[Chapter Seven]

1
Late at night, in the living room of Village Chief Chen Qiwang’s house.
Yu Lianfu said, “The situation is urgent. Du-mu Tong and I came through the night to report to the village chief. The authorities have already mobilized troops and gathered them at the foot of the mountain. Early tomorrow morning, they will move up the mountain and enter our village to arrest people.”
Chen Qiwang asked, “Where did you hear this news?”
Yu Lianfu said, “I cannot disclose the source of the information, but this news is absolutely true.”
Chen Benjiang said, “I didn’t expect Chiang Kai-shek’s group to act so quickly. I would rather believe it exists than not—we must respond immediately.”
Chen Qiwang recalled, “A few days ago, Dong Zhigan, whom I had locked in the woodshed, was rescued overnight. The door lock was smashed. I suspect there may be some connection between Dong Zhigan’s escape and the authorities’ actions.”
Chen Benjiang said, “Village chief, you mean…”
Wang Wenbo (Lü Heruo) said, “What the village chief means is that there must be agents of Chiang Kai-shek’s group lurking in our village, who were able to rescue Dong Zhigan. And Dong Zhigan himself was clearly an agent planted inside the base.”
Chen Benjiang inferred, “Oh, then the personnel roster of the base may already have been taken out by Dong Zhigan.”
Wang Wenbo said, “That is very possible.”
Chen Benjiang wondered, “How could Dong Zhigan be an agent of Chiang Kai-shek’s group?”
Wang Wenbo said, “That is precisely what makes them so frightening.”
Chen Qiwang asked, “What do you plan to do?”
Chen Benjiang said, “I will immediately notify all party comrades in the base to disperse separately.”
Chen Qiwang asked again, “And you, Director Wang?”
Wang Wenbo said, “I will follow the chairman’s decision.”
Liao Musheng said, “Chairman Chen, I want to ask you for a personal favor.”
Chen Benjiang said, “Go ahead, Chief Liao.”
Liao Musheng said, “Director Wang and my younger sister Qingyun have feelings for each other. I hope he can take my sister far away, find a place where no one knows them, and live an ordinary life in anonymity.”
Chen Benjiang hesitated, “This… I need to consider it.”
Liao Musheng said, “This is the first and also the last time I make a request of you.”
Chen Benjiang said, “Alright, I’ll grant you this favor.”
Chen Qiwang said, “A-da, go to the storeroom and get some cash and gold bars for Chairman Chen to take back to the base as travel funds. Director Wang and Zhang Haiqing, the two of you will stay here. Tonight, I will have A-da lead you out along the mountain paths.”
Wang Wenbo said, “Since this is so sudden, Brother Musheng, can you give me an hour to return to the base to pack my belongings?”
Liao Musheng said, “Yes, I’ll wait for you.”
Chen Benjiang asked, “Village chief, do you plan to leave with us?”
Chen Qiwang said with a bitter smile, “I am the village chief here—where would I flee to? Even if I am taken by the military, that is my fate. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Chen Benjiang said, “Village chief, Chief Liao, we shall meet again if fate allows. Please take care of yourselves.”
Chen Qiwang said, “Zhang Haiqing, I have decided to entrust my younger sister to you. You must cherish her well and not let her suffer any grievance.”
Zhang Haiqing said, “I will cherish her like jade for a lifetime.”
Chen Huolu wiped away his tears and said, “I never imagined that my daughter would be married under such circumstances.”
Chen Qiwang said, “Father, don’t be sad. They will have their own happy future.”
Liao Meijiao said, “Little sister-in-law, I don’t have much to say. This is your own choice. I have a necklace for you as a wedding gift. When things settle down, come back to visit Father and your brother.”
Chen Ruyu said through tears, “I understand. Father, brother, sister-in-law, please take care of yourselves.”
Chen Qiwang said, “Little sister, I’ve had A-da prepare some gold bars. Consider it your dowry—take them with you. Find a remote village to settle down for now. When things calm down and it’s safe, then come back.”
Chen Ruyu choked with sobs, “Brother, I…”
Chen Qiwang said, “Alright, little sister, don’t cry anymore. Prepare to depart. A-da, escort them to Yilan. If you hear any bad news along the way, don’t come back for the time being.”

