The original text of the first chapter of Hongyan

The monument to the victory of the Anti-Japanese War is dark, hidden in the sea of gray fog, and the mountain city where the Yangtze River and Jialing River meet is shrouded in thick clouds and fog. This gloomy morning has brought people into another year in turbulent times.

In this abnormal and prosperous urban area, even though the sky is so gloomy, the streets on New Year's Day are still crowded with pedestrians as usual.

"sell newspapers, sell newspapers! Central Daily News! Peace Daily ... "Barefoot newsboy, running in the fog, shouted:" Look where China went in 1948? ..... look at the American atomic military exercise, the third world war is about to break out ... "

In the voice of selling newspapers, I suddenly shouted this sentence:" Look at garrison headquarters's orders! During the New Year, no firecrackers, no fireworks, and no fire! "

In the sea of people, a young man walking in a hurry suddenly heard "fire alarm!" When he turned his head to look at it, the newsboy had disappeared, but there was a fading cry in the crowd: "Look at the news in this city, the public officials are trapped in the new year, and the whole family has taken poison, leaving a letter of death ..."

This young man who is walking in a hurry is Yu Xinjiang. Today, he didn't wear a worker's uniform, but he changed into a clean blue cloth Chinese tunic suit. Under the eyebrows, a pair of eyes that look straight at everything are deeply embedded; He is only in his twenties, but his expression is particularly solemn, and he looks lean and calm than a young man of the same age. Hearing the newsboy's shouts, his eyebrows shrank slightly and he stepped faster. Two long arms, swinging back and forth in a hurry, sleeves wiping the skirts, and cables ringing rhythmically. I don't know if it's hot or for convenience, he put a little longer cuff on his arm, revealing a long dark wrist and a big hand covered with cocoons.

Through this noisy street, he repeatedly gave way to buses with black smoke tails. This worn-out diesel vehicle, with its rolling ground bumping and screeching noise, coupled with the peddlers selling surplus American goods and the cries of stalls, the shouts of the rickshaw case in a panic and the noise of pedestrians all over the street, turned the festive street into a pot of porridge rolling up and down.

Yu Xinjiang has something on his mind and walks in a hurry. However, the strange scenery all over the street kept breaking into his eyes. High-rise buildings on both sides of the street, shopping malls, banks, restaurants, dance halls, employment agencies and auction houses with abnormally prosperous business are all decorated with big characters such as "Celebrating New Year's Day" and "Congratulations on the New Year". I don't know which ingenious business firm took the lead. This year, there was a new pattern that had never been seen in previous years: long ribbons tied with brand-new 1,-yuan bills actually replaced red and green colored silks and hung down from the foggy high-rise buildings. In some places, 1,-yuan bills are even used instead of 1,-yuan bills, as if to welcome the coming million-yuan bills. Maybe the businessman pays the bill, and the money is cheaper than the red and green colored silk? Unfortunately, the paper and printing of the 1,-yuan bill are not bigger and better than the 1,-yuan bill, but it is not as eye-catching as the 1,-yuan bill because of its vague color. When the breeze passes, these ribbons made of "legal tender" fly and rattle. This strange sight doesn't seem to be taboo, so it's not officially prohibited like setting off firecrackers and fireworks.

Yu Xinjiang disdains to see more tricks, and lets those "New Year's sale, regardless of blood!" "Buy one get one free, bear the pain and sacrifice!" Posters in big letters, shaking in the cold wind. Everyone knows that before those posters were posted, a "" was added to the price tag of almost all commodities; Moreover, behind those posters, who knows how many bitter faces are hiding, dying and on the verge of bankruptcy?

A few long car horns alarmed pedestrians all over the street and scattered a group of street children grabbing cigarette butts. At this time, a woman's trill was singing on the loudspeaker at the top of the Jigong Monument: "Good flowers don't bloom often, good scenery doesn't exist often ..."

Yu Xinjiang turned around inadvertently and saw a white police car speeding through the street center, followed by several streamlined cars that were also speeding. The star-spangled banner is inserted in the car, and it is painted with conspicuous Chinese characters: "American Information Office". These cars, opened by heavily armed military police in police cars, drove to the Victory Building to attend the New Year reception held by the municipal authorities for the "Allies". Yu Xinjiang looked coldly at the cars passing by quickly, as if he saw the Americans who often went to the arsenal from the window. At this time, he suddenly found that a big slogan was stuck on the ass of the last car: "Yankee get out of China!" "Bah!" Yu Xinjiang spat bitterly at the place where the car ran over, then walked through the downtown area and continued to move forward.

He calmly turned a few blocks, making sure that there was no "tail" behind him, and went straight to the dormitory No.5 of Dachuan Bank. This is a residential area near the city center. The roadside is covered with trees, which is very quiet, and there are few pedestrians on the streets in the New Year. He reached out and rang the bell. After a long wait, the black paint door slowly opened. A middle-aged man in a navy serge suit appeared at the door, wearing a coat. Seeing Yu Xinjiang, he nodded slightly and let him in. Before closing the door, I used to look at the street again.

I can see that this is a person who is used to living in a complex environment.

