Anti-Japanese War: Starting from Yaobai

Chapter 2974 Please enter the urn!

In the early morning, the sunlight gently shone on the hospital where the anti-Japanese brigade was stationed.

Li Xiaolian began her first day of work.

She arrived at the ward early, first tiptoeing to the wounded soldiers' bedsides to carefully examine their wounds.

When she saw a wounded soldier looking pained, she would lean down with concern and gently ask if he was in any pain or discomfort.

Her gentle voice, like a spring breeze, warmed the hearts of every wounded soldier.

When changing the dressings of the wounded, she would patiently comfort them, saying, "Don't worry, you'll get better slowly. Let's cheer each other on."

After changing the dressings, Li Xiaolian would carefully tidy up the beds for the wounded so that they could lie down more comfortably.

In addition to her daily nursing duties, Li Xiaolian would also chat with the wounded, tell them interesting stories about what was happening outside, and encourage them to maintain an optimistic attitude.

Some wounded soldiers were depressed because of their injuries, so she would sit by their bedsides, listen quietly to their troubles, and then encourage them to maintain an optimistic attitude.

As night fell, the camp was enveloped in tranquility.

Despite her exhaustion from the day, Li Xiaolian quickly ate dinner and went to the makeshift classroom to give a lesson to the soldiers.

Li Xiaolian stood on the podium, holding a tattered textbook in her hand, and began her lesson: "Today, we will learn new Chinese characters."

She carefully wrote the four characters "Resistance and Defend the Country" on the blackboard, and then taught the soldiers to write them stroke by stroke.

The soldiers followed her and read aloud, their clear voices ringing out especially loudly in the quiet night.

And so, during the day, Li Xiaolian gently and considerately cared for the wounded soldiers in the hospital. And at night, she patiently and tirelessly imparted knowledge to the soldiers.

This scene naturally fell into the eyes of Duanwu and Ma Ping'an.

The two men glanced at Li Xiaolian lecturing the soldiers, then returned to the meeting room.

Duanwu asked, "What do you think of Li Xiaolian?"

Ma Pingan thought for a moment and said, "He is very conscientious in his work and kind to the soldiers. He also knows a lot!"

Duanwu smiled and said, "You think quite highly of her! How about I have her help you with some of the work?"

Ma Pingan waved his hands repeatedly and said, "No need for that, besides, my work is all confidential."

Duanwu chuckled again and said, "It's precisely because your work is all confidential that I sent Li Xiaolian to your side to gain some experience."

Ma Ping'an asked, slightly puzzled, "Captain, what do you mean by that? Are you doubting Li Xiaolian? Didn't you rescue her? And I've also looked into it from other angles. Her identity shouldn't be a problem. Of course, many things are still uncertain, but judging from Li Xiaolian's enthusiasm for her work, I really can't see anything wrong with her!"

Duanwu glanced at the door and ordered, "Zhao Laonian, don't let anyone near the conference room."

"Yes, Captain!" Zhao Laonian replied from outside the door. At this moment, Duanwu lowered his voice and said to Ma Ping'an, "The biggest problem is that there is absolutely no problem. We all make mistakes. But if someone doesn't make even the slightest mistake, then that person definitely has a problem."

Ma Ping'an was slightly puzzled and asked in return, "Is it possible for someone to have a problem if they don't make any mistakes?"

Duanwu smiled and said, "Then when do you think a person doesn't make mistakes? Even you, Lao Pan, do you think you never make a single mistake at work?"

Ma Ping'an thought for a moment and said, "When I was doing underground work, I really didn't dare to be careless in the slightest. But it's different when I'm working in the base area. I always feel less tense, and I always make typos when I write reports. These are mistakes that cannot be made when doing underground work. Moreover, I'm not as vigilant as before."

Duanwu laughed again, "That settles it. People only refrain from making mistakes in dangerous situations. Because once a mistake is made, it's equivalent to being exposed. So now, think about whether Li Xiaolian's behavior was reasonable?"

But at this moment, Ma Ping'an still said, "Some people are just naturally cautious. Besides, Li Xiaolian has just arrived at the army, so it's understandable that she's cautious. We can't just suspect one of our comrades!"

Duanwu countered, "Even if you, Lao Pan, are right, there are naturally cautious people in this world, and Li Xiaolian has just arrived in our unit and therefore hasn't let her guard down yet, then why did she appear at the exact moment when the organization was obtaining top-secret Japanese intelligence—the Dragon Slaying Plan? Do you think that's a coincidence?"

Ma Ping'an hesitated for a moment before saying, "It's not impossible! It just so happens that Li Xiaolian was saved by you at that moment."

Duanwu continued to ask, "So, Lao Pan, when I went to Fuyang County to investigate, I encountered Chairman Wang trying to steal a bride. Is that a coincidence?"

Ma Ping'an said, "Isn't this the question from earlier? Of course it counts!"

Duanwu then asked, "So how did the ordinary people gathered at the city gate know about Chairman Wang's abduction of the bride? Is abduction something to be proud of? Would Chairman Wang publicize it so much?"

Ma Ping'an hesitated for a moment, but still explained, "That could be because Chairman Wang's subordinates leaked the news."

Duanwu nodded and said, "That makes sense. So let's talk about Chairman Wang. I asked him about the armory, so he should have known that my target was the armory, but Chairman Wang didn't report it to the Japanese at all!"

Ma Pingan thought about it carefully again and said, "Maybe he's afraid you'll retaliate against him?"

Duanwu nodded again: "That makes sense."

But at this point, Duanwu suddenly changed the subject, saying, "Then why did Chairman Wang mysteriously disappear when I captured Fuyang County? Moreover, Long Qianyan didn't find any decent valuables in Chairman Wang's house."

Ma Ping'an took a little longer to think this time, and then explained, "Perhaps he knew you were going to attack the Fuyang County arsenal, but he didn't dare tell the Japanese, so he absconded with the money."

Duanwu smiled and then countered, "Sure, everything is a coincidence, and everything has a reason. But when all the coincidences and all the reasons come together, is it still reasonable? I think the probability of that is as low as the probability of you being struck by lightning while standing on the street during a rainstorm!"

Ma Ping'an remained silent this time, because he was also a veteran underground party member and knew what Duanwu meant. When all the coincidences and all the extenuating circumstances come together, it becomes illogical.

Furthermore, Li Xiaolian's overly cautious behavior at the anti-Japanese brigade's base greatly increased this probability.

Thinking of this, Ma Ping'an asked in return, "Since you already suspected Li Xiaolian, why did you bring her back?"

Duanwu laughed and said, "The Japanese devils want to slay the dragon, so naturally I'll give them a chance!"

At this moment, Ma Ping'an understood that the captain was luring him into a trap, and he was the most important link in it. He had to transfer Li Xiaolian to his side without revealing a trace, and then give her some false information so that he could find out what the Japanese army's dragon-slaying plan was!