Chapter 44: The Fawn That Died in Spring

Chapter 44: A Fawn That Died in Spring
(I)
"Oh? Little Ge, you are here. What a coincidence, I happen to have something to talk to you about..."
Would calling her "Little Ge" sound too frivolous? Probably not!
Oh, no! No, no, no! Addressing her like that would sound way too old-fashioned!
What if she, following Department Chief Zhang's seniority, ends up calling me uncle? That wouldn't do at all! Right, right, addressing her as Little Ge isn't quite appropriate!
Then how should I address her?
Comrade Ge Sang? No, that's not right!
Comrade Little Ge? Oh, this form of address seems alright!
Arriving at the doorway of the office bearing the sign "Logistics Department," Zhu Ziming finally settled on his final plan.
Standing there, he practiced it one last time, raised his hand to knock, but just then, he suddenly heard Little Ge's voice. Zhu Ziming wondered if knocking now and interrupting her would displease her. So, his hand remained suspended in the air.

(II)
"Leather shoes? We have plenty! And they're all brand new! We captured them during the raid on the Japanese logistics unit last time. There must be dozens, maybe a hundred pairs, just piled up in the warehouse! What do you want those things for? They're impractical, too slippery for mountain trails. They're nowhere near as good as our cloth shoes, not even as good as straw sandals! Otherwise, do you think we'd have kept them around?" said Department Chief Zhang.
Ge Sang replied, "I'm not saying I'll use them myself, I want to get two pairs for Guanshan. Doesn't he usually practice running? He can use the cloth shoes when he's out on missions in the mountains. Besides, didn't I accept a gift from him? This can be considered a return gift."
Zhu Ziming felt as though the cute little fawn in his heart had been struck, twisted, and pierced by something.
It hurt so much.
"Oh, the pistol has already been given to you? Let me see. Hey, where is this kid now? He comes back and doesn't even come over to say hello to me! Go and call the fellow over here. Why are you helping him get them? Make him go pick them out himself at the warehouse. I happen to have something to ask him too!" said Department Chief Zhang.
"He hasn't come back yet. They say he was almost at the village when Staff Officer Chen rode over on horseback and called him back to Chenjiayu. Who knows what's up this time! Uncle Zhang, have you heard? This guy, oh my, they say yesterday he ran back and forth several times covering over a hundred *li*. My goodness, I was just thinking about how battered his feet must be! Who would've thought he'd still be running today?"
"Running all the way back? He ran all the way here just to bring you a gun?"
"What? Uncle Zhang, what are you talking about! He's addicted to running! Really! Company Commander Sun said so, and the gun was also brought to me by Guanshan through someone else!"
"Addicted to running? Oh... there's no outsider here, Uncle Zhang wants to ask you: do you also like Guanshan?"
"Uncle Zhang, what are you saying? I'm not talking to you anymore! He's even a few months younger than me!"
Zhu Ziming could no longer bear to listen. The little fawn in his heart had already been struck by ten thousand arrows, and a violent wave of pain washed over him... Zhu Ziming slowly lowered his hand and silently retreated a few steps.
"Hey! Uncle Zhang isn't joking with you! You are a local comrade, but little Guan belongs to the Eighth Route Army's main forces. He's only about twenty, right? The discipline of our 258th Regiment is no laughing matter!"
Zhu Ziming, who was just about to turn away, stopped in his tracks once again.
Legend has it that there is a magical spring capable of bringing that dead fawn back to life!
"Ah? Oh, yes, well, Uncle Zhang, why are you telling me all this? Guanshan and I are just, purely revolutionary comrades! Besides, how could I possibly like... The 258th Regiment, he isn't even a Party member yet..."
"I think this matter isn't entirely impossible. For instance, what if Guanshan is transferred to the local sector? Say, if he enters the arsenal as a technician, then there wouldn't be such strict restrictions!"
Zhu Ziming's face turned ashen; he turned around and left.
To think Department Chief Zhang was such a person. Totally unexpected, completely surprising!
"What? Have him transfer to the local sector? He certainly wouldn't be willing! Uncle Zhang, why do I feel like you're beating around the bush, trying to trick me into helping you lure Guanshan over here?"
"Hey! You girl, why aren't you beating around the bush? Think about it again, oh, you're forcing me to spell it out. He transfers down here for a year or two first, and once the application for the two of you is approved..."
"Oh, Uncle Zhang, you're so bad, you're so bad, what are you even saying! If you keep talking, I really won't talk to you anymore!"
"Alright, alright, I won't say anymore, I won't say anymore..."

(III)
"Division Commander, you're looking for me?"
Li Yunlong picked up the phone feeling very puzzled. Didn't he already get chewed out this morning? All those captured commander sabers, small pistols, and various exotic little gadgets of Japanese officers had been almost entirely swept away by the Division Commander, leaving Li Yunlong with less than ten percent—referring, of course, to what the Division Commander knew about.
"Why does your voice sound so guilty, kid? Well, are you going to explain yourself, or should I ask!"
"Hi-hi-hi, Division Commander, stop trying to scare me. There really is nothing left, I sent all of it to you, I arranged it personally. If you don't believe me, call Old Xing and ask him if I kept anything back!"
"Hahaha! If you put it that way, kid, then I know—that means there is, hahaha!"
"Oh, Division Commander, you are wronging me, Li Yunlong. I am more wronged than Dou E!"
"Alright, alright, cut the nonsense. This is the headquarters, not your regimental headquarters!"
"Hehe, yes, Division Commander, you're right. Your instructions, please give your instructions!"
"Alright, Li Yunlong, I can't be bothered to talk nonsense with you. Let me ask you, do you have a soldier named Guanshan under your command?"
"Ah, Guanshan? Oh, yes, what's wrong, Division Commander?"
"What's wrong? A good soldier you brought up, and you're asking me what's wrong? Don't you know?"
"A good soldier I brought up? What is it, Division Commander? Did little Guanshan violate discipline and get reported up to you? What happened, is it serious, Division Commander? If it's not too serious... Oh, Division Commander, spit it out, stop keeping me on tenterhooks!"
"Ho! Sounds like you, Li Yunlong, are crystal clear about his little affair! Then no more nonsense, confess yourself!"
"Impossible! Damn it, what big deal could it be? He hasn't even been a soldier for half a year. Counting from the last time he hurt his leg, it's been a little over a month at most. Even if he started messing around the moment he met someone, she shouldn't be showing a big belly yet..."
"Li Yunlong! You bastard, can't you think of anything else besides what's in your pants?!"
"Division Commander, what's in my pants has nothing to do with me anyway! Didn't you say Guanshan violated discipline? I was just... Oh, Division Commander, it's not about that! I knew it! Then what is it about?"
"Forget it, forget it. You dog's mouth will never spit out an ivory tusk your whole life. I said it was good news, but you insisted on thinking the worst of it. Tell me, isn't there something wrong with your brain?"
"Alright, alright, Division Commander, I submit, I submit. I'm just afraid of you spinning me around. I, Li Yunlong, am an honest man, and after a few twists and turns, you've got me tangled up..."
Thanks for collecting, and welcome recommendations!
(End of this chapter)