[Chapter Four]

1

Inside the chairman’s office at the base headquarters, Chen Danghe and Dong Zhiqian were reporting information to Chairman Chen Benjiang, taking the opportunity to lodge complaints against the Political Department.

Chen Danghe said, “Chairman, just now Zhiqian and I went to the village chief’s house to drink tea, and we heard the lame fellow Fuzi in the village say that the authorities are closely monitoring our activities in Luku Village.”

Chen Benjiang said calmly, “This piece of information had already been reported to me earlier by Secretary Chen. A tall tree attracts the wind—this is unavoidable. Our future actions must be more covert. The timing is not yet ripe; Beijing is preoccupied with intervening in the Korean Peninsula’s liberation war and cannot take care of everything. We still cannot confront Chiang Kai-shek’s group head-on in the open.”

Chen Danghe added, “Also, Director Wang of the Political Department, in front of Village Chief Chen, said some rebellious words criticizing our Party. I believe there are problems with his thinking and loyalty. I worry that sooner or later he will betray us or do something detrimental to the Party. We cannot help but take precautions in advance.”

Chen Benjiang frowned, thought for a moment, and said, “Director Wang is in charge of ideological education. Basically, I believe there is no problem with his thinking and loyalty. He is an idealistic, passionate young man. I do not think he will do anything harmful to the Party.”

Dong Zhiqian asked in confusion, “Chairman, you seem to be quite protective of Lü Heruo?”

Chen Benjiang countered, “Otherwise? Do you think Lü Heruo should be punished? Didn’t you once work with him at the newspaper?”

Dong Zhiqian said, “Chairman, basically I think Lü Heruo is an opportunist who trims his sails to the wind and is not trustworthy!”

Chen Benjiang asked disapprovingly, “Lü Heruo’s situation is the same as yours—he came to the base only because he had no way out. Could it be that I can only trust you and not him? That doesn’t make sense, does it?”

These words immediately left Dong Zhiqian speechless.

Chen Danghe still refused to give up and said, “Chairman, based on my intuition, I believe Lü Heruo will betray the Party and the entire base sooner or later. He must be dealt with as soon as possible! As the old saying goes, ‘raising a tiger invites future trouble.’ This man absolutely cannot be kept in our base.”

Chen Benjiang said, “Comrade Danghe, I’ve heard that you have certain prejudices against Lü Heruo’s past, but I do not wish for you to judge any of his remarks through bias. Lü Heruo not only enjoyed great fame in Taipei’s cultural circles in the past, but within our base he also has a reputation for integrity. In terms of both ability and influence, he is a rare talent. Moreover, during this period, he has contributed greatly to our Party.”

Chen Danghe said helplessly, “In the future, our Party will suffer because of him. I’ll wait and see.”

Dong Zhiqian interjected again, “What Lü Heruo said in front of the village chief was indeed inappropriate. He placed the Taiwanese people above our Party, violating the Party line. I agree with Director Chen—before dealing with external threats, we must first secure the internal front. Chairman, you should seriously consider convening a temporary review meeting and promptly cleaning house, removing this malignant tumor named Lü Heruo. Director Chen, am I right?”

Chen Benjiang waved his hand and said, “With a powerful enemy before us, Chiang Kai-shek’s group may soon take action against us. I do not wish for internal strife within the Party during this period, causing division. I have my own judgment on this matter; the two of you need not say more.”

2
Liao Qingyun was the younger sister of Liao Musheng, the general secretary of the farmers’ association. She had delicate features, wore two long braids, had a well-proportioned figure, and possessed a gentle and intelligent temperament. After graduating from a vocational high school in commerce, she worked at the farmers’ association, and in the evenings she came to the base to volunteer in handling paperwork for Chairman Chen Benjiang.

Lü Heruo had once studied abroad in Japan; he was well-traveled and highly educated. Coupled with his refined appearance and gentlemanly demeanor, he not only wrote well but could also play Western instruments such as the guitar and harmonica. Living in close proximity, Qingyun admired Lü Heruo’s talent and elegant bearing, secretly giving him her heart. Although Lü was not entirely unaware of Qingyun’s affection, he had come here as a fugitive and knew his future was uncertain. Moreover, he was concerned about the safety of Su Yulan and her daughter, so whenever Qingyun hinted at her feelings, he tactfully avoided the matter.

However, after Qingyun inadvertently learned from Zhang Haiqing that Wang Wenbo was actually the famous “Number One Talent of Taipei,” Lü Heruo, she became even more determined to win his willing acceptance.

“Lü Heruo! Lü Heruo! No matter what wind has blown you to Luku, I, Liao Qingyun, will use the greatest patience to make you accept me.” Sitting at her dressing table in her boudoir, with a stack of newspaper clippings about “Lü Heruo” on the table, Qingyun gazed at the full moon outside the window and made a vow to herself.

