| Tanaka was a Japanese field reporter during the Second Sino-Japanese War. He was injured in a bombing and abandoned in the countryside. |
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Old Zhao's son had joined the Chinese army for years and was not heard
since then. Old Zhao missed his son so much that he mistook Tanaka, who
had the same face as his son, and brought him home.
Excited and delighted at the news of her husband's return, Old Zhao's daughter-in-law A Cui was extremely disappointed when she saw Tanaka. She knew at first sight that he was not her beloved husband. When she heard that Tanaka was a Japanese man who could speak Chinese, she was even more alert and cautious with him. Tanaka was grateful to Old Zhao for saving his life but he dared not to tell the truth seeing that Old Zhao was overwhelmed with joy.
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 After dinner Old Zhao locked A Cui and Tanaka in the bedroom. Seeing Tanaka asleep in her husband's clothes, A Cui was undergoing a struggle in mind. She wanted to stab Tanaka to death, but also remembered the sweet days she had with her husband since their marriage. Suddenly her fingers were loosened and the knife dropped. Tanaka was awaken and knew A Cui wanted to kill himself. He explained that he was an anti-war student who was forced to join the army and had not killed any Chinese people. Old Zhao had a heart attack in the middle of the night. Tanaka volunteered to help. He sneaked into a Japanese camp nearby and stole some medicine for Old Zhao. Old Zhao managed to recover by dawn. Tanaka also bid farewell to A Cui as the sun rose. |