Chapter 135 They can't take it, the mountain city isn't...
Time flew by, and the atmosphere in the city grew increasingly tense, with well-informed families secretly moving out.
Dong Rongyi returned a month later, and the couple decided to leave immediately after discussing it. Before leaving, Lin Wenhui came to see Shen Rong.
"Why don't you come with us?"
Shen Rong chuckled and shook her head. Was she worried that she wouldn't be able to leave, or did she think that the officials of the Jincheng government would live and die with Jincheng?
"You overestimate them. I'm already packing my things. I can run away at any time."
Shen Rong: "I'm afraid Youzhen and the others haven't arrived yet. There are many refugees and bandits, so be careful on your journey."
Lin Wenhui smiled indifferently: "We are a poor family, and bandits wouldn't even look at us. We have plenty of books. Besides, we are going with Professor Hao's convoy, and we will have people protecting us along the way."
Many universities have now moved to the southwest, and the couple might be able to find new jobs there.
The next day, after seeing off Lin Wenhui's family, Shen Rong went to the Shen family. Shen's father was frantically taking stock of his assets. He had made two plans: he would take most of the assets with him and move to the wartime capital with the government, while the other half would be taken to Hong Kong by Shen Jiashi. Shen's mother would also accompany her son to Hong Kong.
He had originally planned to send his daughter and grandson along, but now it was impossible. Lu Lin's side had just won a victory, which boosted the nation's confidence in the war of resistance. However, this time they were working together with the Communist Party, and the higher-ups were wary and probably wouldn't let Shen Rong and her son leave.
Mother Shen was really reluctant to part with her daughter: "How about I don't go? Your older brother is such a grown man, what's there to be afraid of going to Hong Kong?"
Her daughter is now pregnant again and needs her care even more.
"Mom, you're showing favoritism, it will hurt my brother's feelings. You'll come back after the war is over," Shen Rong comforted her.
Since her husband and daughter spoke so casually, Shen's mother believed them. Moreover, Shen Jiashi's trip to Hong Kong was not simply to seek refuge, but to do investment business with Wen Wenqing. She was worried about not having someone watching over him.
Half a month later, Shen's mother and the others left by boat. They would first stop in Guangfu for a while, so Shen Rong asked them to bring some things to Lu Xuan.
After learning of the deaths of Lu's parents, Lu Xuan was bedridden for more than half a month. Shen Rong was very worried, but she couldn't leave. She heard that Lu Xuan had recovered now, but she still couldn't let go of her worries. So she asked her mother and brother to go and see her.
Guangzhou and Hong Kong are not far apart. If possible, Lu Xuan will have family to take care of her in the future.
Thinking of her in-laws' situation, Mother Shen sighed heavily and nodded, "Don't worry, I watched that child grow up too." She was heartbroken too! To lose both parents overnight, how could they bear it? She also wondered how her son-in-law was doing on the front lines.
When will this war end?! The Japanese deserve to die! A once-great clan has been reduced to just a few people in just one year.
"Now that you're pregnant, you need to be careful in everything you do. If anything happens, just ask your father."
In the past, the Lu family had many members, and no one said anything if a daughter gave birth to one child. Now that the Lu family only has a few younger generations left, this child has become exceptionally precious.
Mother Shen comforted herself, knowing that her daughter was pregnant again and her son-in-law had gained another close relative.
***
In November, Shanghai became an isolated city, and the Jincheng government immediately announced the relocation of the capital. In fact, some important government departments had already been gradually moved to the new city before that.
A few days before the government officially announced the relocation of the capital, Shen Rong also took her son and boarded Madam Wen's ship to seek refuge in the rear.
Zhang Ma and the others were extremely careful with the luggage, as it represented the entire Lu family's possessions, making this move unlike any other they had ever done before.
Shen Rong felt they were being too tense. This was Madam Wen's ship, and no one would dare to covet these boxes. Besides, compared to Madam Wen's wealth, the Lu family's possessions were just a drop in the ocean.
"You all need to rest too, you've all been working hard these past few days." She wasn't feeling well, so the three of them packed the luggage, and they were busy inside and out for quite a while.