2
On the morning after the Provincial Councilor election (December 28, 1952), the Bureau of Secrecy of the Ministry of National Defense, together with the Taiwan Provincial Security Command, the Taipei Garrison Command, and the Taipei County Police Bureau, mobilized more than fifteen thousand personnel to advance toward the Luku Base from multiple directions. They selected Luku Guangming Temple as the temporary joint command post. That night, they sealed off the entire mountain area, completed search deployments, and launched the suppression operation, entering Luku Village in separate groups. The massacre of the village then took place.
At the temporary joint command post in the temple, Bureau Director Mao Renfeng personally took command.
Mao Renfeng asked, “Zhengwen, have all the entrances and exits of the base been sealed off?”
Gu Zhengwen said, “Reporting to Director, all have been deployed.”
Mao Renfeng said, “Very good! Tonight we will catch the turtles in the jar. Zhengwen, assign the tasks to each unit.”
Gu Zhengwen said, “Yes, Director.”
Mao Renfeng said, “Chief Chen has instructed that if armed resistance is encountered, kill without mercy. However, key figures such as Chen Benjiang and Lü Heruo should be captured alive whenever possible.”
Gu Zhengwen said, “Yes, Director.”
Gu Zhengwen then assigned tasks: “Lieutenant Colonel Xing, lead a squad of gendarmes to search the rear mountain.”
Xing Aihua said, “Yes, Section Chief.”
Gu Zhengwen said, “Major Guo, lead a squad of police to conduct house-to-house searches and arrest villagers on the list and suspicious individuals.”
Guo Junting said, “Yes, Section Chief.”
Gu Zhengwen said, “Deputy Commander Zhao, I need your security forces to carry out a frontal assault against the Communist elements hiding in the base.”
Deputy Commander Zhao said, “To be given this mission is an opportunity granted by Director Mao. My men and I will not fail.”
Gu Zhengwen said, “Tonight’s full-scale sweep—every unit must give their all. Do not let anyone slip through the net.”
All the officers responded in unison, “Yes, Section Chief.”

3
Inside the base, an atmosphere of alarm prevailed, and the situation was extremely tense. In the main conference hall, Chairman Chen Benjiang convened an emergency meeting of cadres.
With a grave expression, Chen Benjiang said, “Comrades, this is a critical moment for the survival of our base. A direct confrontation with Chiang Kai-shek’s group is now unavoidable. Those who remain in the base have, like me, resolved to fight to protect the base, even at the cost of sacrifice.”
Chen Chunqing said, “We must indeed fight Chiang Kai-shek’s group, but given our limited numbers and firepower, we are no match for them. Chairman, why not consider temporarily dispersing to preserve our strength and continue the struggle later?”
Chen Benjiang asked, “What are everyone’s thoughts?”
Xu Xikuan said, “Even if we are to preserve our strength, our defense force must still come out to resist Chiang Kai-shek’s group, to engage them head-on and hold them back, covering the retreat of most comrades.”
Liu Xuekun said, “Director Xu’s consideration is correct. Leave this task to our guard unit.”
Chen Benjiang said, “Very well. Director Xu, Instructor Liu—if you cannot hold them, you must prepare to withdraw and disperse toward Ruifang and Qingtong.”
Xu Xikuan said, “Understood, Chairman.”

4
Members of the base guard unit were receiving firearms and ammunition in front of the armory.
Member A asked, “Director Xu, what’s going on? The pistol I got—its bullets won’t fit. Can it even fire?”
Member B also asked, “Instructor Liu, why are the bullets I got for this rifle not the same caliber as the rifle?”
Xu Xikuan said, “Most of these firearms and bullets were bought from Kuomintang soldiers. Many of them were irregular troops, using various types of weapons. It seems the comrades in charge of procurement at the time didn’t clearly distinguish calibers and ammunition types. As long as the other side was willing to sell, they paid for it, thinking it would be useful someday.”
Liu Xuekun shook his head with a wry smile and said, “It seems most of these firearms are unusable. We might as well distribute blades instead. I know there are still hundreds of rakes, axes, and machetes in the tool room.”
Member C exclaimed in shock, “What? You want us to take rakes, axes, and machetes to the front line to fight the Kuomintang’s military and police? That’s like smashing a stone with an egg—we’re bound to die!”
The members began talking all at once.
Xu Xikuan shouted, “Stop wasting energy on this issue! If the guns and ammunition can’t be used, then take rakes and machetes—it’s better than going empty-handed!”
The members quieted down, and a large portion followed Liu Xuekun to the tool room to select farming tools for self-defense.

