On the day of the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month in 1938, Wang Yunqing took his family to hang lanterns in the house before dinner, and Ma Liangchen and Shuzhen walked into the courtyard happily carrying large bags of things. Seeing the arrival of Ma Liangchen and Shuzhen, Wang Yunqing's face, which was still a little smiling just now, immediately became gloomy.

After everyone sat down in the living room, Ma Liangchen said to Wang Yunqing and his wife with a happy face: "Dad, Mom, my son-in-law is too busy to visit the second elder during the Spring Festival, you won't be angry with me, right?" Now the two of us are giving the second elder a good old age. After speaking, Ma Liangchen and his wife got up and came to the two old people's seats and knelt down and kowtowed.

Wang Yunqing looked at his daughter and son-in-law kneeling in front of him and let out a sneer, he turned his head to the side. Ever since Ma Liangchen became a traitor, he hated seeing this son-in-law as much as he saw a plague god. Wang Yunqing once categorically announced that he would sever the relationship with Ma Liangchen's son-in-law, but this leg grew on Ma Liangchen, and Ma Liangchen was unwilling to break off the relationship with his father-in-law, so he still came to Wang's house often with a cheeky face. Ma Liangchen is a scheming person, he knows his father-in-law's connections and background, and he also knows the weight of his father-in-law in the hearts of the Japanese, and he still has to rely on Wang Yunqing's fame to cover it.

Wang Yunqing ignored the two, and Mrs. Wang also looked very unhappy, she waved her hand and said, "Okay, get up quickly, you guys are really!" It's been more than ten days since the first day of the Lunar New Year, and you're still kowtowing. ”

Wang Yunqing snorted with his nose: "Get up quickly, I'm afraid of losing my life by receiving your great gift!" ”

After her daughter and son-in-law sat down, Mrs. Wang complained and said: "Liangchen, it's not me to be the elder's picker, think about your family who just fled from the Northeast to Beiping and has no food, clothing and no shelter, just like calling Huazi!" If it weren't for the help of our royal family, would you be where you are today? Your parents are gone, and we are like your biological parents. Although we don't want to repay our kindness, no matter how busy you are outside, you have to go home to greet the elderly during the Spring Festival to show filial piety, right? You should understand that going home for reunion during the Spring Festival is a courtesy for us Chinese. ”

"Confused! What are you talking to this white-eyed wolf? Wang Yunqing knocked his fingers on the table and glanced at Mrs. Wang, and Mrs. Wang stopped talking. Wang Yunqing and his wife's words made Ma Liangchen feel very shameless, he laughed dryly and lit a cigarette and smoked it to hide his embarrassment.

Shuzhen, who was a little blessed after marriage, was full of jewels, she saw that her parents were angry and hurriedly got up to pour tea for her parents, Wang Yunqing pushed the teacup aside without appreciation. Sook-jin embarrassedly started the round; "Mom and Dad, don't be angry, aren't we looking at you two elders! Besides, today is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, not too late! It's still in the New Year's Festival! ”

When Shuzhen said this, Mrs. Wang was even more unhappy, she pointed at Shuzhen and said, "A girl with no conscience! Mom usually loves you the most, can't you come yourself if Liangchen doesn't come? Now it seems that I hurt you in vain! ”

"The water spilled by the married girl, she loves it or not, don't bother with them! If they don't come, my heart will be clean! Wang Yun glanced at his wife innocently.

Shuzhen felt very aggrieved when she saw her parents with such an attitude, her face was flushed, her eyes were a little wet, she just wanted to say something to her parents but was stopped by her husband. Ma Liangchen got up from the sofa and bowed to Wang Yunqing and his wife, saying: "Mom and Dad, Liangchen is indeed rude, but there is a reason for it, I couldn't pay New Year's greetings to the second elder during the Spring Festival because Shuzhen and I were not in Beiping during the Spring Festival." ”

Mrs. Wang asked in surprise: "Where are you not in Beiping during this Spring Festival?" ”

Ma Liangchen was about to stand up and answer, but was pulled back to the sofa by Shuzhen. Shuzhen smiled and said to her parents: "During the Spring Festival, Liangchen took me back to my hometown in the Northeast to visit relatives, and we only came back yesterday." ”

"Nonsense! Lao Ma's relatives in the Northeast died and fled, and there was no one in his hometown for a long time! You think I'm old and confused? Dare to lie to me with this nonsense! Wang Yunqing slapped the table angrily at Shuzhen, so frightened that Shuzhen didn't dare to say anything more.

