Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

In Zhao Jia Yu during the twelfth lunar month, life seemed frozen in ice, passing slowly and heavily. The mountain wind howled and swirled through the gullies and ridges all day long, stinging faces, making the bare jujube tree branches creak and groan, and making the unease in people's hearts, born of this "windfall," even more precarious. In the largest cave dwelling of the Independent Regiment headquarters, the charcoal brazier burned brighter than usual, the crackling of the embers somewhat dispelling the bone-chilling cold, but unable to dispel the ever-tightening knot between Li Yunlong's brows.

Ever since Brigade Commander Chen came to "question" him and left full of doubts, Li Yunlong hadn't been able to relax. After the scouts discovered the cave in Black Tiger Gully that was stuffed with munitions, Zhao Gang and his men carefully transported the supplies back. Now, almost every nook and cranny in Zhao Jia Yu could be used to hide weapons. The soldiers had been equipped with brand-new Type 38 rifles, polished to a shine, and their ammunition pouches were bulging. Each company even received two Type 91 light machine guns and one Type 92 rifle, and the battalion also had mortars. The firepower was sufficient, but looking at these sophisticated "Japanese-made" weapons, Li Yunlong felt not at ease, but rather uneasy, as if he were walking on a thin layer of ice, not knowing when it would crack open.

He would rather these weapons had been seized from the Japanese by his brothers, sword and spear, even if it meant fighting tooth and nail, he would feel satisfied. But what was this? What kind of person was this "Mr. He," who appeared and disappeared like a ghost, dressed in Japanese clothing but speaking Chinese, wanting to exchange weapons for broken bottles and junk? Was he a man or a monster? Were these guns and cannons he sent a blessing or a curse? Li Yunlong racked his brains but couldn't figure it out, feeling only frustrated and with nowhere to vent his anger.

Just then, Xiuqin, the director of the Women's Salvation Association of Zhaojiayu, came to visit again.

Xiuqin was a beautiful young woman of twenty. She was of good appearance and had a strong build. She worked with great energy and was quick-witted. She could argue illogically and leave even the toughest men speechless. Ever since the Independent Regiment was stationed in Zhaojiayu, she had led the village women in making shoe soles, sewing uniforms, and caring for the wounded. Her support work was outstanding, and she was highly respected in the village and had become a familiar face at the regimental headquarters.

"Commander Li! Is Commander Li here?" Xiuqin's clear and loud voice, with a slight Shanxi accent, came from outside the cave. Before she finished speaking, the curtain was lifted, and a cold wind followed a figure wearing a blue cotton-padded jacket with white flowers and a red headscarf into the cave.

Li Yunlong, engrossed in studying the Japanese "cage policy" on the map, didn't even look up, and snorted irritably, "What are you shouting for? I'm not deaf!"

Xiuqin wasn't annoyed. She walked a few steps to the charcoal brazier, rubbed her hands which were red from the cold, and stared intently at Li Yunlong's face with her big eyes: "Commander, I have something important to discuss with you!"

"What important business could you possibly have? Are you here again to ask for flour to make dumplings for the wounded?" Li Yunlong finally looked up and glanced at her.

"No, not this time!" Xiuqin puffed out her chest, her voice even louder. "I'm here to plead for our Women's Salvation Association! Commander, look, our Independent Regiment has upgraded its weaponry; guns and cannons are piled up like small mountains. But our comrades in the Women's Salvation Association are busy transporting supplies, caring for the wounded, and relaying messages all day long. Sometimes we even have to evade Japanese raids, and we don't even have a decent weapon! We only have a few old rifles, and they often jam! What if we run into some collaborators or small Japanese units? I don't ask for much; just give our Women's Salvation Association a few good guns, and enough ammunition!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yunlong laughed, both amused and angry: "Hey! Director Xiuqin, you've got quite the nerve! Good guns? Ample ammunition? Do you think this is an arsenal? Besides, what would your Women's Salvation Association need guns for? If we really run into the Japanese, with your limited skills, having guns would just be handing equipment to the Japanese!"

