Songhu: Never Give Up

Chapter 16 Condolence Performance
Yue Qianli still couldn't refuse the visit of the Shanghai Women's Consolation Performance Team. There was no other way because the third company was now a star unit. The honor of killing the commander of the Seventh Regiment made Yue Qianli and the third company the objects of pursuit by the people in the rear. How could the consolation performance team let them go? This was the traffic effect in later generations.

The condolence team did not come empty-handed. They brought 3 yuan in donations from Shanghai residents and a large amount of medicine. These were good things, exactly what the wounded soldiers of the third company urgently needed, and were worth more than gold.

Yue Qianli was indeed blinded by money. Someone who got the benefit had a big smile on his face and said all kinds of words of thanks, which made Duan Yulin pout. He had never seen such a hypocritical guy.

"Captain Yue, I finally get to see you in person today. You are indeed very impressive and have the spirit of a great man!"

Yue Qianli had not expected that the standard of this visiting team would be so high. He saluted excitedly and said loudly:
"Mr. Song, you are too kind. Fighting against the Japanese pirates and defending the country is the duty of a soldier. I would rather die in battle than become a slave of a conquered country."

"Well said! I would rather die in battle than be a slave of a conquered nation. This is the responsibility that a Chinese man should have."

After Mr. Song finished speaking, he introduced Mr. He, the wife of Representative Liao, to him. Yue Qianli suddenly felt that he was struck by happiness. These were the two most respected female gentlemen in the Republic of China.

After the Battle of Shanghai broke out, they personally organized fundraising, went to the front line to comfort the anti-Japanese soldiers, and founded the National Wounded Soldiers Hospital, which inspired the fighting spirit of the anti-Japanese soldiers on the front line. Yue Qianli never thought that she would also receive this honor.

"Captain Yue, I heard that the casualties of the Third Company during the defense of Miaohang exceeded 70%, and almost everyone was injured. We want to visit the seriously injured soldiers. Could you please lead the way?"

Yue Qianli instantly turned into a little fanboy, happily leading the way in front, which was also a glory for the injured brothers.

After seeing the injured soldiers of the third company, Mr. Song and others personally delivered gifts of comfort to them, and encouraged them to take good care of their injuries, and she would find a way to help them if they needed anything;
When she saw a wounded soldier bleeding, she asked for gauze and hemostatic medicine and personally changed the medicine and gauze for the wounded soldier. Mr. He assisted her. They did it very naturally and without any affectation.

"Brothers, as soon as you fired your guns in the war of resistance, men, women, old and young, both at home and abroad, breathed a sigh of relief. Hundreds of millions of compatriots supported you."

The wounded soldiers burst into tears and said they would fight again after their wounds healed. Mr. Song turned to Yue Qianli and said:
"Captain Yue, I'm leaving these wounded brothers in your care. You must take good care of them. They are heroes of the country. We can't let heroes bleed and cry. Can you do that?"

"Mr. Song, these are my comrades. The Third Company will not abandon or give up any of their brothers. Not abandoning or giving up is the military spirit of our Third Company!"

Yue Qianli got so excited that he brought over the phrase "Never Abandon, Never Give Up". This was also what he had in mind, and he would be the soul of the third company in the future.

Mr. Song agreed after listening to it:
"Never give up, never give up! Soldiers should have this spirit, never abandon their comrades, families, people, and country, and never give up resistance. One day, we will drive all invaders out of China!"

Thunderous applause rang out, and someone took the lead in shouting slogans. This person was Duan Yaqin, who actively raised funds for the anti-Japanese soldiers and was also a member of the condolence delegation;

Yue Qianli took a closer look out of habit. She seemed a little familiar, but he couldn't remember who she was. He guessed it was a female star he saw on TV in his previous life. She looked quite pleasing to the eye.

After visiting the troops, it was time for the performance. This time they prepared some programs and there were many reporters accompanying the team.

In order to let more soldiers see the performance, the first and second companies were also pulled over. Duan Yulin excitedly leaned over and said to Yue Qianli:
"Zheng Pingru is also on stage today. We are so lucky to see her."

