Li Zhongfa and Wu Juying had not ridden in the same car as Li Ye today, so they found it a little strange when they saw him pull over. But when Li Zhongfa saw Old Song get out of the car, he was even more startled.
He strode over in two or three steps, just in time to hear Old Song say, "I just feel like my time is nearly up. I'm afraid of dying out there, so I came back for one last look." His heart could not help but turn sour.
Back then, Old Song had decided to go far away to Japan only after becoming implicated in Nakamura Naoto's disappearance. Old Song had already been over sixty then, and his reason for going to Japan was plain as day—he was courting death. Li Zhongfa had sensed that something was wrong and even drank a farewell cup with him.
Although Li Zhongfa had once been a hard-working, plain-living Eighth Route Army soldier who carried a gun and killed enemies, while Old Song had been a rotten, vile pawnshop manager who frequented brothels and drank with courtesans, the two belonged to opposing classes.
But Old Song had given Li Zhongfa two batches of medicinal herbs, and both men shared a blood-deep hatred for the little Japanese devils. So, as the wine went deep that day, there was a touch of melancholy that they might never meet again in this life.
Old Song had been gone for six or seven years without returning home. He was already in his seventies, and now he had suddenly come back. Had he truly felt that his end was near?
Old Song had sharp eyes. Seeing Li Zhongfa approach, he hurriedly said with a grin, "Long time no see, Director Li. These past two