5
Major Guo Junting led a squad of police armed with rifles and pistols, conducting house-to-house searches and arrests of villagers and suspicious individuals. Several villagers had already been arrested, handcuffed and tied together in a line, being dragged along. A squad of police arrived at Yu Lianfu’s courtyard house. At that moment, Yu Lianfu and Lin Maotong were in the living room, drinking red liquor and eating peanuts.
Guo Junting stepped forward and knocked on the door: “Open up! Open the door!”
Hearing the knocking, Laichun came out from her room and, looking through the window, saw a squad of police and arrested villagers. Anxiously, she said, “Lianfu, Maotong—a squad of police is knocking at the door. I just saw several villagers being taken away. Are they here to arrest you two?”
Yu Lianfu said, “Don’t be afraid. Go open the door. What’s meant to come cannot be avoided. Maotong and I are mentally prepared.”
Laichun, full of unease, went to open the door. Guo Junting entered with several officers and saw Yu Lianfu and Lin Maotong drinking. “You are the household head Yu Lianfu, right?”
Lianfu responded, “That’s me.” Both of them put down their cups.
Guo Junting asked again, “And the one beside you must be the one-eyed Lin Maotong?”
Maotong said, “That’s me. May I ask what brings you here so late?”
Guo Junting said, “We are personnel from the Bureau of Secrecy, acting under orders to arrest the two of you!”
Lianfu asked, “What law have we broken to warrant arrest?”
Guo Junting said, “I am only following orders. Come back with us to the command post—if you have grievances, you can appeal there. Men, put them in handcuffs and take them away!”
Laichun and, coming out from the room, Zhou Tianmei and Yu Wenyuan became emotional. Laichun rushed forward, grabbing Lianfu’s hand and saying, “You can’t take them—they haven’t done anything wrong.”
Guo Junting said, “Please do not obstruct official duties. Take them away.”
A policeman shoved Laichun aside, and Lianfu and Maotong were dragged out.
Turning back, Lianfu said, “We’ll be fine. Take care of the family.”
Wenyuan shouted and tried to rush forward, “Father! Father! Don’t take my father!” but was held back by Laichun. The three generations—Laichun, Zhou Tianmei, and Wenyuan—watched helplessly as Yu Lianfu and Lin Maotong were taken away.

