【Gao Gui】The Glorious Years

1945.6 Katsura Kotaro

To be honest, I really hate how sick I am now, and I don't want Jinsuke to think how weak I am.But on the other hand, I'm humbled to be grateful for this well-timed attack. If it wasn't for the previous coma, we still don't know what a bleak situation we are in now.The mother-in-law is a good person, although fierce.She complains every day how the two extra mouths out of thin air give her a headache, but she still carefully cooks meals that are good for me with limited ingredients.She also made the medicine for me herself, and she had to stare at me every time I took it, so as to find the right time for me to frown and sneer.The medicine is extremely bitter, but my heart is actually a little sweet.Even if I sometimes get blindsided by Jinzhu and scoffed at by my mother-in-law for my reckless behavior, I still can't help but be happy.It’s been a long time since I’ve had such peace. I don’t need to worry about life and death. It turns out that life can be so easy and pleasant. Thanks to this nightmarish war, I understand it.

After lying down for two or three days, my mother-in-law allowed me to move around normally.It's nice to feel your body pumping up again.The sun is starting to come out these days, and the clear skies after the rainy season make for a good mood.Jinzhu and I moved out some bedding and clothes for my mother-in-law to dry, and also laid out the medicinal materials one by one to remove the moisture. They still smell good before they are made into soup. After being exposed to the sun for a while, they should be stored in a cool place. When I was moving, I couldn't help picking up a little bit and smelling it, it had a refreshing sweet fragrance.

When Jinsuke and I were doing this, my mother-in-law stood on the threshold and watched coldly while smoking a cigarette. Her attitude was unpredictable, sometimes with a vague smile, and sometimes very cold, with sudden hatred in her eyes. Like fake.I secretly mentioned this to Jin Zhu, and Jin Zhu said flatly: "She said that she hates being a soldier the most, have you forgotten?"

Of course I do.I guess my mother-in-law had some trouble with the soldiers.

Jinzhu and I borrowed a room with only one single bed. "Anyway, you two are so tired, just squeeze." That's what my mother-in-law said at the time.When Jinsuke turned over at night, he couldn't help complaining that he couldn't even bend his legs, and it was uncomfortable to sleep stiffly.I thought it was funny, so I said I was the one who suffered more, my legs were longer than his.He was very angry and reached out to hit me, but I blocked it.

"As soon as you have strength, you become arrogant." He said viciously.

"Yeah, don't get excited, you beat me in any fight." I was very proud.

"Tch, I haven't lost before." He turned sideways and grabbed my hair and pulled it towards him, looked at my face carefully, and said, "I grew flesh after eating a few full meals, Are you a pig?"

"Go to hell!" I slapped him hard on the head, but I didn't say a word—so I'm taller than you.Considering that his physical strength has not fully recovered, he may not be able to beat him, so he swallowed it back abruptly.

But he didn't hit me back, but pulled me into his arms abruptly, and said lazily, "I won't die, and so do you, the wig. At this point, no one can make any mistakes."

Listening to his steady heartbeat, I felt warm all over my body.He is not a talkative person, and when he was younger, he was even more reticent. Occasionally, when he talked too much, he was quarreling, and his words were like a knife.During the days when he eloped to the island before the war, he argued endlessly every night because of his meanness, and even escalated to fistfights.However, in the past two or three months, he has confessed his heart to me several times, which made me feel that I was cherished and loved by him.I feel very comforted.

I said to him: "Listen, Zhu Jin, I don't know how you changed your mother-in-law's mind, but I know you must have made some incredible concessions. You did this for me, and I do it for you." Also live well. I will never leave you again in this life. From now on, no matter what you want, I will accompany you. If you want to go up the mountain, I will never go to the sea. If you want to stay in Okinawa, I will never go back to Tokyo. You just want to kill Whoever, I'll make up for you too."

When it came to the last sentence, even I was a little startled. This is not my usual style. Is my love for him so deep?I didn't realize it so clearly before.

He must have thought the same way. After a long silence, he suddenly laughed and said, "That's not like what you can say, wig."

"But mother-in-law is right. You really talk a lot of nonsense. Compared with these things, the most important thing is to take good care of me after I get well. I don't want to be abstinent like a monk all the time."

What is this response?flirting?Thinking of this, I turned around in despair and fell asleep by myself.Then his arms stretched out from behind and hugged me, which is my favorite position.Neither of us spoke anymore, and there was no more movement.His warm breath hit my ears, and I closed my eyes in peace, telling myself that everything was conveyed.He understands.

A few days later, someone knocked on the door at lunch time. I was about to open it when my mother-in-law stopped me.She cautiously opened the corner of the curtain and looked out. "Americans." She told us in a low voice, looked at the dining table with three sets of bowls and chopsticks, pondered for a few seconds, and said, "It would be difficult to hide and be found out, you two little devils, don't panic, pretend that my family is .”

