The two followed the brigade to Beiping City in embarrassment, surrounded by people who had escaped from the villages and towns near Lugou Bridge, and the troops of the 29th Army not far behind also began to retreat, preparing to engage in street battles with the Japanese army in Beiping City.

The crowd pushed each other in panic, accompanied by the crying of children, which made people feel even more flustered, Jiaqi was physically exhausted, stepped on a stone, her feet were weak, she fell to her knees, her pants were torn, and her knees were bruised.

"Come, I'll carry you." Recon pulled her up.

"I'm fine, I can go by myself." She looked at him with wide eyes and surprise and shyness.

He didn't explain anything, he couldn't help but say, he had already taken her hands and put them on his shoulders, squatted together, put Jiaqi on his shoulders, and continued to walk forward.

It was the first time he had been so close, and she was very shy, and she tried to straighten her waist as much as possible, and put her hands gently on his shoulders.

"Do you want to fall? Hold me. He commanded with a sideways face.

Her face was flushed, and she whispered obediently: "Oh......" bent down, wrapped her arms around his neck, her chest was attached to his back, she felt that her whole female body structure had been felt by him, she was both shy and excited, her heart jumped suddenly, looking at his lovely ears and neck, there was a very kind of urge to kiss him, suddenly she felt that the cruel war was no longer terrible, and if death came at this time, she would not feel any regrets.

Ruikang didn't feel anything out of the ordinary, his mind was messy, very heavy, his heart was weighed down by the heavy pain and couldn't breathe, he just wanted to hurry back to Peking and take the whole family away.

The city gate of Beiping is in front of him, Ruikang looked up at the tall city gate, the towering city tower, the thick city wall, and just sighed in his heart, no matter how high the city tower is, no matter how thick the city wall is, it can't stop the invaders from destroying the city for thousands of years.

He looked at the faded paint and the huge rivets on the city gate, and did not feel safe in his heart, some were just sad, this city that has gone through vicissitudes and wars, but has integrated and treasured endless history and culture, is his home, his roots, he was born here, grew up here, and has many beautiful memories of growth, but at this time he returned to her arms so embarrassed, and he was followed by the Japanese invaders like wolves and tigers, cruel and crazy, how can all this make him not sad and painful?

followed the crowd back to the city, and the city of Beiping was quite calm for the time being, but the anger was very depressing, and the streets were deserted. The two of them first returned to the tea house of the city mileage, the shopkeeper in the tea house, and the workers hurriedly arranged a carriage to send him to Cheng's house.

Seeing Ruikang helping Jiaqi into the courtyard, the two elders of the Cheng family were very surprised, although they had accepted the fact that their daughter was divorced by Zhou Ruikang, but they did not forget the shame they suffered, at this time, seeing Zhou Ruikang holding his daughter's hand with one hand and gently putting the other hand on his daughter's waist, they were shocked and confused in their hearts.

The second elder was even more surprised to see that his face was covered with dust, and his clothes were full of speckled and solidified bloodstains, and just wanted to ask, Ruikang put Jiaqi in the chair and hurriedly said goodbye to them: "Uncle, aunt, the situation is not good, you have to be prepared, I'll go home first." ”

Only then did he turn around and raise his legs to go out, suddenly there was a loud bang in the air, everyone was stunned in place, and after a few seconds, everyone ran to the yard, only to see a puff of yellow smoke straight up to the sky, thousands of feet of smoke mixed with piles of purple and black fireworks.

The subordinates of the Cheng family hurriedly ran to the street to inquire about the situation, and after a while, they hurriedly ran back, and said with a panicked expression: "Master, madam, it's not good, it's the ammunition depot of the Huangsi Temple outside the city that exploded." There were a lot of people gathered in the streets. There were also a lot of soldiers running into the city covered in blood, and it was very chaotic. ”

"Huh?!" Master Cheng hurriedly asked, "What about Jiawei?" ”

The servant replied: "The young master went to school early this morning and has not come back yet. ”

Mrs. Cheng complained anxiously: "Why is this kid so ignorant, what school does he go to in a hurry?" Worried about the dead. ”

"Quick, go and get him back for me, and then move the grain and water from the warehouse to the cellar, and put the beds and clothes in the cellar." Master Cheng immediately commanded.

When Ruikang saw this scene, he was even more worried about his home, and was about to go out, but Mrs. Cheng grabbed him and said, "Ruikang, don't worry, it's too chaotic outside now...... Your home is in the suburbs again, wait for me to arrange a carriage to take you back. ”

As soon as the words fell, Cheng Jiawei ran in quickly from the gate, and as soon as he entered the door, he saw Ruikang and Jiaqi coming back, and he didn't have time to be happy, seeing that Ruikang was about to go out, he hurriedly grabbed him, and shouted: "Oh, you can't get out now, the 29th Army has just withdrawn and is deploying street battles, and the streets and alleys are blocked......

Sure enough, before he could finish speaking, a group of soldiers came running from the door, their faces were covered with blood, nervous and panicked, and one of them pointed at them with a glaring eye and ordered loudly: "Go back, go back." Don't come out! ”

Jiawei pushed Ruikang back to the courtyard, and the people hurriedly closed the door and locked the door, and there was a sound of hurried and heavy footsteps outside the door from time to time, and everyone's nerves were tense. Street fighting! They really had to fight the Japanese to the death in the city of Beiping.