Ma Liangchen glared at Shuzhen: "You old lady is all nonsense!" Tell me the truth to my dad what you're afraid of? Then he smiled and said to Wang Yunqing: "Dad, don't be angry, Shuzhen is talking nonsense, she said this because she was afraid that you would be angry." Actually, we spent the Spring Festival in Qinhuangdao. He paused for a moment, and saw that Wang Yunqing and his wife looked at him and did not speak, so he took a cigarette and paused for a while before continuing: "To tell you the truth, I became a county magistrate over there through a friend's recommendation a month ago, and I didn't dare to tell you for fear that you would be angry." I was a new official who was not familiar with the place of life, and I had a few days of spare time during the Spring Festival, so I took a few subordinates to the countryside to understand the situation and observe the people's situation. Today is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Shuzhen and I hurried home for the holiday, and please forgive me! ”

After listening to Ma Liangchen, Wang Yunqing teased: "I once persuaded you to leave those devils and traitors, but now your official is bigger again." If you continue like this, you will not be far from death! Tell me, it was the big traitor Yin Rugeng who brought you, a little traitor, right? I heard you've been having a hot fight with him lately. ”

Ma Liangchen sounded quite harsh, if someone else scolded him for being a traitor, he would have been anxious, but because Wang Yunqing was his father-in-law's face, he forced back the anger in his heart and said with a smile on his face: "Dad, what traitor is not a traitor, don't talk so ugly!" You are old, your brain can't keep up with the situation, as the saying goes, "those who know the times are the heroes," at the moment, it is a fact that we can't beat Japan, and it is also a fact that China was occupied by Japan, what should we do? The million-strong army of the Kuomintang was defeated by the Japanese, and you can change the situation by yourself? If you can get rid of the Japanese, I'll work for you before and after the saddle, but you can't! ”

Wang Yunqing was really stopped by Ma Liangchen, he stroked his beard and didn't speak.

Ma Liangchen spread his hands and continued: "We heroes don't suffer the immediate losses, we can only endure it first, and there is no other way." Think about it, China is so big and there are so many people, how can the Japanese take care of it? They can't rely on our Chinese to help them. Besides, if you live, you have to find a job to do, otherwise how can you support your family? You can't eat it as a meal! ”

Wang Yunqing interrupted Ma Liangchen's words and shouted: "Don't quibble, if you serve the Japanese, you are betraying the country to seek glory and being a lackey of the Japanese!" What is not a traitor? Let me ask you again, you wag your tail and beg for food from the Japanese, and you want their faces when you eat, is the food of this exiled slave delicious? ”

"Dad, how many times have I told you, you just don't understand. We are not selling the country but saving the country by doing things for the Japanese, and now we can't beat the Japanese, even if we look at other people's faces and eat, we have to endure it. We came out to do things to protect our people from being bullied by the Japanese, and at the same time, we are also accumulating strength to wait patiently, waiting for the day when we will drive away little Japan again! You should know, didn't we Han people endure the overthrow of Manchu rule for more than 200 years? In fact, I do things for the Japanese, and I learned from Guan Yunchang, who is 'in Cao Ying's heart in Han', and now he is temporarily living in the enemy camp, and he will have to pass five levels and kill six generals in the future! If you still don't understand what I said, then let's not talk about it first, just talk about the things in front of us, in this chaotic year, there are Japanese people covering our family, who dares to bully you. Therefore, we have to think long-term when we encounter problems, and heroes don't suffer immediate losses! ”

Wang Yunqing's full of knowledge made Ma Liangchen's sophistry dizzy, and he said angrily: "It is a great joke that our upright Chinese family still rely on the Japanese who invaded China to protect us. Don't talk to me about any curves to save the country, I'm afraid that after you have been a slave for a long time, you will forget that you are a Chinese! ”。 Wang Yunqing's anger rose from his heart, and his breath was blocked in his chest, and his face was flushed. Seeing this, Shuzhen hurriedly stepped forward to beat her father's back, and Wang Yunqing angrily pushed her aside.

