Chapter 136 Enjoying a peaceful old age, passing away in Pingcheng! ...
The Japanese boast was utterly shattered; they had been trapped in Xiangcheng for seven years without being able to take it.
After repeated defeats and retreats at the beginning of the war, and several years of strategic stalemate, the dawn of victory is finally in sight.
"Arong, do you know? The Japanese army has been driven back again by your Commander Lu in Shannan. I think the Japanese army is exhausted and will have to surrender sooner or later."
Lin Wenhui excitedly pushed open the door with a newspaper in her hand. Seeing that Shen Rong was concentrating on completing her work, she softened her movements.
She remembered that these bronze fragments were in terrible condition when they were brought to her, but she never expected that Shen Rong would actually be able to repair them successfully.
"Arong, your skills are getting better and better." Lin Wenhui looked her up and down repeatedly.
Shen Rong took off her glasses and rubbed her aching shoulders: "I've been working on this for half a month, and I don't know if Professor Hao will approve."
She couldn't just sit around waiting all these years, could she? Now she's at least learned a skill, enough to graduate with a doctorate.
Lin Wenhui laughed at her: "Don't be so insecure. These past few years, your teacher has really admired you. He's entrusted you with so many important cultural relic restoration projects. If he didn't trust you, he wouldn't have entrusted them to you."
Shen Rong didn't really want this kind of attention. She was constantly being scolded and criticized for being worthless. She suspected that Professor Hao had let her take over because he valued her dexterity.
"What did you just say?" Shen Rong turned to ask her, having just heard her chatter on and on.
Lin Wenhui showed her the newspaper, and Shen Rong frowned: "I'm afraid Japan won't give up so easily; they'll inevitably put on a desperate, frantic struggle."
Lin Wenhui had also thought of that, but she still comforted Shen Rong: "There's nothing to worry about, they won't be jumping around for long."
Shen Rong nodded. Yes, it's like a grasshopper in autumn.
"Once the war is over, your Commander Lu will be able to come back." Lin Wenhui teased her with a smile. She knew that Shen Rong wrote a letter to the front line every day, even if she couldn't send it.
Over the years, Commander Lu has only returned a few times. Shen Rong takes care of everything at home, and sometimes she really thinks Shen Rong is great.
She knew all too well the difficulties of taking care of a family alone. Only she knew how hard she had worked during the years Dong Rongyi was away from home. She even smiled less often. But Shen Rong was different. Her home was well-organized, and her children were well-educated. As a result, she still had time to focus on her career. She had a peaceful mind and lived the same life as when Commander Lu was at home.
This is something she admires.
"Teacher Dong is here to visit his family, why are you complaining so much? Why don't you go back and spend time with him instead of coming here to gossip?" Shen Rong teased her.
Since arriving in Chongqing, Dong Rongyi has become less mysterious than before, and she visits her family every six months.
During the time her husband was back, Lin Wenhui spent as much time as possible with him.
"I heard that Master Shao has arrived, and he went to see his teacher as well," Lin Wenhui said with a smile.
Shen Rong nodded. She had met this Shao Gong a few times. He was a businessman, but he looked like a scholar. He was also the only businessman who could have a good chat with Professor Hao.
I heard that Teacher Dong also admires this Mr. Shao very much, and every time he sees him, he goes to talk to him.
"Mom!" I could hear her hoarse voice from afar.
Lu Zhan's voice was like a loudspeaker, and Shen Rong's forehead twitched violently; it was truly ear-piercing.
Shen Rong didn't answer, but he persisted and called "Mom" a few more times. Lin Wenhui suppressed a laugh and said, "It's the same for everyone. My husband is the same. He calls for Mom as soon as he gets home."
"Mom, why don't you answer me at home?" he complained, throwing his schoolbag aside with his puffed-out cheeks.
"How old are you to still call me 'Mom'? Where can I go if I'm not home?" Shen Rong glanced at her son, who was about the same height as her, and just wanted to press his philtrum.
"Call someone."
Lu Zhan then noticed that Lin Wenhui was also there, and respectfully greeted her, "Aunt Lin."
After the children finished school, Lin Wenhui had to go back to take care of her own children, so she got up to say goodbye. Zhang Ma had just made some pastries today, and Shen Rong asked her to take some back for the children to eat.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony." Lin Wenhui reached out and took it.
The two families visit each other frequently, so there's no need for further formalities.
