Wang Hongju rode a bicycle from school and came home, he saw a car parked at the door of the house, and a middle-aged woman standing next to the car was pointing the driver to remove large boxes of things from the car. This Shuzhen fell out with her family because of her husband Ma Liangchen, she hasn't been home for more than two years, and Wang Hongju misses this big sister very much.

Wang Hongju pointed to the luggage spread on the ground and asked with concern: "Sister, what's going on?" ”

Shuzhen looked very happy to see her younger brother, she smiled and explained that there was nothing to do, she just wanted to go home and live, Wang Hongju helped her sister take a piece of luggage and walked into the yard.

Entering the courtyard, Wang Hongju shouted happily: "Dad, Mom, my eldest sister is back." ”

After the shouting, Mrs. Wang showed half of her body from the main room in disbelief, and when she saw that the person who came was indeed Shuzhen, she hurriedly greeted her, and said as she walked: "Ouch! I really didn't expect you to come back, and I haven't heard from you for a few days. Shuzhen, why don't you go home and say a word first? I really want to die! ”

Shuzhen took a few steps and threw herself into her mother's arms and called her mother affectionately, hugged the old man tightly, tears came out of her eyes, and she was speechless with a whimper. When Mrs. Wang saw the maid taking a large pile of Shuzhen's luggage into the yard, she asked Shuzhen, "What's the matter?" Are you going back to your parents' house for a few more days? Sookjin nodded.

"That's good, that's good. I've always kept the West Wing room you love to live in! I'll call someone to clean it up when I get back. Madame Wang closed her mouth happily. When Wang Hongju saw his mother and sister enter the house, he ran to the study in the back garden and told his father that the eldest sister had come home.

Wang Yunqing was puzzled when he heard that his eldest daughter Shuzhen had come home to live, and he said to himself: "Shuzhen is not living well with that rich and powerful Ma Liangchen!" What are you doing when you go back to your parents' house? He got up and walked with his son to the front yard to see his daughter, Sook-jin. As soon as the father and son walked to the window of the main room, they heard Shuzhen's cry from inside the house, and the old man Wang frowned and pushed open the door and walked in. Wang Hongju felt inconvenient and stayed outside the door to listen.

It turned out that Ma Liangchen thought Shuzhen was old, and he got a young woman outside, he bought another property, often lived with his little wife, and did not go home for three days, Shuzhen cried, noisy and noisy, and there was no way to make Ma Liangchen change his mind. Forced to helplessly, Shuzhen found out from others that Ma Liangchen and his little wife were living outside, and one day while Ma Liangchen was away, she took a few good old sisters to break into Ma Liangchen's new home, beat Ma Liangchen's concubine severely, and smashed the house. Ma Liangchen hurried back after knowing it, he saw the smashed broken home, saw the woman he loved was arrested with a bloody face and couldn't help but be furious, the angry Ma Liangchen found Shuzhen and beat her violently, and cut off Shuzhen's financial resources, in desperation, Shuzhen had to return to her mother's house.

After listening to her daughter's crying, Wang Yunqing pointed at her angrily and said: "I have long told you to leave that bastard and marry someone else, and sooner or later something will happen to him, but you just don't listen!" You can eat and drink spicy food with him, right? Tell you, it's a blessing that the Kuomintang didn't arrest him as a traitor, this guy's life is still unknown to who will take it one day, and you will become a widow sooner or later if you live with him! ”

Mrs. Wang retorted unhappily when she heard the old man say this: "Shuzhen just came home, and she has a stomach full of grievances, and you, who are a father, don't comfort you for a few words, you know how to train people!" Shuzhen's family business is not something you said, what else do you know to know the roots, it depends on you to build a bridge between the two of them at the beginning. ”

"How did I know that Ma Liangchen would be this kind of person? Even if I'm blind. Wang Yunqing felt weak when he saw his wife say this, and he no longer argued with his wife, but sighed on the side, and Shuzhen sat on the side and kept crying.