Yue Qianli thought it was a star of this era, but he couldn't make a sound, so he asked in confusion:
"Is this Zheng Pingru very famous?"

"Old Yue, can you stop pretending? She's the cover girl of Chinese Painting Weekly. You were staring at her and drooling last time. Now you're pretending not to know her? Is it because my sister is here?" "Old Duan, I don't know your sister. How do I know she's here?"

"Old Yue, keep pretending. I'll introduce you to it later. Let's watch the show first!"

"Brothers of the National Army, please enjoy the drama "Anti-Japanese Girls Go to the Front", performed by Zheng Pingru, Duan Yaqin and others."

Yue Qianli knew that drama was the most popular during that period. Classic novels like Lao She's "Tea House" and "Thunderstorm" had been adapted into dramas and were all the rage. Out of respect for the actors, both of them chose to shut up and watch attentively.

Yue Qianli saw the beautiful girl who had just shouted slogans on the stage again. She was indeed a star. No wonder she was so pleasing to the eye. It turned out that she was Zheng Pingru, a girl worthy of respect.
There are some memories of him in later life. He was a female agent of the Military Control Commission. She obtained a lot of valuable intelligence, but was eventually killed by the agents of No. 76.

The drama was performed very well and won warm applause from the officers and soldiers of the first battalion and Mr. Song and others. Of course, there were more than one wonderful show, but Yue Qianli seemed to only remember this one.

After the arrival of the battalion commander, Yue Qianli very tactfully withdrew from the C position and faded out of Mr. Song's sight. He had to let the battalion commander show his face so that he wouldn't have to find an excuse to put himself in solitary confinement.

"Old Yue, why are you wandering here alone? Let me introduce you to two beauties!"

Duan Yulin said with high spirits that he had not expected to meet his sister here. What made him happiest was that his sister was a classmate of Zheng Pingru, which was a rare opportunity.
What made him most depressed was that after Zheng Pingru learned that he was the platoon leader of the third company, she asked him to help introduce him to the heroic company commander Yue Qianli who had killed the Japanese colonel - this was really unfair!

Yue Qianli was also a little excited, but he liked to pretend to be cool, so he waited for Duan Yulin to start the introduction;
Although the host "Yue Qianli" looks a bit dark and rough, he has sharp eyebrows and fierce eyes, a height of 1 meters, broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs, and an upright posture. He is wearing a well-fitting civilian-style officer uniform, which makes him look quite handsome.

Even Zheng Pingru, who had seen a lot of the world, blushed and her heart beat fast when she saw this. The hero is indeed handsome!

"This is Zheng Pingru, who was featured in Chinese Painting Weekly."

A trace of disappointment flashed across Yue Qianli's eyes, but he quickly recovered and greeted her very politely. Fortunately, Zheng Pingru had been keeping her head down shyly and did not notice his momentary abnormality, otherwise it would have been too rude to the beauty.

Zheng Pingru was just 18 years old, intelligent, studious, well-mannered, and beautiful. Photos of her plays were once published in the famous "Chinese Painting Weekly".
At this time, she was full of youth, enthusiasm and cheerfulness. She admired Hu Die and Ruan Lingyu and dreamed of becoming an actress. Her father studied in Japan in his early years and followed Dr. Sun Yat-sen to join the revolution. He was an old member of the Tongmenghui.
Her mother was a Japanese socialite, virtuous and generous, and a good wife to her father.

Zheng Pingru grew up in such a family. She was influenced by her father's patriotic thoughts since childhood and received correct teachings from her kind and virtuous mother. When she grew up, she undoubtedly became a thoughtful and wise patriotic young man.

So she had a good impression of Yue Qianli, and even though she was always graceful and elegant, she didn't dare to look at Yue Qianli straight in the eye.

"Old Yue, this is our little girl Duan Yaqin, whom I mentioned to you before."

Yue Qianli's eyes suddenly lit up, and he asked in disbelief:
"She is your sister? She doesn't look like she did when she was a child!"

"Brother! Who says his sister is a yellow-haired girl?"

(End of this chapter)