Chapter 2, The Fresh Flowers of May (2)

"I don't know whose young master or young lady they are, all dressed so neatly, yet they lack understanding!" The other refugees around sighed in agreement

Indeed, indeed! Stop showing off and hurry home. The Japanese have planes and cannons; even if you go up, it would be futile. Go back, hurry back! There was more than one kind-hearted elder standing beside the cart, all advising in a flurry of voices.

Unremitting efforts have yielded ample rewards. On several occasions during performances, he was nearly mistaken for a real enemy by enraged audience members, who almost struck him with bricks. Fortunately, Zhou Jue, who played the landlord's son, reacted swiftly, thus averting repeated calamities. The screenwriter Lu Ming found this amusing, while Tian Renyu, who portrayed the landlord, was filled with resentment. Whenever there was an opportunity, he would adopt a paternal demeanor, compelling Lu Ming's character, the daughter, to bow to him. The screenwriter Lu Ming found this amusing, while Tian Renyu, who portrayed the landlord, was filled with resentment. Whenever there was an opportunity, he would adopt a paternal demeanor, compelling Lu Ming's character, the daughter, to bow to him

Where are you going? The kind-hearted old man was taken aback and casually asked. Then he widened his eyes and advised loudly, "Don't go, don't go. Listen to me, quickly take a bus back home! The Japanese devils are formidable; even the 29th Army cannot defeat them. What can you students do if you go? Be obedient, don't seek the limelight, and hurry back home!"

Several other students rushed forward, using their bodies to shield Han Qiu and Liu Jing behind them. The stage and its surroundings were suddenly thrown into chaos, as the audience, who were deeply immersed in the story, gathered around and shouted angrily at the thugs: "Shameless! If you have the guts, why not confront the Japanese? Bullying a few students is nothing to be proud of!"

Shaking his head, he continued to look around. Suddenly, he saw Lu Ming's long, slender fingers intertwined tightly with several other equally delicate fingers. It was Liu Jing. He was momentarily taken aback and quickly turned his head away, adhering to the principle of not witnessing impropriety. However, he happened to catch sight of Han Qiu leaning to the side, burying her long, black hair into Tian Qingyu's chest.

If I were to die on the battlefield, I wonder whether my father would feel more sorrow or more pride? Suddenly confronted with a complex question, the young Zhang Songling cracked a bitter smile.

My home is on the Songhua River in Northeast China, where there are forests and coal mines, as well as vast fields of soybeans and sorghum. My home is on the Songhua River in Northeast China, where my compatriots live, along with my aging parents

Fellow citizens, we have 450 million, while the population of Japan is merely a fraction of ours. As long as we unite and present a united front, we can drive them out of North China and out of the entire country!" Fang Guoqiang, seeing the people's willingness to act, once again stepped forward to lead the call for resistance against Japan.

Of course, the fiery Liu Jing would not stand by and watch Lu Ming being bullied; she jumped out to defend him, only to repeatedly fall into Han Qiu's clutches. The two part-time girls have now become the stars of the team, surrounded by a crowd of people asking questions during every performance. Meanwhile, the donation boxes they manage are filled to the brim by tearful audience members. Coins, silver dollars, and even rings embedded with jewels occasionally appear in the donation boxes. As a result, when passing through Shen Zhou, a few local ruffians, seeing the money, attempted to extort them under the pretext of collecting protection fees.

Expel the Japanese invaders from China

Embracing this mindset, they welcomed the Japanese rulers. In the first month, the Japanese demanded half of the village's grain, and the Tian family took the lead in complying. As long as they kept half, everyone could survive on thin porridge, hunting and fishing, managing to get by until next year's corn harvest.

Their advice, of course, stemmed from a genuine concern for the youth. However, it caused each listener to flush with embarrassment. "If you wish to escape, then go ahead and try; see where you can possibly flee to. We..." Tian Qingyu raised his head proudly, his face full of determination, "Even if I die in battle, I will face the north."

We are going to Beiping to participate in the Anti-Japanese Student Army! Tian Ranyu proudly announced to the refugees while sitting on the cart's yoke

His own father is like the wealthy landlord Tian in a play; he probably won't understand his son's thoughts unless he experiences a tragic disaster that leads to the family's ruin. Based on his understanding of his father, Zhang Songling firmly believes this. However, he hopes that his father will never have to understand him. Never!

The eldest daughter, unwilling to endure humiliation, committed suicide by crashing into a wall. The Japanese soldiers, enraged and humiliated, set fire to the house. Amidst the flames, Tian Renyu, unable to bear it any longer, charged at the Japanese soldiers with a kitchen knife, only to be shot dead by the translator and the Japanese soldiers.

This is the money raised for the medical supplies for the twenty-nine brothers, how dare you rob it! Zhang Songling, playing the role of a Japanese soldier, brandished a wooden knife and fiercely charged out, gesturing menacingly at the local ruffians

Get lost, if you have the guts, go compete with the Japanese. Acting tough in your own home, what kind of nonsense is that! The character Tian Qingyu, who plays the landlord, is not as spineless in reality as in the story. Upon seeing someone threatening Han Qiu, he immediately jumped down from the 'stage' and stood imposingly in front of the thugs.

The structure of the story is quite simple, yet it resonates deeply with the lives of ordinary people. The first performance after the rehearsal received thunderous applause. Subsequently, during the journey, in every slightly larger village or town, this play became the highlight of the event. After each performance, there were audience members in tears, reluctant to leave.

