XIV: Roll call

The old housekeeper came to ask Wang Mingming to take a roll call, because of the regulations of the Zhang Mansion, when the master was there, the master would name him.

Wang is obviously their master, and she can't be weak at such a time. She had to stand strong in front of them. The old butler had called her for this very purpose.

Wang Mingming suddenly thought that the Japanese army was about to attack the city, and many things had to be explained clearly to the people of Zhangfu. Hopefully they will unite against the devils.

She said to the old butler, "You tell them to wait for me, and I will come." I have something to say to them. ”

Wang Mingming got up as fast as she could, and Liu's mother pushed the door in to serve her. She washed up and went to the courtyard. The men stood in a row with their chests held up, and when they saw her coming, they turned to her with their heads brushed.

The winter sun has not yet risen, and the blue sky appears high. The weather was cold. Mother Liu, who was following her, quickly stood in the line. She looked at Wang Mingming with her chest held high.

Wang Mingming glanced at the team, including the housekeeper, a total of seven people. The time for early roll call was not child's play, she walked slowly in front of them and asked the old butler, "Are they all here?" ”

The old housekeeper said, "Back to the third aunt, our people have arrived." It's all here. Please name them. ”

Wang Mingming said: "Okay, according to the regulations of the Zhang Mansion, as long as there is one person, the master has to name him." You are the old people of Zhangfu, you should understand.

"The devils are about to besiege the city, and you are standing here full of energy and high morale. I can see your determination to stand together against the enemy. This is commendable.

"I'll take the roll call now."

She looked at them one by one: "Concierge Xiao Wang, Liu Ma, the gardener's grandson, Master Chen and apprentice Xiao Zhutou in the kitchen, Da Chen, who has just become a housekeeper, and the old housekeeper." ”

Every time she called out someone's name, they answered aloud. Although they can't stand upright, their legs are straight together, their chests are high, their heads are high, and their arms are straight on either side of their bodies.

The sound of cannons like muffled thunder approached Nanjing day by day. Nanjing has reached a special period, and Zhangfu has reached the time of life and death.

The nerves of everyone in Zhang's Mansion were already tense. They were nervous but not timid, and they would not retreat regardless of whether the city of Nanjing would fall or not.

They are determined to follow the third aunt and accept the test of life and death in the days to come. Fight to survive.

Wang Mingming said, "The seven of you are indispensable in this garden. Without Master Chen and apprentice Xiao Zhutou, how can everyone eat.

"There is no gardener, no one cleans the courtyard of Lao Sun, and no one repairs the flowers and plants. Without a family member who patrols us at night, how can we sleep peacefully.

"If we don't open the door, the porter Xiao Wang is not on duty in front of the door, what will others think of us, and Mama Liu is an indispensable person.

"The person who should have gone went with his mother-in-law. Those who are willing to go home go back. This large, bustling and lively courtyard was silent. You can hear the screams of cars on the road in front of me.

"I'm also a fugitive, and God left me behind. I feel that my body has recovered well, I miss my mother-in-law, and I don't want to leave her. I still want to go.

"I'm going to take care of this house before I leave. My mother-in-law gave me this home in the hospital, and from today onwards I will be here every morning for roll call. Until the time I left.

"The Japanese army can't enter the city for a day, you work seriously under the auspices of the old housekeeper, if the Japanese army enters the city, don't be afraid, follow me to avoid the enemy's edge and defend this homeland.

"My mother-in-law is not at home, her house rules are there. Do things according to the rules of the house. From this day forward, you will continue to do what you used to do, just as you did when your ancestors were there.

"My maid is gone, and in the future, my mother will be responsible for the hygiene of my room and my daily meals. This was also arranged by the mother-in-law when she was leaving.

"Master Chen and his apprentice Xiao Zhutou have to prepare more firewood, rice, oil and salt, and after the Japanese army besieged the city, these things could not be bought with money.

"Jia Ding Da Chen's gatekeeper Xiao Wang is responsible for the safety of all the people in the yard. Keep your guns with you at all times. Bullets on the floor. Respond to emergencies at any time.

