20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 783 Xu Ruqing's Disappearance

Jiang Lianheng nodded blankly.

Yes, men should do their best to protect their wives, children and parents.

There is no room for discussion on this matter, nor is there any need to weigh the pros and cons. It is purely his responsibility.

Time was running out, and Jiang Lianheng had no time to hesitate. After hesitating for a moment, he finally agreed and accepted the other party's proposal.

Takeda Nobuyuki did what he said. He immediately turned around and led his men back to the South Railway area. He then found the captain of the Japanese gendarmerie who was responsible for guarding the intersection and whispered a few words to him.

On a snowy winter night, the lights are dim.

No one knew what the two of them were talking about, but after talking for a while, the gendarmerie captain suddenly raised his head and glanced at Jiang Lianheng with an indescribable strange look in his eyes. It didn't seem like he was looking at a person, but rather like he was picking out items on the shelf.

He silently estimated Jiang Lianheng's value, finally nodded, and raised his hand to call more Japanese military police behind him.

Immediately afterwards, Takeda Nobuya quickly turned back.

"Mr. Jiang, everything has been arranged." He said with a smile, "You can enter the South Railway Annex. I will send your family to a safe place. I promise. How about the South Railway Hotel? I can help you arrange enough rooms."

Nobuyuki Takeda is the director of the research department of Minamitetsu Co., Ltd.

He does have the authority and ability to provide the Jiang family with long-term and reliable accommodation in the concession.

However, Jiang Lianheng could not be happy. He just felt like a thorn in his back, as if millions of eyes were staring at his every move.

This is not an imaginary illusion, but a solid fact.

The refugees around him were indeed staring at him, their eyes were sharp, with a hint of sarcasm or disdain in their resentment.

Jiang Lianheng asked himself that he did not fawn on Takeda Nobuyuki, but he did feel guilty and even lost face.

Seeing this, Takeda Nobuo whispered to comfort him: "Mr. Jiang, a lion never cares about the opinions of mosquitoes and flies. Go back and prepare quickly, time waits for no one."

"Then...thank you, Mr. Takeda."

"You're welcome. It's my pleasure."

Takeda Nobuyuki lowered his hands, leaned forward slightly, and saluted Jiang Lianheng on the spot, just like many Japanese people, using the most humble attitude to hide the most brutal ambitions.

Jiang Lianheng nodded, seemed a little absent-minded, and finally turned and left without saying anything.

At this time, many Japanese military police had already poured out of the South Railway Concession.

They formed two rows, forcibly dividing the refugees into two, and created a straight road like a single-plank bridge, just enough for the Jiang family's convoy to pass.

Soon, several Japanese military police came out, raised the barricades, and opened the customs entrance to the South Railway Concession like opening a door.

Seeing this, the surrounding refugees suddenly became agitated.

Everyone wanted to take this opportunity to force their way into the South Railway Concession and escape the war and human disasters.

For a moment, the scene became chaotic again.

The old woman's pleading, the children's crying, and the men's cursing all mixed together and surged wildly in the crowd.

The Japanese military police's rifles were equipped with bayonets, which were now all pressed against the chests of the refugees in the front row. They shouted angrily and cursed loudly, without any mercy in their eyes.

Not far away, the captain of the gendarmerie stood with his legs apart, resting his saber on the snow, coldly staring at the chaos in front of him. Only then did he inadvertently reveal a hint of mockery.

Amid the chaos, a refugee suddenly broke out from the crowd and ran straight towards the South Railway Concession.

Unexpectedly, just as he reached the checkpoint, he was kicked in the abdomen by the Japanese military police. Then his body swayed and he staggered and fell on his back.

"Bagaya road!"

The Japanese military police cursed loudly, trying to drive away the imitators who were rushing to follow suit.

However, at this moment, the captain of the gendarmerie sternly stopped his soldiers, and waved his hand, signaling that the refugee should enter the South Railway area.

The refugee was about thirty years old and in a daze. Seeing the soldiers in front of him step aside one after another, he thought he was lucky. He quickly moved over, bowed and nodded to the Japanese, and said fawningly, "Thank you, Madam, thank you, Madam!"

Unfortunately, he has no value.

The gendarmerie captain walked over in military boots, sneered, suddenly drew out his saber, and stabbed the refugee in the buttocks.

"what--"

The shrill screams pierced the night sky, instantly drowning out the surrounding noise.

The refugee covered his thigh and collapsed on his side, his blood instantly dyeing the white snow red.

When the imitators saw this, they stopped in their tracks. In addition to surprise, there was a bit of fear in their eyes, as if they had just woken up from a dream.