Wang Hongju listened to his sister's crying outside the house and was very angry, since he was a child, he loved this sister who was nearly twenty years older than himself, he was raised by Shuzhen's sister for most of his childhood, and he had deep feelings for his eldest sister. Although Shuzhen almost broke off relations with his family after marrying the traitor Ma Liangchen, he did not hate his sister, and his love for his sister never faded. Wang Hongju pushed the door and walked into the house and said to Shuzhen: "Sister, you just go home and live, you don't pay attention to that bastard in the future, I will teach that thing that is not human sooner or later!" ”

The armies of the Kuomintang and the Communist Party are engaged in a desperate struggle on the battlefield across the country, and Beiping has already smelled the smoke of war. The whole city was enveloped in a tense atmosphere of preparation for war, and people were arrested in the name of ** almost every day, and sporadic gunshots occasionally rang out in the city at night. For the sake of safety, Wang Yunqing told his family not to go out and run around if he had nothing to do, and also specially told Wang Hongju. Wang Hongju did not take his father's instructions seriously, and on this day he sneaked out behind his parents' backs after dinner, and he and a few classmates from the study club had a secret activity tonight, to distribute leaflets attacking the reactionary rule of the Kuomintang in the troubled area. He was the first to arrive at the appointed meeting place: under the arch of the arrow tower at the front gate. They scheduled to meet at half past seven in the evening, Wang Hongju came more than ten minutes early, and no one else had yet arrived, so he stood alone under the city tower and waited.

In the summer dusk, the sun refuses to set, a few clouds in the western sky are dyed red by the slanting sun, and the majestic arrow tower adds a bit of solemnity and mystery under the reflection of the setting sun. Flocks of black swifts flew in and out from time to time under the arches of the castle towers, and they chased and screamed and flew like black lightning; The water of the moat flows gently, and the breeze blows the rippled surface of the water to reflect mottled and changeable colors; At the southeast corner of the arrow tower, there are a few low train whistles occasionally from the train station. At this time, Wang Hongju was only presented with a beautiful and peaceful illusion, and several military vehicles full of soldiers drove quickly before he returned to the reality that the war was approaching Beiping.

After a while, Wang Hongju saw Huang Tingting coming from not far away, and he beckoned to greet him. After the two met, Huang Tingting put her hand around Wang Hongju's arm and snuggled up to him affectionately. Wang Hongju was a little embarrassed, but Huang Tingting behaved generously without the slightest twist. Two other male and female classmates then came, and they also pretended to be a couple and walked behind Wang Hongju and Huang Tingting. On the street, an American-style open-top jeep flew past them, and several American GIs wearing crooked boat-shaped hats pointed at Huang Tingting and whistled sharply and "OK!" OK！ Strange screams. Wang Hongju glared at them with disdain, and cursed in a low voice in English. Huang Tingting told him to ignore these arrogant American soldiers: "These Yankees will have to get out of China sooner or later!" ”

The two pairs of young people walked and chatted from the front door to Dashilar to Zhushikou, and then from Zhushikou to the overpass. By this time, it was getting dark, there were few pedestrians on the road, and most of the shops were closed. Huang Tingting and a few people returned from the same way, on the way, Huang Tingting pulled Wang Hongju into a shop that was still lit, and a chubby middle-aged boss who looked very shrewd greeted him with a smile on his face. Huang Tingting said to the boss that she wanted to buy a schoolbag, and the boss took out several looks for her to choose, and Huang Tingting picked a more satisfactory schoolbag and paid for it. The boss kept saying thank you and welcome them next time, and sent them out of the store.

After leaving the store, Huang Tingting told Wang Hongju to slow down, and after meeting up with the classmates behind, they moved to a quiet corner. Huang Tingting took out a stack of leaflets from the schoolbag she had just bought and stuffed them neatly into the hands of the two of them. Wang Hongju was very surprised by this, and Huang Tingting smiled proudly at Wang Hongju. Then the four of them broke up, one pair went east into the mouth of the fresh fish, and the other pair went west into the big fence.

