Chapter 2, The Fresh Flowers of May (1)

That evening, everyone stayed at the largest inn in Ping'an Village. The next day, after breakfast, Zhou Jue and Fang Guoqiang led the group to a shop entrance near the busiest intersection, where they began preparing for a voluntary performance

This suggestion has received unanimous support from everyone. From the mouths of those exiled students from the three northeastern provinces in the school, we have heard countless tragic stories. Almost every one of them, without any artistic embellishment, can move the audience to tears.

Amidst the waves of praise, Tian Qingyu lifted his round, chubby face high, gazing at Han Qiu, hoping to receive a measure of admiration.

Regardless of the era, young people are always the most active and the quickest thinkers. As everyone summarized and discussed, they soon found the best solution. Seeing that the discussion was nearly complete, the team leader, Zhou Jue, smiled and concluded, "Shall we start writing the script tonight, and then rehearse and perform along the journey?"

Han Qiu and Liu Jing, who are responsible for announcing and soliciting donations from the audience, are the most qualified to speak on this matter. After some thought, they stated in succession: "From the current results, the musical drama 'On the Songhua River' is clearly the most popular among the audience! This is mainly due to the efforts of Team Zhou, but the segment depicting the atrocities committed by the Japanese invaders also leaves the most vivid impression on people"

The solution to this problem is quite simple: it is to inform everyone along the way about the tragic experiences of our compatriots in Northeast China under the iron heel of the Japanese army. Rather than shouting about national identity, it is better to let them see for themselves how the areas occupied by the Japanese treat Chinese people as less than human. Let them witness for themselves the calamity that awaits them!

"Making money, making money, what else do you understand besides making money?" Seeing the other party so obstinate, Fang Guoqiang was so angry that he waved his arms vigorously

Dear elders and fellow villagers, please listen carefully. For every item sold, regardless of its price, our store will donate five copper coins to the brothers of the 29th Army! After you make your purchase inside, we will immediately contribute to the donation box outside, and we will not go back on our word! Seeing an unprecedented crowd gathering in front of his store, the shopkeeper had a sudden inspiration and promptly launched a "Patriotic Grand Sale".

"You, you, classmate Zhang Songling, pay attention to your thoughts!" In front of so many people, being rebutted by a child to the point of being speechless, Fang Guoqiang suddenly felt a bit embarrassed and slammed the table, reprimanding sharply

The surrounding laughter abruptly ceased, and everyone looked up, staring at him without blinking, silently expressing their protest. Fang Guoqiang felt uneasy under the gaze of the crowd and quickly added in a loud voice: "I am merely offering a suggestion, a suggestion! If everyone does not wish to delay on the road, then forget it!"

It is not easy for them to earn some money. Moreover, what we are occupying is indeed their territory! The somewhat bookish Lu Qing generously explains on behalf of the merchants

The charity performance organized by the Blood Flower Society was a resounding success. Just today, the society raised over 60 dollars. By evening, after exchanging all the collected funds at the inn for whole amounts and recording them in the accounts, the members of the Blood Flower Society gathered around a pile of shiny silver dollars, yet there was not a trace of joy on their faces.

Agreed! Tonight's late-night snack is on me and Sister Qiu for Lu Ming! Liu Jing joined in the fun, her eyes fixed on Lu Ming, the excitement clearly visible.

Alright, it's settled. The driver said he can agree to our arrangement! However, on the return trip, we need to give them an additional 5 yuan for drinks! Tian Qingyu reassured the old driver and then turned back to report to everyone.

I believe our previous promotional approach was rather vague. We only spoke of the Japanese in a negative light without informing the public about the specific ways in which they are bad. " Long-fingered Lu Ming glanced at Zhang Songling and added with a smile.

They are profiting from the national crisis! Fang Guoqiang's poker face turned red with anger, "It's simply, simply treasonous, a traitor to the country!"

Concerned about the impact on their business, the shopkeeper, accompanied by several strong young men, stepped out aggressively to question the students' intentions. Upon learning that they were performing voluntarily to raise funds for the 29th Army, he immediately changed his demeanor and smiled. He shouted for his assistants to help clear the area while instructing others to prepare tea and snacks to satisfy the patriotic students' hunger

Good! Several shopkeepers led the applause, simultaneously pouring a large half-basket of copper coins in front of the donation box, in full view of the audience

Everyone turned their heads in unison towards the visibly embarrassed Zhang Songling, shaking their heads with a wry smile. The latter is a very specific example; although he harbored a deep patriotic fervor, he held no animosity towards the Japanese. For the majority of people in this era, even the concept of a nation was quite vague, so how could they possibly care whether the Japanese occupied Pingjin? As long as disaster did not befall them personally, it is likely that many would be willing to regard the invasion by the Japanese army as a mere change of dynasties.