6
From the early morning of the 29th, fierce fighting broke out between the base defense force and the military and police. Instructor Liu Xuekun, liaison Liao Chao, and dozens of members were killed in the battle. Xu Xikuan was wounded and captured.
Chen Chunqing, Xu Xikuan, Liao Xueli, Chen Yinong, and dozens of other captured base cadres, along with Chen Qiwang, his eldest son Chen Tianqi, Chief Liao Musheng, the lame Yu Lianfu, the one-eyed Lin Maotong, and more than two hundred villagers of Luku Village, were interrogated in batches by the military in the “Vegetarian Hall” (later Guangming Temple). They were all subjected to brutal torture—beaten severely, with thick iron wires driven through their palms and strung together in chains. The slain members of the defense force had their limbs hung on long bamboo poles, carried in by soldiers like slaughtered pigs, and dumped in the square.
The gendarmes escorted Chen Qiwang and his son into the temporary interrogation room in the temple.
Sitting at the table, Gu Zhengwen asked, “You are Chen Qiwang, the village chief of Luku?”
Chen Qiwang replied, “I am.”
“We have been watching you for a long time. You are the financial backer behind this band of rebels at the base.”
“I don’t know what rebel group you’re talking about. Some people rented land from me to farm, and I collected rent—that’s all,” Chen Qiwang answered cautiously.
Gu Zhengwen said sternly, “Village chief, you are indeed more perceptive than the villagers. But we have evidence that you provided land, funds, and food to the base. Even if you try to argue, you cannot shirk responsibility.”
Chen Qiwang said with a bitter smile, “You are the authorities, I am an ordinary citizen. Whatever charges you wish to impose, even if I defend myself, will it be of any use?”
Xing Aihua, unable to hold back, interjected, “You’re about to die, and you’re still being stubborn!”
Gu Zhengwen said, “Village Chief Chen, given your involvement in this case, you will likely be sentenced to death by a military court. However, if you show a good attitude in admitting guilt, I can plead for leniency in the interrogation record to the military prosecutor. Perhaps you may be given a way out.”
Chen Qiwang said, “This is unjust! Sir, I am just a farmer. My dealings with those people at the base were merely business. If you think I can provide any information, you overestimate me.”
Gu Zhengwen said, “It’s useless to plead innocence to me. I have a roster of villagers involved in the base organization—take a look.”
Xing Aihua handed the roster to Chen Qiwang, who flipped through it.
Chen Qiwang said with a bitter smile, “Sir, this roster practically nets almost all the adult male villagers—this is far too absurd!”
Gu Zhengwen asked, “Is that so? If I remember correctly, your brother-in-law Liao Qingwen is not on this list.”
Chen Qiwang said, “My brother-in-law has only recently returned from elsewhere. His tea business has nothing to do with the base.”
Gu Zhengwen said, “Exactly! That shows our Bureau of Secrecy does not arrest people at random.”
Chen Qiwang said, “But this roster even includes Yu Lianfu and Lin Maotong. These two have nothing to do with the base—they are just villagers who occasionally come to drink tea with me.”
“Oh? Is that so?” Gu Zhengwen then quietly asked Xing Aihua beside him, who whispered a few words in his ear.
Gu Zhengwen said, “According to our intelligence, these two provided warnings to Chairman Chen Benjiang of the base on two occasions. Clearly, they are not merely ordinary villagers.”
Chen Qiwang sneered, “Yu Lianfu and Lin Maotong were conscripted by the Japanese government in their youth to serve as laborers in Southeast Asia—one lost a leg, the other lost an eye. The base would have no use for two disabled men, and yet you claim you are not arresting people indiscriminately?” At this moment, Chen Qiwang thought that he might not escape his fate. If he could save a few villagers, it would at least count as a good deed.
After thinking for a moment, Gu Zhengwen said, “The military prosecutor will investigate the extent of their involvement. If you are willing to reveal the whereabouts of Lü Heruo and He Yunxuan, I believe the military prosecutor will give you a chance to reform.”
Chen Qiwang said, “Their legs are their own—how would I know where they have gone?”
Gu Zhengwen shook his head and sighed, “Sigh! It seems you won’t shed tears until you see the coffin. I can’t help you anymore. Men, take this father and son away.”
The gendarmes responded, “Yes, sir.”
Chen Qiwang and his son were taken away by the gendarmes.
Xing Aihua said, “Section Chief, regarding this operation, I suspect someone tipped off the base beforehand. We didn’t catch any of the key figures—Chen Benjiang, Lü Heruo, or He Yunxuan.”
Gu Zhengwen nodded and said, “You’re right. We must first conduct a thorough internal investigation.”