Seeing that he was not speculative, Ma Liangchen hurriedly changed the topic, he got up and opened the big bag of gifts and said: "Dad, Mom, this is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, so let's not talk about these unpleasant things." Look, this is the two of us who are filial to your two elders, there is the Northeast soju that my father loves to drink, as well as the Lantern Festival in Daoxiang Village, the sauce beef in Yueshengzhai, and we also bought electric toys for our two younger brothers. Oh, by the way, Shuzhen also bought her mother a piece of high-end fabric from Japan. He set a table of things.

Wang Yunqing didn't look at these things and said, "The money you paid for these things is not clean, right?" ”

The corners of Ma Liangchen's mouth were crooked: "Dad, look at what you said, how can this money be dirty?" Even the money taken out of the is also spent! Buy things with clean money, and no one will give you a little more. ”

Wang Yunqing didn't want to deal with this traitorous son-in-law anymore, so he got up and wanted to leave the living room.

Seeing this, Ma Liangchen hurriedly called his father-in-law: "Dad, don't leave yet!" I haven't shown you something yet, I dare to guarantee it, if you see this thing, you will definitely be very surprised! "He deliberately sold Guanzi.

"Oh? I'd like to see what this thing is! ”

"What kind of medicine are you selling in your gourd?" Wang Yunqing stopped and looked at Ma Liangchen curiously.

Ma Liangchen carefully took out a roll of brown paper wrapped in brown paper from a bag and put it on the table, and then opened the wrapped paper layer by layer, which turned out to be a painting scroll.

"Dad, this is a priceless treasure, open it and take a look!" Ma Liangchen looked at Wang Yunqing proudly.

Wang Yunqing walked to the table and slowly opened the painting scroll, suddenly his eyes lit up, and his hands holding the painting trembled slightly.

"Dad, this thing is what you want, right?"

Wang Yunqing nodded while chanting: "Not bad!" A strange stone, two clusters of orchids, three or four green bamboos. The pen and ink are fresh and the artistic conception is far-reaching. Good drawing, good drawing! It is the best of Zheng Banqiao's paintings! He raised his head and looked at Ma Liangchen suspiciously: "This painting is a rare and rare treasure, how did you get it?" ”

Ma Liangchen replied to the question: "Dad, is this painting okay?" Take it if you like! ”

Wang Yunqing really liked this painting at a glance, but how could Ma Liangchen, who never collects antiques, have such a painting in his hands? He knocked Ma Liangchen: "This painting is not bad!" But people say that the two devils bully the people worse than the devils, this painting can't be blackmailed by you from some rich family, right? ”

"I knew you loved it! You just put it away. Ma Liangchen smiled and rolled up the painting on the table.

"How can I ask for something of unknown provenance? In my opinion, this painting is not something that ordinary people can have, and you have to explain to me how it came about. ”。

Seeing that his father-in-law was more serious, Ma Liangchen told the truth. It turned out that he came to Wang's house this time to visit his parents-in-law, and secondly, he was entrusted by the Japanese General Yamamoto to persuade Wang Yunqing to go out of the mountain and cooperate with the Japanese. This painting was commissioned by General Yamamoto to bring to Ma Liangchen, and it can be regarded as a gift for him to invite his old friend out of the mountain.