What do you take us for?!" Fang Guoqiang exclaimed, angrily waving his fists. "If I had known it would be like this, I might as well have performed at the inn's entrance; at least there would be nothing to sell here!

"After all, they donated money!" Zhang Songling timidly glanced up at him, not daring to meet his gaze. "This is akin to doing business; both parties benefit, and the transaction can continue. If one only thinks about making a profit without considering the other party's feelings, it becomes a one-time deal, and there will be no further opportunities in the future"

Two girls, unable to resist the sight of beautiful animals, let out a scream and dropped the donation box to rush over to see the horse. The boys in the group secretly breathed a sigh of relief at not having to carry their own luggage, cheerfully going about organizing their belongings. Everyone hurriedly tossed themselves and their luggage onto the bus, then hummed songs as they set off to the station and the library. It was only after they had traveled quite a distance that someone finally remembered to ask Tian Qingyu about the cost of hiring the vehicle.

Our previous programs have primarily targeted the students, and the style has inevitably become somewhat monotonous. However, based on the situations encountered at various train stations over the past couple of days, the public's understanding of the resistance war differs significantly from ours. Not only the two announcers, but other students have also long been aware of the program's popularity.

The carriage swayed gently once more, gradually regaining its stability. The students, who had been jolted back and forth, laughed heartily, showering compliments upon Tian Qingyu as if they were free, saying, "As expected of our Young Master Tian, friends all over the world!"

Square J, why are you shouting so loudly?! Now you've really angered everyone. Han Qiu pulled Zhang Songling behind her, protecting him like an older sister, while loudly retorting to Fang Guoqiang.

Although he has never helped his father run a shop, he is well-versed in business due to the influence of his family environment. When faced with problems, he instinctively analyzes them from the perspective of a merchant

As the leader of everyone, Zhou Jue naturally would not allow infighting to occur. He quickly separated the two sides and said with a smile, "Don't be anxious, don't be anxious. None of us are Japanese devils or traitors. Why act as if we have a deep-seated grudge? Da Fang, you sit down first. Han Qiu, Xiao Zhang, you two sit down as well. Everyone, please take a seat. Regardless of any opinions, let’s sit down and discuss calmly. We certainly cannot start fighting among ourselves before we even reach Beiping!" Everyone sat down, regardless of any opinions, and discussed calmly. We certainly cannot start fighting among ourselves before we even reach Beiping!

The cheerful laughter fills the streets through the windows, making this summer evening particularly vibrant and youthful

The scene quickly shifts to a village engulfed in flames. Amidst the thick smoke, Zhou Jue, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, makes his entrance, singing a sorrowful song with tears in his eyes: "My home, on the Songhua River in Northeast China ... ... "

However, we have also achieved our goal; the donations raised today are more than the total from the past few days combined! Zhang Songling was focused on helping everyone with the accounting when he heard the accusations from the two girls and quietly defended the merchants.

A variety of banknotes and coins of different sizes were handed over, nearly overwhelming the two fundraisers, Han Qiu and Liu Jing. Amidst the cheers, Zhang Songling, portraying a little devil, raised his knife once again, killing and setting fires.

Liu Jing, both shy and angry, chased out the door and got into a scuffle with Han Qiu. Watching the two girls' retreating figures, Lu Ming gently shook his head with his long fingers. Then, looking around, he responded with a smile: "Writing the script is definitely not a problem for me. However, I need to have Tian Pan'er accompany me. Only by seeing him can I remember how to portray the despicable image of the Japanese devils!"

Since the total rent is only three yuan per day, let's simply stop for a day in each town we pass through, organize voluntary performances, and promote the principles of resisting Japan and saving the nation to the local people! Fang Guoqiang's thought process is always different from others; after pondering for a while, he suddenly interjected.

This time, we can leave whenever we want and stop at hetushucom.com whenever we wish; we are in control!