Before the operation, Huang Tingting quietly stuffed Wang Hong with a stack of leaflets, and she instructed that there were soldiers patrolling the streets with guns and spies everywhere at all times, and that there was a danger of exposing their tracks if they were not careful, and they should maintain a high degree of vigilance during the operation.

Huang Tingting and Wang Hongju walked into Dashilan Commercial Street, which used to be very lively at night, but now most of the businesses on this street have closed early, and a few hurried passers-by occasionally walk on the empty street. Huang Tingting was in charge of watching, and Wang Hongju quickly stuffed the leaflets into the door of the shop. If they saw someone coming nearby, they would snuggle up in a dimly lit corner and whisper to each other, and after pedestrians passed, they quickly separated and continued to stuff leaflets into the shop. Wang Hongju participated in such an event for the first time, and he felt very enjoyable and exciting. They basically finished scattering the leaflets in Dashilar, and Wang Hongju still had a few left, Huang Tingting said to Wang Hongju: "Let's go, let's go to the front and have a look." They walked north through the doorframe alley with their arms on their shoulders towards Langfang Toutiao.

The doorframe alley is narrow and long, and there is only one street lamp at a long distance, and the dim street lamp only illuminates a small place. Wang Hongju is very familiar with this place, and he told Huang Tingting that when he was a child, his father used to take him here to eat snacks such as burnt food and belly bursting. As the two were talking, they noticed two swaying figures flashing in the distance, and when they looked closely, it turned out to be the patrolling Kuomintang soldiers approaching them, and the bayonets on their guns flashed in the dim light. The alley is very narrow and it is too late to dodge, and if you want to turn around and walk back, it will definitely arouse the suspicion of the other party, Huang Tingting stabbed Wang Hongju and asked for the few leaflets in his hand to quickly stuff them into his jacket. She then put Wang Hongju's arm up and said, "Don't be nervous, walk over to them, let's play a trick." Huang Tingting leaned herself tightly on Wang Hong's arm.

"Stop! What for? As soon as the shouts fell, the two soldiers came over, and two bayonets were aimed at Wang Hongju and Huang Tingting's chests. Huang Tingting screamed in fright and turned around and threw herself into Wang Hongju's arms, Wang Hongju hugged her waist and retreated back, comforting her while retreating: "There is me!" Don't be afraid! ”

"Stop! If you move again, you'll shoot! A burly soldier shouted in Shandong.

Wang Hongju stood firm and pretended to tremble and said, "Don't, boss, don't shoot, I think I've seen a ghost in this dark sky!" Scared the hell out of us! ”

"Who are you? Why are you still wandering the streets at night. When he saw that the other party was a young man and a woman, the soldier raised the muzzle of his gun.

"Boss, the two of us are students, she is my good friend, and she will come out and walk around after dinner." Wang Hongju cautiously explained.

Another short soldier walked up to them and looked at them almost face to face, and then said in a weird way: "The most restless thing these years are these students, who come out to make trouble all day long!" ”

"We're both students who keep to ourselves." Huang Tingting lay in Wang Hongju's arms and whispered.

The short man said in a weird way: "Do you dare to go out for a walk in the dark sky?" You two are bold enough! ”

Huang Tingting pointed to the gun in the other party's hand and said tremblingly: "I didn't feel scared at first, but I was scared when I saw the two bosses." ”

Wang Hongju comforted his girlfriend while complimenting the two soldiers: "We are not afraid, there is no need to be afraid of your boss to maintain social order." ”

"You little brother is very good at talking." The big soldier with a Shandong accent grinned.

"What's in this bag? Open it and take a look! The big soldier pointed the tip of his gun at the schoolbag on Huang Tingting's shoulder and ordered.

The short soldier reached out to Huang Tingting to ask for the bag, and Huang Tingting reluctantly handed the bag over. At this time, Wang Hongju was nervous and wanted to get angry, he knew that the bag contained leaflets, and it would be bad if he was to be searched out. The two soldiers opened their satchels and checked them with flashlights, but there was nothing else except a few books, a bottle of toilet water, and a handkerchief.