Wang Yunqing was very angry after hearing what Ma Liangchen said, his forehead was bruised, the muscles at the corners of his mouth trembled, and he pointed at his son-in-law and scolded: "You bastard boy, it's not enough to be a traitor yourself, but also to be a lobbyist for the Japanese, so let me be a traitor?" I have long said that I will not cooperate with the Japanese until I die. Go back and tell your Japanese master, no way! After speaking, he pointed outside the house and yelled, "Get out!" Get the hell out of here! ”

Seeing this, Shuzhen hurriedly begged her father and said, "Dad, don't be angry. Liangchen is also kind, he sees that you are idle at home all day, afraid that you will be lonely, so he wants to find something to do for you. Besides, he came to the house this time because he was entrusted by your Japanese classmate General Yamamoto, how dare he violate the anti-Japanese himself. ”

As soon as she said this, the old man became even more angry: "Don't always mention the Japanese or anything to me, get out!" Roll with you! I don't want to see you again! ”

Shuzhen was afraid that her father would be angry, so she hurriedly hugged her mother's arm and said, "Mom, you persuade my father, how unlucky is the anger of this big holiday!" ”

Wang Yunqing pointed at his daughter's face and scolded: "If you want to say that it is unlucky, it is also the bad luck brought by the two of you!" Don't hug your mother's arm, go hug the little devil's thigh! ”

Mrs. Wang shook off her daughter's hand and said to her son-in-law, "Liangchen, you can't blame your father for being angry. I know that you suffered too much when you were a child, and you were afraid to live a poor life, but you yearn for a rich and powerful life, right? When the mother tells you: A good life must be earned by your own ability, and you can't go crooked! You are from the Northeast, how did you forget how the three eastern provinces were lost? Didn't you see the Japanese devils killing people and setting fires in our China? How did your mom die? You don't see it? We have a national hatred and a family feud against the Japanese! How sad your mother would be if she saw you mingling with the Japanese under the Nine Springs! ”

"You can't put any sin on the head of the Japanese, my mother was killed by a stray bullet when she went out to watch the movement, who knows if it was the Japanese soldier or the soldier of the Marshal's Mansion who killed her?" Ma Liangchen quibbled.

Mrs. Wang, who was originally calm and reasonable, raised her eyebrows when she heard this, "Shut up!" You unscrupulous descendant. Without the Japanese soldiers attacking Shenyang, can your mother die? Really, how did your mother give birth to such a conscienceless son as you! She pointed to Shuzhen and said, "I don't have a meal for the two of you at home tonight, I won't keep guests, you can go, let me go immediately!" ”

Shuzhen had no choice but to say to Ma Liangchen: "My parents are not happy today, let's go." ”

Wang Yunqing picked up the painting on the table and said, "Ma Liangchen, take all your gifts!" But this painting belongs to us Chinese, and we can't let it fall into the hands of the Japanese! I don't do it as an official of the Japanese, but I accepted this gift, even if I bought it. I won't give less money, go back and ask someone to send it to you, and you will pass it on to General Yamamoto. In addition, please tell him: Although we used to be classmates and friends, I am a patriotic Chinese, and he is a murderer who invaded China, so the two of us no longer have a friendship with classmates! ”

Ma Liangchen originally thought that the old father-in-law would be tempted when he saw the famous painting, but he didn't expect to touch his nose again, he dusted his sleeves a few times with his hand and said in a weird manner: "I gave you enough face today, it's okay to drive me away, but I have to tell you, the Japanese are not easy to mess with, if you toast and don't eat and drink, you will suffer sooner or later." After speaking, he picked up Shuzhen and left.

Shuzhen was caught between her family and her husband, she was actually reluctant to go, and Ma Liangchen pulled her out. Shuzhen angrily pushed Ma Liangchen away and said, "Liangchen, how dare you talk to my parents like this!" Let's admit our mistakes to our parents today! ”

Ma Liangchen blushed and reprimanded Shuzhen with a thick neck: "** less nonsense!" I'm polite to your family today, if you mess with Lao Tzu, don't blame me for turning my face and not recognizing people! ”

Ma Liangchen forcibly pulled his wife and scolded and walked out, and at this time, a boy about ten years old rushed in from outside the door. He held a pistol in both hands and shouted at Ma Liangchen: "The surname is Ma, you stop for me!" If you dare to go wild, I'll kill you! "This child is Wang Yunqing's youngest son, Wang Hongju. The child's actions startled everyone in the room!

