Double-Cut During the War of Resistance: My Wife Came from 1937

"Sir, it's time to eat!"

Outside, the voice of guard Zhang Xixuan could be heard.

Commander Liu opened the door and immediately saw Zhang Xixuan carrying a wooden tray.

There were two bowls of whole wheat noodles on top, with some diced meat on top, as well as a bowl of cornmeal and pumpkin porridge and a few small sweet potatoes.

Commander Liu gestured, "Take it inside!"

"Why!"

Zhang Xixuan hurriedly carried the tray into the house.

As soon as he entered, he saw stacks of clean white papers piled on the floor, two backpack-like objects, and a dozen transparent bags filled with candies.

He was very puzzled: "When were all these things brought in?"

Although he had doubts, he dared not ask any further questions. He put the things on the table and turned to leave.

Commander Liu said with a smile, "Old Zhang, Xia, let's have dinner first!"

"good!"

Political Commissar Zhang sat down at the table, looked at the noodles on it, and said, "Xia, come and eat some noodles. It's been so long since I've had noodles."

In the early stages of the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Eighth Route Army's food supplies were provided by the Kuomintang and Yan Xishan.

Yan Xishan was a miserly man who was stingy even with his own troops, let alone the Eighth Route Army. He never delivered on his promises of supplies and ammunition, and all he did was desperately complain about being poor.

The Kuomintang has always regarded our party as a major threat, and naturally it has made things difficult for us in various ways.

During this period, the Eighth Route Army's food was not good, so they came up with the idea of ​​self-reliance.

By 1942, the 115th Division had ensured that each person had 5 qian (approximately 25 grams) of oil, 5 qian (approximately 25 grams) of salt, and 1 jin (approximately 500 grams) of vegetables per day.

In most units of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region, each person received 3 qian of salt and 2 qian of oil.

However, it was the early stage of the War of Resistance against Japan, and the food was not as good as it was in the later stages.

In particular, the Eighth Route Army emphasized unity between officers and soldiers. Even in peacetime, Commander Liu and Political Commissar Zhang would not eat alone or have special meals.

Today was an exception; it was because Division Commander Liu was worried about Political Commissar Zhang's health.

"Let's give it to Commander Liu!"

Xia Weiwei picked up the corn porridge and placed it in front of her.

Commander Liu said, "Xia, this was specially made for you."

Xia Weiwei replied, "I've eaten a lot of delicious food these past few days at the Future Hotel. We've had roast duck, steamed pork with rice flour, stir-fried beef with yellow peppers, and all sorts of other dishes—chicken, duck, fish, pork, beef, and lamb. Every meal has been rice and wheat flour, so you should eat these noodles, Chief!"

Political Commissar Zhang asked, "Will we really be able to eat rice and wheat flour every day in the future?"

"Absolutely true!"

"Hongwei's supply and marketing cooperative, which is basically the village's small general store, has people delivering steamed buns and sesame cakes every day. Quite a few villagers come to buy these!"

Xia Weiwei nodded and said, "In later generations, there are people who specialize in steaming bread and making sesame cakes. Ordinary people are no longer willing to do it themselves. After all, buying some steamed buns and sesame cakes doesn't cost much, and making them yourself would be a waste of time."

Commander Liu said with deep emotion, "Being able to eat rice and wheat flour every meal, and being able to buy meat whenever we want—isn't this the communism we've been pursuing?"

"No, this is only the primary stage of socialism!"

Xia Weiwei said, "They haven't reached the point of distribution according to need yet; it's still distribution according to work, and there are still many capitalists. So they haven't reached the level of communism yet."

"If the primary stage of socialism is this advanced, what will the advanced stage be like?"

Political Commissar Zhang said, "I really want to see it with my own eyes!"

Xia Weiwei smiled and said, "Then the leader needs to take good care of his health. If he recovers, he might actually be able to see it again."

"That's right!"

Commander Liu agreed, saying, "Old Zhang, only by taking good care of your health can you see an increasingly better life."

"Oh, right!"

Suddenly, Xia Weiwei waved her hand on the table, and another plastic bag appeared.

She opened the plastic bag and took out some bread, cakes, four cans of luncheon meat, and four cans of Ganzhu brand fermented black bean dace.

"Yo!"

Commander Liu's eyes lit up, and he said, "What about bread and canned food?"

"There weren't many of them, so I didn't take any out!"

Xia Weiwei preached.

These foods were prepared by Ma Hongwei before she left, so that she could eat some whenever she was hungry.

"Not many? Oh~~"

Upon hearing this, Commander Liu and Political Commissar Zhang immediately understood.

Commander Liu chuckled and said, "Xia, it seems this Comrade Hongwei cares about you quite a bit."

"Exactly!"

Political Commissar Zhang nodded in agreement: "This canned food must be expensive, right?"

These days, a can of food costs more than two pounds of pork.

Hearing the two teasing each other, Xia Weiwei blushed instantly.

She couldn't help but threaten, "If you say that again, then we won't give you any food!"

"Eh? Eh? Eh!"

Commander Liu quickly interjected, "Since we've already brought out these valuable items, we definitely can't take them back!"

Political Commissar Zhang laughed and said, "I haven't tasted canned food from later generations yet!"

"Click!"

Xia Weiwei opened a can of luncheon meat and a can of dace with fermented black beans, saying, "Gentlemen, please eat!"

Commander Liu said, "This was specially prepared for you, you eat first!"

"Then I'll eat them all!"

Xia Weiwei said this, but she only scooped out a piece with her chopsticks and put the can on the table.

This was actually the first time she had ever eaten canned luncheon meat.

Xia Weiwei tasted it and found that the texture was a bit powdery, far inferior to ham sausage and corn sausage.

The canned dace was quite fragrant, with plenty of oil and a unique fermented black bean aroma.

Commander Liu, however, praised it, saying, "It's quite delicious! I think it tastes even better than the Japanese canned food!"

"I think this fish tastes even better; the bones inside are all soft and tender. It would probably be even more delicious with noodles."

As Political Commissar Zhang spoke, he directly scooped some fermented black beans and chili oil into his noodles, mixed them, and sure enough, the noodles tasted even better.

"Hey, feed me?"

Suddenly, the walkie-talkie crackled to life again.

"I am Xu... Please respond if you hear me, please respond if you hear me!"

Commander Liu suddenly stood up, picked up the walkie-talkie on the table, and replied, "Old Xu, this is Liu... I have received your message. Where are you now?"

Deputy Division Commander Xu said, "I'm here... It's more than 45 kilometers from the headquarters. I've been running here all afternoon."

Commander Liu glanced at the map on the wall, located the other party's position, and said, "Old Xu, you don't need to continue testing. Come back quickly; you might need to go back to northern Shaanxi!"

"Okay, I'll go back right now!"