XXXVIII: The meaning of the heavens

Wang Mingming asked the old man tentatively: "Old man, let me ask, your son is tall, with broad shoulders, big eyes and black-rimmed glasses, and he is polite." Full of Zhenjiang dialect, is that so? ”

The old man's eyes straightened suddenly, and she stood up staring at Wang Mingming's eyes, the corners of her mouth trembling due to excessive excitement. She said, "I heard it, you know my son!" You are so willing to help us. It's because you know my son. It is the heavens who have arranged for you to save us. Thank God. ”

Wang Mingming shook his head and said: "I don't dare to say that I know your son, I have seen the commander of an artillery company, but I dare not be sure that it is your son." ”

The woman hurriedly pulled out a handkerchief from her underwear pocket. She handed the photo to Wang Mingming, a two-inch photo of herself in a suit and hat. Wang Mingming took the photo and recognized him at a glance. She said in surprise: "Auntie, things are so coincidental, I have seen your son, his surname is Yang, and the soldiers call him Yang Platoon Commander." It's the surname Yang, right? ”

The old man grabbed Wang Mingminglian in surprise and said, "Yes, it's surnamed Yang." God has eyes, let's meet a savior. You've seen my son, tell me how you met him. What happened next. She looked at Wang Mingming excitedly, expecting her to tell her more things.

Wang Mingming said: "Old man, don't worry, you listen to me tell you slowly." It was an unforgettable day in my life, and it was a crucial day in the defense of Nanjing. On the 11th day of December in the 37th year, I went to your son's unit to visit one of my neighbors. The company commander invited me to sit down, commanded the platoon commander, and it was your son who enthusiastically poured water for me to eat, and during the conversation, I found that those officers and soldiers liked him very much and admired him.

"He used to be a high school teacher, teaching math. He taught the fighters in the army to learn culture and taught the fighters to sing. The company commander praised him, saying that he was a returnee with knowledge and ability. The company commander also told me that he was from Zhenjiang, and that their troops had retreated to Zhenjiang, and that he had asked for leave to go home and send his family to the boat in northern Jiangsu and returned to the army. ”

The old man said excitedly, "Girl, you are right. As you said, they retreated from Shanghai, and he came to his house, saying that the devils were about to fight, and asked us to leave quickly and go to the relatives' house in northern Jiangsu to hide for a while. He went to hire the ship, and he gave us all the money he had. It is said that it is difficult to escape outside, and it is used slowly. Our ship drove him back to the troops. I didn't expect it to be the last time my son and I would see each other. Ah, girl, benefactor, you go on. ”

Wang Mingming said: "The next day, when I arrived at the troops, I encountered the Japanese army attacking Tongjimen. The war was fought very fiercely. Your son fought very bravely. He commanded the battle fearlessly in the face of the devil's attack.

"In order to fight devils, armored vehicles, artillery fighters dragged artillery out of the barricades. Their first shot did not hit the armored car of the devils. The commander of the platoon rushed out of the barricade, knelt in front of the cannon, stretched out his right hand to visually measure the distance, and commanded the artillery to fire. Under his command, their artillery damaged several armored vehicles of the devils and repelled the attacks of the devils.

"Their artillery pushed forward, and when the cannon was aimed at the devil's armored vehicle, one of the devil's shells exploded in front of the cannon, and the commander and gunner were all killed. He died in front of the cannon, his military uniform was covered with blood, and the devil's shells did not hurt his face. I ran over and wiped the ashes off his face with a handkerchief, and I saw that his face was very serious, as if he was still directing the battle.

"It was about four o'clock in the afternoon on December 12th. I straightened his steel helmet and put a handkerchief over his face. The commander of the platoon had already instructed the gunners to aim at the devil's armored car, I loaded the shells into the artillery hall, and in order to destroy the devils, I pulled the cannon for the sake of the artillery brothers, and the armored car was on fire, and the cannon avenged the sacrifice of the artillery brothers.

