Chapter 73 Yi Zhonghai Can't Come Back

Hearing the crying, Yan Bugui's heart skipped a beat.
He first told Yan Jiecheng and the others to continue doing their homework, then put on his shoes beside the kang and walked out.

"Zhu Zi, help me keep an eye on them."

"Got it, Uncle Yan."

As soon as Yan Bugui lifted the door curtain and walked out of the east wing, Xu Damao and others who had been doing their homework obediently just now immediately let go.

"Oh, Uncle Yan is finally gone.
It’s so annoying to force us to do homework every day.”

"That's right. Ever since we moved into the same room, Uncle Yan has been staring at us with a stern face while we do our homework. It's really scary.

Even more vicious than our teacher."

……

After several people finished complaining, they looked at He Yuzhu and said,

"Zhu Zi, don't you want to know what's going on outside? How about we go out and take a look together?"

He Yuzhu didn't bother to care whether Xu Damao and the others wanted to do their homework, so he just replied,

"Of course I have to go check it out. When I came back just now, everything was fine outside. Something must have happened.

Damao, Guangqi, your father hasn't come back yet!"

When Xu Damao and Liu Guangqi heard He Yuzhu mention this and thought about the conscription that had been going on all day, their faces changed.
At the same time, he jumped down from the kang, put on his cotton shoes and ran out.

Just arrived at the gate of the courtyard,
He Yuzhu saw Aunt Yi, Aunt Liu and Jia Zhang sitting on the ground, slapping the ground hard.

He was crying bitterly, calling out "Lao Yi, Lao Liu".
He Daqing, Yan Bugui and Xu Fugui stood there watching with headaches on their faces.

As for Xu Damao and Liu Guangqi, one was extremely happy while the other looked at his mother at a loss.

"Uncle Xu, what's going on?
Why didn't Uncle Yi, Uncle Liu and the other two come back with you?"

When Xu Fugui heard He Yuzhu's question, the neighbors nearby started talking about the whole thing before he could say anything.

It turned out that Peking was fully preparing for war.
It was decided to transform the steel mill, one of the few heavy industrial plants, into a powerful fortress.

While becoming an important strategic support point,

It is also responsible for providing ammunition supplies to the numerous troops on the battlefield outside Dongzhimen.

Therefore, the officials and major shareholders of the steel mill, who almost never showed up at the factory, not only sent engineers and thousands of combat troops,
They also forced workshop workers to stay in the factory to produce weapons and equipment.
Anyone who disobeys will be shot on the spot.

Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Jia Dongxu and other workers working in the workshop will not be able to return in the short term.

The neighbors finished talking at once, and then Xu Fugui sighed.

"That is, I have never been in the workshop. Showing movies to the workers at this time would affect the factory's production tasks.
Plus, he was too old to fight.

Otherwise I wouldn’t be able to come back today.”

After listening to their explanation of the whole story, He Yuzhu thought it was no wonder.
If he didn't know the truth, he would have thought that Yi Zhonghai and the other two would become cannon fodder on the battlefield.
It's normal for Jia Zhang and the others to cry there.

However, even though He Yuzhu saw Jia Zhang and the other two crying their hearts out, he didn't think of revealing anything. Jia Dongxu and the others would be back in a few months anyway. He Yuzhu didn't want to care, but He Daqing and the others felt a little headache when they saw Jia Zhang and the others.
If we don't think of a solution, I guess there will be no peace tonight.
Finally, I can only say,
"Sister Yi, Sister Zhang, please stop crying.
Instead of worrying about Lao Yi and the others, it is better to worry about yourself.

If the war breaks out, Lao Yi and his men will be bombed at the steel mill, but we won't be bombed at home?

It’s not easy to survive these days, why think so much.”

After He Daqing finished speaking, Yan Bugui also said with a smile,

"I think what Lao He said is right. At this time, we should eat and drink. If we are lucky enough to survive, it would be the best. If we can't survive, we can die well.

Otherwise, if you have relatives, go to the countryside to seek refuge with them before the fighting breaks out."

The neighbors agreed with what Yan Bugui said earlier.

But the following proposal attracted criticism from everyone.
"Please stop it, Mr. Yan.

As the saying goes, bandits are like combs and soldiers are like rakes. If you were caught by those ruffians in the countryside, who knows what would happen.
It's better in our city, we have radio, newspapers, and foreign journalists.
Those officials should pay attention to the impact.”

However, although they said this, their feet couldn't help but walk towards home, thinking about going back to discuss whether they should go to another city to avoid the limelight.

Jia and Zhang didn't cry anymore.

After all, what He Daqing and the others said was quite right. Now the matter is done and it is a foregone conclusion that Yi Zhonghai and his men will not be able to return in a short time.

But they have to go on with their own lives.

When he got home, He Daqing took out today's salary and gave it to Widow Bai, and at the same time instructed,
"While there are still things to sell in the market, hurry up and stock up on some things, such as carrots, cabbages, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. Buy whatever is available.
I am afraid that the city will be under martial law in a few days, and I won't be able to buy anything then.
The officials above don’t care about the lives of ordinary people like us.”

After instructing Widow Bai, He Daqing looked at He Yuzhu and asked,
"Zhu Zi, what are your plans?"

"I'll buy some groceries too.

But Chief Wang will definitely come to the courtyard to collect donations in the next two days, so we can’t spend all the money, we have to set aside some for backup.”

Hearing that he had to pay a donation, He Daqing patted his head.
"I was so overwhelmed by all the trouble Sister Yi and the others made today that I completely forgot about such an important matter.

The tax this time must be quite large.
For example, the transportation fees for wood for city defense, trench donations, blockhouse donations, temporary donations for pacification, city defense expenses, horse feed and grass expenses, settlement fees for able-bodied men, labor service expenses, and comfort fees for new soldiers passing through the border.

In addition, we must prevent the upper level from raising taxes and levies.
If you don't have enough money, it will be a disaster. At the very least, you will be forced to do hard labor, and at the worst, you will be used as cannon fodder to fill the trenches.
No paperwork will be of any use then.”

After saying this, He Daqing did not forget to remind Widow Bai again, asking her to wait for two days until Wang Mazi came to collect the donations.

Widow Bai first agreed to He Daqing, and then expressed her gratitude to He Yuzhu.
"Zhu Zi, Aunt Bai has to thank you very much for what happened today.

If you hadn't asked me to quit my job at the steel mill some time ago, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to come back today.
I don’t know what will happen then!”

Hearing Bai Guafu's words of thanks, He Yuzhu didn't have too many thoughts in his mind. Anyway, the reason why he reminded her was not for Bai Guafu herself.
"It's okay, Aunt Bai. We are all family. I definitely can't hide it."

"Yes, yes, our Zhuzi is the most sensible and reasonable one."

The family exchanged pleasantries for a while, and then He Yuzhu took He Yushui and Li Qingshan back to the front yard.
Just as I walked into the east wing with Li Qingshan,

Then I saw Xu Damao and Yan Jiecheng surrounding Liu Guangqi and saying comforting words to him.

(End of this chapter)