Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 13 Goods Delivery

"Sis, Brother Tang is so handsome!" Chu Xin kept her eyes fixed on Tang Weiguo, who was discussing matters outside the window.

"A resolute face, a high nose and sword-like eyebrows, and a pair of bright, piercing eyes—he's even more handsome than the readers." Thinking of this, Chu Xin's face flushed red.

"You little rascal, you're not falling for someone, are you?" Chu Yu tickled Chu Xin's armpit a few times.

"No way, the revolution hasn't succeeded yet, I don't talk about romance, I'm just a simple admirer," Chu Xin quickly explained.

"Besides, Brother Tang is about my age, yet he expects us to call him 'Big Brother,' humph." Now that they were safe, Chu Xin's mischievous personality resurfaced.

"Haha, this is what you call a young hero. We won't lose anything by calling him 'Big Brother'," Chu Yu said with a smile.

"Sister, why would Brother Tang give up being the son of a landlord and start his own militia? When Brother Tang said he was a militia leader, it really startled me. Militias are no good."

"However, Brother Tang's militia is quite unique, just like our team. Sister, do you think Brother Tang isn't one of us?" Chu Xin asked curiously.

"It shouldn't be. If it were, the organization would have notified us. I'm also quite curious about these things you've mentioned. If we get to know each other more, we'll understand in time," Chu Yu pondered.

"Sister, we sent a letter back home a couple of days ago. I wonder when we'll get a reply? I heard these past few days that the Nationalists are preparing to attack that area again." Chu Xin said with a worried expression.

"It seems there might have been some change in circumstances, but let's wait patiently here for now," Chu Yu comforted him.

Suddenly, the roar of car engines sounded outside, and Tang Weiguo put down his work and went outside. A short while later, a lively commotion arose outside.

"Sister, why is it so lively outside? Let's go take a look," Chu Xin said to Chu Yu.

"Okay, let's go." Chu Yu pulled Chu Xin and walked out.

When Chu Yu and her sister went outside, they saw several military transport vehicles parked in front of the Tang family's house, and Tang Weiguo talking to a man in military uniform.

"Company Commander Zhou, you've worked hard. This is just a small token of our appreciation, a little something for the brothers' tea money on the road," Tang Weiguo said to Company Commander Zhou.

After listening to Tang Weiguo's explanation, Tang Xiaohu handed the silver dollar strips, which he had already wrapped in red paper, to Company Commander Zhou. Each strip contained one hundred silver dollars, for a total of two hundred silver dollars.

Company Commander Zhou didn't stand on ceremony with Tang Weiguo. He took the item directly, weighed it in his hand, and said with a smile to Tang Weiguo:

"I've heard Director Tang say that Regiment Commander Tang is very generous, but seeing it for myself today is truly an eye-opener."

"Company Commander Zhou has transported so much cargo for me, and he's worked so hard. This little bit of tea money is only fair. We can't let the brothers work for nothing," Tang Weiguo flattered.

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Commander Tang."

"Where."

"Commander Tang, I've also brought the men that Director Tang asked me to bring for you. They're waiting over there. See what arrangements you would make," Company Commander Tang said, pointing to five or six older men standing by the vehicle.

"Alright, Company Commander Zhou, hand these men over to me first, and I'll settle them in," Tang Weiguo said.

"Old Wang, come here for a second, I want to introduce you to someone," Company Commander Zhou called out to the leader of the five or six men standing beside the vehicle.

"Company Commander Zhou, you called me?" Old Wang came running over with faltering steps, looking as if his leg had been injured.

"Old Wang, the man in front of you is Regiment Commander Tang. He's the one Director Tang asked you to hand over. From now on, you'll be working for him," Company Commander Zhou introduced to Tang Weiguo.

"Commander Zhou, hello. My name is Wang Qiang. From now on, this old man will follow you. I hope Commander Tang will take good care of us old guys." Wang Qiang said with a slightly ingratiating tone, his head bowed.

"Okay, no problem. I will treat the people introduced by Director Tang well. You can focus on your work in the militia from now on," Tang Weiguo said, supporting Old Wang with both hands.

"Thank you very much, Commander Tang," Wang Qiang said again.

"Dazhuang, take Wang Qiang and the others to Uncle Tang's place and ask him to help settle them in first," Tang Weiguo said, turning to Tang Dazhuang.

"Okay, Commander, Wang Qiang, come with me." Tang Dazhuang then led Wang Qiang and the other men beside the car to the Tang family courtyard to find Uncle Tang.

"By the way, Commander Tang, where do you think we should put these goods? I'll have the men help us over there," Company Commander Zhou said politely.

"How can we let Company Commander Zhou's men carry it? Company Commander Zhou, you and your men rest for a bit, have some tea and relax. Leave the rest to me."

"Haha, Commander Tang is so generous, then I'll gladly accept your offer." Company Commander Zhou was more than happy to move these goods.

"Company Commander Zhou, please."