In the face of the imminent war, everyone seemed to have forgotten that the South Railway Concession was the territory of the Little Japanese. As long as anyone crossed the border, the Little Japanese would have the final say in everything.

One thought can lead to life, one thought can lead to death.

Life and death are decided not by the law but by Xiao Dongyang's mood.

Seeing that the road to survival had turned into the gate of hell, all the imitators stopped, their faces filled with horror, and they stood there like wooden chickens.

The military police captain drew his saber and did not even bother to wipe the blood off the blade. He walked silently to the concession gate, held the saber horizontally, and with a mocking look in his eyes, he raised his left hand, palm facing upward, and gestured to the refugees outside the border with a smile: "Come here, come here!"

When everyone saw this, although they were furious, they still slowly retreated.

The military police captain was very proud. He pointed the tip of his knife at the injured refugee, turned his head, and ordered the soldier beside him: "Let him in."

No one could guess what Xiao Dongyang was thinking, and no one dared to step forward to help his compatriots. Even the refugee himself was at a loss, not knowing what to do. He wanted to return to the Chinese area, but after looking at the expression of the gendarmerie captain, he had to bear the pain and crawl slowly towards the South Railway Concession.

On this side, Jiang Lianheng and Chuang Hu had also returned to the vicinity of the convoy.

When the brothers saw the refugees dispersing, they hurried forward to inquire about their situation.

"Boss, how about it, can we drive through now?"

"Well, let's go!"

Jiang Lianheng nodded, then walked to the side of the car and got in with a gloomy face.

As soon as I sat down, I heard a lot of chatter behind me.

Xu Ruqing looked around nervously, mumbling to himself, "Xiaodao, what happened just now? Why are these people staring at us... Xiaodao, I seemed to hear someone calling out in front of me just now, did you hear it... Xiaodao, what were you doing just now? Did you see your father..."

It is said that when people get old, they become like children, asking questions about everything, always worrying about everything, and their mouths are never idle for a moment.

Xu Ruqing's mental state was already poor, and what she had seen and heard along the way had frightened her greatly. Although she escaped with no harm, the old lady gradually began to show signs of madness and stupidity.

Jiang Ya was sitting right next to her aunt, and she saw all the changes in the old lady's expression. She became worried and leaned forward and shouted something.

"dad……"

"What are you doing?"

"My aunt..."

"You don't have to tell me, I know!" At this moment, there are wars and disasters outside the city, and bandits are rampant inside the city. The current situation is as chaotic as it can be.

Jiang Lianheng endured the toothache and led his family to flee to Nantie. He had to avoid his enemies who might take the opportunity to retaliate, deal with the Japanese military police, and always be on guard against attacks by refugees. At the same time, he was concerned about Xifeng's safety, as well as the situation of Zhuang Shuning and Jiang Chengzhi.

In a state of anxiety, he couldn't help but yell at his daughter.

Jiang Ya did not dare to talk back, but whispered: "But, your aunt is asking you a question!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Ruqing started mumbling again.

"Xiaodao, Auntie is asking you a question, why don't you answer me...Xiaodao, was there someone calling out in front just now? I heard it all. What's going on? Is the Russian here again...Does your tooth still hurt? You should go to the hospital when you have time. If your teeth are not in good condition, you won't live long...Xiaodao, why are they..."

"Aunt!" Jiang Lianheng suddenly yelled, "What are you talking about!"

Xu Ruqing was stunned when he heard this, then lowered his eyes, like a child who had made a mistake, frightened and afraid to speak.

Jiang Lianheng sat in the passenger seat, without looking back, and sighed secretly. His tone became softer as he continued, "We are almost there now. As long as you can find a safe place, I will feel at ease. If you have anything to say, can't you ask me later?"

Xu Ruqing suddenly felt a little humble, and quickly shook his head and said, "Xiaodao, I won't ask anymore, don't be angry, I won't ask anymore..."

Hearing this, Jiang Lianheng suddenly felt extremely apologetic.

However, the situation was so critical that he had no time to get sentimental, so he could only remain silent.

Xu Ruqing seemed to be afraid of being abandoned, so she stopped talking, just hugged her arms tightly and looked at the situation outside the car window nervously.

At this time, the Jiang family's convoy had already driven into the refugee group.

The crowd lined the road but were not welcoming. They all stood coldly by the roadside, watching the Jiang family slowly drive towards the South Railway Concession.

Everyone's eyes were different, some were resentful, some were jealous, some were disgusted, some were disdainful...