7
Spring rain fell continuously, and a gloomy atmosphere hung over Luku Village. It was the time when the spring tea harvest was about to begin. Liao Qingwen, who had taken over as village chief, rode a bicycle from house to house, soothing the villagers’ emotions.
Liao Qingwen arrived at Yu Lianfu’s home. Lianfu’s wife, Xu Laichun, asked her son Wenyuan to go and call their neighbor Lin Maotong’s wife, Zhang Axi. Axi and her daughter Aiyu put down their work and hurried over.
Liao Qingwen said, “More than three hundred people from our village have been taken away. My brother-in-law Qiwang, his son Tianqi, Chief Musheng, Chunqing, as well as your Lianfu and Maotong are all among them. All the men in the village aged sixteen or seventeen and above have been taken—every last one.”
Zhou Tianmei, standing nearby, cursed, “This is outrageous! Does Heaven truly have no eyes?”
Laichun asked anxiously, “Village chief, is there any way to plead with someone?”
Qingwen said, “I have asked a councilor to intervene, requesting that the military first release those villagers who are not involved.”
Laichun asked, “What about our Lianfu and Maotong? Will they be released?”
With a dejected expression, Liao Qingwen said, “The situation for the two of them is probably not optimistic. They have been associated with those people at the base for a long time.”
Zhou Tianmei asked anxiously, “If that’s the case, shouldn’t we quickly think of a way?”
Liao Qingwen said, “Auntie, they are being tried under military law. Even when I tried to meet them, the military refused. What can I possibly do? Right now, all we can do is wait for news.”
Zhou Tianmei said, “Laichun, go to the town and bring Uncle back. With such things happening, and the spring tea harvest about to begin, there can’t be no manpower at home.”
Xu Laichun said, “Mother, yesterday I already asked someone to go to town and inform A-yuan’s master. Uncle should be back home shortly.”

8
Laichun, A-yuan, and Wenyuan were working in the tea plantation. A-yuan swung his hoe to clear weeds and prepare the soil, while Laichun and Wenyuan were picking tea leaves. In the neighboring tea field of Lin Maotong, Axi and her daughter Aiyu seemed unable to keep up with the workload.
Xu Laichun walked over to them and said, “Axi, later I’ll have our A-yuan come over to help you clear weeds and prepare the soil.”
Axi straightened her back and said, “Laichun, thank you! If we don’t clear the weeds quickly, we won’t make it in time to fertilize this year.”
Laichun said, “Axi, with your Maotong not here, how can the two of you manage?”
Axi said helplessly, “We just work as hard as we can. What else can we do?”
Laichun asked, “Have you thought about hiring someone to help?”
Axi said, “Of course I’ve thought about it, but right now there’s no labor to be found in the village. All the men have been taken away. If we want to hire help, we’d have to ask people from other villages.”
Laichun said, “Yes, that really is troublesome.”
Xu Jialiang appeared on the mountain road, riding a bicycle. Laichun waved to him, and he came over.
Laichun asked, “Brother, have you found any news about your brother-in-law?”
Jialiang said, “They are being detained in Xindian, in the Bureau of Secrecy’s prison. The military prosecutor has ordered no visits. Village Chief Liao should have told you that. I also found out that someone in the village informed the military, which led to many villagers being arrested.”
Axi asked, “Then who could the informant be? Have you found out?”
Jialiang said, “I haven’t found out yet, Sister Axi.”
Laichun asked worriedly, “In your opinion, is there any chance your brother-in-law and Maotong will be released?”
Jialiang said, “That depends on the extent of their involvement. Sister, you may have to prepare for the worst.”
Laichun asked, “Do you mean that your brother-in-law and Maotong might be sentenced to death?”
Jialiang said, “That is possible.”
Laichun said, “But they didn’t actually join the base’s defense force.”
Jialiang analyzed, “If the former village chief Chen Qiwang and Chief Liao Musheng are sentenced to death, then your brother-in-law and Maotong may not be able to escape the same fate.”