"Grandma is a bear, what are you writing in these books? I don't know a word! I ask you, is this a ** book? The big soldier asked Huang Tingting.

"That's the textbook I used for school, don't break it, I still have to use it." Huang Tingting suddenly replied in pure Shandong dialect.

"Drink, you girl speaks Shandong dialect well!" The big man grinned.

The little soldier knew a few words, and after flipping through the books, he said, "It's a textbook, like a book of history and geography." ”

"Then you must be students, don't look at me as uneducated, I just envy readers! My family has no money, or I'm also a scholar, so I don't have to carry this murderous guy all day long. The burly GI's attitude softened considerably. He asked Huang Tingting: "Listening to the accent, we are still fellow countrymen, where is your hometown in Shandong?" ”

Huang Tingting said in her hometown: "My family is from Yantai, Shandong. ”

"Then we are not far away, I am from Weihai, because I didn't have land to plant at home, I came out to mix, and I haven't been back for several years!" He poked the butt of the gun on the ground and held the barrel of the gun with both hands, shook his head first, smacked his lips again, and then said in a concerned tone: "Little fellow, you listen to my words: It is not easy for your parents to provide you with education, if you want to study, study hard." Now that the army is in chaos, don't go out at night and run around, how to explain to your parents if something really happens? Hurry home! After speaking, the big soldier returned the bag to Huang Tingting.

"Yes, yes, thank you two CEOs, let's go home." Huang Tingting couldn't help nodding, and after speaking, she pulled Wang Hongju and left.

"Wait!" The short soldier grabbed the gun and said, "I'm sorry, it's business!" I'm going to search for this man. He asked Wang Hong to raise his hands, touched all over his body, found nothing suspicious, and said: "There is almost no one on the street, hurry up and go home." ”

After the two soldiers finished the investigation, they walked forward with their guns in their hands, and disappeared into the depths of the alley after a while, and Wang Hongju also pulled Huang Tingting and left quickly. There was a false alarm just now, his nerves were still tense, and after walking a long way, he let out a long breath. Wang Hongju said to Huang Tingting in surprise: "I thought I was very good at acting, it turns out that you can act better than me!" I really admire your composure! Admire! Wang Hong raised his thumb to Huang Tingting.

Huang Tingting smiled and said, "It's your first time participating in group activities, and you're doing well!" ”

"Far worse than you!" Wang Hongju was not satisfied with his performance today. He said again: "When the two soldiers turned over your schoolbag just now, my nervous heart was about to jump out, and I thought that we were going to show our stuffing, and I was thinking about using the martial arts taught by my father!" ”

Huang Tingting smiled and said, "No, the leaflets in that bag have been scattered, and your few are hidden on me." She told Wang Hongju to turn around, then took out a few pieces of paper from the clothes on his chest and said, "Look back, I changed the flyer!" ”

Wang Hongju took the flyer and gave Huang Tingting a thumbs up in admiration and said, "Great! I didn't even see how you hid it at the time, and I still have to learn from you about this experience. ”

"Okay, then you keep trying!" Huang Tingting smiled proudly, and the two of them slapped their palms hard. Wang Hongju sent Huang Tingting to the vicinity of Liuli Factory, and when he was about to break up, Wang Hongju looked at Huang Tingting thoughtfully and asked softly: "There is something buried in my heart, I always want to ask you, but there is no suitable opportunity, and I don't know whether to ask today." ”

"What do you want to ask? Don't spit out. ”

"Tell me, are you a **?" Wang Hongju looked at Huang Tingting.

"Why are you asking me this question? Do you think I'm like a **? ”

"Because the ** person I imagine is an upright, brave, clever and intelligent person like you!"