Lu Zhan walked over, picked one up, and ate it. Shen Rong patted his bottom and asked, "Did you wash your hands?"
Lu Zhan withdrew his hand, and Zhang Ma handed him a hot towel: "Young Master is hungry. A boy of that age can't stand being hungry."
Lu Zhan's mouth was stuffed full: "Zhang Ma still loves me the most." He glanced at his own mother.
"Zhang Ma loves you and she loves the Second Young Master too. Where is the Second Young Master?" Zhang Ma smiled and looked behind him, only to find that the little tail was not there.
Could it be that the eldest young master has abandoned his younger brother again?
Seeing Shen Rong's unfriendly gaze, Lu Zhan quickly grabbed a few pastries and rushed out the door: "I'm going to find Brother Lu You and the others to play."
Lu Xiang had gotten used to his older brother's unreliability. He strolled leisurely home, his little schoolbag swinging back and forth, and greeted the neighbors who passed by with a smile.
The neighbors adored this boy; he was sensible and well-behaved, the complete opposite of his older brother. One was fiery and energetic, the other gentle and mild-mannered, always with a smile on his face. He wouldn't even get angry if someone pinched his cheek. He was a good kid that everyone in the neighborhood praised.
"Mommy!" The little guy saw his mother coming to pick him up from afar and instantly forgot his mature and composed demeanor, running over to hug her leg.
"Mrs. Lu, Xiao Xiang is such a good girl, so sensible." A neighbor came over to talk to Shen Rong, and Lu Xiang raised her chin high, looking very proud.
Shen Rong carried her son home and saw that he couldn't hide the smugness in his eyes. She found it a little funny: "Are you that happy when others praise you?"
She knew all too well that kind of smugness; her youngest son's personality must have come from Lu Lin.
Did your older brother bully you?
The little guy shook his head: "I like my older brother." So he won't tell his mother or say bad things about his older brother.
Shen Rong pinched his nose: "You brothers have such a good relationship. I, your mother, am the one who ruined it. I'm the bad guy."
Lu Xiang shyly hid in her mother's arms.
At dinner time, Lu Zhan rushed in again, almost bumping into Shen Rong who was walking out of the house.
"Xiao Ming, are you asking for trouble?" Shen Rong looked at him menacingly.
Ignoring his mother's anger, Lu Zhan shook her hand and said, "Mom, tell Dad to send me to be a pilot when I turn sixteen, okay? That's so cool!"
“Then I want to be one too.” Lu Xiang raised her little hand.
"You little tagalong, are you going to eat shit if your older brother wants to?" Shen Rong pinched her youngest son's cheek.
Lu Xiang looked disgusted. His older brother had this hobby? He wouldn't go.
Lu Zhan was speechless: "Mom, don't corrupt the second son. Who ate shit!"
I don't know what kind of spell Lu Xiang took from Lu Zhan, but he's been a big fan of his older brother since he was little. Whatever his older brother says is right, and whatever his older brother does, he wants to do too!
Lu Zhan gave his younger brother a compliment, saying, "Well done, brother. As expected of brothers, we share the same ideals."
"Dream on! Nobody wants someone like you," Shen Rong retorted.
Lu Zhan was furious. Who said that? "If Brother Lu You can do it, I can definitely do it too. Mom, don't underestimate me."
"Do you even know how to fly a plane? Schools only accept students with good grades. With your grades, they wouldn't even hire you as a mechanic."
Lu Zhan fell silent, fuming. After a long while, he said fiercely, "It's just grades, I'll play less in the future."
Seeing her older brother's determined expression and focus on his studies, Lu Xiang sighed inwardly. Her brother was still so stupid; this was just her mother's excuse to keep him from playing.
I should study harder and protect my brother in the future. He's so stupid, what will I do without him? Six-year-old Lu Xiang was worried.
During the days when the Marines were engrossed in their studies, another year passed, and after the United States sent Japan a little boy, they finally surrendered.
Six months later, the family returned to Jincheng and moved back into the Shen Mansion.
"Is this our home?" Lu Xiang looked around the house curiously.
Lu Zhan patted his head: "This is Grandpa's house. We're all poor. How can we afford to buy a house?"
Shen Rong slapped him on the head when she heard that.
After Lu Zhan turned 16, he insisted on joining the army and becoming a pilot. Although Japan had surrendered, the front lines were still preparing for war, and civil war was imminent. Shen Rong resolutely refused to allow him to join the army.
