The History of Raising Children from the Republic of China to the 1970s

1-10

Chapter 1

September 22, 1937

It was late at night, the sea breeze was blowing, and the masts on the ship were rustling in the wind, making a lot of noise. A full moon was hanging high in the sky, reflecting the clear sea water above. It was already late at night, and most people on the ship had gone to sleep, but some cabin lights were still on.

In a room in the first-class cabin, a young man was sitting at a desk by the window, with a book in front of him. The book was not opened, and the three big characters "Das Kapital" were on the cover. The young man didn't seem to want to read the book, but just propped his chin with his hand, with a faint smile on the corner of his mouth, looking out the window, but there was nothing in his eyes, and there was no focus, as if his thoughts were wandering in the sky.

There were two knocks on the cabin door. The young man was awakened and quickly looked at the door. He frowned and looked at the watch. It was already ten o'clock in the evening. Who would come at this time? The

person outside the door seemed to know that the person inside seemed to be still awake. There were three more knocks, and he didn't mean to give up.

The young man thought for a while, stood up, walked to the door, and said suspiciously, "Excuse me, who is it?"

"My dear? Haven't rested yet? I am Ji Xiu." A familiar voice came from outside the door. The man was sure and opened the door directly. The person outside the door was indeed someone he knew. This person was one of his classmates in Country M. They were like-minded people, and they were now on the ship returning to China.

"Ji Xiu, I haven't rested yet, please come in first!"

Li Zhuoxing let the person into the room, and the two sat on the reception chairs in the room.

"Zhuoxing, we will be able to return home in about ten days!" The man named Ji Xiu seemed a little emotional.

"Almost."

Ji Xiu hesitated, "Zhuoxing, what are your plans for going back this time? Are you really going to join the army?"

"Yes." Li Zhuoxing answered very affirmatively, without any hesitation.

"But uncle and aunt..." Ji Xiu unconsciously tapped the back of his clothes with his hands, "Why don't we go back and take a look first? Isn't your pharmacy still waiting for you to take over? Isn't curing diseases and saving lives also contributing to our country?" After saying that, he looked at Li Zhuoxing with expectation in his eyes, and his feet unconsciously stretched out a step forward.

"There's no need to talk about the pharmacy and my elder brother anymore. I've already decided to join the 11th Army."

He then asked the other person, "What about you?"

"I've already received the appointment report from the Secretary of the National Government Committee, and I'll report it when I go back this time." He looked at the other person a little embarrassed, as if he was a little ashamed of what he said. His eyes drooped, his hands unconsciously pinched the corners of his clothes, his voice unconsciously lowered at the back, and even the foot that was stretched out before was retracted.

"Okay." Li Zhuoxing nodded, smiling calmly, as if he was not surprised by this.

"Then... I'll leave first." The man must have felt embarrassed to stay any longer, so he stood up and was about to leave.

Li Zhuoxing didn't stop him, nodded and sent the man out.

Before leaving, the man named Ji Xiu bowed deeply to Li Zhuoxing again, and then left quickly without waiting for Li Zhuoxing to react.