"Mother-in-law asked the old housekeeper to come out to take charge, it is not easy for him to be so old. I will open it for you every morning before work, and the old housekeeper will be in charge of it every night after work.

"What do you have to do, find the old butler. He will take care of it. He has been at home for the elderly since he retired, and he has not asked about things for many years. Honor him, and don't worry about him.

"The Japanese army came very quickly, and on November 20 the Japanese occupied Suzhou and advanced westward, and on December 7, that is, yesterday, the government declared Nanking a war zone. It's only been a dozen days.

"The first two phases of the Battle of Nanking have ended. The Japanese army has already arrived in the city and is gathering forces to prepare for the siege. Nanjing is at stake.

"The days to come will be days of blood and fire. It's going to be tough. We must abandon the illusion that we will win the battle and face reality. Accept the test of war with our loyalty to our country.

"In this battle of defense, we are ordinary people, and our task is to learn to protect ourselves, to learn to live in the chaos of war, and to survive in the midst of guns and bullets.

"There are not a few good days left in Nanjing. If one day the Japanese army enters the city, the people who live in this courtyard will listen to the old housekeeper's arrangement. If you live at home, go home and protect your family.

"The second sister said two days earlier that the massacre of the Japanese army began as early as Suzhou, and that was on November 20. Three major events happened on this day.

"First, the Chinese army withdrew from Suzhou and retreated westward. Second, Tang Shengzhi was ordered to defend Nanjing, and third, the Republic of China government promulgated the relocation of the capital to Chongqing.

"The Japanese army began to slaughter at Suzhou, and their journey to the west became more and more brutal until it became unbeatable.

"They have created countless uninhabited villages and killed countless ghost towns. Nanjing will be the peak of their massacre. The means are more brutal, and the methods are more terrifying.

"We need to be prepared to dodge the Japanese army. Save our lives. My only request to you is to survive with the old butler after the Japanese army broke through the city. ”

"Remember what I said, you must have a backbone and be worthy of your ancestors. When the Japanese come, their heads can be broken and their blood can be shed, they must not betray the country for glory, and they should not be traitors.

"Whoever became a traitor, I skinned him. Do you hear me? ”

They shouted, "I hear you!" ”

Wang Mingming said, "Okay." I can trust you. There are different ways to fight devils. Concierge Xiao Wang. What if you fall into the hands of devils. ”

The porter Xiao Wang straightened his chest and said: "Third aunt, I believe in my ability, I am not afraid of devils, and I will not fall into the hands of devils."

"If one day the devil wants to break ground on my head, and wants to hurt my family and hurt the people of Zhangfu, I will kill him ten or eight."

He laughed loudly.

Wang Mingming said: "You are good at martial arts, I believe you can do it." Florist grandson, what about you? You are old and physically weak. ”

The old grandson of the gardener said hoarsely, "My son took my daughter-in-law, my grandson and my daughter and left with the ancestors. I don't have any more worries.

"My wife has tuberculosis and can't get out of bed. I can't go. I stayed and guarded her. She asked me to go, saying she didn't have a few days to live. Her death now is the same as the death of the devil.

She got up and hit me with a stick, and she drove me away. You want me to spare my life. I told her that our son is gone, and our grandson is gone. Our blood remains.

"We are dead, and our children and grandchildren are still alive in this world. What else do we have to fear? The devil came to kill someone, and my wife and I died together.

"Third aunt, I am a person who grows flowers and raises flowers. I don't know martial arts. Not even the strength. The devil is coming, and I plant my flowers.

"The devil is looking for trouble for me, I let him, I can bow to him, I can be beaten and kicked by him. I can't beat the devil, and I can't fight the devil. I'll play soft for the devils.

"I fell into the hands of the devil, and he wanted me to die, and my legs were not weak. He cut off my head, and I stretched out my head to cut it off for him, and I would never snort.

"If the devil kills me, I will fight him with my chest up, and I will never blink. Third aunt, I don't say anything nice. I'm telling the truth. ”