Chen Lan turned back to look at Jia Yao, who was standing respectfully, waiting for her. She crouched down, her face full of tenderness, and asked, "Son, Jia Yao, your mother is asking you. Five more siblings, three older sisters and two younger brothers, will be joining our family. Do you have any objections?"
Jia Yao lifted his small head and looked at Chen Lan, answering with a serious and earnest expression, "Mom, I have no objections. Dad said they are all children of martyrs. Our family has the responsibility and obligation to take good care of the orphans of martyrs. Only then can we be worthy of those comrades who sacrificed themselves for the revolution on the battlefield."
Jia Yao, at such a young age, was exceptionally sensible and touching, making Chen Lan want to cherish him even more.
So, Chen Lan reached out and stroked a tuft of hair sticking up on Jia Yao's head, continuing gently, "Jia Yao, what are your own thoughts! Mom wants to know your truest feelings."
Jia Yao lowered his head thoughtfully and seriously. Then he looked up and said with a solemn expression, "Mom, I really like the song 'Song of the Railway Guerrillas.' I believe my dad's comrades must have been like the heroic characters in 'Railway Guerrillas,' every one of them a great hero, not fearing sacrifice for the victory of the revolution, and forging ahead bravely."
After speaking, he quietly hummed the song: "Climb onto the speeding train, like riding a galloping horse; stations and railways, are our battlefields for killing the enemy; climb on trains to operate machine guns, storm trains to blow up bridges, like a steel knife piercing the enemy's chest, making the devils lose their spirit and fear..."
Chen Lan hadn't expected that Jia Yao, at his young age, also harbored a heroic complex. At the same time, she couldn't help but feel extremely proud. After all, he was a child she had carefully nurtured, with a righteous outlook and a promising future.
Xu Mingxuan stood a little far from the mother and son. He hadn't fully understood what they were talking about. Hearing his son Jia Yao humming a song, he asked with some curiosity, "Lan'er, what is this 'guerrilla' you're talking about? Which force is it? I've never heard of it."
Chen Lan took the hands of the two children, called Xiao Douzi, and walked back, smiling as she explained, "The Railway Guerrillas. It tells the true story of the guerrillas from the Zaozhuang area of Weishan Lake in Shandong during the Anti-Japanese War, who, under the leadership of the Party, operated on a hundred-mile railway line and moved through the vast expanse of Weishan Lake. Relying on the masses, they fought bloody battles against the enemy using guerrilla tactics."
Jia Hui, Jia Yao, Xiao Douzi, and the five children adopted by Xu Mingxuan were all listening intently. Even Xu Mingxuan listened carefully. But when Chen Lan stopped talking for a long time, they all felt restless, like cats scratching at their hearts, wanting to hear the details of the story.
So, the brother and sister stopped walking and each hugged one of Chen Lan's legs, acting spoiled. They both asked in unison, "Mom, tell us what happened next? What happened then?"
Chen Lan coughed and asked, "If you want to hear, hurry home with me. Your three sisters and two brothers have traveled a long mountain road and are already tired. Let's go home and let them rest well."
The brother and sister immediately let go of Chen Lan's legs. Jia Yao eagerly said, "Mom, can you tell us the story as we walk?"
Jia Hui chimed in, "Yes, Mom, let's walk and talk. We'll be home soon."
Chen Lan looked at the expectant faces of the children and nodded, "Okay! We'll walk and talk."
She then cleared her throat and continued, "The story of the Railway Guerrillas is about the period when Zaozhuang in the Weishan Lake area of Shandong was occupied. Our railway guerrillas, under the Party's leadership, fought on the hundred-mile railway line, engaging in guerrilla warfare against the enemy in the Zaozhuang area. Our guerrillas' activities of cutting wires, hijacking trains, sabotaging railways, and blowing up bridges became larger and larger, engaging in desperate struggles with the enemy, making them tremble with fear. The guerrillas fought bloody battles with the enemy time and time again, effectively cooperating with the main forces in the mountains against their encirclement and suppression operations."
Chen Lan paused to catch her breath and looked at the mesmerized children and Xu Mingxuan, and Mother Liu.
She continued, "Our Railway Guerrillas were like a tenacious sharp sword, deeply piercing the enemy's heart. The guerrillas fought hard with the enemy on Weishan Lake and the hundred-mile railway line for six years. Although the enemy launched extremely brutal encirclements and mopping-up operations against the guerrillas, the Railway Guerrillas continuously grew stronger through their arduous struggle and achieved many brilliant victories. Famous battles include (Flying Chariot Seizing Medicine) and (Cleverly Intercepting the Transport Train); Sudian Novel Network.
"One of their most brilliant historical achievements was when over a thousand enemy soldiers surrendered to an armed force of less than a hundred Railway Guerrillas. This was a rare and legendary scene in the history of world military surrenders."
After Chen Lan finished her story, the children were all filled with righteous indignation and still seemed eager for more.
Jia Yao clenched his small fists and said loudly, "Mom, when I grow up, I want to defend the country, and I want to be a hero too."
Jia Hui and Xiao Douzi chimed in, "Me too, me too! I want to defend the country, and I want to be a hero too."
Chen Lan smiled and patted their little heads, "Children, true heroes are everywhere. In every industry, there are countless unsung heroes. They work hard in their respective fields for the prosperity and strength of the country, contributing silently, and even dedicating their lives selflessly."
At this point, Chen Lan stopped and bent down to look seriously at the five children adopted by Xu Mingxuan, continuing, "Like your fathers, they are great heroes. For the liberation of the country, for us to live happy and peaceful lives, they fought bloody battles on the battlefield, bravely killing the enemy, and some even lost their lives! They are all true heroes, worthy of our eternal remembrance."
The five children nodded involuntarily. The eldest, Chun Ni, looking at Chen Lan with a sense of honor, asked, "Auntie, is my dad really a great hero?"
Chen Lan reached out and touched her somewhat dry and split hair, answering very seriously, "Yes! Your fathers are all true great heroes, and we must always remember them."
After hearing Chen Lan's words, Chun Ni finally revealed a long-lost smile.
Xu Mingxuan looked at Chun Ni's innocent smile, and the worry he had been holding in his heart finally subsided. Ever since her mother had left them, the three siblings, this child had been like a burdened adult, which had worried Xu Mingxuan greatly!
Now, it was great. The child finally smiled, indicating that she was slowly letting go of her emotional burden. He believed she would soon adapt to life in the valley, and he could face his new work environment with peace of mind.