Black Flag Army

Chapter 138 Lan Jinping Gets Married

Wu Zhong said: "If Xu Shichang becomes president, what good will it do us?"

Di Xiong said, "When I was imprisoned in the Beijing Police Department Prison, he helped me. Didn't you also give him gifts? Later, when we went to Suiyuan and Beitang City, I always sent people to give him gifts during festivals. I never stopped. If he became president, he could last longer and would not be easily overthrown like Li Yuanhong, because he was once Yuan Shikai's think tank and had a deep friendship with the various warlords of the Beiyang faction. If he became president and came to recruit us, we could live a stable life for a few years. We wouldn't have to face the behemoth of the polar bear and be on guard against someone stabbing us in the back. With these few years of buffer time, we would have no problem taking over Outer Northeast and gaining a firm foothold."

Wu Zhong said: "Speaking of Outer Northeast, I remembered that when you were not at home, the generals on the front line sent telegrams several times, asking when to continue to recover the lost territory? Should we attack Miaojie or Boli first? Taking over Hailanpao is just a corner of Outer Northeast. Miaojie and Boli are the core parts."

Di Xiong said, "Reply to them that we cannot fight for the time being. Miaojie and Boli are now Kolchak's territory. If we attack these two places, Kolchak, who is fighting in the western part of Tsarist Russia, will leave the battlefield and lead his army back to save his home base. Then we will be fighting for the Bu Party, losing many troops in vain, and we may not win. Although Kolchak's army has suffered several defeats at the hands of the Bu Party, it still has nearly 500,000 troops, which is not something we can defeat now."

Wu Zhong said: "You mean, we should wait until both sides are defeated and then we can reap the benefits?"

Di Xiong said: "Yes! When Kolchak is at his weakest, that's when we'll take action."

Wu Zhong said: "How long do we have to wait?"

Di Xiong said: "By next year at the latest, the balance of victory will tip towards the Burmese army. As the Burmese land system penetrates into the grassroots, more and more Tsarist Russians will support the Burmese army. The Burmese army has snowballed to hundreds of thousands of people, and will exceed one million next year. More and more outstanding generals have emerged in the Burmese army in battle. In addition to the commander-in-chief Tolo driver, Fu Longzhi, Dukhachev, and Buqiongni have also won many victories. These are all targets that the intelligence department must pay attention to, because after Kolchak's demise, our next opponent can only be the Burmese army. Although I don't want to fight them, if they launch an attack on the Outer Northeast region under our control, we have no choice but to fight to the death."

June in Beitang City has entered summer, and pedestrians in the streets and alleys have changed into single clothes. After the security division returned to Beitang City from the Nerchinsk front, Li Laoshi also returned to Beitang City. The security division is a second-line army. As the division commander, Li Laoshi does not have to stay in the barracks every day. He and the deputy division commander take turns to rest for three days a week. This day is Li Laoshi's day off. At noon, Li Laoshi bought a lot of vegetables and fish from the vegetable market and went home. When he was about to take the key to open the door, he suddenly felt bright in front of his eyes. He saw Lan Jinping standing at the door. He was surprised and hurried forward to greet him.

Lan Jinping was wearing a set of red and yellow clothes today, which was very bright. She had put on makeup on her face, which made her look very beautiful and attractive. She smiled and said, "Master Li bought so many vegetables today, so I guess there will be guests coming at noon?"

Li Laoshi smiled and said, "Lan Juzi guessed it right! A distant cousin brought someone to go on a blind date, and I treated them to a meal."

When Lan Jinping heard about the blind date, he frowned, then smiled and said, "This is a good thing! Master Li is fifty years old and still single. He should have found someone to start a family a long time ago. Now that you have become a master, many people will look for you for blind dates. I heard that you went on a blind date a few days ago, but it didn't work out?"

Li said honestly: "That woman is only 30 years old and thinks I am too old. Although her parents forced her to agree, I can't force her. A forced melon is not sweet!"

Lan Jinping smiled and said, "Master Li is as honest as his name suggests. The woman who despised you is blind. Why don't you invite me in to sit down?"

Li Laoshi quickly opened the door and invited Lan Jinping in. He took out a pair of brand new slippers for Lan Jinping to change into. Lan Jinping did not consider herself an outsider at all. After entering, she went to the kitchen to find an apron and put it on. Then she came up and snatched the vegetables and fish from Li Laoshi's hand and said, "Let me cook this meal! I run a big restaurant, and my cooking skills are much better than yours."

Li Laoshi said in horror: "No way! How can I ask Lan Juzi to cook for me? I really can't afford it!"