"Commander! I don't like hearing that!" Xiuqin raised her eyebrows, put her hands on her hips, and said, "What's wrong with our Women's Salvation Association? Men can fight the Japanese, but women can't? My husband died fighting the Japanese! Besides, having a gun in hand makes us feel safer. If something happens, we can help by keeping watch, relaying messages, or even firing snipers! It's better than being empty-handed, isn't it? Commander, just tell me if you'll give it to us or not!"

As she spoke, her eyes were fixed on Li Yunlong. Besides her self-righteousness, there seemed to be something else hidden in her gaze. They were bright and sparkling, carrying a stubbornness that would not give up until she achieved her goal.

Li Yunlong felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze, and waved his hand as if shooing away a fly: "Go away, go away, don't cause trouble here! I'm annoyed right now! We'll talk about the guns later!"

"Later? When is 'later'?" Xiuqin persisted. "Commander, are you looking down on us women? Political Commissar Zhao said that women hold up half the sky!"

"Zhao Gang? What nonsense is he spouting now?" Li Yunlong was even more annoyed when he heard Zhao Gang's name.

"Political Commissar Zhao said that we should respect the opinions of female comrades and consider reasonable requests!" Xiuqin invoked his authority.

The two started arguing back and forth in the cave. Li Yunlong had a loud voice, and Xiuqin's voice was just as loud. They were both in the right, which attracted several staff officers and guards to peek in from outside the door, covering their mouths and chuckling.

Finally, Zhao Gang, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, smoothed things over. After much persuasion, Zhao Gang promised to allocate five relatively good Type 38 rifles and some ammunition from the weapons he had recently "acquired" to the Women's Salvation Association for emergency defense and training. Only then did he appease Xiuqin. Xiuqin, having received confirmation, beamed with joy. Before leaving, she gave Li Yunlong one last deep look, her gaze softening and carrying a hint of something indescribable, before lifting the curtain and departing.

"That crazy woman..." Li Yunlong muttered, sitting back down in front of the map, but he was a little uneasy.

From that day on, Xiuqin visited the regimental headquarters much more often. Sometimes she came to report on the work of the Women's Salvation Association, sometimes she came to deliver newly made insoles or boiled sweet potatoes, and sometimes she simply "passed by," came in to warm herself by the fire, and exchanged a few words with Zhao Gang, but her eyes always kept glancing towards Li Yunlong. Not only Zhao Gang, but even the few teenage guards in the regimental headquarters could see through her little scheme.

At first, Li Yunlong didn't realize what was going on; he just thought this woman was fussy and annoying. But he couldn't resist Xiuqin's feisty yet tenacious "offensive." She was also very direct in caring for him. Seeing that Li Yunlong's uniform was torn, she took it back without a word and mended it meticulously; hearing that he had a weak stomach, she went to great lengths to get him some millet porridge; when the regimental meeting went on late into the night, she would always "coincidentally" bring him a jar of hot water or a few golden-brown roasted cornbreads…

After a while, even Li Yunlong, this blockhead, started to warm up a bit. He didn't say it aloud, but he felt that Xiuqin, though boisterous, was kind-hearted, hardworking, and a good person to manage a household. Especially when she talked about her fallen man, the mixture of sorrow and determination in her eyes gently touched a part of Li Yunlong's heart, a veteran who had also seen countless deaths on the battlefield.

Zhao Gang observed all of this. As the political commissar, he keenly realized that this might be a good thing. Li Yunlong was getting on in years, had a fiery temper, and was quite carefree in his personal life; he definitely needed someone who cared for him. Xiuqin was upright and hardworking, with a strong attachment to the army. If the two of them could become a couple, it might help stabilize Li Yunlong's emotions and make him more concerned (and to some extent, more cautious). Of course, this was all predicated on Li Yunlong's own willingness.