“Not caring for eternity, only cherishing what was once possessed.” Qingyun recalled these two lines Lü Heruo had written on the back cover of his manuscript: “Isn’t this exactly my feeling for Brother Lü?” She took out the manuscript from the drawer, stared at the two lines, and silently repeated them in her heart.

3
That evening, after work at the farmers’ association, Liao Qingyun brought along a newly purchased guitar and went specially to the large camphor tree beneath the Earth God Temple to look for Lü Heruo, asking him to teach her guitar again, hoping to take the opportunity to get closer to him.

“Brother Wang, you really are here.” Qingyun gracefully stepped around from behind to stand before Lü Heruo.

Wang Wenbo (Lü Heruo), who had been lowering his head while playing the guitar, stood up when called and politely nodded in greeting. “You’ve gotten off work, Qingyun?”

“Yes, I just got off work. At noon today, I specifically asked a colleague to accompany me to pick out a pretty good guitar. Since I’m asking you to teach me, Brother Wang, I should at least have one of my own to practice anytime.” Qingyun spoke with a slight shyness, her voice as melodious as a warbler emerging from the valley.

“That makes sense—having your own instrument is more convenient.” Wang Wenbo smiled and invited her to sit on the stone bench. “Let me help you tune your new guitar first.”

Qingyun sat beside him, the two almost leaning against each other. “Thank you, Brother Wang.”

Wang Wenbo took the guitar out of its case, tapped the body twice, and plucked a few notes, praising, “You have good taste. This is indeed a handmade guitar with excellent tone quality. The shop owner seems to have already tuned it for you; I only need to make slight adjustments.”

Qingyun gathered her long, waterfall-like black hair and said, “I’ve practiced the chords and fingerpicking techniques you taught me before many times at home, but I still feel very unfamiliar with them.”

“No need to rush. These chords and techniques aren’t difficult. In fact, you’re learning very quickly.”

“That’s because you teach well, Brother Wang.” Qingyun’s joy showed naturally, and her sweet smile made Lü Heruo feel his heart drifting.

Lü Heruo praised, “Learning an instrument often depends somewhat on talent. You have a good sense of pitch, strong comprehension, and you practice diligently—that’s why you can learn so quickly.”

“Brother Wang, how did you learn this instrument in the first place?”

“I learned it from my roommates while studying in Japan. They were all Taiwanese students abroad. Living in a foreign land was difficult, so playing instruments became everyone’s pastime.”

“That makes sense. If it were me in that situation, I’d probably learn guitar to relieve boredom. By the way, have you written any new novels recently?”

“Of course I have, but I’m afraid these novels may never have a chance to be published in the future. Sigh…”

“Don’t lose heart, Brother. At least I am your loyal reader.”

“I fled here as a fugitive. As for how things will develop in the future, even I feel uncertain.”

“Don’t sigh. Heaven never seals off all paths. If Brother doesn’t…” Qingyun faltered on the word “doesn’t,” her tongue suddenly tying in embarrassment.

“Doesn’t what? What were you going to say?” Lü Heruo asked casually, only to realize he shouldn’t have probed so rashly into a young woman’s thoughts, stirring Qingyun’s emotions.

Qingyun lowered her head shyly. “If Brother doesn’t mind this place being remote, living a simple life with coarse tea and plain food, Qingyun is willing, willing…”

Her meaning was already clear. Lü Heruo knew he had to clean up the consequences of his unnecessary question. “Qingyun, you know I am a fugitive. I don’t even know when something might happen to me. If you follow me, you’ll only suffer hardship.”

Qingyun raised her blushing face and gazed at him affectionately. “I grew up in the mountains—it’s not as if I’ve never endured hardship.”

Lü Heruo shook his head. “It’s not the same, Qingyun. I cannot be selfish and think only of myself.”

Qingyun asked in confusion, “What’s different, Brother?”

Lü Heruo decided to use this opportunity to reveal his background clearly, so Qingyun would give up. “Qingyun, I don’t want to hide it from you anymore. My true identity is Lü Heruo, wanted by the military police.”

“I know that.” Qingyun said lightly. “So what if you’re wanted? You’re not a criminal who murders or sets fires—you’re just opposing the authorities.”

“So you already knew?” Lü Heruo was quite surprised.

“I even went to find your newspaper clippings. I know you are no ordinary person.” Qingyun’s expression was sincere, which moved Lü Heruo deeply, yet he knew he must not soften at this moment, because he could not give her any “illusion” or “misjudgment.”

“Qingyun, you may not know this, but I already have a lawful wife, and I also have a cohabiting girlfriend. Both have borne children for me.”

Lü Heruo thought that after hearing about his romantic past, Qingyun would withdraw, but her reaction was completely beyond his expectations.