Lan Jinping raised his eyebrows and said seriously, "What? Now that you are the headmaster, you look down on me? You don't even give me face when I cook a meal for you?"

This was obviously a far-fetched argument, but Li Laoshi didn't know how to refute it. The vegetables and fish in his hand were also taken away because of the physical contact during the fight. Li Laoshi was worried that he would be mistaken for taking advantage of her, so he had to let go. He sighed and said, "Even if I am a division commander, I am just a small figure in front of you, Lan Juzi. How dare I look down on you?"

Lan Jinping had quickly scraped the scales off the fish with a knife, removed the internal organs, and after washing it, she began to skillfully slice the fish. The black fish turned into slices of white meat in her hands, which were thin, fine and very even. She wanted to make some pickled fish first, but did not get Li Laoshi's consent.

Li Laoshi could only help her, beating eggs, washing pickled vegetables, peeling onions and garlic, and was directed around by her. While helping, he worriedly said, "When the matchmaker and the woman come later, how can I explain your identity?"

Lan Jinping smiled and said, "Isn't that easy to say? Just say I'm the cook you hired."

Li said honestly, "Are you kidding? How can there be such a stunningly beautiful female chef? If a female chef had such beauty, she would have stopped being a chef long ago. She would have a large group of suitors who would want to keep her at home. I'm not a fool, how could I possibly believe it?"

Lan Jinping was very happy to hear that, and said with a smile: "Instead of calling me chef, just say I'm your cousin. Say I'm your cousin from another place, and I came to visit you and eat a meal for you."

Li Laoshi said with a bitter face: "The matchmaker is my cousin, and you said it was my cousin. Isn't that a mistake? Besides, your cousin and I are too old, right?"

Lan Jinping smiled and said, "It's up to you how you explain it. I don't care. If you're caught, it's because you're too stupid. You deserve it! You've been the head of an intelligence station for many years. Can't you even tell a few lies? From now on, don't call me Lan Juzi anymore."

At this time, there was a knock on the door. Li Laoshi hurried to open the door. Two women were standing outside. One was in her fifties, dark and thin, with gray hair. Li Laoshi recognized her as her distant cousin Shen Taiping. The other woman was in her forties, wearing tattered clothes, with a thin face and a yellow complexion. She must be the one he was going to date.

Li Laoshi warmly invited them in. Shen Taiping introduced them: "This is Jing Yixiu, 40 years old, a refugee from Yulin, Shaanxi."

Jing Yixiu looked a little timid and walked in with his head lowered.

Li Laoshi asked them to sit down in the living room and poured each of them a cup of tea. Li Laoshi asked, "What did Ms. Jing do in Yulin before? Why did you flee to Outer Mongolia? Is there anyone else in your family?"

Jing Yixiu's eyes turned red and she started crying. Shen Taiping sighed and said, "Her family used to farm in Yulin and did sewing and washing during the slack season. After Chen Shufan became the governor of Shaanxi, he imposed heavy taxes and levied a lot of levies. The landlords couldn't bear it and put the burden on the tenants. They couldn't survive and the family of five had to flee. After arriving in Suiyuan, there were warlords and bandits everywhere. The war was endless. Her parents-in-law starved to death on the way to escape and her only son froze to death. The most unfortunate thing was that her husband was shot by bandits to protect her. He had no money to buy medicine and died of his injuries. The place where her husband fell was only 300 meters away from the border post of Chagan Town."

Li Laoshi sighed and said, "Almost every refugee who came to Beitang has a tragic story. I already know Ms. Jing's situation. Has my cousin told you about my situation?"

Jing Yixiu wiped away her tears and asked, "Sister Shen said you are the division commander of the Black Flag Army! How much is your monthly salary?"

Li said honestly: "Fifty yuan in military pay vouchers is equivalent to sixty dollars."

Jing Yixiu asked: "What about other extra income?"

Li said honestly: "The Black Flag Army strictly prohibits taking kickbacks and misappropriating public funds. There is no extra income."

Jing Yixiu shook his head and said, "How is it possible? Which army doesn't have extra income? A division commander only makes 60 yuan a month. Who would believe it if I told them? You don't want to tell me, right?"

After hearing this, Li Laoshi didn't know how to respond.

At this time, Lan Jinping came in with a tray and said, "The food is ready! Let's eat, and talk while you eat!"

She placed the four dishes on the tray on the table one by one. The four dishes were delicious and Li Laoshi felt hungry immediately after smelling the aroma. Jing Yixiu saw Lan Jinping and said to Shen Taiping in horror: "Sister Shen! How could his family hire such a beautiful cook? He should fire her immediately."

