Chapter 53
Dai’s suffering frustrated Zhang Yunxuan. Zhang chose to break away from the Kuomintang and joined the Communist revolution. He should have been well treated. He was willing to contribute his energy and wealth to the construction of the country. However, the reality upset him. Many people lived fearfully, and the poor farmers delighted in revenging the old-times rulers in a violent way. Zhang wondered if this could bring about a happy and prosperous nation.
What was a nation? Different people had different definitions. According to the ordinary people, a nation could protect them from the attacks of the others. In this sense, the concept of nation involved both law and territory. According to the Soviet concept, nation was a tool of violence.
This concept had been guiding the Chinese revolution to some extent. In the revolutionary bases, many old-times rulers were killed, which left a stain on the Communist reputation. Once the habit of violence was developed, it was hard to abandon. Zhang wondered why people could not carry out revolution in a more reasonable way. This kind of revolution was different from his expectation.
In order to encourage Tang to face the reality, Zhang read the Bible. This book was about God’s words to the common people. Zhang admired but felt puzzled about Jesus’ devotion. Jesus was prosperous and tolerant to other people, regardless of their origins. Such a spirit was much needed in today’s society. But in this society violence and killing were common. It was really hard to carry out Jesus’ ideas.
Was it necessary to both give land to the poor farmers and kill the landlords and landladies? Was it necessary to execute the old-times rulers in order to get the poor people’s peace and safety? Could violence make a peaceful nation in
Zhang gave up weapons for
The poor farmers had their land now, and the workers in cities became masters. The people shouted the slogans praising the Communists and Chairman Mao here and there. They were willing to be led by the Communists. That was true!
But the happiness of the poor people was based on the suffering of the old-times rich people. Many old-times capitalists, landlords, officers and priests had to live an uneasy life. To Zhang’s disappointment, his wife suffered, too.
Zhang liked to get up early and did some exercises in the morning. This habit was developed a long time ago, and could hardly be changed. Now he stayed at home and did not go to the office. He played soccer with his son a while and then sent him to school.
Now, family became all of Zhang’s life. He told stories to his son, and played chess with him. Zhang Yan could play chess well now. Nevertheless, Zhang still felt painful with the present situation, where the laws and regulations were in chaos, and some selfish people were in power. The new government was controlled by some tyrannical people.
The misfortune of the Chinese rested with al lack of Jesus’ spirit of devotion. Zhang thought a lot about the country and his family. He was also worried about his old-times subordinates’ living.
Zhang was in frustration and anxiety. The Kuomintang scolded him for betraying, while the Communists accused him of being an old-times Kuomintang member. He got stuck in the middle. Zhang was aware that his wife’s silence was a proof of her faith to God and devotion to Him. She had encouraged him to take the uprising, and now he was suffering for that!
Zhang cared little about wealth now. He made a lot of compensations to the workers. In fact, the compensations outnumbered the value of the shops and factories he had. Yet, he had to make compensations, or he would be scolded as an illegal capitalist.
Today, Zhang sent his son to school, and he saw Yang carrying water back home. Madame Wang opened the gate for Yang, saying, “Be careful! Don’t hurt your waist!”
Yang argued, “If I hurt my waist while carrying water, I would be a useless man!”
Madame Wang replied, “It’s autumn now. Watch out for your health.”
Zhang was aware that Yang had asthma. And he recalled that his wife urged him to arrange the marriage between Yang and Wang. With this thought, Zhang felt better. He went to the back of the courtyard, and saw Tang sitting quietly before Jesus on the cross and stared at Lord.
Zhang stayed quietly behind Tang lest he would interrupt the conversation between his wife and Lord. What was she praying for? Was she praying for the family’s happiness? Was she praying for the peace of the country? Zhang thought he was responsible for this situation. If he had not taken the uprising but had chosen to go abroad, his family would be living a happy life. This situation was really unbearable!
Why couldn’t Zhang protect his wife? Zhang felt that he should understand his wife’s faith in Lord. He also prayed in his heart that the new country would become prosperous, and peace and generosity would replace violence and selfishness. Zhang thought religion was better than people to some extent. Anyway, God would not betray people.
At this time, Yang’s voice was heard. Yang was yelling, “Why are you so arrogant as to bully a sick woman?”
“Move away, or we’ll handcuff you.”
“My sister-in-law is on the bed for a rest. Do you want to see her?”
“Yes. Tell you the truth: God could not save her! Even if she hid in God’s kingdom, the Communists could punish her, for that is the Communist territory.”
Zhang knew that Yang spoke loudly in order to urge Tang to pretend ill. The other day, some public security workers came. Zhang told them that his wife was ill, and could not walk to the public security office. But today, they came.
Zhang gave a glance at his wife. She was still sitting there. He stood up and wanted to ask her to go upstairs. At this time, Yang shouted loudly, “Stop! If you dared to move on, I would call Director Yan and tell him you broke into a house. I’ll ask him to tell the truth to me his brother!”
The public security worker paused for a moment, and then said, “How dare you address yourself as ‘brother’ to Director Yan? What’s the relationship between you?”
“I saved him. Is that enough?”
“Is that true?”
“You can check the truth in the provincial leadership.”
The man got polite, replying, “We wonder when Tang could come to the public security office to have the matter settled. We can’t wait for her all the time.”
Yang said, “The doctor said she needed half a year to recover…”
Zhang saw Tang get up calmly. He stopped her, but she said, “Dear, I’m ok. I’ll face it.”
Zhang watched Tang go out. Her presence surprised the public security worker and Yang.
Tang greeted, “Please let the public security worker come in.”
