From that day on, Zhang Shufen rarely saw her second brother. Every time they met, it was a brief farewell, and they didn't even get to exchange a few words.

Two months later, I heard that Marshal Xu had returned.

A few days later, the Japanese invaded, and Marshal Xu raised an army against the government. My second brother also joined Marshal Xu's army.

The Zhang family seems to be really teetering on the brink of collapse, and the inner city of Kyoto is in complete chaos.

Zhang Shufen was anxious every day. She finally got a holiday and went home, but something happened at home.

The older brother came out of the house carrying a bag.

Zhang Shufen: "Big brother, where are you going?"

Zhang Wenkai stopped and walked towards her, patting her head: "Little sister, this family is now in your hands."

Zhang Shufen felt an inexplicable panic, grabbed his sleeve, and her eyes were completely red: "Brother, don't you...don't you want to leave your family?"

Zhang Wenkai's eyes were also red, but he still said, "Little sister, when the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. Your elder brother has to fight for a way out for the Zhang family. I can't let your second brother bear everything."

"Your second brother has been called a traitor for far too long, and your eldest brother has been hiding for far too long."

After saying that, Zhang Wenkai turned and left.

Zhang Shufen chased after him for a few steps, then hugged her older brother: "Big brother..."

He opened his mouth and burst into tears.

Zhang Wenkai was also moved to tears, but he had to leave; his comrades were still waiting for him.

He pried his younger sister's hands off, his steps heavy, but he never looked back.

When Zhang Shufen returned home, she saw her father, whose hair had turned gray, her mother, who was crying so hard she almost fainted, and her younger brother, who had fallen asleep from exhaustion.

The Zhang family's gate was tightly shut, and the gunfire outside was almost constant.

A week later, Zhang Wenbin returned, his military uniform tattered. His usually clean-cut second brother hadn't even shaved, and he knelt in the courtyard of his house.

The father was furious: "Get out! And don't ever come back!"

After my eldest brother passed away, my mother fell ill and never recovered, despite taking many herbal medicines.

The second brother kowtowed three times to his parents in the courtyard, then stood up.

Zhang Shufen and her younger brother couldn't hold back any longer and ran out, shouting, "Second Brother!!!"

Zhang Wenbin looked up and saw his younger sister's still-growing brother, and his eyes instantly turned completely red.

"Little sister, little brother, come here."

The younger brother asked, "Second brother, Mother isn't well yet, where are you going?"

Zhang Wenbin patted his younger brother's head and squatted down: "Second brother is going to fight the bad guys, so little brother has to protect his sister at home, okay?"

Zhang Ziji nodded through his tears: "Okay."

"When Ziji grows up, Ziji will also help his brother fight bad guys."

"Okay, then I'll wait for you to grow up, little brother."

The nanny took Zhang Ziji away.

Zhang Shufen wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and asked, "Have the Japanese invaded?"

Zhang Wenbin nodded: "Yes, Second Brother is going to war."

Then, Zhang Shufen's tears fell again.

Zhang Wenbin smiled as he wiped away his younger sister's tears: "Look at you, how old are you, still crying? You're not pretty when you cry."

"You're lying, I've always been beautiful."

"Yes, yes, yes, my little sister is the prettiest."

The brother and sister smiled, but neither could hold back their tears.

Zhang Wenbin took a photo out of his bag and handed it to her: "Shufen, I don't know when I will see my second brother again after he leaves. This is my best friend who studied abroad. If the Zhang family is in trouble, you should go to him. He can protect you."

"My second brother is unable to fulfill his filial duties to Father and Mother. He hopes that his younger sister can take care of them in his place, so that even if my second brother dies on the battlefield..."

Zhang Shufen interrupted him, crying, "Second Brother! Don't say such things!"

Zhang Wenbin: "Okay, okay, I won't say anything."

Zhang Shufen smiled and hugged her second brother: "Second brother, come back safely. There are still people at home waiting for you."

Zhang Wenbin closed his eyes in anguish, swallowing all the bitterness. He seemed to recall the day Zhu Qing died in his arms. His Zhu Qing, he had tried his best to stay away from her, but she was still gone. Now that the civil war in the capital had ended, he should go and seek justice for Zhu Qing and for those innocent people.

A subordinate rushed over: "Commander, it's time to go!"

Zhang Shufen burst into tears. Zhang Wenbin held her hand and solemnly instructed her, "Little sister, remember this: if the Zhang family is in trouble, you must go to Cha'er."

Zhang Wenbin gave her his official seal: "Your second brother is leaving you an army, equipped with the best equipment. Remember, you must not use it unless absolutely necessary."

After saying that, Zhang Wenbin called out, "Su Bai!"

A burly man walked in: "Warlord!"

Zhang Shufen recognized him at a glance; he was a trusted confidant of her second brother.

Zhang Wenbin looked at him, lifted his robe, and knelt on one knee.

Su Bai was so frightened that he immediately knelt down: "Commander, what are you doing...?"

Zhang Wenbin: "Su Bai, if I leave, the Zhang family will probably have no one to protect them. You are my confidant and my best friend. I don't ask anything else from you, I only ask that you protect the Zhang family and protect my little sister."

The warlord is... entrusting his son to someone else.

Su Bai nodded solemnly: "Don't worry, I will protect you with my life."

Zhang Shufen was trembling all over, her lips quivering: "Second Brother, please don't do this, I'm scared... I'm really scared..."

Zhang Wenbin, however, smiled and comforted her, saying, "Don't be afraid. My little sister is the strongest and smartest. From now on, this family will depend on her."

And so, Zhang Wenbin turned and left, never looking back except for the army he left behind.

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