Calculated daily, starting from tonight, regardless of whether the vehicle is in motion or stationary, each vehicle will incur a charge of one dollar per day! The accommodation and meals for the drivers will be our responsibility, while they will have to purchase the horse feed themselves! Tian Qingyu had been waiting for this moment for a long time; upon hearing someone inquire, he immediately feigned a very indifferent demeanor and said.

You see, everything sold in this store is domestically produced. Not a single item is from the East or the West. We do not buy foreign goods, let us drive them to poverty!

Virtue! Han Qiu spat with a smile, and within her brilliant smile, there was clearly a hint of pride in you. The crowd saw this and erupted into another round of laughter. No one noticed that the Swiss gold watch, which Tian Qingyu usually checked every hour on his wrist, had quietly disappeared without a trace.

Kitchen knives, authentic local goods, not a bit of foreign metal is useful

Is that so! How can the people here be so backward in their thinking, even worse than those passengers on the train! This place is less than four hundred miles from Beiping! The two girls were also so angry that they couldn't eat, their faces pale as they complained. It's as if the Japanese invasion has nothing to do with them! All they think about is making money, making money, making money!

This commentary is very pertinent. Currently, Pingjin is within the sphere of influence of Song Zheyuan, while Shandong Province falls under Han Fuzhu's control. The relationship between Han and Song has always been quite delicate. The Nanjing central government, located to the south of Shandong, is highly wary of both Han and Song. Over the past decade or so, the entangled grievances and affections among the three parties have become so convoluted that they can no longer be unraveled. The people living in this land have gradually become accustomed to the notion that locals only concern themselves with local matters, showing little interest in the broader state of China.

"Several little rascals! Have you gotten restless just because I haven't dealt with you for a few days?" Tian Qingyu waved his fist, pretending to strike, but was playfully blocked by Fang Guoqiang and others.

"How can you think like that? Our primary goal is not fundraising, but to awaken the public!" Upon hearing this, Fang Guoqiang immediately became so enraged that his hair stood on end. He walked up to Zhang Songling and, placing his hand on the table, scolded him.

Then let us stop for a day in a larger town or county seat. We can simply pass through the smaller villages! This way, we can also raise more donations for the brothers of the 29th Army. Zhou Jue noticed Fang Guoqiang's embarrassment and promptly stepped in to smooth things over.

He, he, he just refuted, refuted you! I, I am speaking on behalf of you. You, you all..." Fang Guoqiang's forehead was bulging with veins, pointing at Han Qiu, his whole body trembling.

He is immature, and you should not scold him so loudly! Han Qiu also realized that she had been a bit ungrateful just now, glanced at Fang Guoqiang, and voluntarily stepped aside

Furthermore, the common people are unaware of the kind of disaster they will face after the Japanese arrive. We often read newspapers and hear from those refugee students from the Northeast about their personal experiences. Here, the literacy rate among the common people is already low, and they have little opportunity to interact with so many refugee students

Oh, Tian Pan is mighty! A series of cheers erupted from the carriage, startling the spirited horses, which suddenly accelerated. "Hush—hush—um, um, um—um—um—" The old driver at the front of the carriage loudly reassured the horses, then covered his mouth with his hand and let out a dry cough.

Compared to the train station, there are more spectators at the intersection, and they are more enthusiastic. By the time the program has only reached halfway, the donation boxes held by Han Qiu and Liu Jing are already filled with banknotes and coins. The shopkeepers benefit even more, as they actively offer "sponsorship" to the students, earning the praise of the local residents. Many spectators, after enjoying the program for a while, casually walk into the shops to purchase the items they are interested in. They check the quality while bargaining with the shop assistants. Many spectators, after enjoying the program for a while, casually walk into the shops to purchase the items they are interested in. They check the quality while bargaining with the shop assistants

That is, you should also consider what Tian Pang'er and his family originally did! Dragons give birth to dragons, phoenixes give birth to phoenixes, and the offspring of a rat will dig holes!

Like an elder brother, he spoke softly and slowly, directing everyone's attention to a new objective. Soon, he made everyone forget the earlier argument. Tian Qingyu, eager to make an impression in front of Han Qiu, thought for a moment and was the first to speak, "The travelers we encounter on the train travel far and wide every day, experiencing much and having the best understanding of the critical situation our country faces. Most of the people in Ping'an Village have never traveled far in their lives. They have no concrete concept of the threat posed by the Japanese invaders"

Then let us not sing all the time in the future, but rather perform some plays. We should tell all the people we encounter along the way about the tragic experiences of our fellow citizens from Northeast China, Rehe, and Chahar. Once he calmed down from his impulsiveness, the thoughts in Deputy Leader Fang Guoqiang's mind flowed like a spring.

