Black Flag Army

Chapter 162 Liu Xikui is coming

When Di Xiong returned home, he saw Lan Jinchun, with the help of two maids, bathing two children under one year old. The two children were crying and making a fuss, moving around in the bathtub and were extremely uncooperative, which made Lan Jinchun tired and sweating. After the bath was finally finished and they were taken away by the maids, Lan Jinchun breathed a sigh of relief and lay down on the bed in the room.

Seeing Di Xiong walk into the room, Lan Jinchun glared at him with a face full of anger, and the anger in her heart was instantly ignited. She rubbed her aching waist and complained indignantly: "It was so busy just now! The maid and I were busy and tired like a cow, but you were nowhere to be seen, and you didn't even help once! Now my waist is almost broken! Why don't you come over and massage my waist to relieve my fatigue!" After that, Lan Jinchun sat on the bed angrily, waiting for Di Xiong's response.

Di Xiong quickly sat down beside the bed and carefully massaged her waist. Lan Jinchun said, "Taking care of three children is exhausting. I can tell you that I will never have a fourth child. If you want to have one, you can marry a concubine. I promise to support you!"

Di Xiong laughed and said, "When others take concubines, the wives cry, make a scene, or even hang themselves, causing chaos in the family. But you are very generous! We have a maid to help us at home, and you feel so tired. What about families who can't afford a maid?"

Lan Jinchun said, "I don't care! I just know that I have to be the principal, write articles, and take care of children. It's too tiring."

Di Xiong said: "I still want to apologize to you! This time the Justice Party voted for you to be the Mohist, and I voted against you! But you still became the Mohist with thirteen votes! I should congratulate you!"

Lan Jinchun said, "No need to apologize! I understand. You are my husband, so of course you should avoid suspicion and vote against me. My sister said that she wanted to vote against me, but she didn't know what others thought. She was worried that I would lose the election, so she voted in favor!"

Di Xiong said, "I voted against it, not to avoid suspicion! I think we are husband and wife. If you have any opinions or suggestions about the Justice Party, you can tell me directly and I will discuss it at the meeting. There is no need to squeeze out other people's seats."

Lan Jinchun said: "You want me to quit my position as a Mozhe? No problem! I can quit!"

Di Xiong said, "That's not necessary! Now that you've been elected, just do your job. Being elected as a Mohist is no joke. How can you just quit without a legitimate reason?"

Lan Jinchun asked, "Are you going to join the expedition to the Northwest?"

Di Xiong said: "In principle, I will not go. Wu Chunlei will be the commander-in-chief of the front line, with full command of three army groups and 15 divisions to recover the Outer Northwest. The Outer Northwest is vast and sparsely populated, and the local enemy's combat effectiveness is not as good as that of the Outer Northeast. The battle should be easier than that of the Outer Northeast. But if there is a major unexpected situation, I will still go."

Lan Jinchun smiled brightly when she heard this, and her beautiful eyes narrowed into slits because of joy. She said softly: "It's great that you don't go to the front! The last time you went to the front to fight for several months, I was anxiously waiting for your return at home every day. The feeling of living a miserable life is really unbearable. Now think about it, those days were simply a nightmare! But... I think this way, do you think I am too selfish? After all, the front needs you, the commander-in-chief, to stabilize the morale of the army." At this point, her eyes revealed a trace of guilt and uneasiness.

Di Xiong said: "This is human nature, how can I blame you? Moreover, when we were on the expedition to the Outer Northwest, the most dangerous place was not in the Outer Northwest, but in Beiling Province. In the north of Beiling Province, Kolchak still had about 100,000 troops recovering their strength. He would not be willing to lose Beiling Province and would definitely counterattack. The Japanese would not be willing to lose Sakhalin Island and could send troops from Hokkaido to attack Sakhalin Island at any time. Secondly, the Beihai Lake area in Beihai Province is also very dangerous. The Siberian Railway is too important to the Russians. No party in power wants to take it back. Although we have an agreement with the Bu Party, they will not tear it up for the time being, but they can incite and arm local Mongolian horse bandits to attack us, or let the army pretend to be horse bandits to attack us. So Jiang Hongyu and I, one guarding Beiling Province and the other guarding Beihai Province, cannot move."

Lan Jinchun said: "Wu Chunlei has never served as a commander-in-chief. Is it okay to let him command hundreds of thousands of troops independently?"