“What you said has all been reported in the newspapers. Your cohabiting girlfriend, Su Yulan, wasn’t she just arrested by the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics?”

At this point, Lü Heruo realized that his last “trump card” had failed, and he couldn’t help but laugh.

“What are you laughing at, Brother Lü?” Qingyun was puzzled; she had expected him to remain serious.

“I’m laughing at myself for being the one kept in the dark, Qingyun.” Lü Heruo felt his cheeks growing warm.

“Brother, no matter how things turn out in the future, as long as I can be with you—even for a few months, or even just a few days of happiness—I will already be content.” Qingyun gathered her courage again and boldly confessed.

Lü Heruo held Qingyun’s shoulders, trembling with emotion. “Qingyun, why put yourself through this?”

“Not caring for eternity, only cherishing what was once possessed. Brother, you wrote these words on the back cover of your manuscript, didn’t you?” Qingyun looked at him with deep affection.

Lü Heruo nodded, lightly biting his lower lip.

“Not caring for eternity, only cherishing what was once possessed. These words are my feelings for you, without regret.” Qingyun’s words became the key that opened Lü Heruo’s heart. Faced with such deep affection, he gave up all resistance. Tears welled in his eyes, and Qingyun took the initiative to kiss his lips.

This scene, however, was unexpectedly witnessed by Dong Zhiqian, who was passing by on a bicycle. He watched silently for a while, then quietly left. On the way, Dong Zhiqian began plotting how to convince Director Chen Danghe that Liao Qingyun had already captured Lü Heruo’s heart.

4
Inside the Investigation and Surveillance Section of the Bureau of Secrecy in Xindian, Colonel Gu Zhengwen was opening a letter whose envelope bore no writing. The paper inside also appeared completely blank. He lit a candle and heated the paper over the flame, and gradually words emerged—it turned out the letter had been written in invisible ink.

After reading it, Gu Zhengwen lit a cigarette and smoked with satisfaction. Soon, the office was filled with the smell of tobacco and shrouded in a thin haze of smoke.

Gu Zhengwen picked up the receiver and called Xing Aihua over.

“Aihua, do you know where Lü Heruo and that NTU lecturer He Yunxuan have gone into hiding?” Gu Zhengwen asked with a cheerful smile.

“Section Chief, I’m not the Buddha—how would I know which cave those two foxes are hiding in!”

“They’ve hidden together in the mountains of Xizhi, in a village called Luku.”

“Oh? That kid Dong Zhiqian reported back so quickly?”

“Yes! This chess piece is really useful.” Gu Zhengwen beamed.

“In that case, we can finally give our director an explanation. Section Chief, should I take people to arrest those two foxes?”

“Aihua, you work in the Bureau of Secrecy—how can you not use your brain to think?” Gu Zhengwen reproached, a trace of displeasure crossing his face.

“Section Chief, I understand. It’s not yet time to close the net.” Xing Aihua scratched his head awkwardly.

“Exactly. If we go in now to arrest them, we’ll only alert the enemy and scare away the whole nest.” Gu Zhengwen nodded, his smile returning.

“Then when can we close the net?”

“When the people we’ve sent in deliver the list of base members, we’ll close the net. As the Taiwanese saying goes, ‘If you rush, you’ll break the bowl.’ We must be patient and wait for the right moment, then wipe them all out in one sweep!”

After speaking, Gu Zhengwen rolled his tongue and extinguished the remaining cigarette in his mouth, then spat it out. “Just like this cigarette—let them be extinguished from now on!”

Xing Aihua flattered, “Brilliant, Section Chief!”

“Aihua, I didn’t call you here just to talk about Lü Heruo and He Yunxuan.”

“I know—you must have a more important task for me.”

Gu Zhengwen said proudly, “Through special channels, I’ve found another useful piece—Liao Qingwen and his wife.”

“If I’m not mistaken, this Liao must have a special role.”

Gu Zhengwen said, “Liao Qingwen is the brother-in-law of Chen Qiwang, the village chief of Luku.”

“Section Chief, do you have a task for him?”

“Of course. Dong Zhiqian’s job is to collect the base roster; Liao Qingwen’s task is to cut off Chen Qiwang’s financial support to those people at the base.”

5
Back at the base, in the thatched hut of the “Organization Department,” Dong Zhiqian tactfully informed Chen Danghe of what had happened at the Earth God Temple. Chen Danghe’s expression turned extremely unpleasant.

“Director, if you don’t act quickly, Lü Heruo will probably take Liao Qingyun as his woman!” Dong Zhiqian deliberately made sarcastic remarks to provoke him.

“Come with me to see Liao Musheng and expose Lü Heruo’s romantic scandals.” This was the only idea Chen Danghe could think of.