Alright, Tian Pang, you have the final say! The five dollars were to be shared among a dozen or so people, with each person spending no more than forty cents. Given everyone's financial situation, it truly isn't a significant expense. Without even thinking about it, everyone readily agreed to the terms set by the driver.

This suggestion was somewhat more reliable than the previous one. The students exchanged glances and nodded with smiles. Tian Qingyu initially wanted to voice his opposition, but seeing that everyone agreed, he felt too embarrassed to bring it up. He found an opportunity to move next to the old driver of the lead vehicle and quietly discussed the latest schedule with him. The leading driver initially shook his head repeatedly, refusing to agree no matter what. It was only when Tian Qingyu slipped his hand into the driver's sleeve and gently moved it a few times that the driver finally nodded vigorously, his face breaking into a smile. The leading driver initially shook his head repeatedly, refusing to agree no matter what. It was only when Tian Qingyu slipped his hand into the driver's sleeve and gently moved it a few times that the driver finally nodded vigorously, his face breaking into a smile.

As the passengers at the train station were about to disperse, the chubby Tian Ranyu finally returned with three horse-drawn carriages. Each carriage was pulled by two chestnut-colored tall horses, and the bodies were painted in bright colors, looking as if they had just been purchased from the carpenter's shop.

"But they are merchants!" Zhang Songling glanced at him timidly, retreating slightly while quietly retorting, "Merchants, of course, want to make money. If they can earn a profit while also doing something for the country, isn't that great? Moreover, without money, the 29th Army cannot pay its soldiers. We won't be able to reach Beiping either"

Due to his overwhelming anger, his voice rose to an extreme volume, instantly silencing the surrounding noise. However, it wasn't long before everyone's attention was drawn back to the performance on stage, where Zhang Songling portrayed a Japanese soldier, brandishing a wooden sword painted with lacquer, chasing after several classmates who played the role of commoners. With a swift motion, the sword fell, and then, with a sinister grin, he threw a torch made of paper towards the backdrop

Indeed, the period of warlord fragmentation has lasted too long. The concept of the nation has long been blurred in the hearts of the common people! Recently, many have been telling me that the fighting in Hebei on the 29th has nothing to do with the people of Shandong!

"Foreign matches, foreign matches, the foreign matches from Baoding Prefecture. Authentic domestic products!" Nearby shops also took advantage of the situation, desperately promoting their own goods to the audience.

This act of hitching a ride infuriated Fang Guoqiang. Several times he wanted to take Tian Qingyu to confront the shopkeeper and the assistants, but he was firmly stopped by Lu Qing.

Agreed! Let Lu Ming work overtime tonight; his writing is the best! Tian Qingyu was the first to echo this.

"Alright, alright, everyone calm down!" Zhou Jue continued to smile and mediate. "The local people are seen as too ignorant by the generous ones, which causes concern. On the other hand, Classmate Xiao Zhang considers the issue from the perspective of local merchants. Both sides have their points; who is right or wrong is not important. What matters is the reason why the people of Ping'an Village perceive our performance as a play. How should we respond to similar awkward situations in the future?"

I find that his way of thinking is very, very, very immature" Fang Guoqiang said with a hint of frustration as he glanced at Han Qiu and the others, panting as he took his seat

On average, it costs less than 30 cents per person per day, which is much cheaper than taking the train, and you don't have to endure the suffocating discomfort!

A single stone stirs up a thousand waves, and the gazes of the crowd instantly brightened. They nodded in agreement with Tian Qingyu's insights, saying, "Indeed. The travelers we encounter on the train are, in fact, the most open-minded individuals of this era, and thus they better understand the principle that the rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every individual. In many other places, the common people do not even know what the nearest county town looks like, so expecting them to immediately comprehend why they should unite in times of national crisis is indeed asking too much of them"

"If you want to add a touch of romance, go ahead, but please don't drag me into it!" Han Qiu smiled as she declined, taking the opportunity to escape before everyone could react.

If there is nothing to sell, they may not allow us to use their place!" Tian Qingyu shrugged, his face full of indignation. Even someone as open-minded as he was unable to accept the reality of being used by shopkeepers to attract business