9
Inside the Bureau of Secrecy prison in Xindian, Yu Lianfu and Lin Maotong, their shirts in tatters, were escorted out by gendarmes. Wearing shackles and handcuffs, the two were pushed and kicked forward by four gendarmes into the interrogation room. They were dragged onto the whipping frame and hung up.
This was not the first time they had been tortured. Both Yu and Lin were mentally prepared.
Guo Junting gripped Yu Lianfu’s chin and asked, “Yu Lianfu, Lin Maotong, think about your families. Your elderly mother and your wife are waiting for you to return. Why be so uncooperative? Tell us who passed the information to you. I will report to my superiors and plead for leniency, so that you won’t be sentenced to death.”
Yu Lianfu said, “Sir, I’ve already said—it was just something we made up. Who would pass any information to us?”
Guo Junting said, “Is that so? According to our information, you have a brother-in-law, Xu Jialiang, who works as a patrol officer in Xizhi. He often came to Luku to visit you. Speak—is it Xu Jialiang who passed information to you?”
Yu Lianfu said, “Sir, don’t falsely accuse people. My brother-in-law has a family—he has no reason to risk his life like that.”
Still unwilling to give up, Guo Junting turned to Lin Maotong and asked, “Lin Maotong, since Yu Lianfu won’t talk, you speak for him. Was it Xu Jialiang?”
Lin Maotong said, “Sir, right now everyone is just trying to survive. If it were Xu Jialiang who passed the information, we would have pointed him out long ago—why would we bear this blame ourselves? But no one passed any information to us. It was just a guess Lianfu and I made when we were talking, and we never expected…”
“Slap! Slap!” Before Maotong could finish, he was struck twice across the face by Guo Junting.
“Nonsense!” Guo Junting grabbed Maotong by the collar and said viciously, “You two useless men keep your mouths tightly shut. If we don’t deal with you properly, you won’t tell the truth. Men, give these two a thorough whipping!”
The two gendarmes wielding whips lashed at the chests and abdomens of Yu and Lin, stroke after stroke. Blood seeped from the corners of their mouths, yet their bodies remained stubbornly upright.
After being whipped until their chests were covered in blood, the two were dragged by four gendarmes to the prison cell. Each was kicked inside. They crawled to a corner, and their cellmates made space for them to lean against the wall and catch their breath.
Yu Lianfu wiped the blood from his mouth and cursed under his breath, “Damn you all—if you’ve got guts, beat me to death. I’ve lived enough anyway.”
Maotong patted his back and said, “Brother Fu, since the days in Southeast Asia, we’ve shared life and death together. Don’t worry—I won’t say a word.”
Yu Lianfu said emotionally, “One-Eye, having you as my brother—even if I die, I have no regrets.”
Maotong said, “If we die, we die together. On the road to the underworld, we’ll have each other as company.”

10
News returned to the village that the first group of arrested villagers had been executed by the military. It was March, with continuous spring rain, and the gloomy weather weighed heavily on the villagers’ hearts. For two or three consecutive nights, Zhou Tianmei dreamed that her son Lianfu came back to her in dreams, his shirt stained with a large patch of blood.
In the middle of the night, with bitter wind and rain outside, Zhou Tianmei’s cry came from the bedroom. Xu Laichun got up to check: “Mother, did you have another nightmare?”
Zhou Tianmei wiped her tears and said, “I dreamed that our Lianfu came back and told me in a dream that he and Maotong were executed by the riverbank of the Tamsui River, and their bodies were left on the sand. He said he was cold and asked us to go collect his body and Maotong’s.”
“Mother, life and death are determined by fate. Don’t think about such things now. Get some sleep so you’ll have strength during the day.” Laichun herself was uneasy. She covered her mother-in-law with a quilt and sat by the bedside to keep her company. These past days had been damp and cold, and her mother-in-law’s rheumatism had flared up again, often causing her aching pain.
At dawn, Laichun got up to prepare breakfast, woke up her younger brother-in-law A-yuan and her son Wenyuan. After eating, their neighbor Axi and her daughter Aiyu came over, and the group went to the tea plantation to work.

11
Around noon, the newly appointed village clerk A-tu rode a bicycle through the village. A gong hung from the handlebar, and he carried a loudspeaker on his back. Whenever he arrived at a household, he would stop, strike the gong several times, then broadcast through the loudspeaker: “Villagers, the bodies of the first group executed by the military have now been brought back to the village. Among them are former village chief Chen Qiwang, township chief Liao Musheng, and Chen Yiqing. Village Chief Liao hopes that those without urgent work can take time to visit the bereaved families and offer incense.”
Laichun and Axi both heard the announcement. Laichun gestured to her brother-in-law A-yuan, asking him to accompany her to the former village chief Chen’s house to offer incense. Axi came over and discussed with Laichun: “Sister Laichun, I’ll ride in your A-yuan’s tricycle, and we’ll go together to Elder Huolu’s house.”
Laichun said, “Alright. Let’s go back and change clothes, then go together.”

