Chapter 340 Homelessness (Third update, please subscribe)
Victory!
Even after a few months, slogans celebrating victory can still be seen everywhere on the streets. Although the slogans are somewhat broken, the words above reveal the joy of the pen holder at that time.
"The land is restored to glory", "the national humiliation is washed away"...
What does victory in the war mean?
It means the arrival of peace, and it means... that you can return to your family.
But...where is home?
On the street, Zhao Deliang, still wearing an old military uniform, seemed a little embarrassed. This was his first time coming to this metropolis. He came here because... he was homeless.
The day the war started, he was drafted into the army, and then what?
From that day on, we fought in the south and the north. We were lucky enough to survive, but what about our family?
It’s long gone.
A few months ago, he went back to search and found that there were only a few families left in the village. Whether they fled or died under the sword of the Japanese was unknown.
The homeless Zhao Deliang thought about it and took the train to Shanghai. When he was demobilized, some of his comrades were clamoring to come here, saying that they could make a lot of money here.
But it has been three days since he arrived here. He followed the address left by his comrades, but could not find his former comrades. Walking on the bustling streets, Zhao Deliang was a little confused. Where should he go next?
“If it doesn’t work, just go and work with all your strength.”
As he walked like this, he could see many people similar to him on the roadside. The refugees who had just entered the city were sitting at the gate of the bank that had closed. This would be their temporary shelter. Further on, a refugee family with three generations kneeling on the street begging, but no one on the sidewalk paid any attention to the family, or even glanced down at the child, who looked pitiful. He looked around, touched his pocket, and when he had just taken out the money, a little boy sitting next to him selling candy on the roadside came up and said.
"Sir, sir, don't pity them, just pretend..."
The little boy whispered.
"It is said that the house was destroyed by artillery fire, and there was no place to live, and no life. If it were like that, if you go to Nanyang on the Huangpu River, you will have a thousand yuan on the boat! There are old people here, and there are people below. There are young and old, why is he kneeling here?”
The man who was begging heard this and cursed loudly.
"You little red guy..."
While cursing, the man said pitifully.
"Sir, sir, don't listen to this little red guy's nonsense. I also want to make money, but there are old people above me and young people below me. It's really difficult. Sir, sir, poor, poor me. Let's..."
Looking at this man's appearance, Zhao Deliang put the money in his pocket and said.
“It’s difficult to have old people at the top and young and old at the bottom. Therefore, as a man, you have to support the family. Isn’t it better to work than to beg for food!”
Seeing that the man had put the money back, the man's face looked pitiful, and he immediately changed his appearance and cursed at the little boy selling candy.
"You little red guy, you deserve the death of your whole family."
When they were about to get started, Zhao Deliang stood directly in the middle and stared at him, which made the man a little nervous. He cursed unwillingly and knelt down again.
“This little brother, what kind of ship did you just say? You will be given money when you get on the ship?”
“That’s not the case. The ship to Nanyang specializes in recruiting laborers. You will be paid in advance when you get on the ship. Two months’ salary is 20 U.S. dollars. There are dealers on the dock to exchange money. The minimum price is 1,400. If you go to the street, it will be 1,600 at least.”
Looking at the military man in front of him who had obviously just retired, the boy said.
"Brother, you should also get on the ship. These days, many retired officers like my brother are boarding the ship and going to Nanyang. Once there, you can earn 10 US dollars a month!"
The boy who kept talking looked at the officer and said.
"Sir, if you go, take us with you. Just say that I am your brother, and I will give you half of the advance salary..."
Not waiting for Zhao Deliang to answer. , the boy gritted his teeth and said again.
"I can give it all to you, as long as you take me on board."
"Then why don't you go there by yourself?"
"I, I don't have anyone to take me with me, over there I don’t want children. Brother, it’s all work anyway. Let’s go to Nanyang. We can make more money in Nanyang. We two brothers can go there together and we’ll have someone to take care of us... Don’t you think so?”
Listen. Zhao Deliang thought about the boy's words and then said.
“That’s right, there’s no place to stay anyway, I have to work and make money wherever I go!”
In this way, Zhao Deliang went to the pier with the boy, but before going to the pier, the boy called for thirteen or four other children like him, the oldest was only eleven or twelve years old, and the youngest was six, seven or eight years old.
"I said, Mao Tou, you...can't these all be my brothers...sisters?"
There are also two little girls.
Maotou grinned.