“That’s indeed a good method. I think Liao Musheng will oppose his sister being with Lü Heruo.” Dong Zhiqian added, “But if Qingyun insists on being with him, even Liao Musheng’s opposition won’t matter.”

Chen Danghe asked curiously, “Xiao Dong, what do you mean?”

“If Lü Heruo no longer exists in this world, Qingyun will give up completely. Then you’ll have a chance to approach her.”

Chen Danghe said, “You want to kill Lü Heruo? But earlier you said we should force him to leave the base.”

“But in that case, Qingyun might elope with him. Even though he’s a fugitive with nowhere to go.”

Chen Danghe thought for a moment. “That’s indeed possible.”

Dong Zhiqian said coldly, “Let’s go all the way—kill Lü Heruo, by any means.”

Chen Danghe said, “Alright, I’ll listen to you. Do you have a good plan?”

“Director, lend me your ear.”

Dong Zhiqian whispered in Chen Danghe’s ear. Chen Danghe asked, “Will this method really work?”

“If it fails, I have other methods.”

“Then let’s first go to Liao Musheng and lodge our complaint.”

Their conversation was unexpectedly overheard by Liao Xueli as he passed by.

6
In the living room of Village Chief Chen Qiwang’s house, Dong Zhiqian was reporting to Liao Musheng: “Secretary Liao, just now under the camphor tree at the Earth God Temple, I saw Director Wang Wenbo meeting with your younger sister Qingyun and playing guitar. They seemed quite intimate.”

Liao Musheng said, “The man is unmarried and the woman is unmarried. If they have feelings for each other, I’m happy to see it.”

Chen Danghe said, “Secretary, perhaps you don’t know Director Wang’s background?”

Liao Musheng asked curiously, “Director Wang’s background?”

Dong Zhiqian said, “This Director Wang is actually the notorious Lü Heruo. I used to work with him at the newspaper—I know his past very well.”

Liao Musheng asked, “Director Wang is Lü Heruo? The editor-in-chief of Guangming Daily who is wanted?”

Dong Zhiqian said, “Exactly. The newspaper was later shut down by the Bureau of Secrecy. I, President Lin, and some colleagues were arrested, but Editor Lü was lucky and escaped.”

Chen Qiwang said, “No wonder! When Director Wang came to my house for tea before, I felt he looked familiar—I must have seen him in the newspapers. Lü Heruo is indeed a significant figure.”

Dong Zhiqian urged, “You two may not know—Lü Heruo is promiscuous and unfaithful. I’ve heard he leaves romantic entanglements everywhere. He’s already married, has a wife back home, and also has a cohabiting girlfriend outside. Secretary, how can you entrust your sister to such a man?”

Liao Musheng said, “If that’s the case, I certainly cannot allow him to approach my sister Qingyun.”

Dong Zhiqian added, “Secretary, your sister Qingyun already seems infatuated with him.”

Liao Musheng said, “Thank you for the reminder. I’ll step in immediately to stop this.”

7
That evening, in the living room of Liao Musheng’s house, Qingyun was practicing guitar chords when Musheng returned home.

“Little sister, your brother asks—where did you go after work?”

Without looking up, Qingyun replied, “To the Earth God Temple. I asked Director Wang to teach me guitar.”

Musheng said sternly, “Don’t go looking for Director Wang anymore!”

Qingyun raised her head, puzzled. “Why not?”

Musheng said, “Do you know his true identity?”

“I know. So what?” Qingyun replied calmly.

Musheng asked angrily, “Do you know how his former colleagues describe him?”

“How?”

“They say he’s promiscuous, leaving love affairs everywhere. He has a wife at home and a cohabiting girlfriend outside.”

“I already know all that, Brother.”

“You know and still dare to be with such a playboy?”

“Lü Heruo is not a playboy. You don’t understand him.”

“I don’t want you to be deceived by him, little sister.”

“He has never deceived me. I am the one who likes him.”

“You can like any man—I have no objection. I just don’t want you entangled with Lü Heruo!”

Qingyun said seriously, “Brother, I’m not a little girl anymore. I know who is worth my feelings. Please don’t interfere with my relationships!”

Musheng tried earnestly to persuade her, “Little sister, you’re really foolish! You know he’s a fugitive wanted by the authorities. If he’s caught, it’s a dead end. Aren’t you afraid of becoming a widow for the rest of your life?”

Qingyun said firmly, “If I become a widow, that will be my own choice. I will have no regrets.”

Musheng added, “Even if the authorities spare him, he will eventually return to his wife or girlfriend. You will have no status—what will you do then? Even if his wife says nothing, why should you make things difficult for yourself, sharing a husband with someone else? With your qualities, I don’t believe you can’t find an ideal partner.”

Qingyun said, “I don’t seek status, nor do I expect him to stay by my side.”