Di Xiong said, "Wu Chunlei joined Feng Jishan's army in May 1912, starting as a soldier and working his way up to battalion commander. He returned in June 1916. He served in Feng Jishan's army for four years, and those four years were not in vain. He mastered a lot of military knowledge and also experienced actual combat when suppressing the White Wolf. In the last battle to recover the Outer Northeast, his performance was no less than Jiang Hongyu, so I believe he can do well in the battle to recover the Outer Northwest."

Lan Jinchun said, "I feel relieved when you say that. By the way, the first batch of students from our Zhengqing School graduated yesterday. Tomorrow night I will invite some of the best students to dinner at my home. You will be responsible for cooking some of your signature dishes!"

Di Xiong smiled and said, "I don't know how long it has been since I last cooked. You can't blame me if the food is not tasty! Who are these students?"

Lan Jinchun said: "Leng Hanrui, Tie Jintang, Su Jinhe, Liu Changtu, and that charming Zhu Yuqiong!"

At 8 o'clock the next morning, Xian Yuji entered the office of the director of the Propaganda Department. As soon as she sat down, her section chief Le Hongmei handed her a pile of documents for her to sign. Le Hongmei was originally the propaganda team leader. Because of her outstanding performance, Xian Yuji was so happy that she promoted her to the head of the propaganda section. Le Hongmei is now the head of the propaganda section and the head of the Beitang City Drama Troupe.

When Xian Yuji picked up the pen and prepared to sign her name, Le Hongmei's excited voice came from the side: "Director Xian! I have great news to tell you! I heard that the famous Peking Opera actor from the capital, Ms. Liu Xikui, plans to visit our Beitang City in person! Moreover, she has an important mission this time! She plans to hold a grand charity performance! This performance is specially prepared to thank the Black Flag Army for its bravery and fearlessness, and for its efforts to regain our country's lost territory and restore national prestige! What's even more surprising is that Ms. Liu Xikui also expressed her willingness to donate all the proceeds from the performance to support the medical expenses of the wounded of the Black Flag Army and the pensions of those heroic soldiers who died! She is very much looking forward to receiving our invitation! She is even planning to persuade two other famous Peking Opera actors, Mr. Mei Lanfang and Mr. Shang Xiaoyun, to come and participate in the performance together!"

Xian Yuji was very happy when she heard this and said, "This is great news! We have invited her many times before, but she always refused on the grounds that the road was unsafe and she was too busy performing. This time she finally agreed to come. Several Mohists from the Justice Party are her fans. Let's report to the provincial government immediately and ask Governor Wu to invite her to perform in Beitang on behalf of the provincial government."

When she signed all the documents and handed them to Le Hongmei, she felt the floor beneath her feet move. Her feet were suddenly suspended in the air. A hand stretched out from the hole in the floor and held her feet. Of course, she knew whose hand it was. Her face turned red and she quickly said to Le Hongmei, "I have something else to do now! You can leave now!"

After Le Hongmei said goodbye and left, Xian Yuji ran over and locked the office door, then took out the key to open the safe, took out a bundle of clothes from it, and then jumped down from the hole holding the bundle. She didn't worry about falling to her death. Sure enough, as soon as she jumped down, she was caught by Di Xiong and held in his arms.

Di Xiong laughed and said, "You jumped too fast. What if I didn't catch you and you fell down?"

Xian Yuji laughed and said, "You deserved to be killed! I don't blame you at all! Since you died for an affair, you can still be a romantic ghost!"

After indulging herself, Xian Yuji took out her handkerchief as usual, wiped the sweat off his face and said, "Did you know that Liu Xikui is coming?"

Di Xiong said, "I just heard you say that I don't like watching dramas, but Wu Zhong, Bai Xiuling, Wu Chunfeng and others like to watch them. They must be very happy to hear this news."

Xian Yuji said in astonishment, "How could you have no interest in her at all? You know, she is truly the most beautiful lady in the Chinese theatre world! Even the four former presidents of the once powerful Republic of China government have fallen at her feet and become her fanatical admirers!"

Di Xiong thought, I also know that the next president Cao Kun is also her suitor. There are only five presidents of the Beiyang government of the Republic of China, all of whom are her suitors. Di Xiong said: "It's rare for her to come to perform for the Black Flag Army, and you praised her so beautifully. I will definitely go to support her when the time comes. I must give her this face."

