Zheng Wanqing had just come from Zheng's house. She sat in front of the window, the hustle and bustle outside the window seemed to be isolated by an invisible barrier, and her mind was not on this lively Lantern Festival night.
Her fingertips unconsciously stroked the edge of the teacup. The tea had already cooled down completely, and a few pieces of Biluochun tea leaves were deposited at the bottom of the cup, but she was lost in thought.
From time to time, the sound of firecrackers could be heard outside the window, and the crisp sounds came one after another.
The cheerful laughter of children echoed through the air like silver bells. In the distance, the singing of an opera troupe could be heard in the distance. It should have been a night full of joy and happiness.
"Madam, the dumplings are cooked." The maid came in quietly, holding a celadon bowl with a few snow-white dumplings floating in the bowl and a few wisps of hot steam rising.
Zheng Wanqing's eyes were still fixed on the window: "Put it aside for now."
Her thoughts involuntarily drifted to this morning, and Xie Yun's appearance when he left home appeared clearly in front of her.
He hid his pistol under his black fox cloak and kissed her between the eyebrows before leaving: "I can't accompany you to your parents' home today, I..."
"I'll wait for you to come and eat the dumplings." She interrupted him quickly before he could say the next thing.
"Young Madam," the maid stumbled in, her skirt knocking over the writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone on the table.
The rice paper fluttered like snow and a Duan inkstone slammed to the ground, splashing ink that dyed her embroidered shoes black.
"Outside...outside is under martial law," she gasped, "the streets are full of Japanese soldiers, searching every house, saying they want to arrest the rebels of the Awakening magazine..."
The teacup in Zheng Wanqing's hand trembled with a "ding" sound, and a few drops of cold tea splashed on her cuffs, spreading a faint tea stain. She slowly put down the teacup, and it made a light sound on the mahogany table with a celadon bottom.
Standing up and opening the window, Zheng Wanqing unconsciously clutched the window frame.
A gust of night wind carrying smoke and noise suddenly blew in, ruffling her hair.
In the direction of the Haihe Wharf in the distance, several searchlights illuminated the entire night sky.
Meanwhile, there was chaos in front of the train station.
Japanese soldiers were roughly rummaging through the passengers' luggage, and clothes were scattered all over the floor after they had opened the suitcases.
A young man in a navy blue school uniform was about to argue: "You are infringing..."
Before he finished speaking, a rifle butt hit him hard on the forehead. Blood instantly blurred the lens, and the young man staggered back two steps, but still stubbornly straightened his back.
The passengers around were sobbing in fear, and several female students even covered their eyes and sobbed.
The situation at the port was not too bad either. More than 20 fully armed Japanese soldiers were arranged in a fan shape, blocking the entire entrance to the dock. Their eyes were constantly scanning every pedestrian who approached.
"Old Liu, I'm sorry for getting you into trouble." In the back seat of the Ford, Qiu Huayan, who was wearing round-framed glasses, clutched the suitcase tightly.
Liu Zheng caught a glimpse of two military vehicles passing the intersection in the rearview mirror, and immediately swerved the steering wheel into a dark alley.
The car headlights swept across the mottled brick wall, illuminating a faded "Ren's" advertisement. The smiling face of a Japanese businessman in the picture was distorted in the shadows, like a demon that was ready to devour people.
"The dock is just ahead." Liu Yuzheng turned off the engine and parked the car. The shadow of the sycamore tree perfectly covered the car.
Through the gaps between the branches, one could see the chimney of the British cruise ship Emerald belching black smoke. But on the passage leading to the gangway, six Japanese soldiers stood with guns in their hands, glowing coldly under the piercing searchlights.
"I'll lead them away later." Liu Yizheng unbuttoned his suit, revealing a Browning in his inner pocket.
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