War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 2011 Treat Yourself

Early in the morning of June 2nd, Wei Ran and Sui Sui took the Kajenka sisters, Marta, and Luxinda onto the high-speed train heading north.

Lola, who was supposed to travel with them, stayed in the capital to have a small reunion with her talented sister, Corava.

After several years of recuperation and rehabilitation training, although Kolava is still unable to communicate fluently in spoken language, she has no major problems with written communication. In fact, she is quite talkative when it comes to written communication.

While marveling at the complexity and diversity of life, Wei Ran, accompanied by several girls led by Sui Sui, went through various transfers and finally arrived at Xifengkou. Guided by the address provided by Dong Chunxi, they eventually found a small mountain not far from the Xifengkou scenic area by following the mountain path left by the shepherd.

Here you can vaguely see Xifengkou, the area that was protected by Xifengkou back then, and even the direction from which the Japanese invaders attacked.

Without much effort, they found a pine tree that was neither tall nor particularly straight on the sunny side of this gently sloping hill.

On the branches of this pine tree, not only is a gourd vine attached, but also many red silk cloths, some new and some old, are tied. Under the pine tree, there is a tree pit built with stones.

Right next to this tree, there was a small patch of flat land, less than two square meters in size. Wei Ran knew that this patch of flat land was the cemetery of those people, and their ashes were buried here.

According to Sui Sui, Dong Chunxi and his family would come here every year during the four seasons, eight festivals, September 18th, and even October 1st to water and fertilize the pine tree.

"pity"

Wei Ran stroked the pine tree and the lush green gourd vines on its trunk, saying, "They didn't live to see the end of the war."

"But it was because of them that the war had a chance to end."

As Sui Sui spoke, she took out some milk candy, a pack of pig-face snacks, two packs of cigarettes, a bottle of wine, and several glass wine glasses from the bag that Lu Xinda had helped her carry, and placed them under the tree.

"You've prepared everything perfectly," Wei Ran smiled.

"Humph!"

Sui Sui proudly raised her chin, then laboriously unscrewed the wine bottle and filled the wine glasses lined up by the tree pool.

"This wine smells so good!"

As Sui Sui spoke, she took out two more wine glasses from her bag, filled them, picked them up, and gave one of them to Wei Ran.

"Ding"

In the gentle breeze, Wei Ran and Sui Sui lightly clinked their glasses together, then each drank their cups in one gulp.

"Let's go," Wei Ran said, placing his wine glass under the tree.

"Leaving now?"

Sui Sui, whose face was contorted from the spiciness of the liquor she had just drunk, asked with a grimace.

"Let's go," Wei Ran smiled, without any more lingering feelings or worries.

"We'll come find you guys for drinks again sometime!"

As Sui Sui spoke, she placed the wine glass she had brought into the tree pit and called to the Kajenka sisters and others to catch up with Wei Ran, who had already begun to walk down the mountain.

Since coming to Xifengkou was just on their way, they didn't stay there for long, and didn't even visit the scenic area at the foot of the mountain. They hurriedly took a car back to the high-speed rail station.

Before dark, the group of six took the high-speed train and rushed to Gangdu, and then took a car to Wuliang Temple.

By this time, due to the darkness, most of the tourists and pilgrims had already descended the mountain, making the area unusually quiet.

"Are we here to see someone?" Sui Sui, who was following behind Wei Ran, asked.

"I'm not looking for anyone, I'm just here to take a look."

Wei Ran stopped talking. Perhaps because it was already "off work," the entrance to Wuliang Temple, which was much quieter, was now occupied by a few kids wearing reflective vests from a certain study tour organization sitting on the steps.

Among these little creatures, there was an old Taoist priest who looked to be in his sixties or seventies. He gently tossed a kalachakra into the air, then skillfully picked up a few more from the steps, and caught the one he had just tossed up.

"I'll try! I've learned it!"

One of the little guys, who looked to be only seven or eight years old, confidently tossed a rock into the air, and then frantically tried to grab a chard placed on the steps.