So Zhao began to intentionally or unintentionally try to bring them together. He had Xiuqin sit in on meetings (ostensibly to let local comrades understand the work of the army), arranged jobs for the two to have more contact, and privately talked to Li Yunlong, subtly hinting at the possibility.

"Old Li, what do you think of Comrade Xiuqin?" Zhao Gang asked casually after the two of them checked the weapons list.

"What do you mean, how is it? It's just so-so. The director of the Women's Salvation Association is quite proactive in her work." Li Yunlong mumbled, wiping his pistol.

"Just being proactive at work?" Zhao Gang pushed up his glasses and chuckled. "I think she's quite 'proactive' towards you too. Old Li, you're not young anymore, you should start thinking about your personal life. Comrade Xiuqin is a good comrade, if you two can get together, the organization will support and bless you."

Li Yunlong's face flushed red, and he retorted, "Old Zhao, stop talking nonsense! What time is it now? We're thinking about fighting the Japanese all day long, we don't have time to think about this!"

"Fighting the Japanese and living a normal life aren't mutually exclusive," Zhao Gang said patiently. "Once you're married and have someone to care about, you might be more reliable in battle. Look at Old Ding (Ding Wei), he's married too, and he's living a pretty good life."

Li Yunlong fell silent, but slowed down his movements as he cleaned his gun.

With Zhao Gang's tacit approval and even encouragement, Xiuqin's "offensive" became clearer. She was no longer satisfied with just sending gifts and finding excuses to meet; she began to express her concern more directly, and even occasionally said things that were rustic yet straightforward and passionate.

"Commander, you're a good person in every way, except you don't know how to take care of yourself! How can you manage without someone by your side?"

"Commander, I know you have the important matter of fighting the Japanese in your heart, but you still need to eat, sleep, and your clothes need mending! I even have children to carry on your family line."

"Commander, what do you think of me? If you agree, I promise I'll take good care of you and won't interfere with your fighting the Japanese!"

Li Yunlong had never experienced anything like this before. Caught off guard by Xiuqin's direct attack, he was at a loss, unable to curse or dodge, yet the strange feeling in his heart grew clearer and clearer. He found himself starting to look forward to Xiuqin coming to the regimental headquarters; hearing her loud voice seemed to enliven the air in the cave dwelling.

On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the Little New Year was approaching. Xiuqin, along with the women from the Women's Salvation Association, brought a large bowl of steaming hot dumplings with generous fillings and thin wrappers to the regimental headquarters. Watching the soldiers eat with relish, Xiuqin smiled broadly, but her gaze always lingered on Li Yunlong.

After the meal, Zhao Gang made an excuse to send everyone else away, leaving only Li Yunlong and Xiuqin in the cave. The charcoal brazier was burning brightly, making their faces glow red.

Xiuqin mustered her courage, walked up to Li Yunlong, tilted her head back, and looked at him with eyes as bright as the cold stars outside the window: "Commander, you know how I feel. I'll just ask you one question: are you... are you willing? If you are, let's get it done during the New Year! If you're not willing, I... I promise I'll never bother you again!"

Having said all that, Li Yunlong could no longer feign ignorance. Looking at the woman before him, her cheeks flushed, her eyes resolute yet tinged with nervousness, and recalling all that had happened between them these past few days, the hardest part of his heart seemed to melt away like embers. He opened his mouth, his throat dry, and finally, with a heavy "Mmm," nodded.

Xiuqin's eyes lit up instantly, her joy almost overflowing. She grabbed Li Yunlong's arm, her voice trembling slightly, "You...you agreed? You really agreed?"

"I promised! I keep my word!" Li Yunlong was also infected by her emotions and grinned. Although his smile was a bit simple, it was full of rare ease and warmth.

