Dark clouds
The fierce fighting in Laoyaozigou was like a boulder thrown into stagnant water, stirring up waves in Linjiangtun and its surrounding area.
The news was brought back by Geng Dashan. He had returned from hunting in the mountains and went into the blacksmith's shop with a serious expression.
"Brother Gu, Sister Gu, something terrible has happened!" He gulped down a large bowl of cold water and lowered his voice, "The bandit leader Zuo Shandiao from Black Cloud Stronghold came down the mountain a few days ago and robbed a 'caravan' coming from the north. I heard it was a terrible fight! Zuo Shandiao lost three or four men, and several of the caravan's guards also died. All their goods were looted!"
He paused, his eyes filled with confusion and lingering fear: "What's strange is that the guards of that caravan were incredibly well-equipped! They were all brand-new Type 38 rifles! Much better than the old, worn-out ones in our village! This couldn't be a caravan at all..."
Gu Tieshan was sharpening a sickle. Hearing this, he didn't even look up, but simply grunted in response.
Shen Lanjun then revealed a look of surprise and worry: "My God! Using such a good gun? Then...that can't be...the Japanese, can it?" Her words seemed unintentional, but they were like a needle, piercing through the thin layer of paper.
Geng Dashan slapped his thigh: "That's right! How come I didn't think of that! No wonder! Zuo Shandiao has really stirred up a hornet's nest this time!" He looked at Gu Tieshan with admiration in his voice, "Brother Gu, you're the most reliable one! Luckily, our village didn't get involved in this mess."
After Geng Dashan left, the blacksmith shop resumed its clanging sounds, but an invisible pressure permeated the air.
Speculation about the origins of the "caravan" quietly spread through the village, and panic, like a silent plague, spread in the hearts of the villagers. The way people looked at "Furui Grocery Store" also carried an unspeakable fear and alienation.
For several days in a row, Hao Rende's grocery store remained half-closed. The amiable smile on his face was gone, replaced by a gloomy anxiety. The "customer" with the gold-rimmed glasses had not made a public appearance since that night, but Shen Lanjun, through discreet observation, discovered that the lights in the backyard of the grocery store often stayed on until late at night, and occasionally, unfamiliar figures could be seen moving quickly in the yard, as if they were urgently moving or cleaning something.
“They’re preparing to leave, or… to silence us,” Shen Lanjun whispered to Gu Tieshan in the night. “What we got is probably more important than we thought. They must have already discovered the theft.”
Gu Tieshan polished the pair of dragon scale bracelets, the cold metal gleaming faintly on his fingertips. "Bring it on, we'll meet it head-on." His reply was still brief, but his eyes were sharper than ever.
The pressure comes not only from the outside, but also from within.
That noon, the village head, Zhao Shouren, arrived at the blacksmith's shop with two unfamiliar men, dressed in black cotton-padded coats and with sharp eyes. Zhao Shouren wore his usual, but even more hypocritical, smile.
"Master Gu, are you busy? These two are comrades from the inspection team sent by higher-ups. They're here to find out some things about our village," Zhao Shouren introduced, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible evasion.
The two men in black scanned the courtyard with eyes like hawks, finally fixing their gaze on Gu Tieshan. The leader pulled out a small notebook and asked in a curt tone, "You're Gu Tieshan? A refugee from the south? Where are you originally from? What did you do before? Why did you choose to settle in Linjiang Village?"
The questions came one after another, carrying an undisguised interrogative tone. Xiao Chen, Xiuniang, and the others nervously stopped what they were doing.
Gu Tieshan put down his hammer, straightened up, and calmly met the scrutinizing gaze: "I've been a blacksmith in Leling, Shandong for generations. I was fleeing from war, looking for a way to make a living. I came here because of the introduction of Brother Geng Dashan, and the village head agreed." His answer was impeccable, his tone completely calm.
The inspector made a few notes in his notebook, then looked at Shen Lanjun and asked, "And you?"
Holding the child, Shen Lanjun lowered her head slightly, her voice soft and tinged with fear: "I am from Hejian. I fled with my master... On the way... the child's father saved me..." Her words were somewhat disordered, perfectly portraying the image of a naive woman who was frightened by questioning.
The inspector frowned, but didn't press her further. Instead, he looked at Zhao Shouren. Zhao Shouren quickly nodded and bowed, "Yes, yes, all the paperwork is complete. Geng Dashan vouched for me."
The two inspectors circled the yard again, examining the blacksmith's tools and piled-up materials. Finding nothing obviously unusual, they left dejectedly. Before leaving, the leader glanced back at Gu Tieshan, his eyes icy: "Things haven't been peaceful in the village lately. Outsiders, behave yourselves."
After seeing the inspection team off, Zhao Shouren turned back to Gu Tieshan and chuckled twice, "Master Gu, don't take it to heart, it's just routine, routine..." After saying that, he also left in a hurry.
The courtyard was temporarily calm, but everyone felt that an invisible net was slowly tightening.
"Inspection team? Probably the 'Street Cleanup Tigers'." Shen Lanjun sneered. She knew very well that this was likely due to pressure from Hao Rende's backers, using the power of the puppet regime to begin an internal purge, targeting any potential "spies".
Dark clouds gathered, a storm was brewing. Gu Tieshan and Shen Lanjun knew that their peaceful days in Linjiang Village were probably coming to an end. Next time, it wouldn't be interrogation, but real swords and spears.
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