Holding the original shares, they fought all the way to the Korean War!

The next day.

It was still dark.

Zhou Tianyang opened his eyes.

He listened to the sounds around him for a moment.

everything is normal.

He sat up quietly, without disturbing anyone, put on his shoes, and walked to the entrance of the cave.

Ma Yong was leaning against the stone wall outside the kiln entrance, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

He turned around when he heard footsteps.

"Commander, you're awake."

"Um."

Zhou Tianyang sat down on the rock next to him, remained silent for two or three seconds, and then spoke.

"Ma Yong, I'm going home."

Ma Yong was stunned for a moment, but quickly understood.

This is outside Suzhou city, while the regimental commander's home is inside Suzhou city.

He nodded.

"Then you should go and come back soon. I'll have the brothers wait for you."

"It won't take long."

Zhou Tianyang stood up.

"I'm going back to get some dry food and say goodbye to my family. I'll be back in two hours at most."

"If he doesn't come back..."

Ma Yong took over the conversation.

"I'll bring some men into the city to find you."

"No need to look."

Zhou Tianyang's tone was very calm.

"If I don't return by then, you take the brothers and go back to Shanxi along the same route. Don't wait for me."

Ma Yong's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he swallowed his words and simply nodded.

"Then please be careful."

Zhou Tianyang didn't say anything more.

He turned and walked into the night.

When he arrived at the gate of Suzhou city.

The city gates had not yet opened, but a dozen or so people were already lined up inside, mostly carrying loads of vegetables to sell or go to the early market.

Zhou Tianyang mingled in the line, head down, looking no different from the other country folk waiting to go to the city.

After waiting for about ten minutes, the city gate creaked open.

Several puppet soldiers leaned lazily against the sides of the doorway, their eyes casually sweeping over the queuing crowd.

Zhou Tianyang followed the line forward, and when it was his turn, he took out the pass from his pocket and handed it over.

The puppet soldier took it and glanced at it, then looked up at his face.

Then he threw it back and waved it away.

Zhou Tianyang carefully put away his pass and walked into Suzhou City at a leisurely pace.

In the early morning, there were hardly any pedestrians on the streets of Suzhou.

Occasionally, you can see one or two early risers taking down the shop's door panels.

Zhou Tianyang walked briskly through the alley, turning several corners.

The back wall of the Zhou family's old house came into view.

Zhou Tianyang glanced around and confirmed that the alley was empty.

Then, he grabbed the top of the wall with both hands, and with a gentle flip, he landed on the ground.

It made almost no sound when it landed.

After he stopped, he quickly glanced around the yard.

The courtyard was quiet.

He walked across the courtyard to the main house and gently knocked on the door a few times.

It was especially clear in the quiet morning.

A rustling sound came from inside the house.

Then came footsteps, and the door was pulled open from the inside.

Zhou Kui stood behind the door, clearly awakened by the knocking.

After squinting and recognizing the person standing at the door, he was visibly stunned for a moment before stepping aside to let the doorway open.

"Come in and speak."

Zhou Tianyang slipped into the house and gently closed the door behind him.

Wang Lan also came out from the inner room, wearing an overcoat, the moment she saw Zhou Tianyang.

Her eyes lit up immediately, and she quickly stepped forward.

"Tianyang, why are you back at this time?"

"Mother, I'm passing through Suzhou and came back to visit."

Zhou Tianyang's voice was a few decibels lower than usual.

"I'd like to say goodbye, I have to go now."

Wang Lan's smile froze slightly.

But he quickly regained his gentle expression.

She didn't press for why they were in such a hurry, she just nodded.

"Then you wait here, Mother will go and make you something to eat, and also pack some dry rations for the journey."

She turned and walked toward the kitchen, her steps quickening as if afraid of delaying something.

Zhou Kui stood in the main room, his gaze fixed on Zhou Tianyang.

He paused for a few seconds, then gestured with his chin toward the study.

"Come in and talk."

The father and son entered the study one after the other.

Zhou Tianyang sat down in the chair opposite the desk, and Zhou Kui sat down opposite him.

The two were behaving exactly the same way they had during their late-night conversation a few days ago.

"You've come back this time because you have something to say?"

Zhou Kui spoke first, his tone calm.

It's as if she's already gotten used to her son's hurried comings and goings.

"Yes."

Zhou Tianyang didn't beat around the bush.

"I'm heading back to Shanxi this time, and I'll be passing through here to visit my family."

"It's hard to say when I'll be able to come back next time."

Zhou Kui nodded without replying, waiting for him to continue.

"Father, do you remember what I told you last time?"

Zhou Tianyang's gaze fell on his father's face, and his tone became more serious.

"Sell off any shops, farmland, or houses in the family as soon as possible."

"Don't feel sorry for them, and don't hesitate. Those things are a burden in chaotic times, not a support."

Zhou Kui remained silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"It's already being processed."

"Those shops in the east of the city have already found buyers a few days ago. The prices aren't high, but the good thing is that the buyers are paying in cash and there's no delay in payment."

"I've also asked around about the farmland in the west of the city; it should be able to be sold within the year."

Zhou Tianyang nodded, feeling half relieved, but the other half still lingered in his mind.

He considered his words for a few seconds, then said something even more important.

"Father, if one day you really can't stay in Suzhou anymore, then you should go to Shanxi."

"As long as we can find the Eighth Route Army troops in Shanxi, we can find out where my Second New Regiment is stationed."

"You'll be safe once you reach the Second Regiment."

Zhou Kui remained silent.

He sat in the armchair, his gaze fixed on the table, as if carefully weighing the weight of those words.

Zhou Tianyang didn't urge him, but waited quietly.

A while later.

Zhou Kui raised his head, his gaze carrying a calmness born of deep thought.

"I've got it."

"If that day ever comes, I will take your mother and family to Shanxi."

Zhou Tianyang looked into his father's eyes to make sure he wasn't just giving a perfunctory answer, and then breathed a slight sigh of relief.

He added another sentence.

"Father, if things can't be done, then we should retreat."

"In this day and age, nothing is more important than being alive."

"As long as people are alive, there is a home."

"With the person gone, everything is gone."

Zhou Kui's lips twitched slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just nodded.

He didn't ask any more questions, but simply stood up and walked behind the desk.

He took a silver note from the drawer, placed it on the table, and pushed it towards Zhou Tianyang.

"These are the silver notes from the sale of those shops in the east of the city. Take them with you."

Zhou Tianyang glanced at the silver note—fifty thousand silver dollars—and did not refuse.

He put the banknotes into his pocket.

When the two of them came out of the study.

The lights were already on in the main room.

Wang Lan was holding a bowl of freshly ladled hot porridge when she saw Zhou Tianyang come out.

She quickly placed the porridge on the table and then turned back to serve the dishes.