Musheng said irritably, “I think you’ve been bewitched by Lü Heruo! I will bring him out and make things clear.”

Qingyun said coldly, “Brother, don’t do that. Otherwise, you’ll force me to leave home.”

8
Liao Musheng came to seek Chen Qiwang’s help.

Liao Musheng wore a bitter expression: “Wang-zai, how do you think this matter should be handled?”

Chen Qiwang said with a smile: “Even an upright official finds it hard to judge family affairs. Sheng-zai, from my observation, it was your younger sister Qingyun who took a liking to Lü Heruo herself, not that Lü Heruo came to seduce her.”

Liao Musheng said in distress: “I asked my younger sister, and it truly is as you said—she is the one who fell for him first.”

Chen Qiwang said: “That’s where the trouble lies. However, from my observation of Lü Heruo, I feel he is quite an upright person. Whether in character or talent, he can be called outstanding among men. The only drawback is that he already has a wife and a concubine.”

Musheng asked in confusion: “Wang-zai, what kind of nonsense are you talking about? Even if our Qingyun is willing to follow Lü Heruo, he is currently still a wanted criminal being pursued by the authorities. I don’t want my younger sister to spend the rest of her life as a widow.”

Chen Qiwang analyzed: “Aside from status, that is also the key point. Although the authorities are pursuing him, he is not a criminal offender, and that is something I respect. However, if your younger sister insists on being with him, and you forcibly stop them, your younger sister will resent you.”

Liao Musheng said: “You guessed it again. I said I would go find Lü Heruo to negotiate, and my younger sister said that if I did that, I would force her to run away from home, making my head feel like it’s on fire.”

Chen Qiwang said: “Since that’s the case, you cannot act forcefully. My view is to invite the two of them here together. Let us first hear what they have to say and what plans they have for the future. If Lü Heruo is sincere and devoted to your younger sister, then you should fulfill their wishes.”

Liao Musheng said: “Wang-zai, I’ll listen to you on this matter!”

Chen Qiwang said: “Sheng-zai, actually I have also noticed that our younger sister Ruyu has recently been getting very close to that Zhang Haiqing. I am also worried that if Ruyu intends to be with Zhang, the situation will be the same as your Qingyun’s.”

Liao Musheng asked: “Oh? Could it be that that Zhang is also currently being pursued by the authorities?”

Chen Qiwang said: “Yes! I deliberately went to look through old newspapers. Zhang is actually being wanted together with Lü. Zhang’s real identity is He Yunxuan, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at National Taiwan University. Because he wrote articles criticizing the Kuomintang government in the newspaper edited by Lü, the Security Bureau wants to arrest him. Lü Heruo and He Yunxuan are both intellectuals who dare to speak the truth and possess great courage. From this point of view, our younger sisters actually have good judgment.”

Liao Musheng said: “But he doesn’t have a wife or a concubine, right?”

Chen Qiwang said: “That’s exactly the difference, so I don’t oppose their relationship.”

Liao Musheng sighed and said: “Sigh! Wang-zai, hearing you say this makes my mood very heavy.”

9
Lü Heruo returned to the dormitory. Under the desk mat was a slip of paper written in Japanese: “Be cautious and guard against Chen Danghe and Dong Zhiqian. They may act against you and endanger your life. Anonymous.” Lü recognized the handwriting and thought that he was merely discussing matters as they were, yet these two were narrow-minded. However, Liao Xueli’s hint about the Security Bureau was made out of goodwill. “One must not be without a defensive mind.” From now on, he would have to guard against these two, lest he be harmed by petty men.

That night, the moonlight was bright. Lü Heruo was in his bedroom, conceiving a novel. Still dressed, he lay on the bed, staring with open eyes at the blurred mountain scenery outside the window. In the deep of the night, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching outside the door. He thought, “At such a late hour, could it be Liao Xueli, Chen Chunqing, or He Yunxuan coming to chat with me?” Just as he was about to get up, he realized that the visitor did not knock directly but instead peered furtively through the window. Backlit by the moonlight, the two figures—one tall and thin, the other short and stout—looked, by their build, like Chen Danghe and Dong Zhiqian. The taller one carried a burlap sack on his shoulder and was pouring something into the room through the window. Clearly, they thought he was already asleep. The two figures then turned and left.

After the sound of footsteps faded away, Lü Heruo got up and struck a match. To his shock, he discovered several venomous snakes on the floor, and his heart shuddered. “These two despicable men actually want to put me to death. Although we often disagree, we have no deep hatred. Yet now they use such vicious means to harm me. It seems this group of ‘comrades’ only knows how to deal with their own people. Is such a place still worth my attachment? Is such a party still worth my struggle?” Thinking this, Lü Heruo felt deeply discouraged. He casually picked up an iron shovel from the corner of the wall, killed the venomous snakes one by one, and put them into a sack. Yet his heart was filled with mixed emotions, and he tossed and turned, unable to sleep the whole night.

