Starting from 40, holding the Star Mall to lead the motherland

Chapter 70 Leaked

Huang Shufen knew Zhang Ziqiang had helped Han Hui a lot, and she was very grateful. But she hadn't dared to give anything to him before, so this time, Han Hui asked, so she packed up Han Mengyang's old cotton-padded jacket and trousers and asked Xiaocao to take them over.

Seeing so many things, Zhang's mother was unwilling to accept them. Xiaocao said with a bitter face, "Auntie, these are sent by my wife and daughter. If you don't accept them, my wife and daughter will scold me for my incompetence. Auntie, please don't make it difficult for me."

There was no other way, Zhang's mother could only accept it.

Before Xiaocao left, she said, "Aunt, my young lady said that the two children are very sick and need to eat something good to replenish their health."

Zhang's mother also wanted her child to eat better to nourish her, but her family's situation did not allow it. However, when she opened one of the bags and saw the rice and flour inside, she understood the meaning of the words.

The Zhang family had only one room, which was already full for five people. They cooked in a low wooden shed outside. A six-year-old dog lay at the door, drooling at the aroma.

Each of the three children received a bowl of thick vegetable porridge. Da Gou and Gou Zi worked hard at it, but Xing'er was reluctant to pick up her chopsticks.

Mother Zhang asked curiously, "Xing'er, why aren't you eating?"

Hearing this, Xing'er put down her chopsticks, knelt on the ground and cried, "Grandma, I will work hard, please don't sell me out."

Tears streamed down her face as she spoke these words. Although she was young, she knew that the fate of sold girls was miserable.

Aunt Zhang was stunned at first, then furious. She ran outside and yelled, "Who the hell is spreading rumors that I'm selling my granddaughter? Come out if you have the guts."

When no one answered, she cursed loudly again, "You keep your mouth shut and spread rumors and stir up trouble everywhere. You have committed too many sins. After you die, the King of Hell will surely throw you into the eighteen levels of hell, where your tongue will be pulled out every day."

No one outside dared to answer.

Aunt Zhang knew the character of some people, so after scolding them, she went back to her room and said, "Just eat your porridge. Grandma and your father won't sell you out."

Someone had come to persuade her to sell Xing'er, saying that the family was in such financial difficulty that selling her granddaughter would not only free up a mouth to feed but also earn her some money to pay off her debts. However, if she were to be sold as a slave, she might end up in an unfortunate situation if she met a bad master.

Xing Er was surprised and delighted: "Grandma, is everything you said true?"

Mother Zhang patted her on the back and said, "When did grandma ever coax you? Eat quickly, or the porridge will get cold."

Looking at the children, who were so thin that only bones were left, Zhang's mother hesitated and picked up some braised dishes for each of them. The pig's head was left untouched, and they were given dried tofu and kelp, which were also good things for them.

The three children were given braised dishes, and they all took small bites and slowly savored them. Xing'er saw that there was no braised dish in Zhang's mother's bowl, so she picked up some dried tofu and gave it to her.

Mother Zhang touched Xing'er's head. How could she bear to sell such a caring daughter?
The next morning, Zhang Ziqiang came back and saw that his mother had made him a bowl of wild vegetable noodles with braised pork head as a side dish. "Mom, these are from Miss Han, right?"

Mother Zhang nodded and said, "Yes, they sent five kilograms of rice and five kilograms of flour, and specifically said they were for the children's health."

Zhang Ziqiang nodded to indicate that he understood.

Zhang's mother continued, "Yesterday, Miss Han had her maid deliver a set of cotton-padded clothes and trousers. She said they were worn by the young master of the Han family, but they are 70% new. Qiangzi, this is Miss Han seeing that we are in trouble and using this method to help us." "I know."

Zhang's mother then told her about the gossip in the alley: "I don't know who the hell is, saying nonsense in front of the children. Qiangzi, if anyone comes up to you and says such things, slap them in the face."

Zhang Ziqiang's face turned grim. His daughter was still young, but if she picked out the best qualities of him and that woman, she'd definitely be a good-looking girl when she grew up. Even so, someone was plotting against him. Their consciences were gone. Compared to these people, Team Leader Li and Miss Han were even more precious.

After waiting for five days, Han Hui went to the black market again to buy some goods, and then went back to Wang Chuan. This time, in addition to sending twenty large yellow croakers, she also included a list of goods.

Wang Chuan's hands began to tremble with excitement after reading the items on the list. The Dragon Guardians were truly amazing, able to obtain so many guns and medicines. Because the situation had been tense recently, he didn't dare to go to Qi Han at night and waited until the bookstore opened the next day.

Qi Han took him to the compartment and said in a low voice, "If you don't come to me today, I will go to you. The enemy already knows about the existence of the Dragon Guardian."

Wang Chuan's face turned extremely ugly. He controlled his anger and said, "Did the secret leaked from my hometown? How could you be so careless?"

Qi Han comforted him, "You don't have to worry. Even I don't know the identity of the Dragon Guardian. The devils won't be able to find him."

"Now that the devils know of the Dragon Guardian's existence, they will definitely find him at all costs."

Qi Han was silent for a moment, then said, "The Dragon Guardian's information was leaked, but we also gained something. We caught the Japs' spy, Fox."

Wang Chuan handed the list to Qi Han and said, "The Dragon Guardian sent twenty large yellow croakers last night. I've attached this list for you to see."

Qi Han took a deep breath after reading it all. Fifty Colt pistols, fifty Browning pistols, plenty of ammunition; five radios, complete with batteries, transistors, and other accessories; plenty of gauze, bandages, tourniquets, disinfectant, and so on; and four boxes of sulfa drugs—four boxes, not four pills.

There were actually five boxes of sulfa, but Han Hui kept one. Sulfa is the most effective anti-inflammatory drug currently available, and there's no telling when it might need to be used.

After a long pause, Qi Han said, "Comrade Li Jian, Comrade Shou Longzhe sent us so many supplies a few days ago, and now he's brought us so much more. Tell me, who is he?"

Wang Chuan speculated that the Dragon Guardian was probably a hermit, a master who had taken action simply because he couldn't stand the current state of affairs. However, due to his own carelessness, the Japanese had learned of the Dragon Guardian's existence. The Japanese were known for their intelligence, and Unit 76's henchmen knew them well. He was now deeply concerned about the Dragon Guardian.

Wang Chuan said, "Comrade Lao Qi, the Japanese already know about the existence of the Dragon Guardian. I think we should tell him about this and ask him to lie low."

Qi Han knew his concerns, and he was actually worried too: "I will report to my hometown tonight. After receiving instructions from my hometown, we will send a letter to the Dragon Guardian."

Han Hui wrote at the end of the list that they should find a safe house in the city and a safe house in the suburbs so that he could deliver the supplies.

They could arrange for delivery in the city, but if it was to be sent to the suburbs, someone had to be arranged to receive it back home. So, even though this telegram was risky, it had to be sent.

Han Hui knew that such a large batch of supplies would definitely require approval from higher authorities in the city, and it would also take some time to find a safe house, so she was not in a hurry to get the information from the dead mailbox.

(End of this chapter)