei Ran was overjoyed as he pondered. Anyone with eyes could see that if the Japanese really sent people, there was a 99% chance they were just there to deliver vegetables.

He was even certain that this was Zhong Zhen fishing.

"And then there are those few Japanese girls who sing."

Xia Shushi changed the subject and continued, "Also because of those crime photos on the internet recently, their song has not only spawned versions in various languages, but people in marches and demonstrations all over the country have been singing it in the news."

I know about this.

Wei Ran smiled. He not only knew these things, but he also knew that those He girls had opened up the copyright of that song, which was an invisible blow to the Japanese.

"I heard from someone that Yang Dou'er has recently attempted suicide several times because of the increasing number of criminal photos circulating online." Xia Shushi abruptly steered the conversation back to the cartoonist.

"Are you going to tell him?" Wei Ran asked noncommittally.

"I'd like to hear your opinion," Xia Shushi said, passing the buck back to Xia Shushi.

Wei Ran glanced discreetly at Zhang Yang, who had been listening quietly and drinking tea, and Qin Qi, who was taking a selfie, and shrugged indifferently, "What's it to me?"

"Fine"

Knowing Wei Ran's opinion, Xia Shushi immediately changed the subject and switched to his native language, "Next are those two water bottles and the ashes inside them."

"Good news or bad news?" Wei Ran pressed.

"Bad news"

Xia Shushi shook his head. "We couldn't find any clues at all. The only thing we found was that, based on the wear and tear on the remaining tooth, the ashes should belong to a young person."

"A young person? How young?" Wei Ran asked, looking up. "Roughly seventeen or eighteen years old."

Xia Shushi sighed, "There is too little information to be obtained from just a burned tooth."

We're here today to see when you plan to begin your investigation.

"We're already investigating," Wei Ran said.
"Any progress?"

Xia Shushi immediately pressed for an answer, and Zhang Yang and Qin Qi also looked over instinctively.

"not yet"

Wei Ran shook his head, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "I...I need another kettle. If you trust me, why don't you send me the other kettle so I can take a look?"

"Okay, I'll go back and see if I can coordinate something."

Xia Shushi readily agreed to Wei Ran's small request, "Should we deliver it here again?"

"right"

As Wei Ran refilled everyone's cups with water, he said, "If nothing unexpected happens, we should be staying here for a while."

"Speaking of which, I was just about to ask that," Qin Qi finally interrupted, "Where's your queen?"

"They're in the basement, busy discussing business."

Wei Ran shook his head, both amused and exasperated. "That beast invited several of his friends over today, and she's currently talking to them with her little followers."

I couldn't understand anything, but I figured you guys would be here soon, so I just came up.

"I'll go down and take a look! You guys chat!"

As Qin Qi spoke, she got up and ran into the storage room on the first floor. She walked into the basement, which was almost more lively than the ship-cutting site, and immediately saw the kids playing with their hips sitting obediently in several rows, listening attentively to the lecture, as well as Sui Sui, who was explaining the PPT on the small stage.

"What is your queen planning this time?"

Under the ginkgo tree above ground, Xia Shushi, sitting at the stone table, asked curiously, "How about I invest some money too?"

She plans to go farming.

Wei Ran shook his head. "Don't get involved. Let's get back to business. When will the other kettle be returned?"

"These past two days"

As Xia Shushi responded, he noticed Wei Ran's subtle hints and picked up the car keys on the table, pushing them to Zhang Yang, "Go buy a few bottles of good wine, we'll have some tonight."

"I'm going right now!" Zhang Yang didn't suspect anything, grabbed his car keys, and ran out of the small courtyard.

"Take those negatives of the photos I sent you last time with you," Wei Ran said only after Zhang Yang had driven away.

"Row"

Xia Shushi nodded. "I've inquired about those photos of the Soviet army in Xidu, and they said..."

“Our North needs strategic allies,” Wei Ran said to himself.

"We are still not strong enough."

Xia Shushi sighed, and the resentment in his sigh made Wei Ran subconsciously think of many people.

"Then let's treat it as a debt note."

Wei Ran picked up his teacup and clinked it with the other person's. "Bring the other kettle over as soon as possible. I'll start the investigation as soon as it arrives."

"it is good"

Xia Shushi breathed a sigh of relief for some reason. The "colleague" sitting opposite him had a proven track record, so he figured he would find something that Xia Shushi hadn't found this time.

"It's time to talk about those photos that keep being leaked online."

Wei Ran abruptly started a new topic, and Xia Shushi tensed up as well.

"Go to this address when you have time."

Wei Ran pushed a room key and a card to the other party.

"What is this?" Xia Shushi asked subconsciously, but only received a calm smile from Wei Ran.

"I see"

As Xia Shushi spoke, he picked up the room key and card and stuffed them into his pocket, then stood up.

"Aren't you staying for lunch?" Wei Ran asked.

"Let it go this time."

As Xia Shushi spoke, he quickly walked into the lobby on the first floor, and soon after, he led Qin Qi out and headed straight for the gate of the courtyard.

Watching the other person help close the courtyard gate from the outside, Wei Ran stretched comfortably, ignoring the tea set on the table and the honey shaker that was still buzzing around, and got up to go into the basement.

During this busy yet pleasant day, Wei Ran accompanied Sui Sui in the basement as she carried out one plan after another with Qin Ershi's friends, who seemed rather unreliable.

As a manifestation of their own value, these cronies, whose entire bodies are laser-engraved with the words "unreliable," would occasionally blurt out, "I know so-and-so who might be able to help."

On the same day, Xia Shushi brought Liu, whom Wei Ran had met before, to a small hotel in Tianjin that cost only 75 yuan a night. In the room Wei Ran had mentioned, they found several suitcases.

As they opened the suitcase on the bed using the password on the card, photo albums, negatives, and rolls of film were revealed before their eyes.

Just by casually picking up a photo album and flipping through it, Brother Liu discovered that all the contents were the original copies of those photos that had already been exposed online.

What is he doing?

Brother Liu asked, half-laughing and half-crying, "Walked right into a trap? Why did you run to the door?"

"I'm looking for Miss Bao."

As Xia Shushi spoke, he bent down and picked up a small card with a beautiful woman printed on it. "I've finished leading the way, I won't be responsible for the rest."

"Think of a way to get that kettle out and send it to our scholars for research."

Knowing that Xia Shushi had no interest in what was inside the suitcases, Brother Liu waved his hand, closed the suitcase lids again, plopped down on the not-so-clean bed, and took out his phone to make a call.

That evening, Qin Ershi left Tianjin with his cronies who were all drugged and confused.

Xia Shushi, on the other hand, delivered another water bottle that Wei Ran needed before sunset, and then hurriedly disappeared, making an excuse that Qin Qi and he had something to do.

What's wrong with him?

Sui Sui looked at Xia Shushi, who had driven away, with a puzzled expression and asked blankly.

"How would I know"

Wei Ran glanced at the water bottle that had been hastily brought over, "What are your plans for tomorrow?"

"Everything is settled, and I'm planning to go to Northeast China to take a look."

Sui Sui hooked her arm around Wei Ran's and said firmly, "You're coming with me."

Let's stop at Xifengkou halfway there.

Wei Ran gripped the water bottle tightly and suggested, "How about we go to Wuliang Temple again?"

“Okay,” Sui Sui replied with a beaming smile.

Those who were planning to save up can start now, as a new chapter will begin in the next chapter. However, it's best not to save up now, as it's painful not to be able to keep up with the story.