The Americans came with an interpreter and said they wanted to check whether there were any remaining Japanese troops hiding in the residents' homes.The mother-in-law said lightly, of course not, there are only two ineffective grandchildren in the family, and they are still a little bit younger, so they didn't go to war.

"Xiao Taro, pour some water for the guests." My mother-in-law told me.

There were five or six people on the other side, all holding guns in their hands.I weighed it up and felt that our side really couldn't gain advantage in the competition of force, and it would be safer to do what my mother-in-law said.

I calmly took out a few finely shaped teacups from the cupboard, went into the back room to grab some tea, and filled them with hot water that had not been boiled for a long time.These days, serving my mother-in-law to drink tea has become a daily compulsory. I know that my mother-in-law's intention is to let the Americans see that I am familiar with the details of the family. In fact, the expressions of one or two American soldiers have already shown a bit convince.

When he handed the tea cup to one of the brown-haired men, he looked me up and down, "Is it really a boy?" He smiled and asked his companion, "Like a girl, I have never seen such a delicate one in China."

I subconsciously glanced at Jinzhu, and his face turned black.

"It's just a little strange. Although the two boys are very good-looking, they don't look alike at all. Is it really your grandson?" The man's smile suddenly became meaningful, and then he noticed Jinsuke's eyes , slowed down and said, "And what's the matter with this injury? No matter how you look at it, it's suspicious, isn't it?"

"My father married two children. He and I are of the same father." Jinzhu replied calmly, "I was stabbed in the eye by my mother when I was a child. You Americans will not understand."

Oh, he's a great liar, much better than me.

"Is that so. Where's your father, son?" the man asked again.

"I went out two months ago to handle the goods and never came back."

"Mother?"

"I went with my father."

"Where's his mother?"

"Remarried, without bringing him with me, it's not easy to drag the oil bottle."

I seem to hear a bit of mischief, but it's not good to fight against him under such circumstances, so I can only bite the bullet and listen.

The brown-haired man didn't ask any more questions, but just stared at him thoughtfully.After a while, he said to the people around him: "It's too calm, isn't it? As a child under 20 years old."

My scalp went numb.He actually thought of this layer.What he said was not unreasonable. Under normal circumstances, even a boy would find it difficult to be so calm when talking about his parents whose whereabouts were unknown. There should be some emotional fluctuations to some extent.

"He was born like this. That's why his father treated him badly." The mother-in-law interjected quietly, "My son prefers the other one, he is more well-behaved." The mother-in-law pointed at me.

"But you'd better not ask any more questions. My son's disappearance is not unrelated to you. I don't want to hear anyone mention him again." The mother-in-law showed displeasure.

The brown-haired man smiled: "Since the old man insists on saying that, we can't stay any longer. We can ignore the long-haired child. He is so beautiful and slender. I still believe that he has never fought a war." His frivolous tone It made me very uncomfortable, but he immediately changed the topic, "That man with bandages on his eyes is not easy to deal with, this calm demeanor is good for a soldier, I'm afraid you still have to go with us .”

His words made my head vibrate, and before my brain could react, I was already furious, "Who dares to take my brother away, I want your life!" When it landed on the ground, the Americans were stunned by a crackling sound.

"So fierce? It seems that my judgment just now was still wrong, and both of you have to be taken away." The brown-haired man's smile disappeared, and his expression suddenly became stern.

Once again, I felt the desperation at the gunpoint of the Americans that day, and sadly realized that this time there would be no Silver Hour to come and help.Forget it, the big deal is to be a prisoner of war with Jin Zhu, as long as they are alive, it is always good to be able to stay together.

"If this is the case, please allow me to pack a package for my two grandchildren, I'm afraid they will be hungry." Although the mother-in-law was begging, she didn't lower her posture at all, her chin was raised high.

The American nodded.

After my mother-in-law entered the back room, Jinzhu and I looked at each other, he squeezed my wrist calmly, maybe hinting that I should not act rashly.In fact, he doesn't need to worry about me. I am already content to be with him until now.It’s nothing to be imprisoned for a few years. I have starved to death and died. I will not be afraid anymore.

I imitated his provocative way and raised an eyebrow to show that I didn't care.He seemed relieved and gave me a faint smile back.

"I don't know what the old lady will prepare for us." He winked at me.

Well, I'm curious too.

No one thought that when the mother-in-law appeared again, she was holding a rifle in her hand, which was the one she had pressed against Jinzhu's forehead last time.The Americans were taken aback and raised their guns in unison.The translator stomped his feet and said, "Grandma, what are you doing? You are an old lady with a gun, can you beat them?"

"Don't be so wordy." The mother-in-law yelled at him sullenly, "Tell them, if they want to take my grandson away, kill me, the old woman first!"