Huang Tingting felt that Wang Hongju's question was more sudden, and she didn't know how to answer for a while, she lowered her head and thought about it carefully, then raised her head and looked at Wang Hongju's eyes and said in a very calm tone: "Classmate Wang Hongju, it doesn't matter if I'm ** or not, and I can't tell you clearly whether I am or not." But what I can tell you is: only ** can save the Chinese people from fire and water, and only by taking the socialist road like the Soviet Union can China make the country strong and prosperous, and can the people truly enjoy a free, democratic, equal, and happy life; If you think the same as me and fight for it together, we are comrades. ”

Although Huang Tingting answered very tactfully, Wang Hongju had already understood. At this time, he felt that Huang Tingting was like a holy goddess under the soft moonlight, and Huang Tingting's eyes were full of trust and expectation for herself; Her few words made Wang Hongju's heart feel warm, and he had the urge to take Huang Tingting into his arms, but he knew that this was too reckless. He had a lot of things to say to Huang Tingting in his heart, but he didn't know where to start. He forcibly controlled his excited emotions, held Huang Tingting's hand tightly and looked at her affectionately: "Tingting, everything is in plain sight, I will definitely become your comrade!" ”。

Huang Tingting seemed to feel the change in Wang Hongju's mood, and she smiled sweetly: "I understand your intentions." It's getting late, and we have classes tomorrow, so hurry up and go home and rest, if you have anything to say tomorrow, okay? ”

"Okay, see you tomorrow." Wang Pengju was reluctant to leave, and walked back in three steps, Huang Tingting silently watched his departing back.

After Wang Hongju and Huang Tingting broke up, they took a shortcut and drilled the alley and returned home safely. Afraid of disturbing his family, he jumped over the wall into the courtyard and quietly slipped back to his room.

Outside, the bright moonlight is reflected on the screen window; Inside the house, Wang Hongju tossed and turned on the bed. In a trance, he felt that the mottled shadow of the tree on the curtain was very similar to Huang Tingting's side outline, he knew that it was an illusion, and he couldn't help but cover his eyes and laugh self-deprecatingly. Wang Hongju couldn't sleep and felt uncomfortable lying down, he simply sat up and looked straight out of the window, his eyes always flashed with Huang Tingting's lingering figure.

Wang Hongju felt that she was a different girl when he first saw Huang Tingting, and he confirmed his judgment tonight: Huang Tingting is not an ordinary college student with strong dissatisfaction with society and a youthful rebellious spirit, she has a brave heart hidden under her beautiful appearance, she has ideals, beliefs, pursuits, and established life goals. She has a maturity, wisdom and calm ability beyond ordinary girls, and her strong personal charm has deeply attracted Wang Hongju. Wang Hongju knew that Huang Tingting's super self-confidence must come from the powerful organization behind her.

Wang Hongju's own conditions are superior, his personality is very proud, and he has never left a place for any woman in his heart, but since he and Huang Tingting first met, he has gone from liking to admiration to falling in love with Huang Tingting, and unconsciously Huang Tingting has already occupied his entire heart. At this time, Wang Hongju was faced with a kind of happy trouble, and he kept asking himself: Why did he not dare to take the initiative to pursue true love when he found it? Why can't you be honest with your true love? He was very unhappy with his face-saving behavior, and he considered himself simply an emotional coward and hypocrite. He fell into constant self-blame and self-reprimand, and did not fall asleep until the second half of the night.

The sun crossed the eastern horizon, and a few sparrows woke up on the branches in front of the window. Wang Hongju turned over from the bed and sat up, walked to the window and pushed it open, the sunlight had dyed the yard golden. He saw his father playing Tai Chi leisurely in the courtyard, so he quickly got dressed and walked out of the room to practice with his old father.

After breakfast, he pushed his bicycle out of the house, and his mother chased after him and instructed: "Come back after school, don't run outside in a hurry and let your parents worry." ”

Wang Hongju smiled and said to his mother: "Mom, don't worry!" ”

On the way to school, Wang Hongju was thinking about his thoughts while riding. The countryside was a stretch of cropland and rich boulevards, and he was intoxicated by the scent of the earth. Wang Hongju made up his mind and decided to take the initiative to have a showdown with Huang Tingting today, to confess his admiration for her, and to make it clear to her that he wanted to join the ** organization. He is confident in his decision. The insomnia of the half-night did not seem to bring him a trace of tiredness, and he rode quickly towards the school in the morning sun.