Chapter 4: Finding A Way Out Of The City
Accompanied by the opening of the room door, the winter sunlight also shone into the room. A woman wearing a light blue cheongsam walked in holding a bowl of porridge. The cheongsam was perfectly tailored, outlining Song Mei’s graceful figure just right, retaining the liveliness of a young girl while containing the gentle elegance of a Republic-era woman.
Paired with Song Mei’s familiar and exquisite appearance, Su Yaoyang suddenly recalled a phrase netizens from his previous life had said: “Haohao can’t be without a daddy!”
The visitor was none other than the Mei Jie that Little Lu had mentioned, also the owner of this inn, Song Mei.
These days, after Su Yaoyang and Little Lu’s travel money was stolen, they relied entirely on her mercy to avoid being driven out to sleep on the streets, so Su Yaoyang was very grateful to her in his heart.
After Song Mei walked in, her gaze swept over Su Yaoyang, then she saw the meat buns and soy milk on the table, a flash of surprise in her eyes, and she couldn’t help but tease.
“Yo… you’re even eating big meat buns. I was originally worried you two were hungry, but it seems I was worrying unnecessarily.”
After speaking, Song Mei turned to leave with the porridge. Seeing this, Su Yaoyang quickly stepped forward to stop her.
“Innkeeper Song, you’ve misunderstood. I bought this breakfast earlier when I went out—I ran into an old classmate and borrowed some money from him. It’s not what you think.”
“You borrowed from a classmate?”
A look of surprise appeared in Song Mei’s beautiful big eyes.
Seeing Song Mei’s skeptical gaze, Su Yaoyang couldn’t help but say: “I’m a student of Rehe Chengde Normal School after all. Is it strange to know a few classmates?”
“That’s not it… I just…” Song Mei started to explain, then her beautiful eyes widened as she extended her snow-white little hand toward him: “Since you have money now, shouldn’t you pay back the room and medicine money you owe me?”
“Mei Jie.” Little Lu, seeing this, became a bit anxious and was about to speak, but was stopped by Su Yaoyang.
He smiled and said: “Innkeeper Song, may I ask how much we still owe you?”
Song Mei said flatly: “A total of four silver dollars and fifty cents!”
“Good!”
Under Song Mei and Little Lu’s gaze, Su Yaoyang actually pulled five silver dollars from his pocket and placed them in Song Mei’s fair and tender palm.
Then he sincerely said: “Innkeeper Song, we’ve been under your care these days.
Without your helping hand, in these chaotic times, Little Lu and I probably would have lost our lives long ago.
Also, I want to explain that I really didn’t mean to offend you earlier.
To speak frankly despite our shallow acquaintance, the chaos now is just the beginning. When the National Army retreats and the Japanese devils enter the city, that’s when the real disaster starts.
At that time, the enraged Japanese devils will surely massacre the civilians in the city. If you don’t leave now, in a few more days it’ll really be impossible to leave!”
Seeing Su Yaoyang’s sincere expression and feeling the shiny silver dollars in her hand, the displeasure on Song Mei’s face gradually faded, and her pretty eyebrows slightly furrowed.
She habitually weighed the silver dollars in her hand, feeling their familiar weight, thought for a moment, and then said: “You’re saying that once the Japanese devils enter the city, they might massacre the civilians?”
“It’s not ‘might,’ it’s certain!” Su Yaoyang said solemnly.
“This sounds a bit far-fetched to me?” Song Mei was still somewhat unconvinced. “This is Nanjing, our national capital. There are plenty of foreigners and journalists in the city. Even if the Japanese grew a leopard’s guts, they wouldn’t dare do that, right?”
“I…”
For a moment, Su Yaoyang was actually speechless. Truth be told, if he didn’t know this history well, he wouldn’t believe that a nation claiming to be civilized would do such barbaric things.
He shook his head helplessly: “Innkeeper Song, I’ve said all I can.
Anyway, Little Lu and I are definitely leaving the city in the next few days. As for you… I can only say take care of yourself.”
After speaking, he turned and walked out of the room toward the outside, leaving behind two women who looked at each other in bewilderment.
Little Lu looked at Su Yaoyang disappearing from sight, then at Song Mei, and couldn’t help but said: “Mei Jie, my young master never jokes about things like this. Why don’t you come with us?
My young master is a very good person. He knows how to dote on people and will definitely take good care of you, making you plump and fair.”
“Pah!” Song Mei’s pretty face flushed red. She gave Little Lu a glare and spat: “You’re the one he’ll fatten up plump and fair. I’m not… whatever, I’m not arguing with you. I’m going out to get busy first.”
After speaking, Song Mei twisted her water-snake-like waist and turned to leave the room.
Outside the inn’s main gate, Su Yaoyang, wearing a tattered cotton jacket and cotton shoes, looked at the surrounding scene and couldn’t help but furrow his brows.
The mottled bricks and tiles, as well as the earthen wooden buildings, appeared especially gloomy under the sunlight. The low earthen walls in the corners were covered in dust, and the road underfoot was a mix of mud and broken stones, each step evoking a long-lost and unfamiliar feeling.
Gunfire sounds from the distance came and went faintly, like waves of weak yet piercing echoes, standing out starkly in this quiet place.
Su Yaoyang involuntarily looked up, trying to trace the source of the sound, but could only see a vague outline on the horizon—that was part of the ancient city wall. Not far away, a shell crater stood quietly, as if reminding him of the turmoil this land had once endured.
His heart was filled with an indescribable confusion. This place seemed familiar, yet so strange; everything he knew seemed to have vanished.
In this Republic-era city brimming with historical weight and legendary color, he had truly time-traveled, but what lay ahead in the future?
Su Yaoyang walked unevenly on the road. At this time, there were almost no people on the main street; even the occasional passersby kept their heads down and hurried past.
After walking for over an hour, he finally stopped a passerby. After some questioning, he was dumbfounded.
He had originally planned to head toward Zhongshan Wharf and Xiaguan, but unexpectedly ended up on Han Zhong Road near Jinling University. Going further south would reach Zhonghua Gate.
Finally, the auntie he stopped sized him up for a moment and kindly reminded: “You young one, it’s this time already and you’re still wandering the streets.
Hurry home. The Japanese have already reached outside Zhonghua Gate now. It wasn’t easy for your parents to raise you this big—don’t throw your life away foolishly.
Remember, to go to Xiaguan, follow Zhongshan Road northwest. Once you see the Japanese embassy, you’re almost there. Don’t get the direction wrong.”
Su Yaoyang naturally thanked her profusely. Looking at this kind-hearted auntie, he couldn’t help but say: “Auntie, the fighting is so intense now. You should take your family and flee the city to hide, right?”
The auntie gave a wistful smile: “Old as I am… I can’t walk anymore. It’s just me and my old man at home. Even if we wanted to leave, we wouldn’t know where to go.
Forget it. Even if we die, we’d rather die at home than become wandering ghosts outside.”
Su Yaoyang was left speechless. This was probably what they meant by “hard to leave one’s homeland.”
After bidding farewell to this kind auntie, Su Yaoyang looked around, preparing to head in the direction she pointed, when suddenly a horn blared from ahead. Several trucks were driving toward him from the south.