The small living room looks neat after careful arrangement. The small round table was covered with a tablecloth, and a bottle of blooming wintersweet was added, with a delicate fragrance; Some colorful new year card and some sweets adorn the atmosphere of the New Year. The single piece hanging on the wall, in addition to the original ones, added a shaft of horses painted by Xu Beihong. The red charcoal fire in the brazier drove away the cold and the whole room was warm. This place doesn't make Yu Xinjiang feel comfortable and free like a shack with humble workers, but he doesn't have too much resentment. The struggle is complicated. Underground workers under the white terror must defend the organization and themselves, and their work is necessary. Zhigao Pu, the owner of the apartment, can of course use this lifestyle as a cover. Yu Xinjiang walked to a semi-new sofa near the window and told his master:

"Lao Xu asked me to come to you."

"Yes, I saw a fire in the factory area on the other side last night, and I was thinking ..." Zhigao Pu hung up his coat and made tea while talking. "Do you like Longjing or fragrant tablets?"

"it's all the same." Yu Xinjiang casually replied: "I am used to drinking cold water." "no! Comrades come to me, and we must implement * *, and share the blessings! "

Zhigao Pu smiled and handed the tea bowl to the coffee table. He stared at each other's sunken eyes and patted him on the shoulder: "Xiao Yu, didn't you sleep all night?" How did it catch fire? "

Zhigao Pu is a member of the Shaci District Committee of the underground party, responsible for economic work. He was concerned and eager to ask about the factory, but it made Yu Xinjiang feel particularly uncomfortable. Xiao Yu seemed to see the blazing fire again, burning in front of his eyes, and patches of huts were swallowed up by flames, and the blazing flames reflected half the sky. He didn't answer for a moment. He excitedly picked up the tea bowl and sipped it as if he were very thirsty.

"Don't worry!" Zhigao Pu, with an air of long-term assurance, said leniently, "Workers' difficulties in life can always be solved. What does Lao Xu mean, how much does it cost? "

Zhigao Pu paused and asked with concern, "Have you read the newspaper? It is said that the workers accidentally caught fire! " He picked up a piece of Central Daily News, pointed to a subtitle, and left the newspaper behind. "I think there is another article here! What do you say? Xiaoyu. "

Yu Xinjiang's dark eyebrows quivered, and Huo Ran stood up and said loudly to Zhigao Pu, "What's the fire? It was the spy who set the fire! I saw it myself. " He remembers that when he rushed to the fire, he met crowds of people coming from the fire. Master Xiao, the branch secretary of the artillery factory, and many comrades were there. Two arsonists were escorted with their bodies tied. The workers have recognized the two gangsters, who are special agents of the inspection office of the general factory.

Yu Xinjiang glared at the opposite white wall like a spy. After a long time, he turned around and told Zhigao Pu: "After being caught on the spot, two agents who set fire confessed that they set fire on the orders of the second office of the Southwest Chief Executive's Office!" "The second place?" Zhigao Pu one leng. "That's a military secret service organization!"

Yu Xinjiang, who was still angry, didn't pay attention to Zhigao Pu's interruption. He took two steps forward, and his tone was full of resolute power: "You can run away from the monk, but you can't run away from the temple. Workers' losses should be fully compensated by the enemy! "

he knew that many ominous signs had appeared in the branches of the Yangtze ordnance factory before the fire. At first, a large number of military police entered the factory and forced workers to work overtime. Later, the shanty towns of coal factory workers were included in the scope of factory expansion, forcing workers to tear down houses and move. Now, the enemy's arson has intensified the struggle! Workers from the branches of the Yangtze River Ordnance General Factory will gather at the gun factory today. Although the factory staff escaped, the angry workers were determined to move the building materials prepared by the factory to the fire site and rebuild the dormitory of the factory workers. No victory, the struggle will never stop! Yu Xinjiang clenched his strong fist and gave a hard blow on the small round table, causing wintersweet in the bottle to fall in succession.

Zhigao Pu was attracted by his emotional contagion and was very excited. Although he seldom has the opportunity to participate in mass movements because of his work, he still knows the political situation very well.

"yes. Chongqing's arms industry accounts for 8% of Chiang Kai-shek's total production capacity! He wants to be a good transport captain and supplement the consumption of American equipment. Of course, he wants to catch Chongqing! " Zhigao Pu eyes flashing, showing a rare excitement. "Xiao Yu, do you remember? Last spring, when Xinhua Daily stopped publishing, Wu angrily asked the enemy:' Look, opposite us is your arsenal. For months, I rushed to build arms day and night. Excuse me, what is this for?' The U.S. and Chiang Kai-shek reactionaries have insisted on civil war and are eager to expand arms production, which has reached the point of unscrupulous means. This time, our party must lead the workers to fight to the end! ""We Chongqing workers can't take our innocent hands to be accomplices to the reactionaries! " Yu Xinjiang said loudly, and at the moment he felt the great significance of the struggle against demolition and expansion. "Lao Xu said that he decided to publicly expose the enemy's arson crimes and strive for justice and solidarity in all aspects; And in the city's factories to mobilize workers to raise money, before the enemy compensates for the losses, solve the life difficulties of the factory workers ... ""When the donation is not available, I can try to ... "Zhigao Pu didn't wait for Yu Xinjiang to finish, so he interrupted him. Yes, it is not easy to support hundreds of workers at present. Moreover, some expenses of the underground party's economy are originally within his responsibility.

