Chapter 29
Zhang Yan found the prosperous house had become somewhat deserted. He ran through the courtyard but found no one. Then, he saw Madame Wang sitting on a chair and talking with his mom.
Zhang Yan approached Madame Wang, saying, “Dear auntie, are you leaving us?”
Wang’s tears rolled down. She hugged Zhang Yan and sobbed, “Dear, I just want to see you for the last time. I don’t mean to leave you, but the government doesn’t allow servants to exist. The government has arranged jobs for us. I have to leave.”
“Dear mom, please ask auntie to stay.” “I am discussing with auntie. Madame Wang, you know you have brought up my son. Without you, my son could not have been so healthy. You know Yang is single, so are you. Why not stay with us so that you two can get married? We’ll be friends living in the same house without any status difference. What do you think of it?”
“But I am afraid Yang won’t agree to the arrangement. Then, I would be embarrassed.”
“My husband has mentioned the arrangement to Yang. But my husband is too busy to further do the thing. Yang is an orphan. He got married, but a misfortune happened to him. You had a nice family before, but the Japanese invasion ruined it. You see, my son loves both you and Yang. He can’t live without you two. We also have difficulty living on without you.”
Tang sobbed, “I devote my life to Lord. I’ll accept my fate regardless of whatever will happen to me. But my son is young. I don’t think it’s proper for him to suffer for us.”
Zhang Yan also sobbed at this. Madame Wang hugged Zhang Yan, saying, “Don’t be sad, Tang. Everybody here knows you are good people. If Yang agrees to live with me, we’ll serve you all the life.”
Tang replied with a smile, “I was really sad the other day. The PLA soldiers and the public security workers came here many times. We had paid compensations to the farmers. But then, the people came to ask us to donate and sell gold to them. They also asked me to expose the other Christians, saying they had done something bad against national interests. It is really hard to live in this society full of suspicions.”
Tang wiped her tears, and went on, “I have been worried these days. You know many people used to work for my family: gardeners, guards, cooks, tailors, housekeepers and clerks. But now we have to dismiss them for we are supposed to exploit them. We want to make them do the work and earn some money for living, but we can’t. We’re really in a plight. I have a hunch that something bad will happen to my family. I am worried about my husband and son.”
“Auntie, mom is crying. Please don’t leave us, ok?”
“I am just worried that I will bring trouble to you.”
At this time, Zhang Yunxuan and Yan Zhengfu came towards the sitting-room. Madame Wang left with Zhang Yan in a hurry.
Zhang Yunxuan shouted, “Dear wife, our distinguished guest is coming.”
Tang came. In front of her, stood a thin suntanned man with a faded military uniform. He stared at her kindly and shook hands with her. Tang realized that it was Director Yan.
“Let me introduce myself. I am Yan Zhengfu.”
“I have heard my husband mention you. Come in, please.”
The three people entered a small sitting-room. Tang went out then. Yan looked up and saw a beautiful and powerful handwriting on the wall. On it were written some Chinese couplets, telling people the power that the wilderness has and the attraction that charming personality displays. Tang brought some tea for them.
This was the first time for Tang to serve the others tea. Yan gave thanks to her, and she replied with a smile.
Then, Yan asked, “Is this the handwriting of the famous person Tang Yin?”
Zhang Yunxuan answered, “Sure.”
Yan greeted with hands, “Please tell me more about it.”
Zhang Yunxuan took up his tea cup and said, “Let me give a brief account of it. You know my family used to have a lot of contacts with officials and traders. This handwriting was bought by my family from a prostitute in
“In 1938 I came back to
Yan heaved a sigh, replying, “I have learned a lot from you about history. Tang Yin’s couplets did not follow the traditional rhyming. That is surely the reflection of his odd personality.”
Zhang Yunxuan went on, “Tang Yin is a strange talent. The rhyme he used by the words of ‘ass’ and ‘donkey’ is distinctive. The other day, the provincial museum sent a couple of people to my house and wanted to buy the handwriting for 300 yuan. You know this handwriting costs a lot. I don’t mean I care much about money. But given the low price, will those people take good care of Tang Yin’s handwriting? I doubt. I don’t think it’s proper to treat the heirloom in this way.”
Yan said with a smile, “We’ll be neighbors from now on. My family has moved to the house where the Christianity Association was once located. Tang gave a sound of surprise at this. Then, Yan asked her carefully, “Is there anything wrong with living in that place?”
Tang answered in a hurry, “Nothing bad.”