At the break of dawn, faint light appeared, and chirping birds could be heard outside the window. Just as Lü Heruo was about to fall asleep, there was a knock on the door. The visitor was Liao Xueli, who sat on the edge of the bed and looked at him.

Liao Xueli asked: “What’s wrong? You seem ill, Secretary Lü.”

Lü Heruo said: “I didn’t sleep well last night.”

Liao Xueli asked: “Thinking about home?”

Lü Heruo shook his head and said: “No.”

Lü Heruo got up, took down a sack hanging on the wall, and opened it for him to see.

Liao Xueli asked in surprise: “How are there these snakes? Where did you get them?”

Lü Heruo said: “Late last night, someone secretly poured them in through the window.”

Liao Xueli asked: “Who is so vicious as to want to put you to death?”

“It looked like the two petty men you mentioned in your note.”

Liao Xueli said with a smile: “Oh? You knew the note was left by me?”

“From the handwriting, I knew it was you.”

Liao Xueli asked: “For this matter, do you think we should report it to Chairman Chen?”

Lü Heruo waved his hand and said: “I think we should forget it. We are in the open, they are in the dark. Without catching them in the act, they will not admit it. Perhaps they would even accuse us of making trouble and bite back at us.”

Liao Xueli said indignantly: “These two petty men used such dirty tricks to harm you. Director, are you just going to let them go? If it were me, I definitely would not let them sleep and eat in peace.”

Lü Heruo said with a bitter smile: “A gentleman’s revenge is not too late even after three years. We will meet again sooner or later. From now on, I will be even more cautious in dealing with them. Do not speak of this matter for now. Let us respond with stillness and see what tricks those two will play next.”

Liao Xueli said: “I’ll follow your lead, Director. I will secretly monitor their actions and not give them any chance to harm you.”

10
Seeing that their plot of releasing venomous snakes had failed, Chen Danghe and Dong Zhiqian were still unwilling to give up. The two gathered again to devise another scheme.

Chen Danghe said: “That brat surnamed Lü really has good luck. Releasing snakes to bite him didn’t kill him. He must have become alert now. It will probably not be so easy for us to scheme against him again.”

Dong Zhiqian said coldly: “Lü won’t always be so lucky. The ancients said, ‘Open spears are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against.’ Besides, he is not difficult to deal with.”

Chen Danghe asked with interest: “Could it be that you have another clever plan to deal with him?”

Dong Zhiqian said mysteriously: “Of course I do. Otherwise, would I be a strategist for nothing? Come closer and lend me your ear.”

Dong Zhiqian whispered to Chen Danghe for a while.

Chen Danghe said: “Excellent! What a brilliant plan of killing with a borrowed knife. I don’t believe Lü can still escape unscathed this time.”

Dong Zhiqian narrowed his eyes and smiled: “Director, don’t forget our agreement. After getting rid of Lü, you support me in taking the position of Director of the Political Department, and I will find a way to help you obtain Liao Qingyun, that beautiful girl.”

Chen Danghe said: “Of course. Each of us takes what we need. I’ll go first to get the key to the ammunition depot.”

11
In the living room of Village Chief Chen Qiwang’s house, Lü Heruo and Liao Qingyun faced Liao Musheng, while Qiwang acted as a mediator.

“Musheng-zai, Qingyun, tonight I will act as the mediator for you siblings. Both sides must speak rationally and not act out of emotion,” Qiwang began.

“Wang-zai, I’ll do my best!” Liao Musheng restrained his temper.

Qiwang said: “Director Wang—no, I should address you as Mr. Lü. What plans do you and Qingyun have for the future?”

Lü Heruo said with a bitter smile: “So you all know my true identity. Sigh! A fugitive like me—what plans can I have for the future? I’ll just live one day at a time.”

Liao Musheng asked unhappily: “Since you have no plans for the future, how can you drag my younger sister down with you?”

Qingyun immediately defended Lü: “Lü Heruo has no intention of dragging me down, elder brother.”

Musheng said: “Little sister, I want to hear what he has to say. Don’t interrupt first.”

Lü Heruo said: “Brother Liao, I know my own situation. I am not qualified to accept Qingyun’s feelings, nor have I ever intended to drag her down.”

Musheng said: “At least you have some self-awareness. Mr. Lü, as long as you leave Qingyun, I do not wish to make things difficult for you. You can still remain here in the future.”

“Elder brother, what you are saying is clearly to break us apart,” Qingyun said sternly.