Suddenly, a curse came from the crowd:
"You traitor, what are you so proud of?"

I don’t know who started it, but this curse immediately attracted responses from everyone.

"You traitor, traitor to your country, your whole family will die a miserable death!"

"You're not worthy of being a human being if you recognize the devil as your father!"

"Jiang Lianheng, you are nothing but a lackey. Your Jiang family's sons will be slaves for generations, and your daughters will be prostitutes for generations!"

The crowd was outraged, and countless insults came like an overwhelming tidal wave.

These refugees seemed to have forgotten that just now, they also wanted to seek refuge in the South Railway Concession, but because they failed, they were filled with jealousy. At this moment, they completely ignored the so-called facts and just vented their anger and cursed in order to feel better.

In their eyes, failing to seek refuge in the South Railway Concession had become a glorious deed, while those who had the opportunity to seek refuge in the concession naturally became eternal sinners.

Jiang Lianheng witnessed the refugees' resentment with his own eyes, and although his face was gloomy, he never reacted.

At this juncture, any self-defense will only make the masses more angry. Only by keeping silent can we escape from danger as soon as possible.

Gradually, rocks, snowballs and other debris began to fly towards them from behind the crowd.

"Jiang Lianheng, fuck your mother!"

After a shout, a bowl-sized object was thrown into the air, then quickly fell down and hit the roof of the Jiang family's car with a bang.

Jiang Lianheng and others were sitting in the carriage, and all they heard was a loud "crackling" sound all around them, as if they were in an iron barrel, being hit by people.

Xu Ruqing was terrified and didn't dare to ask any more questions. He could only mutter to himself, "Stop hitting me, stop hitting me. I really don't know..."

Seeing this, Jiang Ya, although a little flustered herself, still reached out her hand and said softly, "Aunt, my dad just said that nothing will happen. We'll be there soon. Don't be afraid—"

"Snapped!"

Xu Ruqing pushed Jiang Ya's hand away as if she had received an electric shock. With trembling lips, she shouted at her granddaughter, "Don't touch me! Don't touch me!"

"Aunt..."

"Don't touch me, no one, don't touch me..."

Xu Ruqing shook his head desperately, and even Jiang Ya, whom he loved so much on weekdays, could no longer get close to him.

Jiang Lianheng noticed that the old lady's condition was deteriorating rapidly. Just as he was about to turn around to comfort her, he glanced away and saw a brick flying straight towards him.

"Clap!"

Several cracks appeared on the car window.

Jiang Lianheng hurriedly urged: "Dongfeng, drive faster!"

Zhang Zhengdong also wanted to drive faster, but the windshield in front of him was already covered with spider-web-like cracks, making it difficult to see the road conditions ahead.

Seeing that the refugees were becoming more and more agitated, the Jiang family's "Xiangzi" had to disperse to the front of the car to help block the various debris flying towards them.

The convoy continued on.

Not far away, Takeda Nobuyuki was standing in front of the barricade, like a smelly patrol, directing the Jiang family's convoy into the concession.

Xu Ruqing suddenly became nervous, and quickly looked around, muttering to himself: "Why are there so many devils here? What are they going to do? I can't go over there. I won't go. I want to go home, I want to go home..."

Unfortunately, the surrounding insults were too noisy and no one could hear what the old lady was saying.

As they were talking, the car had already arrived at the intersection of the concession, and the South Railway Concession was finally within reach, but at this moment -

Xu Ruqing suddenly "understood" the situation before him.

The same unrest in Guanxiang, the same refuge in Nantie, the same sinister group of Japanese people...

The familiar scene reappeared, instantly awakening the fear deep in my heart.

"what--"

Xu Ruqing suddenly lost his mind and went crazy. He immediately opened the car door and ran away without caring about anything.

"Grandma——"

Jiang Ya reached out her hand almost immediately, but it was too late and she still failed to grab Xu Ruqing's arm in time.

"Aunt——"

Jiang Lianheng also shouted loudly, but when he turned around to look, he saw Xu Ruqing had already run far away.

The Jiang family's car was driving very slowly to begin with, but no one expected that the old lady would suddenly abandon the car and flee. The brothers were also busy clearing the way ahead and were unable to react in time.

Seeing this, Zhang Zhengdong immediately stepped on the brakes.

Before the car came to a complete stop, Jiang Lianheng had already pushed open the door and jumped out, commanding in a hurry, "Dongfeng, take your sister-in-law away first. I'll go after the old lady!"

The incident happened suddenly, and before he could finish his words, he ran away immediately...

(End of this chapter)