Yan did not go on but was puzzled. He found the couple in a state of panic. Zhang Yunxuan broke the ice then:
“I think we’d better ask Director Yan to take care of the handwriting.”
Yan was surprised, replying, “Why?” He seemed to feel Zhang’s worries, saying, “Did anything bad happen to you?”
“Yes. Half a year ago, you and I went to Zhang Yunchang my cousin’s village in Qingyan, and there we investigated if I was a landlord.”
“Yes. But you’re not a landlord.”
Zhang went on with a stretched smile, “As nobody could give compensations to the farmers, my wife becomes a landlord.”
Yan said in surprise, “How could it be so?” Zhang remarked, “Zhang Yunchang died and left his wife and two sons alone. They all stay in my house. Thus, the story happened.” Yan was surprised to hear this, answering, “I know the truth now.”
“Overnight Tang became a landlord as well as a capitalist. We couldn’t escape from the stains. We had to make a lot of compensations, and the workers in my family’s enterprises came for compensations, too. They even threatened us with weapons.”
Yan was sad at this. Then, there came the voices of Yang and Zhang Yan. Yang entered the room, and put down Zhang Yan from his neck. He asked:
“Dear Director Yan, why are you here. You know I have been looking for you.”
“Thanks! You know Cao and I survive because of your heroic acts. I can’t forget you. During the Spring Festival I asked Secretary Cao to give presents to you, but you refused to accept them.”
“I couldn’t accept them at that time. Many farmers came to our house then and asked for compensations. I made a count. Gosh! 300 people! If we didn’t make the compensations in time, we would suffer a lot like Zhang Yunchang.”
“Why so many people?”
“That didn’t mean the end. Later, workers came. They played many tricks so as to get more money from us. How can we live a peaceful life given this situation? Director Yan, please judge over this matter.”
Yan felt awkward at this. He wanted to say something for the family, but as a provincial leader it was hard for him to do that for the time being. He cast a glance at Yang, and felt sorry for his position.
Zhang was aware that this matter was tough for Yan. So, he said, “Ok, let’s forget this matter now. Anyway, we have made the compensations. Dear son, call Director Yan uncle.”
“Uncle Yan.”
Yan said with a smile, “Is this your son? Let me hug him for a while.”
Yang pushed the little boy to Yan, saying, “He is a great PLA soldier. Go and get his hug.”
“But I don’t think he’s a PLA soldier, for he has no badge or collar sign.”
Yan gave a laugh, replying, “Good remarks! I am working in the government. I am not a PLA soldier any more. Tell me, dear, what books have you read?”
“the Three-character Primer… and many tales.”
“Any more?”
“Yes. But it’s hard to describe.”
The people present laughed. Tang hugged her son, saying, “My son has a secret. Tell us about it, will you?”
Zhang Yan went out. Soon, he got back with his choolbag. He took out a shabby-looking book, saying, “I have the book named The Tales of the Three Warring States. Fang Yu lent it to me. Do you have this book?”
The people laughed loudly. Then, Tang said, “Silly boy, your daddy has a new copy of that book in his box. Don’t you know?”
Yan smiled, remarking, “This boy is lovely. I think I’ll take him to my house some day to get acquainted with my son and daughter. My son Yan Yuan was born in 1945, the same age as Zhang Yan, and my daughter Li Li is two years younger than them. Ok, it’s getting late. I’d better go home.”
Tang said, “Can you stay for a meal with us?”
“I’m sorry. My children’s grandmother came to
Tang replied, “I cook the meal by myself. The first time.”
Yan was impressed by her grace and air, remarking, “Good! It’s a new society, isn’t it?”
Zhang Yan helped to get the food to the table. Everything was ready. Dai Min looked at Zhang and asked, “Could we ask him for a favor given our friendship?”
Zhang replied, “I don’t think we should do that. Isn’t it just a matter of money? Give them the money!”
Dai said, “I’m sorry that I and my children have bothered you so much. You have lost business and money for us.”
Tang said with a smile, “Don’t be sad, dear sister-in-law! It doesn’t matter.”
Zhang Yan felt that he should tell his parents about the gold he had donated. He said boldly, “Dear parents, I’d like to confess my wrongdoing.”
Tang cast a glance at him, saying, “Let’s pray first.”
Then, they prayed for a while. Zhang Yan rehearsed:
“Dear Lord, I pray for bless to our country. Please give us peace, food and friendship. We know you will give us all these things. The