Before Shen Taiping could say anything, Lan Jinping said in a stern voice: "Jing Yixiu! Don't go too far. You and Li Laoshi just met for the first time, and you're already pointing fingers at him. You want him to embezzle public funds and to quit his job as a cook. What's your basis?"

The two women were startled. Shen Taiping whispered to Li Laoshi, "I heard that her tone of voice doesn't sound like a cook. Who is she?"

Li Laoshi sighed and said, "She is my cousin! She has a bad temper! Don't mess with her."

Shen Taiping said, "I am your cousin. I should know all your relatives, but I have never seen her. She is so beautiful. If I had seen her, I would definitely have an impression of her."

Li said honestly, "You and I are my aunt's cousin, and she and I are my uncle's cousin. This branch of her family has been in Beijing for a long time, so you don't know them."

Jing Yixiu said to Shen Taiping: "I don't want to go on blind dates anymore. Sister Shen, please help me find another family. This family has such a powerful cousin. How can I live if I marry into this family?"

Li Laoshi thought to himself, if you knew her identity, you would have no chance to live. He explained, "She is just here to visit her relatives. She is not staying here permanently."

Shen Taiping said to Jing Yixiu: "You have to think it over carefully. My cousin is the division commander of the Black Flag Army. In Outer Mongolia, he is the only division commander who has not yet married."

Jing Yixiu said firmly: "He is already fifty years old, and I am only forty. Marrying him is already a disadvantage. His military pay is so low, and he even called my cousin to get angry with me. I would rather find a younger officer."

Jing Yixiu was about to leave when Shen Taiping stopped her and advised her to eat before leaving. Li Laoshi also persuaded her, and she finally sat down to eat. She was not polite while eating and wolfed down many dishes.

After sending the two women away, Li Laoshi said to Lan Jinping, "Are you satisfied now? You ruined my blind date, and I have to continue to be single."

Lan Jinping said: "She is not suitable for you in the first place. She is a rural woman, dark and ugly, and a widow. As soon as she comes, she asks you to embezzle public funds. How can you want such a woman?"

Li said honestly: "I am fifty years old after all, so I can only lower my standards. Besides, she is a poor person, and all her family members are dead."

Lan Jinping said, "That's what she said herself. Who knows if it's true or not? Maybe her husband thought she was ugly and kicked her out of the house."

Li Laoshi said with a bitter face: "Why do you have to think the worst of people?"

Lan Jinping asked, "Have you ever considered marrying me?"

Li said honestly, "Don't joke with an old man like me. You are a swan in the sky, and I am a toad on the ground. If the news of your marriage spreads, the people who come to your house to propose marriage will line up from your front door to the main road. How can it be the turn of an old man like me?"

Lan Jinping said, "There are many people pursuing me, but they are all attracted by my status and wealth. They want to enjoy the glory and wealth with me. They don't really like me. They will dump me when they get tired of playing. Moreover, I used to be a brothel. Many men of status are taboo about this, so it is actually difficult for me to find a husband. But you are different. You are an honest person and will not despise me. In addition, you are Li Laosheng's brother! Li Laosheng, do you still remember it?"

Li Laoshi was shocked and said, "That was my only brother. Of course I remember him. He was brutally murdered by the gang leader Zhang Zhongqi when he was very young. I wanted to avenge him but I didn't have the ability. Di Juzi and I were just ordinary informants. After Di Juzi killed Zhang Zhongqi, I decided to join the Xihe Society and work for Di Juzi for the rest of my life to thank him for helping me avenge him."

Lan Jinping said: "Li Laosheng was my boyfriend at the time. He took the risk to assassinate Zhang Zhongqi in order to save me. Speaking of this, I feel sorry for you."

Li said honestly: "Thank you for telling me this, otherwise I still wouldn't know it after all these years. This is his own choice, how can I blame you?"

Lan Jinping said, "I adopted a child named Li Hansheng to continue the family line of Li Laosheng. The child must have a father. If I marry you, I believe you will love him as your own child. Are you willing to marry me?"

Li Lao Shi said: "You are so beautiful. It would be an honor to marry you. Of course I would agree. But there is a big age difference between us. You will be at a disadvantage. Your brother-in-law Di Juzi will definitely not agree."

Lan Jinping said: "I have already convinced him to agree. Do you have any questions?"

Li said honestly: "I have no problem, but I advise you to think carefully."

Lan Jinping said: "Then let's get married in three days!"