"It's all, brother. From now on, our surname is Zhao. Brother, as long as you take us on the boat, all the money will be yours."
Looking at Mao Tou's appearance and the expectant faces of these children, Zhao Deliang thought for a moment and sighed.
"Yes, just think that my mother can give birth to fifteen younger brothers and sisters..." When the children heard this, they all shouted excitedly.
"That's great. , Great, I can go to Nanyang, I can go to Nanyang..."
The joy flashing in a pair of eyes is indescribable.
Looking at their appearance, Zhao Deliang said in surprise.
“Mao Tou, is Nanyang really that good?”
“Okay, it’s really good. You can eat rice three times a day and eat meat every day. Once you get there, you won’t be able to eat meat anymore. No need to starve..."
As Maotou said, he took out a piece of drawing paper from his arms as if offering a treasure and said.
"Brother Zhao, look, this is a house in Nanyang. Once you get there, as long as you marry a wife and have a baby, you can live in a small foreign-style house like this. That place is like the paradise that foreigners say... …”
Looking at the folded and deformed drawing paper, Zhao Deliang didn't even bother to say anything.
"Just brag, there can be such a place in the world. But Mao Tou, I can take you there, but you have to recognize me. My mother didn't give birth to me even if she could give birth again." There are so many younger brothers and sisters. Don’t blame me if they don’t recognize you when the time comes.”
“That’s right, that’s right. Brother Zhao, just take us there. When you get there, they will definitely recognize you. . I definitely recognize it.”
The other children nodded and said, “I definitely recognize it.”
After arriving at the pier, Zhao Deliang saw several long lines lined up here. There were men and women, some old and some young. The old ones were actually not old, that is, they were less than forty years old. There are many of them like him, one person is accompanied by five or six children who look like they are not from the same family. Looking at his appearance, he looked like Mao Tou and others, who lived on the streets or sold newspapers or cigarettes for a living.
Finally, after waiting for almost half an hour, when it was Zhao Deliang's turn, the person in charge of registration looked at him and the child behind him and asked.
"They are all from your family?"
"Yes, yes, they are all my younger brothers and sisters. My mother can give birth to..."
Say this, Zhao Deliang's He said in his heart.
"Mom, no matter where you are, I recognize this younger brother and sister for you. Having more children will bring you more blessings. This is your blessing. Don't blame me for your old age."
But the person in charge of registration didn't listen to his explanation at all, but asked directly.
"What's your name..."
Indeed, just as they said, this person didn't even ask them if they were real brothers.
The registration was completed quickly, with fourteen blue papers attached to the yellow paper.
After taking the paper, Zhao Deliang discovered that his paper said "Head of Household", and Mao Tou became Zhao Mao Tou, the second eldest child.
"Is this enough?"
"Okay, okay, brother, let's go in quickly, don't block the road..."
Under Zhao Maotou's urging, Zhao Deliang Entering the courtyard, the courtyard was full of people, and the area where the salary was paid in advance was also crowded. When Zhao Deliang squeezed in and wanted to collect the money, he realized that he had been tricked - people under the age of fourteen Kids, no pay!
"What's wrong, how is this possible, this, this, how can we have no money..."
Although Zhao Maotou said this, the smile on his face could not be deceived. People...
This kid must have known it for a long time!
But the deal is done, and now Zhao Deliang can only sigh. He kicked Maotou hard on the butt. He cursed.
"You kid! You've framed me again."
"Brother, how can you be so unfilial?"
Zhao with a sprained foot Mao Tou said with a smile.
"You are my brother. My father, if my father hears you say that, he will definitely not agree with you!"
The slap that was originally raised suddenly fell down after hearing these words. Zhao Deliang let out a long sigh. said.
"If our father knew that I was still alive... I think he would be able to rest in peace under Jiuquan."
After that, he looked at these miserable children, rubbed Mao Tou's head, and said .
"Okay, from now on you are my brothers and sisters, I admit it..."
Two days later, when they boarded the boat, everyone received two bamboo buckets and three bags of cold rice.
"These are the food and water for the next three days. They are all boiled but cold. The next few days will be very difficult. Everyone must try their best to overcome it. After all, we are on a ship."
When distributing supplies to them, the crew warned them like this - when they can go to the toilet, and when they can get water and food.
After all, they will have to endure a lot of pain in the cabin during the next trip. Fortunately, Chinese people are hardworking and hardworking.
(End of this chapter)