Yu Xinjiang nodded straightforwardly, told the amount needed at present, and said, "Old Xu said that the money you put in will be returned from the donation in the future."

"No problem, the money can be given to you tomorrow." Although the financial sector is in a tight position just after the New Year, Zhigao Pu did not emphasize the difficulties, but offered: "If it is not enough, you can try to get more."

He looked at Yu Xinjiang's heavy eyebrows and eyes and persuaded him, "Xiao Yu, you are too tired. Take a rest and eat before you go." He looked at his watch and added, "My wife has gone shopping and will be back soon."

He said that during the New Year, he specially asked his hired old lady to return to her hometown to reunite with her family. These days, he and his wife cook and eat by themselves.

Yu Xinjiang didn't pay attention to each other's concerns. He doesn't like talking very much, and he has the drive to pay attention to nothing but work. As long as something happens, he even forgets to eat. For this reason, his mother often complains that he shouldn't spoil his health. Lao Xu also criticized him. But this temper is not easy to get rid of. It happened that now, he has a brain full of work, and he can't even consider eating or sleeping. In fact, Lao Xu's temper is similar to his. This morning, after listening to Yu Xinjiang's report, he didn't even eat breakfast and rushed to the factory. He was given a lot of work when he broke up. "One more thing." Yu Xinjiang suddenly looked at Zhigao Pu and said, "Lao Xu wants to set up a backup contact station in the sand magnetic area."

this idea came with the development of the workers' movement in the sand magnetic area. However, Lao Xu didn't want this junction to be mixed up with the other work of the Sandi District Committee he was in charge of, so he never decided who to give this task to. Recalling Lao Xu's thoughtful expression at that time, after Yu Xinjiang explained his intention, he told Zhigao Pu: "The liaison station must be separated from the mass work, so it is ready to be handed over to you; Lao Xu wants to ask your opinion. "

"Jiang Jie is leaving soon, and the district intends to let me take charge of part of the student movement!" Zhigao Pu smiled demurely and said nothing more. He accepted the task without being reluctant. No matter what he does, increasing his work is something that makes him happy now. "Shapingba area is a cultural area, and it is appropriate to have a bookstore. Economic problems can also be solved. However, there are still a few shop assistants. "

"Lao Xu has considered the staff at the junction station."

"who?"

"Chen Songlin." Yu Xinjiang introduced: "Comrade workers, my good friend."

"that's great!" Zhigao Pu asked, "When will he come?" "You know the situation in the factory ... it will take a few days."

When he heard Yu Xinjiang say that Lao Xu had originally considered opening a bookstore, he smiled knowingly and became more excited. Yu Xinjiang also said that Lao Xu had taken care of it, and the bookstore should be small and gray, so don't sell progressive books ... "Yes, yes! A few years ago, I had a contact station. " Zhigao Pu nodded and smiled, and then changed the subject: "Xiao Yu, have you read the latest issue of Advance Newspaper?" He conveniently pulled out a roll of pink typing paper from his pocket. Before Yu Xinjiang came, he was studying the secret newspaper of the underground party carefully and repeatedly at home. "The epoch-making document" The Current Situation and Our Tasks "written by * * is so inspiring! The China revolution has reached a great turning point, and the day of victory is approaching, and our underground party members will suffer! "

Zhigao Pu waved the Advance Newspaper in his hand and shook out a piece of paper with dense handwriting from it, revealing his inner passion. "In the past two days, I have been thinking: How can I be worthy of the great era? We should make more contributions to the party in mass movements and fierce struggles! At the thought of the future, I feel inexhaustible strength all over ... "

Just then, the doorbell suddenly rang. He told Yu Xinjiang with confidence: "She must have come back from shopping. Do you know that she has a good impression of you? Workers can also write poems-she has read your short poem published in Xinhua Daily ... "

Zhigao Pu refused to let Yu Xinjiang, who was in a hurry to leave, stand up and said firmly," She really wants to meet you. She cooks some side dishes. You must love them. It's so cold, I can't let you work for the party on an empty stomach, cold and hungry! " Say that finish, and enthusiastically put the paper shaken out from the Advance Newspaper into Yu Xinjiang's hand, which means that after he read the document of * *, he spent two nights writing a learning experience, ready to be published in the underground party journal, and asked Yu Xinjiang to have a look and make some suggestions. At this moment, the doorbell rang again. Zhigao Pu just smiled and put on his coat and stepped out of the living room.

Shapingba main street has opened a new Shaping Bookstore.

This bookstore is still very small for the time being. It sells some ordinary books and magazines, buys and consigns all kinds of old textbooks, and its customers are mostly students from nearby universities and middle schools.

The shop assistant is a round-faced boy, ten years old, short and sturdy. He was transferred from the repair shop to Chen Songlin. After leaving the factory, then