Fighting the Japanese is one thing, but fighting our own people is something to be proud of? She was trying to get his father to go home and farm, and he actually wanted to join the army.
Sure enough, he joined the National Revolutionary Army in 1949. His foresight is unparalleled. Shen Rong was furious just thinking about it and slapped him again!
The mother and son have been in a cold war for half a month, and neither of them is willing to give in!
Lu Xiang, who had just started elementary school, was caught in the middle between his older brother and mother and was suffering greatly. He could only secretly write letters to his father at the front line, hoping that he could use his authority as the head of the family to persuade his mother.
After all, he also had a dream of joining the army.
But clearly, he overestimated his father's position. Although he acted as the head of the family, he suppressed his eldest brother. He sent Da Mao back and sent Lu Zhan to his troops.
Since I'm going to be a soldier anyway, it doesn't matter where I am. Being a foot soldier under my father is one way to go.
Lu Xiang was terrified by this brutal act. Not wanting to follow in his elder brother's footsteps, he studied diligently to prepare for the future.
***
Another war has broken out!
Upon learning the news at school, Lu Xiang returned home ahead of time. His father's unit was the closest, and he was afraid that his mother would worry too much at home.
But as soon as I got home, I saw my mother packing her things.
"Mom, what are you doing?"
Shen Rong smiled and said, "Your maternal grandfather is going to America to visit your maternal grandmother and uncle."
Lu Xiang had never met his maternal grandmother or uncle since birth, so he didn't feel anything special. He just wanted to know when his maternal grandfather would come back.
Shen Rong stroked his head: "Go to the study and keep Grandpa company."
She finally managed to persuade her father to leave, and she didn't want him to come back, at least not in the short term.
The war was about to begin. Although Lu Lin hadn't told her explicitly, she had a vague idea of what he was going to do. The people on the other side had already been secretly contacting her.
She feared that the Jincheng government might do something to Shen's father in retaliation against Lu Lin, and hoped that he would go abroad to avoid trouble.
Mr. Shen had no idea what his daughter and son-in-law were planning. He genuinely thought they were visiting relatives, and since he also wanted to see his grandchildren, he left with great ease.
He also promised his grandson that he would bring him an electric train and a propeller-driven airplane toy when he returned to China.
After seeing her father off, Shen Rong quietly began packing her things. She didn't know when that day would arrive, so she made preparations in advance.
Lu You and his wife were also sent by her to visit Lu Xuan in Hong Kong. Once things came to light, they would know what was going on and naturally wouldn't be in a hurry to come back.
Now all she needs to do is protect herself and her youngest son. Guichun is married and runs a small business with her husband.
It was Zhang Ma and her husband who were asked to go back to their hometown for a visit, and a housekeeper was temporarily hired to help out.
Recently, many unfamiliar faces have appeared near the Shen Mansion. Shen Rong knows that they are people sent to monitor them.
After all, Lu Lin has been getting very close to that side in recent years.
Shen Rong smiled. In fact, they were right this time.
On that day, she drove her son to and from school as usual, and there was nothing unusual about it.
The agents watched her car enter the school, and a short while later it drove to a well-known plastic surgery clinic in Jincheng.
The wealthy ladies of Jincheng loved to frequent this place, and Shen Rong was a regular. Judging by the time, today was her day for a beauty treatment. Although the spies couldn't easily follow her in—who knew what important figures were inside—they could only wait outside.
When they realized something was wrong and rushed in to ask, they found out that Mrs. Lu had urgent business to attend to and had not stayed for her beauty treatment.
They immediately called the school, only to find out that their child had already been picked up by someone else.
While they were frantically reporting to their superiors that a city-wide search was underway, Shen Rong, accompanied by her son and escorted by Shao Gong, went to meet up with Lu Lin.
As night fell, the car drove along the dark road, illuminated only by its headlights, and people could be seen in the distance ahead.
The car stopped, and Shen Rong led her son out of the car. Before they could even stand properly, Lu Lin pulled her into his arms tightly.
Shen Rong patted his arm, indicating that there were outsiders present.
"Thank you, Shao Gong, but won't it lead to your arrest if you go back like this?" Lu Lin's emotions were evident, and he was somewhat agitated.
Shao Gong lit a cigarette and shook his head: "Even if they guessed it was me, they wouldn't touch me. I'm the one who manages Madam's assets. If they ask me, I'll just say I owed you a favor, it's not a big deal."