"Okay." After saying that, Company Commander Zhou and his soldiers followed Tang Weiguo into the living room. Tang Weiguo instructed his men to pour tea for Company Commander Zhou, and after exchanging pleasantries with him for a while, he took his leave.

"Xiao Hu, have the soldiers put the stuff in the backyard first. We'll transfer it to Wolong Mountain after Company Commander Zhou and the others leave. We can't expose that place for now," Tang Weiguo instructed.

"Yes, Commander." I'll go give the order right away.

Watching Tang Xiaohu direct the soldiers to move the goods, Tang Weiguo, having nothing else to do, took a stroll around the convoy.

Seeing the purchased weapons and medical supplies loaded onto the vehicle, Zhou Weiguo felt a great sense of security. The last vehicle in the convoy carried empty fuel drums that Tang Weiguo had specifically asked Tang Ming to find.

Tang Ming was puzzled as to why they were looking for so many empty oil drums. Of course, Tang Weiguo couldn't tell him what they were for, so he just laughed it off and said they were for storing water, as they were useful.

When Tang Weiguo said that, Tang Ming didn't think much of it. This broken oil drum couldn't do anything, so he didn't ask Tang Weiguo for a penny.

"To be honest, although Tang Ming is greedy, he's really reliable. He filled a whole truck with empty oil drums, and also packed enough other necessities. I'll have to ask him again if I need anything like this in the future," Tang Weiguo muttered to himself, looking at the many empty oil drums.

Just as Tang Weiguo was deep in thought, he was suddenly interrupted by a voice.

"Respected Commander Tang, what did you buy this time?" Chu Xin asked with a smile.

"Chu Xin and Miss Chu Yu are here," Tang Weiguo greeted them with a smile.

"You've come at the perfect time. I was just looking for you. The medical equipment I ordered has arrived. Could you check if everything is complete and if anything is missing? I don't know much about this kind of thing."

“Okay, no problem, my sister and I are professionals.” Chu Xin patted her flat chest.

"Xiao Hu, move these things to the backyard first." Tang Weiguo pointed to the car next to him.

"Okay, Commander, we'll move it right away." Tang Xiaohu called over a few soldiers.

"Let's go, let's wait in the backyard first." Tang Weiguo called to the Chu sisters and they went to the backyard together.

After the soldiers moved over, Tang Weiguo asked them to open all the medical kits so the two sisters could check them.

Chu Xin saw that all the surgical instruments used for the operation were there, including towel forceps, straight mosquito forceps, curved mosquito forceps, straight forceps, curved forceps, tissue forceps, toothed oval forceps, etc.

Chu Yu immediately noticed that the surgical instruments were labeled in German and said to Tang Weiguo.

"Commander Tang, you have connections! Imported equipment is a rare commodity, yet you manage to get your hands on it."

"Haha, it's all luck, as long as it's all good." Tang Weiguo smiled slightly. His charming smile captivated Chu Xin.

"I'll need the two young ladies' help to set up the military hospital so the soldiers can receive timely treatment," Tang Weiguo said.

“No problem, my sisters and I will take care of it, right, sis?” Chu Xin answered quickly, giving Chu Yu a nudge.

"Commander Tang, we must do our best to save my sisters, so please rest assured," Chu Yu added.

"By the way, I'm planning to recruit a few soldiers as medics. I'll need your help in selecting the candidates and providing training. Don't worry, the training fees will be substantial; I'll definitely pay you the highest standard," Tang Weiguo continued.

"Brother Tang, you're too kind to my sister and me. This is just what we should do," Chu Yu said quickly as soon as she heard that Tang Weiguo wanted to give her money.

Chu Yu thought to herself, "I feel bad about eating and staying at the Tang family's house for free these past few days, how can I possibly accept money?"

"Then I won't stand on ceremony, but I'll still pay you the money." Tang Weiguo didn't refuse any further.

Tang Weiguo chatted with the two sisters for a while, watching Tang Xiaohu direct the soldiers to move everything from the vehicle to the backyard.

After seeing that all the goods on the truck had been unloaded, Company Commander Zhou bid farewell to Tang Weiguo.

"Company Commander Zhou, are you in such a hurry to go back? Why don't you stay for dinner tonight and go back early tomorrow morning?" Tang Weiguo urged.

"Commander Tang, you're too kind. I can't stay tonight. I have to get back. It's not good to stay out too long," Company Commander Zhou politely declined.

Seeing what Company Commander Zhou said, Tang Weiguo understood what he meant; it would be difficult to explain if they were caught doing private work. Thinking of this, Tang Weiguo didn't try to stop him any further.

"Company Commander Zhou, have a safe journey." Tang Weiguo shook Company Commander Zhou's hand.

"Commander Tang, we'll meet again sometime." After saying that, Company Commander Zhou returned to the vehicle.

As the vehicles roared to life again, Company Commander Zhou led the convoy away from Tangjia Town.