12
Mute A-yuan pedaled a tricycle, carrying the two families, and arrived at the entrance of Chen Huolu’s house. Inside the hall, two coffins were placed, their lids open for relatives and friends to view. The relatives and friends who came one after another all noticed a black sedan parked at the entrance, and four plainclothes men in Zhongshan suits were watching every villager who entered.
Laichun cursed inwardly, “You’ve already executed them, and you still won’t even spare their funeral!”
Wenyuan and Aiyu followed behind their mothers into the living room. They saw A-pao, Big-Head A-cai, and Baofeng, the pair of siblings, kneeling behind the adults. Their eyes were red and swollen, clearly from crying several times. Liao Yutang and his sister Yuhui knelt behind Liao Qingwen and his wife, their heads lowered; Wenyuan could not see their faces.
Laichun and Axi took the incense bundles handed to them by Chen Huolu and Liao Meijiao, distributed them to the two children and A-yuan, and knelt to pay respects at the front of the hall. Huolu led the two families in returning the courtesy, and Meijiao could not help but sob again. Village Chief Liao Qingwen stepped forward and gently comforted Meijiao. Musheng’s widow, Qiuxia, had eyes swollen from crying, like those of an owl.
Laichun and Axi led the children and A-yuan, circling the two coffins, looking at the remains of Chen Qiwang and Liao Musheng. The two women simultaneously thought of Jialiang’s earlier prediction: “If former village chief Chen Qiwang and Chief Liao Musheng are both sentenced to death, then your brother-in-law and Maotong may not escape this fate!”

13
At dusk, Village Chief Liao Qingwen came to the Yu family’s sanheyuan. Laichun invited him into the living room.
Liao Qingwen asked, “Sister Laichun, has the spring tea from your household this season been mostly processed?”
Laichun said, “Yes. Hearing that you would come to purchase it, A-yuan and I have been busy day and night for several days, and finally finished frying all the tea leaves. Two days ago, A-yuan and I even went next door to help Axi fry tea. Their household has no men, and the mother and daughter couldn’t manage.”
Liao Qingwen said, “Neighbors helping each other is only natural. That’s the human warmth of our village.”
Laichun asked, “Village chief, do you have any news about my husband and Maotong?”
Liao Qingwen said, “Sister Laichun, under the current circumstances, no news is good news.”
Laichun let out a long sigh: “Sigh… what you say is the truth. Axi and I live in constant fear every day. I’ll go get the finished tea and brew some for you to taste!” Laichun got up, went to the corner of the house, and took out two small bags of tea leaves. She casually grabbed a pinch from one bag and placed it in Qingwen’s palm.
Qingwen brought it close to smell and praised, “Hmm! Very fragrant. The temperature and the level of fermentation are well controlled.”
Laichun said, “This bag was fried by my husband himself before he was taken away.”
Qingwen said, “Your husband, Brother Fu, has seasoned skill. The appearance of these tea leaves is beautifully fried, with a hint of fruity fragrance.”
“And this bag was fried by my younger brother-in-law A-yuan, whom I taught.” Laichun grabbed a pinch from the other bag for Qingwen: “The craftsmanship of this batch is a bit inferior.”
Qingwen smelled it, nodded, and said, “Tea-frying skill cannot be faked. However, although this portion is of slightly lower quality, considering that everyone is facing hardship now, I won’t haggle over the price. I’ll pay twenty percent above the market wholesale price—twelve yuan per jin. What do you think of this price, Sister Laichun?”
Laichun was flattered and almost could not believe it: “At this price, will there still be profit in the market?”
Liao Qingwen said, “It’s just a matter of earning more or less. There will still be profit.”
Laichun brewed two pots from the two bags of tea for Qingwen to taste: “Village chief, please try them.”
Qingwen tasted a small cup of each and commented, “Even if your brother-in-law A-yuan studies for another ten years, he may still not reach your husband’s level of skill!”
Laichun said, “There’s nothing to be done. A-yuan is both deaf and mute, and learns very slowly.”
Qingwen said, “I think your son Wenyuan is quite intelligent. Why not pass this craft on to him? He might learn faster.”
Laichun shook her head and said, “Wenyuan is still too young. His wrist strength isn’t enough yet. Let’s wait until he grows older. If he’s interested, I’ll teach him.”
Wenyuan stood at the doorway, secretly listening to their conversation. These words stirred great waves in his young heart: “If Father doesn’t come back, I should learn tea-frying well from Mother and lighten her burden.”
“Sister Laichun, your Wenyuan should be about the same age as A-cai and Baofeng, right?”
“Yes. He previously studied classical Chinese at the school in Village Chief Chen’s house for half a year. After the incident in the village, he hasn’t gone back to study. I’ve been considering this matter too, but right now there’s no one at home to take him down the mountain.”
Liao Qingwen suggested, “Children’s education must not be neglected. Let your brother-in-law A-yuan drive the ox cart every day to take A-cai, Yutang, Wenyuan, and the other children down the mountain to attend elementary school in town. I will subsidize some transportation costs for A-yuan. What do you think?”
Laichun said, “Village Chief Liao, let me discuss it with my brother-in-law A-yuan, and I’ll reply to you tomorrow.”
Liao Qingwen stood up and said, “Alright. I’ll bring people to collect these tea leaves tomorrow. You can give me your answer then.”