Where is Yashan? The elders do not know; it must be a very, very distant place. However, the determination on the faces of the young couple silenced any further words. They silently made way, watching the horse-drawn carriage move against the flow of people. It was only after it had gone quite far that someone shook their head and sighed, "These foolish children, alas! What a pity!"

"Better to die as a warrior than to live as a slave to a fallen nation!" Han Qiu flipped over from the back of the carriage, smiling as she leaned her head against Tian Qingyu's shoulder. "You should hurry and leave on your own, don't worry about us. In times of national crisis, someone has to step up. Otherwise, what good will it do if we all retreat to Yashan?"

The Japanese devils are about to attack Beiping! Students, where are you going? In the surging crowd heading south, three horse-drawn carriages moving against the current stood out conspicuously. Soon, an elderly person fleeing noticed that the direction of the carriages was wrong, stopped in their tracks, and kindly reminded them.

With beautiful women by his side, Lu Ming worked exceptionally hard with his long fingers. In just half a night, he rewrote the short musical drama "On the Songhua River," expanding it into a small play with over a dozen scenes and more than 700 lines of dialogue

"If you have the ability, go compete with the Japanese; what kind of skill is it to be strong in your own territory!" Seeing the other party heading straight for the donation box, Han Qiudeng suddenly panicked, wrapping both arms around the box and refusing to let go.

Suddenly, Zhang Songling felt as if a gust of wind had blown into his heart, and he began to smile gently

Tian Ranyu took on the role of a local landlord and the character of a Japanese soldier, which inevitably fell upon Zhang Songling. In order to portray the character convincingly, he diligently learned a great deal of Japanese from Tian Ranyu, repeating each sentence with great effort, striving to master the nuances.

After the youngest son of the Tian family returned, he found the remains of his family and books among the ruins. He vowed to seek revenge, singing "On the Songhua River," and went to the forested and snowy plains to search for the anti-Japanese troops

After the September 18 Incident, a group of remnants from the Northeast Army passed through the village. Tian Renyu took out food and dried meat to treat them well. However, he refused to let his sons and daughters follow the army, and privately educated his children and tenants that changing dynasties is a common occurrence. No matter how bad the Japanese are, they still need someone to farm the land and pay taxes. As long as the Tian family remains a peaceful subject, isn't it the same to whom they pay their grain and taxes? Previously, when bandits from the mountains came to visit, didn't the people of Tian Village also use food and money to send them off? As long as the Tian family remains a peaceful subject, isn't it the same to whom they pay their grain and taxes? Previously, when bandits from the mountains came to visit, didn't the people of Tian Village also use food and money to send them off?

On the new second day, accompanied by exhilarating slogans, the Blood Flower Society's team continued northward. The three drivers, influenced by the crowd, urged their carts to move particularly swiftly. However, after passing Baoding, the dilapidated road gradually became congested. Large groups of refugees, carrying the last remnants of their possessions, hurriedly made their way south along the road

In early May, the air is filled with the fragrance of flowers

Stop singing, stop singing. It's a hot day, what kind of sorrow is this? Don't you know this is Lord Cui's territory? You dare to ask for a bowl of rice without even asking? Do you think the weapons in our hands are made of paper?

In the third month, the Japanese arrived once again. Tian Renyu received news in advance and hid his youngest son deep in the mountains. The Japanese, led by translators, circled the village, demanding food and drink, and taking away any curious items they encountered, including the incense burner used by the Tian family to honor their ancestors. Tian Renyu took the lead in enduring the humiliation, praying only for the heavens to bless them and for the family to safely endure this crisis.

It is unclear whether they were afraid of inciting public anger or if there remained a trace of shame in their hearts, but several usually overbearing ruffians surprisingly turned red-faced for once, pulled down their hat brims, and fled in a disheveled manner

The protagonist of the play is named Tian Renyu, an old-fashioned landlord who has lived in Northeast China for generations. He has inherited more than a dozen cattle and over three hundred acres of land. He lives with a daughter and two sons, leading a life oblivious to the changes of the Wei and Jin dynasties

Defend Pingjin, defend North China. Defend our homeland

After a hearty meal and drinks, the Japanese carried Tan Renyu's eldest daughter into the house. "Father, are you still a man?" In response to his daughter's anguished question, Tan Renyu squatted on the ground, holding his head.

In the carriage, no one paid attention to what he was saying anymore. All members of the Blood Flower Society, including Zhang Songling, who had joined later, understood that war was imminent. They pressed their lips tightly together, quietly lost in their thoughts. ... The old locust tree in Lucheng, the provincial city, the butcher shop that exuded the smell of blood throughout the four seasons, and, and, the blacksmith uncle who liked to take advantage of others, along with his two half-sisters at home ...

In the second month, the Japanese came again, demanding repairs to the watchtower and ordering Tamura's people to provide forty laborers. The eldest son of the Tian family led the tenants to respond to the call, and then, he never returned.

The more we find ourselves in such a situation, the less we can afford to turn back! Fang Guoqiang's heart was once again stirred by the numb populace. Standing on the cart, with one hand resting on Lu Ming's shoulder, he shouted loudly, "We cannot allow others to say that we only incite others to go to the battlefield to die while we hide in safe places and speak empty words! We must show future generations how many honorable men there are in this land of Huaxia! Even if we all fall today, there will still be countless compatriots who will rise, stepping on our blood, advancing through the enemy's artillery fire. We must show future generations how many honorable men there are in this land of Huaxia! Even if we all fall today, there will still be countless compatriots who will rise, stepping on our blood, advancing through the enemy's artillery fire..."

Unite and stand united against the outside! Unite and stand united against the outside! The surrounding audience was filled with fervor, repeatedly chanting the anti-Japanese slogans.