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

Chapter 97 Extra 1
After hiding in Xiaoshi Village for a month, Han Mengyang received an order to transfer him back to the revolutionary holy land of Yan'an.

Huang Shufen refused to go and insisted on returning to Shanghai to find her daughter. However, the situation in Shanghai was becoming increasingly serious, and Han Mengyang didn't dare to take the risk of not being able to return. With no other options, Han Mengyang sent a telegram to report his safety, claiming it was from Han Hui.

Knowing that her daughter was safe, Huang Shufen went to Yan'an with Han Mengyang.

Upon arriving in Yan'an, the organization not only quickly arranged a job for him, but also actively introduced him to potential partners. Two months later, Han Mengyang fell in love with a woman named Zhang, and they soon got married.

Huang Shufen, constantly worried about her daughter's safety, had lost a lot of weight. However, just over a month after Han Mengyang's marriage, his wife was found to be pregnant, and the signs of the pregnancy weren't looking good. Han Mengyang was busy with work, so the burden of care fell on Huang Shufen.

Huang Shufen racked her brains to get Han Mengyang's wife to eat. Having something to do distracts one's attention and improves one's spirits.

Four years later, the Anti-Japanese War was won. Huang Shufen saw the news in the newspaper and told Han Mengyang that she wanted to go find Han Hui: "Your sister has been alone in Shanghai for the past four years. I don't know how she is doing."

Han Mengyang didn't want her to be tired and run around, as it was too inconvenient for her feet. "Mom, I'll go ask my boss for leave. If it's approved, I'll go tomorrow."

His boss knew that Han Mengyang asked for leave to go to Shanghai, so he refused without thinking, saying that it was too dangerous there.

Han Mengyang said, "Leader, my sister is very skilled. I think she must be fine. My mother misses my sister so much that she hides and cries. I have to go to Shanghai to find her."

His boss still rejected him.

Although Han Mengyang wanted to go, he had to give up because his boss would not approve his leave. Unexpectedly, the next day, the top leader of his department found him and told him that Han Hui had died four years ago.

Han Mengyang had actually suspected it a long time ago. Given his sister's personality, she would definitely come looking for them if she was safe. She hadn't shown up in four years, so it was likely something was wrong. It was just a guess, but facing it in person was hard to accept.

After a while, Han Mengyang asked with red eyes: "When did my sister sacrifice herself?"

The leader shook his head to indicate that he didn't know.

Han Mengyang said, "Leader, I want to go to Shanghai and retrieve the things my sister used. It can also be regarded as a memory for my mother."

The leader nodded in agreement: "I will arrange two people to go to Shanghai with you."

"it is good."

Upon returning to Shanghai, Han Mengyang discovered that their house had been occupied by a traitor four years earlier. Calculating the time, it should have been over a month since they left. Now, it was occupied by the family of a high-ranking officer of the Communist Party.

When his house was occupied, Han Mengyang went to look for Zhang Ziqiang. His sister was in Shanghai and was only close to Zhang Ziqiang, being wary of everyone else.

Zhang Ziqiang was surprised and delighted to see Han Mengyang and shouted, "Mr. Han..."

His name is Mr. Han Mengyang, which means respect. He can hardly read, so he especially admires those who are educated. Han Mengyang is a college student and holds a high position in his heart.

Han Mengyang said, "There's a teahouse up ahead. Let's go inside and talk."

After entering the teahouse's private room, Zhang Ziqiang asked, "Sir, where have you been all these years? Did you know that your house was taken over by that bastard named Wang from the police station?"

Han Mengyang nodded and said, "I know. Now it's occupied by a high-ranking official of the Guo Party. Brother Zhang, I came here to ask you, has Xiaoman contacted you since we left Shanghai?"

Zhang Ziqiang nodded and said, "Yes, more than half a month after you left Shanghai, the young lady gave me an iron box and asked me to pass it on to you or Auntie."

Han Mengyang paused. His sister had given Zhang Ziqiang the iron box before she died, indicating that she knew something might happen to her. "Where's the thing?"

Zhang Ziqiang said, "It's at my house. I'll go back and get it for you now."

"Don't worry. Besides the box, what else did Xiaoman tell you?"

Zhang Ziqiang remembered every word Han Hui said during their last meeting: "The young lady said that the world is unstable and paper money is unreliable. She asked me to exchange my money for silver or gold when I have it."

"anything else?"

Zhang Ziqiang shook his head and said, "No, that was the last time I saw the young lady. Mr. Han, you don't know the whereabouts of the young lady either?"

Han Mengyang said sadly, "Xiaoman she, she...Brother Zhang, please fetch the things."

It wasn't that he was being arrogant and didn't go to Zhang Ziqiang's iron box in person, but now that the Guo Party had taken over Shanghai, the relationship with the Red Party was sensitive. He knew Zhang Ziqiang's background very well and didn't want him to be involved.

"it is good."

Zhang Ziqiang went back and got the iron box. He said, "Mr. Han, where is the young lady buried? I want to go and pay my respects to her."

When they met for the last time, the young lady said that she might not be able to come back, so he made the worst plan. Han Mengyang said bitterly: "I don't know where she is now."