At dinnertime, everyone gathered in the side hall nearest to the cellar, although there were five people sitting at the table, but the only quiet was the sound of chopsticks hitting the dishes, everyone listened attentively to the rumbling cannon fire from outside the city, the Japanese artillery was striking a strong blow to the last line of defense of the 29th Army, they were like jackals with red eyes to seize this world famous city, they were determined to win.

That night, accompanied by the sound of guns and cannons that rose and fell, all Chinese in Beiping could not sleep, and no one knew what their future would be. What does the future hold for China? Zhou Ruikang was lying on the bed, his eyes were staring at the ceiling, his thoughts were rushing, the term "slave of the country" drilled into Zhou Ruikang's head like a maggot, making him feel disgusted all over his body, slave of the country, no, he doesn't want to be a slave of the country, he would rather stain the field with blood than be a slave of the country.

"The next day, the sound of the artillery outside the city was completely gone, and everyone was surprised, and the streets were deserted, and all the sandbags and obstacles that had been prepared for the street fighting had been moved away at night, and the armed soldiers guarding the fortifications had disappeared. An old police officer tore the Red Banner of Labor Army posted by yesterday's students under a lamppost at the corner of the street, tears in the corners of his wrinkled and folded eyes.

An ancient city has lost its beautiful and lovely face, lifeless, Xuanwu Gate, Peace Gate, Xizhi Gate and all the city gates are open, everyone can walk around freely, whether it is traitors or bandits, they are free to move, the power of the country has been lost, and it has become anarchy. (Excerpt from Mr. Shen Congwen's written account)

Early in the morning, the Cheng family also found that Zhou Ruikang had disappeared, they didn't know if he had gone home, so they sent a subordinate to Zhou's house to investigate, but when they came back, they said that Ruikang had not gone home.

"Ruikang is really this week, he disappeared again without saying hello." Jia Wei complained in his sister's room.

Jiaqi stood in front of the desk, looking at the gray sky outside the window but didn't speak, pondered for a moment, she turned around and looked at Jiawei fixedly, her eyes were firm, brave, and love...... You...... You won't ...... Are you going to find him? ”

Sure enough, how well their brother and sister know each other and how much they have the same heart, Jiaqi raised the corners of her mouth and gave her brother a positive smile: "Yes, I'm going to find her and follow him, why not?" My heart has gone with him. ”

"You're crazy, there's chaos out there, and do you know where he's gone?"

"I know where he went. He went to Nanjing. ”

"Are you saying he really went to military school?" Jia Wei looked at her with wide eyes and surprise.

"Yes, he will not be willing to be a slave of the country, I will follow him and accompany him."

"Jiaqi, I know you love him, but you know that his heart is not in you." Jia Wei looked at his resolute sister distressedly.

A shallow smile appeared on the corner of Jiaqi's mouth, turned around and ran to the side of the bed, squatted on the ground, pulled out a suitcase from under the bed, began to tidy up the clothes, and said: "I don't care, I don't need him to give me anything in return, I just want to be by his side to share his worries." And ......" Jiaqi stood up, looked at her brother, and said resolutely: "I will never be a slave to the country, as long as I have a breath, I will fight the Japanese to the end." ”

"This ...... It's crazy, no, no! You are a girl's family, and now it is like this, I don't worry, besides, my father and mother will not agree. Jiawei's head shook like a rattle.

"Brother, you know you can't stop me, if you tell your father and mother that they will lock me in the house, then it will make me die slowly." She hugged two autumn clothes and sighed lightly: "Let me go crazy, let me choose my fate like a moth to a fire." ”

Jiaqi's figure suddenly became so noble and great, the sun shone on her face, exuding a kind of warrior-like brilliance, and suddenly Jiawei stood up and said, "I'll go with you!" ”

"What?" Jiaqi was startled, and hurriedly shook her head: "No, you can't go, you are the only son of the Cheng family, you can't take risks." If you have any three long and two short, Daddy will go crazy. ”

"Ahem, the country will not be a country, what kind of home are you talking about. Oh, neither you nor Zhou Ruikang are willing to be slaves to the country, am I willing? Jia Wei pursed his mouth and said unconvinced: "If he can apply for the military academy, can't I?" ”

"Brother! Don't fool around, going to the battlefield is not to go to the theater and drink tea. Jiaqi frowned and stomped her foot.

"Whoever is fooling around, I'll go with you wherever you go anyway."

Jiaqi shook her head helplessly, since childhood, their brother and sister have been inseparable, She sighed, she knew that she couldn't stop him, so she didn't stop it, just nodded and said: "Then you go and clean up, we have to leave before the Japanese enter the city, I will leave a letter to my father and mother, so that they don't worry." ”

"Good!" Jia Wei seriously flashed with excitement, turned around and walked out.

The southbound train "click, click" is speeding away, Jiawei Jiaqi brothers and sisters are tired of sitting on the seats, looking at the scenery outside the window, the sun has set at this time, the field is so vast, the blood-red sunset will dye the earth a piece of red, such a beautiful scenery, on weekdays is the source of inspiration for their poetry and painting, but at this moment, both of them feel that this red is like the blood of the battlefield, which makes their hearts very heavy, used to telling jokes, Jiawei, who is always laughing, also became silent, frowning lightly between his eyebrows, Thinking about the fate of himself and his country......