“Mr. Lü, if you had no family, even if you were being pursued by the authorities, I would still be willing to make an exception and let my younger sister be with you. But this condition does not exist. Because one day, when you regain your freedom, you will inevitably return to your legal wife or cohabiting partner. At that time, my younger sister will have no status and can only sensibly leave. Such an outcome would be very unfair and cruel to her.”

Lü Heruo said sincerely: “Brother Liao, everything you mentioned, I understand clearly in my heart. Indeed, in the foreseeable future, I cannot give your younger sister any promise.”

“Elder brother, I don’t need Brother Lü to give me any promise. Being able to be with him is already enough for me,” Qingyun said with great determination.

Musheng reproached her: “Little sister, you are truly foolish! Knowing that being with Lü will not lead to a good outcome, yet you still persist stubbornly.”

Qiwang quickly smoothed things over: “Musheng-zai, matters of emotion often cannot be reasoned through. I have thought of a solution. If Mr. Lü is willing to accept it, you should fulfill their wishes.”

Liao Musheng said: “Wang-zai, go ahead and say it.”

Qiwang said: “Rather than forcibly separating them and losing a younger sister, it would be better for Mr. Lü to stay in our village. In any case, he has already concealed his identity. As long as Mr. Lü is willing to stay, you would simply gain an additional brother-in-law.”

Liao Musheng said: “But Mr. Lü already has a family. If his wife or concubine comes looking for him here, things will become very complicated.”

Qiwang said: “That is not a problem. As long as he does not leave here, he is your brother-in-law.”

Liao Musheng said: “Alright. If Mr. Lü promises to stay, I will reluctantly agree to this marriage.”

Qiwang asked: “Mr. Lü, what is your opinion?”

Lü Heruo said: “Apart from here, though the world is vast, there is no place left for me to take shelter.”

Qiwang said: “Mr. Lü’s meaning is already very clear. Then it is settled. I will act as the matchmaker for the two of you and choose a day for you to formally marry.”

12
With the scheme set, the two proceeded separately. Chen Danghe went to find the ammunition depot manager, Li Huoyan. Huoyan was addicted to alcohol as if it were his life. Chen Danghe brought along two jars of locally made rice wine and a bag of braised snacks.

Chen Danghe warmly urged: “Huoyan-zai, don’t raise goldfish at the bottom of your cup. Come, I toast you—drink it all in one go!”

The tongue-tied Huoyan stammered: “Dan—Danghe-dage, cheers, drink it all… all in one go.”

Chen Danghe easily got Huoyan drunk, then immediately pressed the key to the ammunition depot into a bar of wet soap to make an imprint and copied a duplicate.

Chen Danghe sneered to himself: “Lü Heruo, I don’t believe that this time you can still escape from the palm of my hand.”

Meanwhile, Dong Zhiqian had already sneaked into the Organization Department office, opened Chen Danghe’s drawer, took out the “Base Comrades List,” and used a small camera to photograph a copy. Chen Danghe had no idea that he had let a wolf into the house. Driven by personal desire, he had brought all the comrades in the base into a dangerous situation.

Dong Zhiqian then handed the “film roll” recording the base comrades’ roster to the Security Bureau contact person in the town.

13
In the Security Bureau Investigation and Prevention Office, Gu Zhengwen ordered a messenger to bring Liao Qingwen and his wife Wu Zu inside.

Gu Zhengwen asked: “Liao Qingwen, do you know why I specifically sent people to bring you and your wife back from Hong Kong?”

“I don’t know. Please enlighten me, sir.”

Gu Zhengwen asked again: “Your hometown is Lukut Village, correct? And the village chief, Chen Qiwang, is your brother-in-law, right?”

Liao Qingwen answered cautiously: “Yes, yes, sir.”

“According to the intelligence we have obtained, after the 2-28 Incident, a group of bandits has long been lurking in Lukut Village, and your brother-in-law’s family are their financial backers, providing them with funds and cover.”

Liao Qingwen said in shock: “No, that can’t be, sir. My brother-in-law is just a simple tea farmer. It’s impossible for him to join the bandits!”

“I of course have sufficient evidence and would not falsely accuse people at will. If you do not want to watch your brother-in-law’s family walk toward destruction, I hope you will fully cooperate with us.”

“If it can save my brother-in-law’s family, I am willing to fully cooperate.”

Gu Zhengwen said: “I know you previously ran a tea business in Xiamen. I want you to return to Lukut Village under the cover of being a tea merchant. On one hand, lure Chen Qiwang into investing in your business, thereby cutting off his financial support to that group of bandits at the base. On the other hand, find out which villagers have joined the bandits or support or sympathize with them, and then report the intelligence to me from time to time. I will provide you with sufficient funds to enable you to complete the mission smoothly. The details of the mission will be discussed with you shortly by the intelligence officer.”

14
Liao Qingwen and his wife returned to Lukut Village as tea merchants. The ones most surprised were Chen Qiwang and his wife.