Ma Liangchen looked at the black hole muzzle and felt a little nervous, he waved his hand as he stepped back and said, "Brother, is your gun a real gun or a toy gun?" Be obedient, put down, put down the gun! Go get and play with the electric car that your brother-in-law bought for you. ”

Wang Hongju's little face was flushed, and he aimed his gun at Ma Liangchen motionlessly.

Ma Liangchen saw that Wang Hongju didn't put down the pistol, he pointed to a bag of things on the table and pretended to smile and said: "Good boy, put down the gun, my brother-in-law bought you candy to eat, it's Japanese milk candy, it's delicious!" ”

Wang Hongju pointed a pistol at Ma Liangchen and said contemptuously: "I'm not rare little Japanese milk candy!" Let's keep you, a traitor, and eat it yourself! ”

Old Man Wang stood aside quietly, with a slight smile on his face. He asked slowly, "Hongju, why did you take out my Browning casually?" What should I do if I accidentally go off the fire? ”

"Dad, what are you afraid of? The Japanese doglegs die one less one! Wang Hongju said crisply.

'Dad, tell Hongju to put the gun down.' Ma Liangchen looked at the old man with a pleading look.

Wang Yunqing sneered: "Boy, let me tell you, this gun is real, don't move around, if you provoke Hongju, he will kill you as soon as he pulls the trigger!" ”

Hearing Old Man Wang say this, the atmosphere in the room became even more tense. People held their breath, their eyes staring at the gun in Wang Hong's hand.

Ma Liangchen couldn't advance or retreat at this time, he was afraid that this little stunned young man would pull the trigger of the pistol, so he had to pretend to be calm and stand still, and from time to time gave Shuzhen a look for help.

Shuzhen reproached Wang Hongju and said: "Brother, if our family has anything to say, you are not allowed to point a gun at your brother-in-law!" A misfire is a deadly man! Good brother put down the gun, even if the sister begs you! She had the courage to go up to her brother and take the gun from him.

Wang Hongju dodged his sister and pointed a gun at Ma Liangchen and said, "Sister, don't move!" If you move again, I'll really shoot! Shuzhen was so frightened that she stopped in place and didn't dare to move.

At this time, Wang Yunqing walked up to Wang Hongju, stretched out his hand to his son and said, "Obedient!" Give me the gun! ”

Wang Hongju aimed his gun at Ma Liangchen and didn't move, his eyes widened. He suddenly made a shooting gesture and shouted "bang" in his mouth! This frightened Ma Liangchen, he squatted on the ground with his head in his hands with his hands in an "ah", and the people in the room were also startled.

Wang Yunqing couldn't help laughing happily when he saw Ma Liangchen's bear-like appearance: "You traitor really has no bones, I can't help but be scared!" ”

Ma Liangchen's face turned red and white with shame, he slowly stood up and walked out of the door, "Don't move!" I'll shoot if you move again. Wang Hongju forced him with a gun again, Ma Liangchen had to stop, cold sweat broke out on his forehead, a child made him so embarrassed, his nose was simply crooked.

"Give me the gun!" Wang Yunqing walked to his son's side and stretched out his hand, and Wang Hongju had to reluctantly hand over the gun to his father.

Wang Yunqing took the pistol and shook it at Ma Liangchen and said, "Made in Germany, it's very good!" After speaking, he raised the gun and pulled the trigger on the ceiling, and "snapped" only to hear the sound of the bolt, and no bullets were fired from the barrel. He blew on the muzzle of the gun with his mouth, put the gun in his arms, and then patted Ma Liangchen on the shoulder and said, "Fortunately, I didn't have any bullets in this gun, if I did, you kid would have to be carried out from here today!" Count your fate, hurry up and get out! ”

Ma Liangchen was angry and ashamed, his face rose like a purple eggplant, "You are waiting for the old immortal!" Tomorrow, I'll go to the Japanese and sue you for the crime of possession of guns! We'll see! After Ma Liangchen finished speaking, he flicked his sleeves and left angrily, Shuzhen carried the big bags and small bags of things she brought when she came, and stumbled out.