"Oh, right, this is a letter Mrs. Chen asked me to give to you." He took an envelope out of his clothes.
Shen Rong asked in surprise, "Could it be that Chen Enzhi is also...?"
Lu Lin stopped her from continuing: "Don't ask anymore."
Chen Enzhi was able to get through Shao Gong to deliver the message, which speaks volumes. Lu Lin smiled; the people around him were all quite shrewd.
Shao Gong smiled and shook hands with Lu Lin: "I have delivered your family safely. The mission is a complete success. I will be waiting for you in Jincheng."
Thank you, take care.
Shao Gong's car had already driven far away, and Lu Xiang exclaimed in admiration, "He's so amazing."
He felt a sense of power and annihilation, and he secretly resolved to become that kind of person in the future.
Hearing his son say this, Lu Lin smiled and patted his shoulder, saying, "You still have a long way to go."
“Dad, a young man has endless potential, don’t underestimate me.” Lu Xiang puffed out her cheeks, her eyes shining.
Shen Rong interrupted the argument between the father and son and asked about the eldest son.
"Isn't he going to join the army? How can a common soldier leave the barracks at will?"
Her father spoke casually, but Lu Xiang felt a chill run down her spine and silently mourned for her older brother! He must be having a tough time right now!
Half a month later, Lu Lin led his men in a collective uprising, and the three cities he controlled were peacefully liberated.
That night, the Jincheng official residence was brightly lit.
***
One day, Lu Lin returned home with a gloomy face, bringing Shen Rong bad news.
Sheng Ruyue and Wu Xinbai sacrificed their lives. They were arrested by the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics in Shanghai, and they died heroically to protect the safety of their comrades.
Shen Rong was stunned, tears streaming down her face: "How could this be? We were so close to victory, Shanghai was about to be liberated."
They didn't die at the hands of the Japanese, but in the civil war. Her heart sank and her hands and feet turned cold.
Lu Lin handed over a letter: "This is a letter that Ruyue asked someone to bring to us."
Perhaps everyone has a sixth sense; she realized that danger was imminent, so she wrote this letter in advance, in which she made arrangements for her funeral, saying that if she unfortunately died, she should be buried next to Lu Chang.
She liked Shanghai and she liked being by his side.
Lu Lin hugged her and gently patted her back: "If you want to cry, then cry."
Shen Rong shook her head. She couldn't cry anymore. Too many people had died over the years. How many of the people she knew were still alive and well?
Lu's parents are dead, the Shen family is now far away in the United States, and even Zhang Ma has lost a son.
***
Six months later, Shen Rong returned to Shanghai. Lu Lin and his son were still fighting in the south. She was there to fulfill Sheng Ruyue's last wish.
“This is your uncle. He loved to laugh. If he were here, he would love you so much!” Shen Rong told Lu Xiang, pointing to the photo on the tombstone.
Lu Xiang respectfully kowtowed and offered incense.
"Uncle, I'm sorry it took you so long to come see me."
He had seen his uncle in photos, his mother had told him many things about his uncle, and even his older brother had reminisced about his uncle. Only he had all his memories of his uncle from other people's stories; he had never met him.
"Let's go." Shen Rong stepped forward and took his hand.
Lu Xiang patted her trouser leg and glanced at the tombstone again: "Uncle, I will come to see you again."
As soon as the car entered the city, Shen Rong ran into an acquaintance, Kang Wenbai.
Shen Rong got out of the car and called out to her. Having experienced the war, she cherished every old friend. Seeing them made her happy, even if she had never liked the person. But seeing that he was still alive made her especially happy.
Kang Wenbai looked at Shen Rong, then at Lu Xiang, tears welling in his eyes, with a hint of envy: "This is your youngest son, right? What's his name? He's grown so much."
"Uncle, my name is Lu Xiang." Lu Xiang stood obediently next to Shen Rong and introduced herself.
Kang Wenbai lowered his head and wiped his eyes, thinking of his youngest son. If he were still alive, he would be older than Lu Xiang.
"Grow up safely and peacefully." Kang Wenbai patted his head.
Cao Jingyi took the bread to pay the bill, and when she turned around, Kang Wenbai was nowhere to be seen. She hurriedly went out to look for him and was surprised and delighted to see Shen Rong.
"Mrs. Lu, it's been a long time."
Reuniting with old friends brings only boundless joy. After those arduous years, being alive now is already a blessing. The grudges and affections of the past are no longer worth mentioning.