Chen Qiwang asked: “Qingwen, all these years your elder sister has been worried about you and has asked around everywhere for news of your whereabouts. Previously we heard you were doing tea business in Xiamen. Later, how did you escape from the mainland and return to Taiwan?”

Chen’s wife, Liao Meijiao, also said: “Yes! Younger brother, I thought you were trapped in the mainland and that I would never see you again in this lifetime.”

Liao Qingwen said: “Elder sister and brother-in-law, I have been relatively fortunate. At the end of ’49, I took my wife and children and fled all the way to Hong Kong. Because the gold we carried was gradually used up along the way, when we arrived in Hong Kong, for the sake of making a living, I first worked as an employee at a British company. Over these two years, I saved up some capital, and only then did I think of returning to my hometown to develop and continue doing business.”

The siblings Liao Yutang and Liao Yuhui met for the first time their cousins Chen Tiancai and Chen Baofeng. The four quickly became familiar with one another and exchanged gifts. Big-headed A-Cai (Chen Tiancai) took out a glove puppet for Yutang, and Yutang gave him several glass marbles in return.

Qiwang asked: “What kind of business do you plan to do?”

Qingwen said: “Our hometown produces tea, so naturally it is most appropriate to continue in the tea business.”

Chen Huolu asked: “A-Wen-zai, in recent years, the price of tea in the north has been controlled by several big wholesalers in Taipei. After deducting fertilizer and labor, we tea farmers earn very thin profits, and life is very difficult. If you are interested in becoming a tea trader, I can rally the villagers. The whole village will support you. We hope you can raise the purchase price and improve the villagers’ lives.”

Liao Qingwen said: “Father-in-law, thank you very much for your support. The tea business I am talking about is not only buying and selling raw tea leaves, but also processing and export. However, my current capital is limited. Previously, when I did tea business in Xiamen, it was mainly focused on tea processing and exporting to Japan and the United States.”

Chen Qiwang said enthusiastically: “If you are determined to make a comeback and establish a company and processing factory, I can invest some funds in you so that you can purchase processing equipment. In addition, I will take you to visit the tea farmers in the village so that you can smoothly purchase the tea they produce.”

Liao Meijiao said: “Your brother-in-law treats you well. Younger brother, you must seize this opportunity.”

At this moment, the lame Lianfu and the one-eyed Maotong also came to the village chief’s house for tea, and the two sat down.

Chen Qiwang said: “You two have come at just the right time. There’s good news to tell you. My brother-in-law Liao Qingwen plans to establish a tea processing factory in our village, engage in tea export, and promote our pouchong tea and oolong tea. He will purchase your tea leaves at a better price than the big wholesalers.”

Lianfu said: “Is there really such a good thing? Since it is arranged by the village chief, I think all the tea farmers will be willing to cooperate. The tea farmers in our village have long been tormented by several big wholesalers. They join forces to suppress the purchase price, setting prices as they wish, and the tea farmers have all been suffering greatly.”

Qiwang said: “Yes, my brother-in-law used to do tea export business in Xiamen. But after the mainland changed hands, he fled to Hong Kong. We Taiwanese should still strive in our hometown. Going alone to a foreign land to do business carries risks that cannot be predicted.”

Maotong said: “Brother Fu and I both support you. The tea from our two households will all be sold to you. We hope for better prices so that we can improve our lives.”

Liao Qingwen said: “Thank you for your support. I will work hard and build up the tea business.”

15
Taking advantage of the deep night, Chen Danghe and Dong Zhiqian first launched a surprise attack on the ammunition depot manager Li Huoyan and knocked him unconscious. Then they secretly moved nearly ten boxes of mining explosives in batches. Two of the boxes were hidden under the bed in Lü Heruo’s dormitory.

Chen Danghe whispered: “Open the door. Move quickly.”

Dong Zhiqian said: “Mm. This time we’ll make Lü Heruo turn a chicken’s beak into a duck’s beak—he won’t be able to explain himself even with a hundred mouths.”

After leaving Lü Heruo’s dormitory, the two placed the remaining boxes of explosives onto a tricycle and transported them away, hiding them in a remote abandoned house in the village, inside a pile of firewood in the woodshed. The two believed the entire operation had gone unnoticed, but unexpectedly it was accidentally witnessed by Yu Wenyen, who was returning from school. Although Wenyen was still young, seeing the two men furtively carrying several wooden boxes, driven by curiosity, he cautiously followed them all the way to that empty house.

Chen Danghe said: “Cover the top with dry straw.”

Dong Zhiqian said with satisfaction: “This place is so well hidden. Hiding this batch of explosives here should be very secure.”

Yu Wenyen overheard parts of their conversation, especially the phrase “this batch of explosives,” which made the child feel terrified.