"This is Madam Wen's private boat. You don't need to be so nervous. There will be no danger."
Aunt Zhang rubbed her shoulders and said with a smile, "Alright, I'll go to the kitchen and see what we have to eat."
Shen Rong laughed and said, "We have a chef, so you can rest. Are you worried that we won't have anything to eat?"
Aunt Zhang shook her head: "No, that won't do. You're still pregnant, and you don't have a good appetite to begin with. I need to make you some soup to nourish you." The boat ride is going to be long, and there might not be any fresh ingredients left.
Shen Rong chuckled. Zhang Ma was always busy. She was already three months pregnant and had no other discomfort, but she felt like she was being taken advantage of. Giving birth in the chaos of war, with her husband not around, was nothing to Shen Rong. She always secretly shed tears.
If you don't keep her busy, she'll probably start nagging again. Shen Rong waved her hand and said, "Fine, fine, if you don't mind being tired, I won't care. I'd be happy to have good food."
Gui Chun said from the side, "Then I'll accompany Madam outside for some fresh air."
Hearing this, Zhang Ma turned around and reminded her, "Don't stay out in the wind for too long, the river breeze is quite chilly!"
"I know, Aunt Zhang, you've become so long-winded. Doesn't Uncle Zhang find you annoying?" Gui Chun made a face behind her back.
Aunt Zhang laughed and scolded a few times before turning and going to the kitchen in the back.
The cruise ship sounded its horn, and as Shen Rong watched the gradually blurring dock, her heart felt heavy.
The Jincheng government had always intended to downplay the relocation of the capital, but Shen Rong wanted to change things, so he sent people to spread the news of the government's intention to move the capital to the southwest on a large scale. However, it seems that the effect was minimal. In this era of rampant rumors, it's not that no one believed it; the wealthy had already made preparations. Those who didn't flee were ordinary people, who also believed it in their hearts. However, leaving would also require money, so they held onto a sliver of hope, thinking that perhaps the Japanese army wasn't so brutal, and that it was always easier to make a living in their homeland than in other places.
"Mom, why are you crying? Did someone bully you?" Lu Zhan ran over from some direction, glaring with cold eyes and a hint of hostility on his face. He was growing more and more like Lu Lin.
"It's nothing, Mom is just feeling down." Shen Rong wiped her eyes.
She was feeling so suffocated. Her heart felt heavy.
They had only just arrived in Huguang when news of the fall of Jincheng arrived. Everyone fell silent, and the atmosphere was somewhat somber.
By the time they arrived in the mountain city, a month had passed.
Lu Youlai came to the dock to pick up people. Lu Zhan had been strictly controlled the whole way and was in a bad mood. When he saw his second uncle arrive, he rushed up to him and said, "Second Uncle, I missed you so much!"
Lu You picked him up and took out the gift he had prepared.
Shen Rong was carefully helped off the boat by Gui Chun. She smiled and greeted Lu You, then asked Jiang Yufen, "How is Yufen?"
Judging by the days, Jiang Yufen should be due to give birth.
Lu You smiled and nodded: "Everything is fine. It's a boy, and I named him Lu Shengli (meaning Lu Victory)." He hoped the war would end soon.
His tone was somewhat dejected. The name should have been given by Lu's father, but now that the old man was gone, he, as the son, couldn't even take revenge.
"How was your journey, sister-in-law?" he asked with concern.
Shen Rong touched her belly and nodded with a smile: "Everything is fine."
This child is so sensible; she didn't suffer at all.
"Let's go home. We've prepared hot water and hot food at home. You must be tired from the journey. Let's get some rest when we get back." He picked up Lu Zhan and asked several members of the Lu family behind him to help with the luggage.
They were all young men, and they were a little embarrassed to greet Shen Rong, so they rushed to help with the luggage.
Shen Rong asked Lu You in a low voice, "Are they getting used to it?"
Lu You sighed, "You get used to it after a while, but I miss home terribly."
But his home was now in ruins, and his family was gone. He sighed deeply and remained silent.