Although he had never seen her alive or dead, he still had some hope in his heart. His sister was so powerful that she might still be alive, so he didn't want to erect a monument.

Zhang Ziqiang handed a package to Han Mengyang, and when he refused, he said, “Mr. Han, this is something your family took.”

The traitor named Wang occupied the house, threw away everything inside and bought new ones.

Although Han Hui's purchases were all secondhand, they were all of good quality. The people who handled the purchases sold off the valuable items, such as bedding and furniture. Zhang Ziqiang, having heard about this, secretly bought most of the items. However, the bedding and furniture were too large to move, so he only took what was more portable.

Han Mengyang took the item and immediately gave Zhang Ziqiang a hundred dollars. Seeing that he refused to accept it, he said, "You're not rich yourself, so I can't take advantage of you. Take it! Otherwise, Xiaoman, Xiaoman will blame me if she finds out."

Zhang Ziqiang refused and explained, "The lady gave me a lot of Japanese currency and US dollars before she left. I bought some things and there is still some left!"

Han Mengyang didn't lie to her. Before boarding the ferry, Han Hui gave all her Japanese currency and US dollars to Zhang Ziqiang. A small portion of this money was used to buy things for the Han family, and the rest was exchanged for gold.

"Thank you."

After separating from Zhang Ziqiang, Han Mengyang returned to the hotel. The relationship between the two parties was delicate, but not yet severe, so it was safe for the time being.

After closing the door, Han Mengyang opened the iron box, which contained two large yellow croakers, two letters, and a stack of prescriptions.

Han Hui's letter to Han Mengyang describes the martial arts she learned from her master. Its advantages are that it can be learned quickly and becomes very powerful, but its disadvantage is that it can overdraft the practitioner's lifespan. She chose this martial art to protect her mother. Feeling her end was near, she wanted to do something monumental to make her life worthwhile.

At the end of the letter, she said she had sent a telegram to her superior, asking him to take Huang Shufen to the rear and get married and have children as soon as possible. If she died, Han Mengyang must not be in any danger again, otherwise Huang Shufen would definitely not be able to bear it and would follow him.

Han Mengyang is alive, married and has children, so Huang Shufen has spiritual support. She will be heartbroken knowing that her daughter is gone, but she can get through it.

Han Mengyang stared at the words "overdrawing a martial artist's life" intently, tears welling in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Xiaoman. It's my fault."

If he had been able to settle his mother and sister before going to Peking, his sister would not have been forced to choose such a desperate path.

He'd actually had his doubts before. He'd practiced martial arts for just over two years, yet he was stronger than those who'd practiced for twenty or thirty years. It was unbelievable. Since he couldn't explain it, he'd attributed it to natural talent. But the truth turned out to be so cruel.

Han Mengyang wiped his tears and opened the letter Han Hui wrote to Huang Shufen.

Han Hui's letter to Huang Shufen was gentle, explaining that she had contracted an incurable disease. She refused to endure the pain and desired a glorious death, a life well lived. So, she blew up the Japanese munitions depot and planned to bomb the passenger ship carrying the looted treasures back home.

Han Mengyang's hands trembled with shock at this, and the letter fell to the ground. Although he had left Shanghai, he had read about what happened during that period in the newspaper. He felt relieved at the time, but he never thought that all these things were done by his sister.

When Huang Shufen read the letter, she burst into tears: "Silly girl, why didn't you tell me that you had a terminal illness? Why?"

Han Mengyang and his wife persuaded her for a long time before she stopped crying.

Huang Shufen asked, "Meng Yang, where is Xiaoman buried? I want to go see her."

Han Mengyang said, "She is buried on a mountain outside Shanghai. Mom, when we return to Shanghai, I will definitely take you to see her."

As he said this, his heart ached. He suspected his sister had been killed in the bombing of the Japanese military police headquarters. His sister had made such a great contribution to the anti-Japanese war, yet in the end, not even a body remained.

"Xiaoman's grave is really in the suburbs."

Han Mengyang nodded and took out the package Zhang Ziqiang had given him: "Mom, this is what my sister left for you. Inside are her photos, some books and clothes."

Han Hui's tomb does exist outside Shanghai, but her body could not be found, so a cenotaph could only be erected.

When Huang Shufen saw Han Hui's photo, tears couldn't stop falling.

Han Mengyang endured the pain and comforted her, "Mom, don't cry. The doctor said that if you continue like this, it will hurt your body, and your sister will not be at peace in the afterlife."

Huang Shufen couldn't understand: "How could she have an incurable disease at such a young age? She didn't even tell us she was ill and went off to do something stupid."

Han Mengyang said, "Mom, Xiaoman has been afraid of taking medicine since she was a child. Forcing her to take medicine as food is worse than killing her. Mom, Xiaoman chose this path herself, and she has done it. We should be proud of her."

Considering my daughter's temper, if she had to take medicine every day and suffer from the pain, she would definitely not be able to bear it and might go to extremes.

Huang Shufen said, "Meng Yang, have you bought the land next to Xiao Man? When I am a hundred years old, I will be buried next to her."

Han Mengyang immediately said, "I will arrange for someone to buy it, and I will be buried there a hundred years later.