A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Chapter 1050 Finding a scapegoat

Gui'er stood rooted to the spot, the osmanthus blossoms scattered across the courtyard, their fragrance so intense it was almost suffocating. She recalled the horrific scene in Fengcheng that her brother Afa had described. That was during the initial attack on the town; if the "Three Alls Policy" had truly been implemented, the battlefields would likely have been littered with corpses.

“We have to do something.” She looked up abruptly, her eyes glistening with tears, yet revealing a resolute determination. “We can’t just stand by and watch.”

Wu Mingqiang looked at her and nodded slowly: "I have already asked the pawnshop to prepare more medicine and food. When the rice is transported, we can send it over together. You can ask Brother Chen to notify his friends there to receive it. Smuggling rice is tacitly approved by the Japanese trading companies because they have taken care of the people there. This way it is much safer."

Gui'er was delighted and said, "Really? That's wonderful." But she felt uneasy because the guerrillas were hiding in the countryside and relying on the villagers for cover. Now, the Japanese devils were implementing the Three Alls Policy to deprive the guerrillas of their base of support, which was a huge crisis for them.

The next day, as soon as she returned to school, she told Lin Peishan about it.

Lin Peishan said with a heavy expression, "We received this news yesterday as well. Zhongyu knows you must be worried, so he is contacting the comrades in Jiangcheng to confirm the safety of the team. We believe we will have news soon."

Upon hearing this news, Gui'er was not only uneasy, but even more worried. This confirmed that what Wu Mingqiang said about the Japanese devils implementing the Three Alls Policy was true, and she became even more concerned.

She then mentioned Wu Mingqiang's offer to help transport supplies during the rice smuggling operation. Lin Peishan nodded and said, "Okay, I'll talk to Zhongyu about it later." Then she sighed.

Seeing that she seemed hesitant to speak, Gui'er asked, "What's wrong?"

Lin Peishan smiled and said, "Don't be angry with me for saying this, but the matter you guys were involved in with Lin Zhengfu isn't over yet. It caused quite a stir, and the Japanese are determined to investigate thoroughly. This time, it even affected the top levels of the Hong Kong British government, but there's still no result. I heard that the Japanese embassy has summoned high-ranking officials of the Hong Kong British government several times. Wu Mingqiang has been by Long Xing's side all along, so he couldn't possibly not know. He offered to help us transport supplies. Could it be that he's trying to win us over?"

Gui'er hadn't thought that far ahead, but she also felt that she couldn't understand Wu Mingqiang as much as she could. She nodded and said, "He must know, because Long Xing secretly tried to find me and probe my intentions, even avoiding Wu Mingqiang. But if you say he's trying to win us over, I don't know if that's true or not, but at least it's beneficial to our revolutionary cause, as it can greatly reduce the danger of transporting comrades."

Lin Peishan was very surprised: "Long Xing questioned you? What did you say?"

Gui'er shook her head and said, "Don't worry, I'll handle him, but this matter will probably drag on forever if there's no resolution soon. I'll continue to be careful."

She couldn't rest easy until the matter was resolved, so she turned around and told Wu Mingqiang about Long Xing's visit to her.

Wu Mingqiang smiled slightly and said, "I already knew about this. He showed up on my turf. How could I not know?"

Gui'er said worriedly, "Brother Wu, don't take this lightly. My classmate Lin Peishan's parents have access to high-ranking officials in Hong Kong. She said the Japanese embassy has put pressure on them many times and will not give up until they find out the reason."

Wu Mingqiang snorted and said sarcastically, "They can't even find the bodies of the crew members and Lin Zhengfu. Where are they supposed to investigate? Miss, are you afraid of scaring me? These days, so many people are smuggled across the border by smugglers. For various reasons, quite a few drown. Even if they find those bodies, I took away everything that could be used for identification. They have no way to investigate."

"Is it possible that their goal isn't to find the murderers of the crew and Lin Zhengfu, but rather to find the people who were on the same ship as them? The Japanese devils have never cared about the lives of Chinese people, and the traitors are probably the same. If they find out that the two of us were the ones who boarded the ship, then we're doomed."

Wu Mingqiang paused for a moment, looked at Gui'er, and pondered, "The idea that Miss mentioned is indeed possible."

However, he immediately said easily, "Don't worry, I have a way, I'll get it done quickly."

Gui'er naturally believed in his abilities, and having no other choice, she could only nod. Remembering Lin Peishan's words, she said, "You previously said that you could help us transport supplies when transporting rice. This is an excellent idea, and I believe the comrades will be very happy. But won't this increase your danger? What will happen if Detective Long finds out?"

“Long Xing, although he is cautious and suspicious, based on his consistent behavior, I have found that he genuinely hates the Japanese devils. So even if he finds out, he will not only not stop him, but may even turn a blind eye.”

Gui'er looked at Wu Mingqiang, and she was now a little unsure whether Wu Mingqiang was genuinely helping the revolutionary team transport supplies or just trying to win Long Xing's favor.

“It’s wonderful that Brother Wu is willing to contribute to the revolutionary cause. I believe the brothers in Jiangcheng will be very happy to hear this.” Gui’er cautiously probed. Wu Mingqiang was now completely out of her control, and she subconsciously felt that she could no longer question him directly.

"As long as you're happy, Miss, everything I do is for you." Wu Mingqiang raised his hand to Gui'er, but stopped halfway, making a circle and putting it behind his back.

Gui'er was startled, thinking he was going to touch her face, but when she saw his hand turn back, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief for some reason.

For a moment, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

Gui'er quickly said, "Anyway, please be careful. We, including you, Dingxiang, and Brother Cheng, have no other relatives in Hong Kong. Although we are master and servant, we are as close as family. You must take good care of yourself."

A few days later, Gui'er suddenly saw a news article in the newspaper.

[Secrets of Guangdong and Hong Kong: Human Smugglers Hijack and Murder Japanese Ship; Hong Kong Police Solve Case Swiftly]

Earlier this month, a vicious robbery and murder occurred off the coast of Victoria Harbour. It is reported that after the fall of Guangzhou, a large number of refugees were smuggled to Hong Kong by human traffickers. In the early hours of the 3rd of this month, Huang Afu, a human trafficker who regularly traveled the Guangzhou-Hong Kong route, encountered a Mitsui & Co. cargo ship on his return voyage after delivering a group of refugees to a beach in Hong Kong.

The ship, carrying Lin Zhengfu, a director of a foreign firm, and seven crew members, was on its way back after transporting a shipment of cotton yarn to Guangzhou, as originally planned. Huang Afu, seeing the potential for profit, secretly approached the ship in a small sampan under cover of darkness and, together with three accomplices, boarded it armed. According to Hong Kong police, Huang and his gang first ambushed the patrolling crew members from the shadows, then proceeded to massacre those inside the cabin; Lin Zhengfu and six crew members died on the spot.

The robbers looted all valuables from the ship and then fled, intending to sell the stolen goods. After receiving the report, the Hong Kong police, together with the marine police, set up a roadblock near Lantau Island and arrested Huang Afu's gang in the early hours of the 5th, recovering more than 80 silver dollars and some tools that originally belonged to the cargo ship.

The Hong Kong office of Mitsui & Co. has lodged a protest with the Hong Kong government, demanding severe punishment for the perpetrators. A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Police Force stated that the case was an impromptu act by the perpetrators and had nothing to do with anti-Japanese elements. The main perpetrator, Huang Afu, has been sentenced to death by hanging, and the other accomplices will be sentenced at a later date.