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Chapter 257 New Year's Eve
The days passed quickly, and it was New Year's Eve in a blink of an eye.

The Spring Festival in 1940 was on February [-]th, and on New Year's Eve, every place in Shanghai was filled with a strong atmosphere of the New Year.

Even during the war, the living conditions were extremely difficult, but the traditional Chinese people still attach great importance to the Spring Festival.

The deformed prosperity of the Shanghai concession area during the isolated island period also greatly affected the atmosphere of the New Year. There were lights and festoons everywhere, and shops and merchants took the opportunity to play promotions, earning ordinary people's one-year savings into their pockets.

It's the Chinese New Year, and the military command naturally also distributed salaries and rewards, about two thousand French currency, no more, no less.

Zhang Jin took the money to buy some snacks at the Wufang Pastry Shop on Nanjing Road, and then went to Guanshengyuan to buy candies and preserved fruits.Finally, I came to Wing On Department Store and bought some unique gifts, which I planned to give to others.

Today's Yong'an Department Store also has more civilians who don't usually come here, and there are many more vendors selling toys, snacks and rotating Wanhua mirrors in the streets and alleys.

All kinds of people are preparing for the New Year. Not only the dance halls are affected, but even the restaurants and coffee shops have lost many customers. The only thing that is popular is the movie theater.

Finally, Zhang Jin came to Fang's house with big bags and small bags. As soon as he entered the door, he heard Fang Min's surprised voice.

"Let me see what good things you have bought!"

Zhang Jin said: "You just look at things and don't look at me. You're too biased. Anyway, I bought everything."

"Do you have something, what is there to see!"

"Fang Min, what are you talking about!" Fang Hanzhou's reproachful voice came from the room.

"Slightly slightly!" Fang Min stuck out his tongue and made a grimace, then carried a few things into the room with a smile on his face.

"Zhang Jin, come in and sit down." Fang Hanzhou greeted him with a smile standing at the door of the living room.

Zhang Jin said, "Excuse me, Teacher Fang."

"Do you want to bother me or not? Look, you still brought so many things." Fang Hanzhou waved his hand, turned to Fang Min and said, "Don't unpack things, go and wash the dishes first."

"Got it." Fang Min pinched a candy and put it in her mouth. It was so sweet that she squinted her eyes, like a kitten sucking mint leaves.

Looking at Fang Min's cheerful back, Zhang Jin thought that perhaps it was because she hadn't experienced the loss of her father and husband and her childhood sweetheart, plus she would be able to go to the border area to be with Xiao Tu in a few months. It is much more lively and cheerful.

Although he didn't have a mission about Fang Min, he still hoped that this girl could live a better life than before, and no longer experience such unbearable pain for ordinary people.

"I spent a lot of money buying so many things. It's too expensive." Fang Hanzhou said while pouring tea for him, "How have you been these days?"

Zhang Jin knew what he meant: "Everything went well, and I made a lot of money from the Japanese."

"Really, no wonder I heard that this year's puppet government is not easy." Fang Hanzhou smiled, and then lowered his voice, "I got your reminder before, and I did find that someone was following me during this period. But I have already made arrangements No flaws have been revealed."

"It's fine, I guess it will continue for a while, so don't be too lax."

"I understand this, and you have to be careful yourself, after all, your situation is much more dangerous than mine."

After one or two months of getting along, and helping to find out the traitor Zhao Zhongyi, Fang Hanzhou has already trusted him, and even guessed that he is his own person who was placed in the military.

"Mr. Fang, I want to discuss something with you. I want to invite someone to celebrate the New Year with you tonight. I wonder if it's okay?"

Fang Hanzhou smiled and said: "Okay, the more people there are, the more lively it is. In the past, there were Xiao Tu and Zhao Zhongyi, and now they each have their own affairs. I thought it was only me and Fang Min this year. By the way, Can I ask who it is?"

"Military special agent." Zhang Jin answered truthfully.

"Military commander?!" Fang Hanzhou froze for a moment, his face serious, "Tell me your reason."

Zhang Jin explained his thoughts and Yu Manli's life experience.

"It's so pitiful!" Before Fang Hanzhou could speak, Fang Min couldn't help but said at the door with a vegetable bowl.

"You... When did you learn to eavesdrop?" Fang Hanzhou's face changed slightly. He didn't want his daughter to know too much about the underground work.

"What's the matter, isn't it just a poor girl who wants to come to our house for the New Year? Is there anything I can't hear?" Fang Min pouted, and walked into the kitchen with a vegetable bowl, "Anyway, I support Zhang Jin to bring the girl over , or you two men, I have no one who can talk!"

"Then it's settled." Fang Hanzhou nodded and said, "Zhang Jin, then you go and take her over now."

"Later, she still has work." Zhang Jin said something.

"I understand." Fang Hanzhou nodded, turned his head and said to Fang Min, "Let's do it later."

By the Suzhou River.

Mingtai and Yu Manli, who completed the task of assassinating Wang Fuqu, watched the beautiful fireworks in the sky and chatted about each other's thoughts.

Zhang Jin came out from the shade of the tree, greeted the two with a smile, "You don't call me when you set off fireworks, you really are not enough friends!"

"Why are you here?" Mingtai was a little surprised.

Yu Manli said to Mingtai: "Okay, now I have Zhang Jin to accompany me to set off the fireworks, you go home, go back and see your elder brothers and sisters, maybe you can have New Year's Eve dinner when you go back now."

"Okay, I'm going home." Mingtai hesitated for a while, but still couldn't suppress his missing of his family.

Zhang Jin reminded Mingtai to remember to change clothes before taking the suitcase, so that the family members would not find out.

After seeing off Mingtai, Yu Manli turned to look at Zhang Jin: "Are you going to set off fireworks?"

"The fireworks are beautiful, but you have to eat first. Come on, come with me to the New Year's Eve dinner." Zhang Jin waved his head.

"Where?"

"A lively place, not just the two of us."

"Do you still have friends here?"

"Of course, otherwise, how do you think I spent the more than a month of my disappearance? Let's go, how lonely I am alone on New Year's Eve!"

Zhang Jin stepped forward and pulled up Yu Manli who was squatting on the ground.

"Hey, I just lit the fireworks, let's go after watching them!"

"I'll pay you ten fireworks. After the New Year's Eve dinner, I'll let you enjoy it! Okay?" Zhang Jin dragged Yu Manli away reluctantly.

There were no rickshaws on New Year's Eve, so Zhang Jin borrowed Fang Hanzhou's bicycle to go out, and happened to take Yu Manli back in the car.

Along the way, the streets are filled with the sound and smell of fireworks explosions, which is a bit choking, but more of a festive joy!
"Will your friend mind if you take me to your friend's house?" Yu Manli asked in the back seat.

"No, I've already told them."

"It's been a long time since I celebrated the New Year with other people, and I don't even remember what kind of feeling it was." Yu Manli's tone was faint, as if expressing emotion and sadness.

"Really? It will be different after you take it."

"In the future?" Yu Manli smiled noncommittally, "I hope so!"

(End of this chapter)