Xian Yuji said: "If you like her, tell me and I will help you get her and make her your concubine."

Di Xiong was surprised and asked, "What are you going to do?"

Xian Yuji smiled and said, "Of course I put a knockout drug in her food, knocked her out and sent her to your bed."

Di Xiong asked seriously, "Do you think I'm that kind of pervert?"

Xian Yuji lowered her head and said, "No!"

Di Xiong said angrily, "She came to Beitang to perform for us with good intentions, but you tried to harm her with dirty methods. This is too despicable and shameless. Yuan Shikai didn't do this back then. Am I, Di Xiong, even less moral than Yuan Shikai?"

Xian Yuji was terrified and said, "I'm sorry, I was wrong! I just felt that only you could be worthy of such a beautiful woman. It would be a waste if she fell into the hands of others in the future. Besides, you have only one wife and no concubines. With your current status, compared with other warlords who have many wives and concubines, you are really at a disadvantage."

Di Xiong said, "How am I at a disadvantage? Don't I still have you as my lover? In fact, I feel sorry for you and my wife if I stay with you. If someone pursues you and you think it's appropriate, you can end our relationship at any time."

When Xian Yuji heard this, tears started to flow down her cheeks: "Are you getting tired of the old and loving the new? Are you going to abandon me?"

Di Xiong quickly hugged her in his arms and comforted her: "How could I be fickle? I won't abandon you, I just don't want to delay your marriage!"

Xian Yuji sobbed, "You know my situation. Since Hu Canglang died, I have been heartbroken. How can I have any idea of ​​marriage? I do have a suitor. He is the Mongolian Subuda. He has been pursuing me since his wife died three years ago. This guy has been promoted to a higher position and is now the deputy commander of the Third Army. I have rejected him many times, but he still won't let me go. He is already 36 years old and has two sons, one 16 and the other 12 years old. I am only 25 years old this year. Do you think it is suitable?"

Di Xiong said, "He is indeed not suitable, but our relationship will be discovered sooner or later. Aren't you worried that I don't have a concubine? Why don't you be my concubine? Lan Jinchun said that she will support me in taking a concubine."

Xian Yuji looked at the other person with cold eyes, her tone was full of undisguised disdain and anger, and she said: "Don't listen to her sweet words! Do you think everything will be fine as long as you take me as your concubine? Let me tell you, if that day really comes, as soon as you leave, I will probably be killed with a cup of poisoned wine! I have seen a lot of intrigues and jealousies between wives and concubines, and wives harming concubines. Therefore, no matter what, I will never be your concubine! I am not afraid of death, but I don't want to give my life away in a muddle."

Di Xiong laughed and said, "You've read too many novels and plays. Lan Jinchun is not a jealous person."

Xian Yuji said, "She may be the kind of generous person you said, but it's a different story when it comes to children. What if I have a conflict with her children? A mother will do anything for her children. What's more, she has a sister who is a 'female ghost'. I will definitely not be able to defeat this ruthless Lan Jinping. If the sisters join forces, I will die without a burial place. If you want me to live a few more days, you'd better give up the idea of ​​taking me as a concubine."

As night fell the next day, the lights in Di Xiong's house were bright. Five young men in their prime years - about 16 or 17 years old - were sitting nervously in the spacious and bright living room. Their eyes were fixed on Di Xiong's busy figure, who was sweating profusely in the kitchen at this moment, busy and having a lot of fun.

Among this group of students, there was a child named Tie Jintang who finally couldn't suppress his inner anxiety and fear. He turned to look at Lan Jinchun beside him, and said earnestly but with a hint of worry: "Principal! How can you let Di Juzi cook for us himself? This is really too unfair! After all, Di Juzi is a highly respected figure in our Beihai Province. How can we let him serve us juniors..." His words were full of self-blame and respect for Di Xiong.

Lan Jinchun smiled and said, "You are my students, I am your teacher, and he is now a teacher's family member, so it is my duty to cook for you."

At this moment, another student stood up. Her name was Zhu Yuqiong. She said confidently, "My family runs a restaurant. I can cook all kinds of dishes. Let me go and help Di Juzi!" Her words were full of enthusiasm and sincerity, as if she couldn't wait to show her skills.

After saying that, he stood up and ran towards the kitchen, but was grabbed by Lan Jinchun, who ordered him, "Sit down, you are a guest now, how can a guest go to the kitchen to cook? There is no such rule."