The news spread like wildfire, quickly reaching the regimental headquarters and the entire Zhao Jia Yu village. Soldiers cheered, villagers offered their congratulations, and this unexpected good news lifted the gloom of winter and war from Zhao Jia Yu's already heavy heart. Zhao Gang, acting as both "matchmaker" and political commissar, began preparing for a simple wedding. The date was set for five days later, the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, for good luck and to celebrate before the New Year.

The entire headquarters was bustling with activity, cleaning and setting up, and preparing simple food and drinks (mainly canned goods and sweet potato liquor that had been captured). Xiuqin was especially radiant, leading the women of the Women's Salvation Association to work through the night to make new quilts. Although the fabric was rough, every stitch was filled with joy.

However, amidst this increasingly festive atmosphere, there was one person who seemed to be living in a world of extremes. That person was Zhu Ziming.

Ever since "escaping" from that hellish interrogation room in Ping'an County, Zhu Ziming felt he was no longer the same person. The wound on his hand still throbbed, constantly reminding him of the terror and shame of that night. That "letter of allegiance" bearing his bloody handprint was like a red-hot iron, searing his soul day and night. He became taciturn, his eyes darting around. Although he continued working, he was always absent-minded, often lost in thought. He was plagued by nightmares, either dreaming of Yamamoto Ichiki's cold eyes and dripping saline solution, or of his betrayal being exposed, being scorned by his comrades, and being executed.

The festive atmosphere in the regiment, especially the news of Li Yunlong's upcoming marriage, was particularly jarring to him. He watched the occasional gentle smile on the regimental commander's face, so unlike his rugged appearance; he watched Director Xiuqin bustling about; he watched the soldiers' sincere blessings. His heart was filled with a jumble of emotions: shame, fear, jealousy, despair… a multitude of feelings gnawed at him.

Following Yamamoto Ichiki's instructions, he secretly observed the changes within the regiment, especially the deployment of new equipment and the possible movements of the mysterious "Mr. He" (though he had no clue whatsoever). However, he kept delaying, not passing on any information. Deep down, perhaps a sliver of hope remained, a fantasy that none of this had happened.

By the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, wedding preparations were in their final stages. The regiment decided to hold a simple ceremony on the evening of the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month at the threshing ground in the center of Zhao Jia Yu village, with a few tables set up for the regiment's main cadres and some of the village's elders. This news was no longer a secret within the regiment.

Zhu Ziming knew he couldn't delay any longer. Yamamoto Ichiki's eyes, seemingly capable of seeing through everything, were watching him from the shadows. He remembered the "letter of allegiance," Yamamoto Ichiki's hints about "family" and "future," and even more so, the unimaginable pain of saline solution dripping onto his wound…

Fear ultimately prevailed over everything.

Late at night on the 26th of the twelfth lunar month, under the pretext of checking the village entrance sentry post (one of his duties as a security officer), Zhu Ziming quietly slipped out of Zhao Jia Yu. Familiar with the terrain, he avoided possible patrol routes and, like a frightened bird, stumbled along the cold night toward Ping'an County. His heart was pounding, but the icy wind couldn't dry the cold sweat on his forehead.

In an abandoned melon shed, about seven or eight miles from Ping'an County, following Yamamoto Ichiki's instructions, he left behind a small bamboo tube wrapped in oiled paper and tucked into a crack in the wall. Inside was a brief intelligence message written in coded language, reporting that Li Yunlong, the commander of the Independent Regiment, would be holding his wedding in Zhao Jiayu Village on the evening of the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, and mentioning that the main officers of the regiment headquarters might gather at that time, which could provide an opportunity for the guards to take advantage of the situation.

Having done all this, he felt completely drained, collapsing onto the cold ground, gasping for breath, his whole body trembling. Gazing at the dark night sky, he didn't know if this step he had taken led to temporary "safety" or a deeper, unfathomable abyss. He only knew that he could never go back; Zhu Ziming, who had once joined the Eighth Route Army with simple ideals, had died in that dimly lit interrogation room in Ping'an County.