Unfortunately, he not only failed to pick up any of them, but the one he tossed up also accidentally hit a little girl on the head next to him.

Seeing that the little sprouts, who were all smaller than him combined, were about to start arguing, the old Taoist priest who was trying to soothe the children shook his head helplessly and wearily. While picking up the toys that were outdated for the children, he sighed helplessly, "Why hasn't your teacher come up to pick you up yet? Why did you all go to sleep in the side hall? Your teacher is so bad at counting, he didn't even know that so many children were missing."

"Grandpa Taoist, did you ever get lost when you were little?" another little girl asked curiously.

"I've gotten lost before, how come I've never gotten lost?"

The old Taoist priest said helplessly, "I got lost when I was about your age, and that's why this place took me in. You..."

"If we get lost, can we become Taoist priests too?"

A little boy asked expectantly, "Does that mean we don't have to do homework anymore?!"

"We can even learn to make thunder and chase after the principal to strike him!" Another little girl eagerly imagined the wonderful days after getting lost.

"Can we catch ghosts too?" Another little guy perked up.

"Let's go," Wei Ran said contentedly, having originally planned to look for the two trees.

"Let's go then!" Sui Sui took Wei Ran's arm and followed him down the mountain.

"So what exactly have we been busy with all day?" Lu Xinda asked blankly.

"Just consider it a way to lose weight," Marta casually made up an excuse, but inevitably, she glanced thoughtfully at Wei Ran's back.

From the foot of the mountain to the top, and then back down, Wei Ran and the girls simply ate a couple of bites before taking a car to Shenyang.

After such a long and tiring journey, everyone naturally wanted to treat themselves to a chicken rack and barbecue dinner. After drinking several large glasses of beer with the barbecue, plus the glass of baijiu at noon and the fatigue of the whole day, Sui Sui quickly removed her makeup, took a shower, and fell asleep on the bed.

After covering the girl with a blanket, Wei Ran went to the living room in the outer room, opened his suitcase, and took out two kettles.

He had already promised Xia Shushi and the others that he would begin the investigation, and now that he had rested for more than half a month, it was time for him to get down to business.

After taking a few deep breaths, Wei Ran drew the curtains, closed the bedroom door, and then took out the metal notebook.

With a rustling sound of pages turning, the metal quill pen slowly floated above the paper, and Wei Ran took a few deep breaths to prepare himself.

However, after the metal quill pen first drew a silhouette carrying two water bottles, it then wrote a line of blood-red words below: "Too low rank!"

Damn it.
Wei Ran twitched his lips, then slumped onto the sofa like a deflated balloon.

This wasn't the first time he had used the metal notebook to travel back in time for adventures, but only he knew that each time, he actually needed to muster up the courage to commit suicide.

But when it comes to suicide, it's easy to muster the courage the first time, but to muster the courage a second time is an extremely difficult test of one's will.

Slumpedly putting away the metal notebook, Wei Ran picked up a water bottle in each hand and examined them. He was genuinely curious about what was so special about these two water bottles that had caused him to once again find himself in a situation where his rank was too low—especially since he had just been promoted from major to lieutenant colonel last time.

When will I get promoted to a higher rank?
Wei Ran shook his head inwardly. He wasn't even sure if he could hold on until he reached the rank of colonel or even general.

However, while sighing, he couldn't help but look at the suitcase placed by the door.

In his suitcase, there was an extra briefcase, and inside that briefcase were a pair of pacifiers for little boys.

If I use those two pacifiers, will I get a higher military rank? Even if I don't, at least I'll gain merit, right?
When that wicked thought popped into his head, Wei Ran admitted he was tempted. He had actually been planning to use those two pacifiers to soothe himself for a while.

After glancing once more at the closed bedroom door, Wei Ran hesitated briefly before putting away the metal notebook, getting up, walking to the doorway, putting the water bottle back in his suitcase, and then taking out the two pacifiers in the plexiglass tubes from his briefcase.

Holding the glass tube up to the lamp for a closer look, Wei Ran couldn't help but think of so many friends—friends in Tengxian, friends in Yeren Mountain, friends in Baiyangdian, in Tianjin, in Shanghai, in the snowy forests, and friends inside and outside the Great Wall.