I was stunned. Although my mother-in-law took us in out of benevolence and righteousness, she has always been picky and picky towards us. She has never given us a good face. Fight to this point.

The Americans began to yell, and I couldn't hear a word because I was shocked by my mother-in-law.

"Mother-in-law, you don't need to involve yourself." Even Jin Zhu persuaded her seriously.

"Don't talk too much!" The old man shouted sharply, his emotions were very agitated, and veins burst out on the creased skin around his neck.She stared at all the guns facing her with piercing eyes, and said loudly, "You foreign devils, it's not enough to take away my son, you even refused to let go of my ten-year-old grandson! Don't you have no parents and no brothers? Do you want to kill them all like this? Look at the two of them, take a good look! Their faces haven’t fully grown yet, and they haven’t even touched a woman. What good will it do you to catch such a brat? You can tell me !"

"I'll stop talking today. If you insist on snatching my grandson away, I will fight with you! Anyway, they have no father or mother now. It's not easy for the three of them to die together." Okay?" The mother-in-law started to sneer at the end, her eyes full of murderous intent, like a she-wolf who was cornered to protect her cubs.

It's too bad that I had prepared for the worst and didn't anticipate this move.We have already caused so much trouble for my mother-in-law. If we kill her again, we will not be able to pay for it in a few lifetimes.

"Don't listen to her, she is not my grandma." I told the truth in a heartbeat, "Take us away and let this old man go, this matter has nothing to do with her."

I didn't expect an American to smile at me. "I believe it now. They are real grandparents." He said to the others. "The old lady reminds me of my grandma. If someone wants to hurt me, she will do it. I am sure. And only relatives The grandson would rather be arrested and protect grandma."

"I agree." Another person put down the gun in his hand, "It doesn't make sense. Such a young child looks younger than my brother who just entered college."

"Forget it, George," they all advised the brown-haired man.

Finally, the brown-haired man compromised. He shook his head helplessly and said to his mother-in-law, "I don't trust you anymore, I just obey the majority."

When they left, the brown-haired man turned his head and gave me a wink: "You're lucky. Repay that respectable old man well in the future."

After the Americans left, my mother-in-law sat back on the chair without saying a word, and I didn't know what to say. "Thank you" was so weak that it was not worth my gratitude to her old man.Jinsuke had already cleaned up the broken teapot pieces on the ground.I had no choice but to silently take the gun from my mother-in-law, put it away in the back room, and then folded back and sat down at the dinner table.

"Eat." The mother-in-law waved her hand weakly.

The three of us continued to have lunch quietly, and the atmosphere was more subtle than ever.The performance just now seemed to have brought about a little change in the original situation. I was suddenly ashamed to speak to my mother-in-law, and I was a little embarrassed when I thought of her affectionately calling me and Jinzhu as grandchildren just now.

"I owe you again, mother-in-law." Jin Zhu broke the silence.

"Huh, the doctor's parents' heart. I did this because the kid with the wig is still in shape. Don't think too much about it." The mother-in-law didn't look up at him, "I still hate you two. I hate soldiers."

"Why, mother-in-law? It's not easy for soldiers. Who really wants to leave home to fight? We also risk our lives to protect the country and protect others." I couldn't help but say.

The mother-in-law snorted coldly: "Protect me. Look at what this island is like now. It's like a morgue. Who did you protect, tell me."

My mother-in-law's nonsense made me a little angry, but I just received a great favor from her, so I can't get angry, so I can only listen to her honestly.

"There is a boy in the village next door who is about your age. A while ago, he and his father delivered food to the army. Then one day suddenly the father and son died together, and the body was thrown by the side of the road and was brought back by other villagers. The soldier Said it was done by the Americans."

"Don't Americans not kill civilians?" I asked angrily.

My mother-in-law gave me a blank look: "You are really naive. Of course it was the Japanese soldiers who did it. There is not enough food. Many people who sent food to the army died in vain."

"Impossible!" I absolutely don't believe that such a thing happened. Isn't the army just there to protect the people?There is no reason for cannibalism.

"What is this? Throughout June the army has been forcing the villagers to commit suicide, especially the girls. They keep saying that the Americans will spoil the big girls, but in fact they are the ones who do most of these nasty things. Besides suicide, It’s not to save food for export. In the end, it’s just for my own survival.”

Every word of my mother-in-law is like a heavy hammer hitting my heart.She lied to me.Yes, she must be lying to me.The mother-in-law is not a bad person, there must be someone with evil intentions to deceive the public.

"I don't believe it." I insisted stubbornly.

"That's why you're stupid." The mother-in-law shook her head helplessly, "I didn't expect you to know this. Ask that brat, if he believes it or not."