"On the first day, your son received an order to go to the artillery school in the interior. The next day he was supposed to leave the army to report for duty, and the next morning the devils attacked them, and he went straight into the battle. He sacrificed his precious life for the Anti-Japanese War, and he shed his last drop of blood to defend Nanjing. He gave his life for his country, and he died a glorious death. He was a hero of the Anti-Japanese War, and the people of Nanjing will always miss him. ”

The woman cried. She hurriedly covered her mouth with a handkerchief, she didn't dare to cry loudly, for fear of alarming the two devils. The child hugged his mother and cried, he didn't dare to cry out loud, his face was distorted because of the grief in his heart.

Wang Mingming said: "Aunt Yang, we will not forget the heroic martyrs of the Anti-Japanese War. You are the glorious mother. I firmly believe that China will definitely defeat the Japanese devils. Victory is ours. We must be firm in our faith and wait until the day of victory. ”

The old man nodded, tears welling up in her dry eyes. She wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve and sighed and said, "Thank you, boss." Thank you for bringing me news of your son. I'm relieved to hear you say that. It is an honor for my son to die for his country. You were by his side on the day he died, and it was his creation, and it was a blessing to my son. I thank you on behalf of my son.

"It's no coincidence that we're here today, it's providence. My son's spirit in heaven knows that we have come to Nanjing, and knows that we are in trouble, and he blesses us in heaven, and he guides us to take refuge in you.

"I couldn't walk when we got here, so I sat down here, and then two magpies fell on the roof of the house and barked at us. I said that the magpie must have a happy event when it called at us, and I never expected to meet the owner again. Boss, we will go with you and listen to you. ”

The old man said to the child: "Quick, kowtow to Auntie, thank you Auntie for bringing us the news of your father, thank you Auntie for taking care of your father on the battlefield back then." ”

The boy knelt down and kowtowed three times. He said, "Thank you, Auntie, for letting me know when and where my father died in battle. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon of December 12, 37. My father fought valiantly against the Japanese army at Tongji Gate in the battle to defend Nanjing, and died a glorious death. My father was a national hero of the anti-Japanese resistance. I want to learn from my father. ”

Wang Mingming helped the child up. Said to the woman, "Sister-in-law Yang, don't be sad. Raising children to adults is the greatest comfort to the platoon commander. ”

The woman wiped her tears and nodded, "Dongjia, you are the great benefactor of our Yang family, and we will always thank you." ”

Wang Mingming said: "Sister-in-law Yang, you come with me, let's go to the store, I want to buy something." You help me get it. Sister-in-law Yang immediately helped her to walk towards the store. She took her to the store and bought two mats and two quilts. She told her to tie it up and carry it. She bought two sets of coarse cloth clothes and pants for the old man and Sister-in-law Yang to wear when they worked. She took Aunt Yang and them up the mountain.

Wang Mingming arranged for them to live at Miss Lanying's house. His wing house was not burned. Wang Ming cleans her yard every day. Wang Mingming led them to stand in the courtyard of Miss Lan Ying's house. Wang Mingming said: "Miss Lanying, I want to lend your house to the people of the Yang family, who are the mothers, wives and children of the anti-Japanese martyrs. Platoon Commander Yang gave his life to defend Nanjing, and I am obliged to take care of his family. I hope Miss Lan Ying can help them. Thank you, thank you, Miss Lan Ying. ”

After Wang Mingming finished praying, a gust of wind blew in the courtyard, and when the wind passed, Wang Mingming said, "Okay, Miss Lanying agreed." Miss Lan Ying was killed by the devil, and she has the same hatred for the devil as we do. ”

After lunch, Wang Mingming called them to the courtyard where he lived, and asked them to sit on the wood and the stone. She asked them, "Is the place to live okay?" ”

Aunt Yang even said, "Okay, good." Nice house, yard and clean. The best thing is that it's far from the devils. Safe. ”

Wang Mingming said: "I am relieved that you can live in peace."