A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Chapter 1166 Going to the Pawnshop to Get Things

After that, they carried away the bodies for several more days until the area was almost cleared of corpses. They were supposed to be conscripted for other hard labor, but seeing that this wasn't a solution, Gui'er said to Wu Mingqiang, "Brother Wu, those military police officers who arrested you, aren't they also Chinese? We can't do anything about the Japanese, but as for the Chinese, how about we bribe them? If you leave this area and run into other Japanese troops, I don't think it might be a good thing. You might not be able to come back."

Wu Mingqiang said with a long face, "I know that captain of the Military Police. I saw him working as a errand boy for one of my trading partners when I was doing rice smuggling. He was just a small-time hoodlum. I don't know how he got on the good side of some big traitor and started acting all high and mighty. But luckily he hasn't been in Hong Kong for long and doesn't know my real identity. Otherwise, he would have arrested me and squeezed all my money out of me. We ran into an old neighbor, Mr. Li, on the street the other day. He said that all the rich people who stayed there are being treated like this now. We're lucky we managed to slip away early."

"Did you ask him how our family is doing now?" Dingxiang asked hurriedly.

"..." Wu Mingqiang fell silent.

Gui'er could tell from his expression that nothing good was coming, so she smiled and said, "We're lucky to be alive. Money is just an external thing, so don't worry about it too much."

Wu Mingqiang smiled and said, "Gui'er is right. I did ask around. Although we have moved most of our valuables to the cellar, it is said that we have still been targeted. The manager of a Japanese trading company is living there now. They helped with intelligence work before the Japanese came and have now taken advantage of the situation."

"What about Sister-in-law Aying and Liujin..."

"He didn't say anything. He just secretly saw it when I sneaked back to check on my house after dark. I guess he was just like us, forced to become a servant."

Gui'er thought for a moment and said, "Speaking of which, you're going to do hard labor in another district tomorrow. I think we should bribe them a little. You're all exhausted after you go out to do hard labor every day, especially Brother Zhu. I've seen him come back pale and trembling these past two days. How can this go on? We're already eating poorly, and if we get sick, there are no hospitals right now. Why don't we give him some money, say it's our last bit of money, and let him arrange for us not to go? Then we can look for a chance to escape Hong Kong. Otherwise, how can we escape if we're trapped by this hard labor every day? Our food here will run out too."

“What Miss said makes sense. I’m worried that if they find out we have money, they’ll come and search us. They’ll dig three feet into the ground to find money. If they find this basement, then you two will be in trouble…” A-Cheng said, frowning.

Gui'er and Dingxiang immediately knew what was going on. It was indeed the case. Dingxiang said, "That won't do. I, I, I, I'm scared."

Just then, a voice suddenly came from the radio:

The Imperial Japanese Army has liberated Hong Kong, expelled the British and American colonists, and ended their century-long oppression. The Imperial Army's operations were solely for the self-preservation and defense of East Asia and the construction of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, not for hostility towards the Chinese people. Effective immediately, the Hong Kong Military and Political Council is established, with Commander-in-Chief Takashi Sakai of the 23rd Army as its supreme commander, to implement military and political order and maintain public order. The people must obey the orders of the Imperial Army and the Military and Political Council, and work together to establish a new order in East Asia.

Dingxiang asked timidly, "Does this mean we can go out? To be honest, we don't have much food left."

Wu Mingqiang sighed and said, "Let's take another look." He suddenly turned to Acheng and said, "Acheng, do you remember the things we stored in the pawnshop's cellar?"

Acheng nodded: "I remember, the good items were all taken to Macau by Aguang. The ones you left in the cellar were just some worthless things, like old watches, bracelets, and jade pendants of poor quality."

"Let's go there tonight, take these things out, and put them here."

"Huh? Brother Qiang, those things aren't rare. When we bought them, although the money wasn't much and the value wasn't high, so we didn't take them to Macau, we still put them in the cellar for the sake of our reputation. Now we're taking them out...?"

Wu Mingqiang shook his head and said, "I think the situation is not good. We went to move the bodies these past two days and found that many shops, banks and high-end residences have been occupied, right? The street where our shop is located is also in a good location. I'm afraid that one day it will happen to us sooner or later. It's better to take it out. The situation is more serious than I thought. It's good if we can get more money. At worst, we can compensate them when they come to redeem it after the war."

After listening, Acheng thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll go with you."

"Hey, but there's a curfew every night now. If you're out and the Japanese soldiers and the military police find you, you're dead," Dingxiang said worriedly.

"I'd rather go myself. I'm old and not in good health anyway," Zhu Zhiming said. "Just tell me where to hide it."

“Brother Zhu, please stay here. The situation is still unstable these past few days, and it’s too dangerous. If we don’t make it back, please take care of these two girls,” A-Cheng said.

"Pah, pah, pah, don't say such unlucky things. If you don't come back, we're definitely doomed. You must come back safely, do you hear me?" Dingxiang said excitedly.

Wu Mingqiang took out his pocket watch and glanced at it. It was already past 5 o'clock. It gets dark quickly in winter, and no one dares to walk on the street now. It's like a dead city outside, with not a sound.

Wu Mingqiang and Acheng checked the bullets in their pistols, loaded them, and tucked them into their belts.

After doing all this, he gave Gui'er a deep look.

Gui'er knew this trip was extremely dangerous, but if they didn't bring back some valuable items, they probably wouldn't last long.

"Be careful on your journey, safety is the priority. If you really can't get the item, just let it go. Make sure you come back safely." She saw Wu Mingqiang and Acheng up the stairs.

Upon reaching the cover at the stairwell, several people listened intently for a moment, and only after confirming that there was no noise outside did they confidently pry open the cover.

The two walked out cautiously. Gui'er saw them off and then walked out of the basement herself.

"Miss, please go down quickly so I can put the cover back on," Acheng said.

Gui'er glanced at the scenery outside, which she hadn't seen for many days, and felt that the air was filled with a gloomy chill.