Jiang Yufen and her daughter were waiting at the gate. When they saw their car arrive, Lu Zhao immediately ran over, and Lu Zhan had already jumped out of the car and called to his sister. The two siblings immediately burst into laughter.
Shen Rong also got out of the car and immediately said to Jiang Yufen, "You've just finished your postpartum confinement period, how can you come out and be exposed to the cold wind?"
Jiang Yufen stepped forward to help her: "I'm dressed quite warmly, and I didn't have to wait long."
"The house is a bit small, please don't mind, sister-in-law."
Shen Rong looked around the house; it was much better than she had imagined.
"With so many people coming to this mountain city these days, we're already very fortunate to have a house like this."
After the welcoming banquet, everyone went to bed early that night.
The next day, Shen Rong and Jiang Yufen were playing with the children and chatting about everyday things when Lu You and a few others came over looking embarrassed.
Shen Rong looked up: "What's wrong?" Had something happened?
Lu You shook his head helplessly and pushed out the young men behind him: "Lu Ming and the others have something to say to Sister-in-law."
Lu Ming was surprised that his second brother was so disloyal. He scratched his head sheepishly and said, "Sister-in-law."
They were all surviving members of the Lu family. Lu Family Town had been bombed into a wasteland by Japanese planes, and they dared not forget this national and personal hatred for a moment. The older members discussed it and decided to go to the front line to join their eldest brother and avenge their family.
As for the younger ones, with their second brother and sister-in-law taking care of them, they won't have trouble making ends meet.
They had been planning this for a long time, and now that the war at the front was critical, they couldn't wait any longer.
Sure enough, as soon as Shen Rong arrived, they urged Lu You to intercede on her behalf.
Shen Rong hesitated for a moment: "War is no fun; you could lose your life at any time." They were only seventeen or eighteen years old, the oldest being no more than twenty-two.
Lu Ming patted his chest and said, "Sister-in-law, we were given a second chance at life. Our family members died tragically, and we must avenge this blood debt. In the face of national crisis, we are neither afraid of fighting nor afraid of death. Our family members have all died, so what is there to be afraid of? If everyone cowers in fear of death, when will we ever be able to drive the Japanese devils out of our country?"
The others behind them thumped their chests loudly: "Sister-in-law, we members of the Lu family are not afraid of death. Our eldest brother is not afraid, our third brother is not afraid, and neither are we."
Third Brother also died at the hands of the Japanese; the hatred between the Lu family and the Japanese is irreconcilable.
When the little Lu Zhan heard them say that, he puffed out his chest and said, "I'm not afraid either."
Shen Rong was about to cry, but his interruption almost made her laugh in anger. She reached out and smacked him on the head: "Come back in a few years to show your determination."
"Have you thought it all through?" Shen Rong looked at them with a deep gaze.
They should be of school age, but instead they are going to the battlefield. It was precisely because of their studies that they escaped the last air raid.
"We've made up our minds," they all said in unison.
The Lu family only had a few people left to begin with. How many of them would come back alive after going to the battlefield? Shen Rong's throat tightened, and she turned around and blinked, feeling very distressed.
When Lu Ming and the others saw her crying, they were at a loss: "Sister-in-law, don't worry. We're going to find our eldest brother. We're already much luckier than others because of his help."
Shen Rong nodded, her voice hoarse: "Okay, I'll make the arrangements."
Just then, a batch of supplies was to be sent to Lu Lin's troops, so Shen Rong asked someone to take them there.
With its territory occupied and the war at a stalemate, Japan wanted a quick victory and boasted that it would take Xiangcheng in two months.
The mountain city, which borders Xiangcheng, was immediately plunged into panic again. How long had it been since the Japanese devils committed heinous crimes in Jincheng? Many people had just escaped with their lives from that catastrophe.
Many people started fleeing again. Lu You's cotton mill was located in the southwest hinterland, so he suggested that Shen Rong take the children there to stay for a while.
He also felt that the mountain city was not safe anymore.
Shen Rong rejected the suggestion: "They can't take it. Shancheng is not a second Jincheng."
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