Courtyard House: Rebirth of a Shopkeeper in 1937

The villagers on the threshing floor gradually dispersed, but the fear and heaviness in their hearts lingered. Grandpa, along with Grandma and Uncle's family, went straight to the main room of Song's shop. The two families sat together, all with somber expressions and silent. The room was so quiet that only breathing could be heard, filled with the oppressive atmosphere of an impending storm. Seeing this, Xingbao quickly got up and poured hot tea for each of the elders, then obediently sat down next to Guixiang, quietly waiting beside her sister. In the large main room, only Guixiang, innocent and unaware of the adults' worries, was playing with the swaddled baby Weibao. The soft, playful sounds were the only lively noise in the oppressive atmosphere.

The deathly silence lasted for a long time before Grandpa finally spoke, his voice hoarse and weathered, revealing the anxiety in his heart: "Dawei, if the Japanese really attack, where should our whole family go to be safe?"

Xingbao sighed inwardly. In chaotic times, the first thought of ordinary people is to flee and avoid disaster; this is the most instinctive survival instinct of the poor. He also knew that the well-connected roads had become a double-edged sword: in normal times, they facilitated the movement of villagers and the flow of goods, but once war approached, the smooth roads would become the only way for the Japanese army to advance, making it easier for the enemy to advance while leaving the mountain villages without natural barriers, leaving them in a dilemma.

Upon hearing this, Father frowned, pondered for a moment, and then slowly revealed his plan in a calm and pragmatic tone: "Father-in-law, in my opinion, we don't need to flee far away. The Pig Mountain behind our house is high and densely forested, with treacherous terrain and rugged mountain roads. The Japanese are unlikely to rashly enter the mountains to search and annihilate us. We should hide in the mountains to avoid trouble first. If the situation becomes more critical, we can cross the mountains and hide deeper into the heart of Longshan. This method is the safest. It's close to home, we don't need to carry too much luggage, and Mother-in-law, the women in the family, and the children will suffer less from the hardship of traveling. I think the Japanese are just passing through this area, at most they will plunder some food and valuables. If we hide well, it won't be difficult to protect our lives and property."

The second brother listened attentively, recalling his father's words on Jinxianling Mountain, and couldn't help but ask, his tone filled with anticipation: "Father, you once told us that General Bai Chongxi said this area, surrounded by mountains, is a natural battlefield for luring the enemy deep into our territory and ambushing and annihilating them. Could it be that an army will come to garrison here and protect our homeland?"

Upon hearing this, Father's expression grew even more grave. He immediately shook his head in rebuttal, his tone full of helplessness: "If an army really comes to garrison here, we must hurry and run. Artillery shells don't discriminate. Once war breaks out, artillery fire will indiscriminately cover everything. We're afraid we won't be able to keep our shop, and even the survival of the entire village is uncertain. In chaotic times, the farther ordinary people go, the safer they will be."

After these words, the main room fell silent once more. Everyone felt a heavy weight in their hearts and remained speechless. After a long while, Grandpa slowly rose, his expression weary yet resolute. He instructed everyone, "Alright, let's proceed according to this plan. We'll go back first, quickly pack everything up, and find a place to hide the food in the house. You all should also prepare as soon as possible; it's always good to be prepared."

With the autumn harvest successfully completed, villagers began arriving one after another, bringing sweet potatoes from their own harvest to offset the cost of the sweet potato seedlings they had previously purchased on credit. The whole family busied themselves around the house full of sweet potatoes, baskets of plump, round tubers neatly stacked, weighing, recording, and moving them all proceeded smoothly and efficiently, the house filled with the satisfying, heartwarming atmosphere of a bountiful harvest. Just as everyone was busy and joyful, the eldest brother, who had only returned to the academy a few days earlier, suddenly rushed back in a flurry.

Xingbao, with his sharp eyes, immediately noticed that his elder brother's expression was off. On ordinary days, his brother would return home with a gentle, composed demeanor and relaxed expression, but today his face was tense, his eyes held a deep melancholy, and his entire being exuded an undisguised anxiety and heaviness. However, with neighbors coming and going and many eyes watching at home, he forced down his chaotic thoughts, managed a strained smile, and greeted his parents loudly, "Father, Mother, I'm home."

As soon as he finished speaking, without waiting for his family to ask any more questions, he quickly stepped forward, intending to take over the work from his second brother and carry the freshly weighed sweet potatoes to the backyard for storage, deliberately using the work to cover up his unusual behavior.

The mother, ever observant, immediately noticed her son's odd expression. Her heart clenched, and she anxiously pressed him for an answer: "Yanbang, you've only been at the academy for a few days. Why are you back so suddenly? Did something happen at the academy? Did you forget your books or belongings, or did something urgent occur?"

His mother's words, which had struck at his heart, caused the eldest brother's tense body to stiffen abruptly, his movements halting as he carried the basket. He remained silent for a moment, then slowly turned around, carefully choosing his words before suppressing the surging emotions within him. He spoke softly and slowly, "Mother, it's nothing. Yesterday, people from the National Salvation Association came to the academy to explain the current situation. They said that the core reason Wuhan ultimately fell and collapsed was the lack of air support. The soldiers had to withstand enemy artillery and air raids, resulting in extremely heavy casualties, which ultimately forced a full retreat."

He took a deep breath and continued in a deep voice, "Now the National Salvation Association has launched a fundraising campaign to save the country, shouting the slogan 'One dollar buys a bullet, ten dollars donates a wing,' and plans to hold a charity performance in Yongfeng Town in a couple of days to raise funds for airplanes to support the front lines. The teachers of the academy are considerate of the country's affairs and have the nation at heart, so they have given us a short day off to go home and discuss with our families, and to voluntarily donate according to our means, to do our part for the country."

Upon hearing this, Mother nodded slightly, understanding dawning on her. Then, as if remembering something, she patted the restless, fussy little Wei Bao in her arms and casually asked a question that had been lingering in her heart for a long time: "So, since you came back this time, have you found out even a little bit about your uncle?"

The atmosphere fell silent the moment the gentle question was asked. Xingbao clearly saw his older brother's already tense shoulders slump, his head bowed heavily, his thick eyelashes drooping to conceal the surging soreness in his eyes, and tears welling up in them. His voice was hoarse and choked with barely concealed sobs: "Mother, I... I haven't found out any news about my uncle yet."

He paused for a moment, clenched his fist as if making a tremendous decision, and looked up at his parents with earnest and firm eyes: "The country is in dire straits, and the soldiers on the front lines are fighting bloody battles. I want to donate some silver dollars to contribute to the country. Mother, what do you think?"

Hearing that there was still no news from her younger brother, a deep sense of loss and dejection instantly filled her eyes, all her worries and hopes of the past few days going to waste. She sighed softly, her voice tinged with weariness and helplessness, and replied gently, "Still no news... You and your father can discuss and decide about the fundraising."

After saying that, she held the innocent and unaware little Wei Bao in her arms, turned around and walked towards the counter with a dejected expression. Her heart was full of worries with nowhere to go, leaving only a silent heaviness in the room, which diluted the warm feeling of the harvest that had filled the room just now.