"Oh well. I'll just treat myself."

Wei Ran sighed to himself, then took out the metal notebook again.

With another rustling sound of pages turning, the metal quill pen drew a gambling table.

On the gambling table, in the center were the two pacifiers, surrounded by some playing cards and a few .45 caliber pistol bullets. On the left and right edges, there was a hand holding a playing card.

As he waited patiently, the metal quill pen froze for a full ten seconds, as if a frame had been dropped, before finally writing lines of text interwoven with red and blue:
Role: Ground Crew Victor
Return mission: Complete the bet.

Gone?

Wei Ran was taken aback as he stared at the intense white light spreading before him; this return mission was far too easy.

In his amazed exclamation, he also saw the things that could be used this time.

However, when he saw what he could use this time, his mouth stretched so wide that he could tie a bow on the back of his head.

A deluxe version of the 1911 pistol, a camera case, a gun-mounted camera, a Willys Jeep with a K18 aerial camera, and more.
And an E46 cluster incendiary bomb!
I knew you loved me!
As the white light began to dissipate, Wei Ran kissed the web of his left hand hard. All the negative emotions he had accumulated throughout the day, and even during the Xifengkou dungeon, found an outlet at this moment.

As he waited patiently, the white light slowly dissipated. He also felt the unique hot and humid sea breeze of the island, and smelled the distinctive aroma of burning marijuana, as well as the smell of alcohol and cigarettes that usually accompany it.

Of course, there's also the pungent cumin smell from the poor ventilation in the armpits.

With his rapid blinking, he gradually made out everything around him.

It appeared to be a small bar cobbled together from wooden planks, and the few tables in sight were all occupied by people—undoubtedly all white.

Looking down at his table, besides a stack of playing cards, there was a bronze wine glass that looked like it was made from a cannon shell casing.

In addition, on the round table, which is no more than half a meter in diameter, there is a well-worn magazine, a pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes, and a Zippo lighter.

Just me?

Wei Ran looked around, then took out a cigarette and lit it. He then picked up the shell-shaped glass, smelled it, and took a sip—it was cola, and there were even ice cubes in it.

Who is this special number waiting for?

Wei Ran glanced around again, and seeing that no one was paying attention to him, he decided not to leave. Instead, he took out the luxurious 1911 pistol from the metal notebook, disassembled it, and examined it carefully.

The gun's magazine was full of bullets, but whether he could use them or not, he didn't know. He didn't even know what the bet was, let alone who he was betting against.

He patiently waited until the cigarette in his hand burned out and until the ice in his iced cola melted into water and he drank it, but he still didn't see the person he was waiting for.

Having gained nothing, he finally decided to get up, take everything on the table, including the playing cards and the magazine "Seqing," and leave the small bar.

As soon as he stepped out of the bar's small door, he spotted the Willys Jeep from the metal notebook parked in the shadows not far away.

The vehicle was fully equipped with everything from cameras and folding cots to sleeping bags and hexagonal tents. He even found a case of beer, several boxes of cigars, and cigarettes in the back.

But where does this special code go?
Wei Ran looked around blankly, then finally got into the car, started the engine, and drove a few hundred meters toward the airport where many planes were parked in the distance.

However, he did not rush to drive the car next to the plane. Instead, he stopped halfway, took out his camera case, and took out the Kodak gold medal camera and several spare rolls of film.

Hanging the camera around his neck, he then took out a pistol camera, carefully loaded the film, and pointed the lens at the distant helipad.

At that moment, several bombers took off one after another with the roar of their engines, whizzing overhead and soaring into the blue sky, eventually flying off in some unknown direction.

"Hey! Victor! What are you doing here!" Just then, a shout came from behind.

As Wei Ran put down his rifle-style camera and turned around, he immediately saw a soldier on a bicycle waving enthusiastically at him.

Who is this person?

Wei Ran was secretly guessing, but that didn't stop him from waving enthusiastically in response.