I stared blankly at Jin Zhu, and he nodded without showing any emotional change on his face.

"I haven't told you. It's better for you not to know." He said calmly.

It was brutal.Everyone is cruel.So does the army, so does Jinzhu, and so does the mother-in-law.The world must be broken.

I have never felt such a strong hatred, its object unknown.It's good to want to destroy something, but what else can I destroy?Except myself.

It's ridiculous.ridiculous!

I didn't say another word that afternoon.My mother-in-law and Jin Zhu also ignored me tacitly.During dinner time, I hid in the room angrily and refused to eat. Jinsuke came in with a bowl of rice covered with vegetables, put it on the table, and left without saying a word.He didn't even look at me.This is even better, I'm in a manic state that I can't even look at, I'm afraid I can fight with him all the time.

The night was getting dark, but Jinsuke still didn't go back to the house.I couldn't hold back and went to the kitchen, but I didn't see him and my mother-in-law, and went to my mother-in-law's bedroom, but there was still no one.Later I found them in the yard. The two of them moved wicker chairs and sat there, drinking wine leisurely.My mother-in-law greeted me when she saw me. "Come and drink with mother-in-law." She waved to Assistant Jin again and said, "You drink too much, my little baby can't stand such a drink, you two change shifts."

Jin Zhu walked away tactfully.The mother-in-law obviously wanted to distract him.He gave me a deep look before entering the room, but I deliberately avoided my eyes.

I picked up the wine glass and took a sip, it was surprisingly mellow.

"Not bad, right? Brewed at home, old Chen after two summers." My mother-in-law told me proudly.

I nodded and continued drinking.

My mother-in-law sighed, and tapped my head lightly with her index finger: "You child, you are too serious. You should never get involved in such things as war. War is never a good thing."

I was bored for a while, and finally asked her: "Excuse me for being abrupt, does the death of my mother-in-law and husband have anything to do with the army?"

The mother-in-law chuckled, sipped her glass, and said, "You're not too stupid, you still thought of it."

"Yes. My foolish husband died in Lushun, China 40 years ago. He was not killed by the Qing soldiers, but by his own people." You have to stop it, and you have to intervene when you see someone wanting to spoil a girl. In the end, you were killed by your own people."

"The army said it was killed in battle, but the truth was told to me by a mutual friend of ours. I was not surprised at all. No one knows my man better than me, so he won't die in battle."

Although I had prepared for it long ago, I was still very sad for her when I heard my mother-in-law say this with my own ears.

"He is a good man, as good as my mother-in-law." I said.

"It's much better than mine." The mother-in-law said, taking out her usual pipe from her pocket and stroking it carefully, "This is what he used to use when he was alive. You don't even know that when he was in his twenties, he played with ten hands with one hand. With purple smoke floating in his hand, I don't know how many little girls are fascinated by him when walking on the street."

"Must be handsome, my mother-in-law's husband?"

"Incredibly handsome, better than you and that brat combined." The mother-in-law replied without hesitation.

I can't help laughing.They must have been very much in love.

"Actually, you're pretty smart sometimes, but you're still a bit worse than that kid. He got these words out of me a few days ago. He's a ghost." The mother-in-law chuckled.

My heart sank when I heard that, but he didn't tell me.His heart is too deep, how many things are he hiding from me?I always thought that I was honest with him, but it seems that I was too wishful thinking.

"You, don't blame him. Sometimes the more you care about a person, you will hold some words in your heart. He thinks enough for you." The mother-in-law said.

"Do you care about it or not? We are just...ordinary friends..." I insisted.

"Bah! Hahahaha, you're so ridiculous." It's the first time my mother-in-law couldn't close her mouth like this in front of me. I guess she drank too much. "Look at the brown-haired devil who praised you for being beautiful today, how dark his face is. I'm still an ordinary friend, am I a fool when you treat me as an old woman?"

I was so embarrassed that I didn't know what to say, but my mother-in-law didn't seem to dislike our relationship, which made me very relieved.I like my mother-in-law very much.I will be distressed to be hated by such elders.

"Today's moon is so nice, so gentle." The mother-in-law leaned back on the chair and looked up at the sky. "After I married him, I haven't seen the moon with him a few times. It's been 40 years I don’t know if he’s okay there or not.”

What my mother-in-law said is right, the faint half moon in the sky is quiet and beautiful, like a soft halo. "Go back and be with your little friend. Let me be alone with my husband for a while." The mother-in-law stroked the pipe without looking at me.

The moment I stepped on the steps, I heard her say to the void: "If you are still alive, our grandson will also be this big. Chen Goro."

The voice was infinitely gentle, drifting away in the cool breeze of the summer night.It is warm and moist, like a drop of tear slowly oozing out, wetting the shimmering night.

I think he must have heard it.That Mr. Chen Goro.