"Long time no see, I hope you're all doing well," Shen Rong greeted with a smile.
The three went to a nearby coffee shop to chat. Kang Wenbai had difficulty walking, so Cao Jingyi slowly helped him walk.
They chatted for most of the day, and only when it was getting late did they part ways.
Watching the two support each other as they left, Shen Rong sighed deeply.
After all these years, it's unexpected that these two have finally gotten back together.
"Mom, is this uncle your good friend?"
Shen Rong paused for a moment: "I guess so."
Looking at his limp, Shen Rong sighed. Kang Wenbai was the same as in her dream, yet different.
I had heard Lin Wenhui mention before that after he married Guo Yuying, he fell in love with a widow. When Pingcheng fell, his whole family originally fled together, but halfway there he remembered the widow and worried about her safety, so he insisted on going back to find her. He then settled Guo Yuying and his son in a small town to wait for him.
He didn't come back after all. Instead, Japanese planes arrived first. When Guo Yuying woke up, her son was already cold beside her. He had been killed by stray bullets.
When Kang Wenbai returned, he only saw scorched earth. Guo Yuying had also gone mad. When Guo's father found out, he forcibly took his daughter away. It is said that she was originally in Shanghai for treatment, but after Shanghai fell to the Japanese, they returned to Australia.
Kang Wenbai was devastated and, in a fit of anger, went to the front lines to join the army, vowing to avenge his son. However, he was crippled in the leg as soon as he arrived at the front and was transferred to the rear with the wounded. He then lived a life of poverty until Cao Jingyi found him.
Just as the mother and son were about to leave, Kang Wenbai hurriedly returned.
"I almost forgot something. Do you have any news about Miss Hu?" Kang Wenbai asked, somewhat annoyed, as he had nearly forgotten this important matter.
Shen Rong asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"
Kang Wenbai said sadly, "Old Wu is dead. He left a letter for Miss Hu, and Mrs. Wu brought it to me."
Now that the Japanese have been driven out, Mrs. Wu is preparing to take her son back to her hometown and bury Wu Yong in the ancestral graveyard. She will never come to Shanghai again.
“She’s in Gangcheng.” Shen Rong gave him an address in Gangcheng.
She didn't know how Hu Peifang would feel upon learning of Wu Yong's death. Wu Yong was dead, and Hu Peifang had met the wrong person; it seemed that neither of them was doing well after they separated.
Hu Peifang's boyfriend was a complete swindler. After she was swindled out of all her money, Boss Liu ran away, leaving Hu Peifang alone in Gangcheng.
She was on the verge of death, but fortunately, she was later encountered by Shen Jiashi, who, out of respect for Shen Rong, gave her a sum of money, which helped her pull through.
Lu Xuan later met her when she went to Hong Kong for refuge. She heard that she had gone back to her old profession in Shanghai, but she was getting older and was not as popular as before.
But the war is almost over, and they should all be coming back by now.
***
A few months later, high-ranking officials in Jincheng fled to an island. Many government officials were on the accompanying list, including Chen Enzhi. When Shen Rong learned of this news, she was extremely anxious. What would happen to Lu Xuan if Chen Enzhi went to the island?
She wrote to Lu Lin, hoping he could think of a way to help her, as this was a one-way trip.
To everyone's surprise, Lu Lin only replied with four words: "I will follow your instructions."
Having no other choice, Shen Rong had to ask Lu You to bring Lu Xuan and her son back, but in the end, he only brought back a letter.
Someone came to pick her up, and Lu Xuan chose to go with them to the island.
A year later, Chen Enzhi sacrificed his life, and the Lu family never heard from Lu Xuan and her son again.
Jiang Yufen, who settled in Gangcheng, often corresponded with Shen Rong. After the couple died, their children brought back their ashes and buried them in the Lu family cemetery.
Lu Lin and Shen Rong went through many difficult times together, grew old together in love, were surrounded by their children and grandchildren, and enjoyed their later years in Pingcheng until their death!
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Author's Note: Let me think about this a bit. There should be a few more bonus chapters, but I'll stop the main story here for now. I'm afraid it'll turn into something like Granny Wang's foot-binding cloth [shy]
Dear readers, please forgive me for not going into detail about how wonderful the new era will be, as my writing skills are limited and I fear that my description may not be accurate enough!
[Go for it!] Lu Lin and Shen Rong from the book will continue to contribute to the country's development and live a fulfilling and happy life! Let's wish them all the best!
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