14
Two days later in the morning, A-yuan drove the ox cart, carrying Wenyuan, A-cai, Baofeng, A-pao, Aiyu, Yutang, and Yuhui down the mountain to attend school in town. The cart also carried several sacks of sweet potatoes and taro, and a bag of bamboo shoots. Laichun instructed A-yuan to set up a stall in the town market to sell their farm produce, then go to the school gate in the evening to pick up the children and bring them back up the mountain. In the past, such errands—selling produce and purchasing daily necessities—had all been Lianfu’s responsibility.
The group of children squeezed together on the ox cart, chatting and laughing along the way.
“Let me tell you, some teachers at school are very strict. If you don’t follow the rules or don’t do your homework, they’ll twist your ears or whip your buttocks with a cane,” Yutang said, gesturing vividly.
A-pao (Liao Enbao) asked skeptically, “Is it really that scary?”
Yutang warned, “Also, if you speak dialect and the mainlander director hears you, he’ll make you stand as punishment in the corridor outside the office.”
Big-Head A-cai (Chen Tiancai) asked, “Then what if you get into a fight with classmates?”
Yutang said, “That’s even worse. Not only will the teacher beat your buttocks, but you’ll also have to stand in the corridor holding buckets of water in both hands.”
A-pao stuck out his tongue and said, “Is it really that terrifying? The teachers at the old school treated us the best.”
Yuhui smiled and said, “Brother, don’t scare them first! A-pao, Cousin A-cai, actually, if you don’t break the rules, teachers won’t punish students casually.”

15
After class, A-pao, A-cai, and Wenyuan were called to the office by their homeroom teacher, Liu Meiqi.
Teacher Meiqi asked, “Do you three know why I asked you to come here?”
The three children all shook their heads.
“Based on your age, you should be in the second grade. Previously, you only studied classical Chinese for half a year, but your village chief, Mr. Liao, has requested that the school allow you to attend my class temporarily. I must remind you that if your level does not keep up with your classmates, next school year you will still have to repeat the second grade.”
Wenyuan asked, “Repeat the second grade?”
The teacher said seriously, “That means you will be held back for a year and cannot advance to the third grade with your classmates.”
A-pao said, “That would be so embarrassing, teacher!”
“If you don’t want to be embarrassed, the three of you must study hard and catch up with your classmates as soon as possible.”
The three returned to the classroom. Wenyuan felt heavy-hearted, sitting at his desk with his chin propped up, silent. A-pao and A-cai, however, seemed to have already forgotten the teacher’s warning, and went out with their classmates to play on the slide and swings in the playground.
Yutang came over curiously and asked, “Wenyuan, what’s wrong? Did the teacher scold you in the office?”
Wenyuan shook his head. Yutang asked again, “Then why do you look so down?”
Only then did Wenyuan say, “The teacher reminded the three of us that we’re only temporarily attending her class. If we can’t keep up with the others, we’ll have to repeat the second grade next year.”
Yutang patted Wenyuan’s shoulder and said, “Is that all? You’ll be fine! I’m more worried about A-pao and my cousin A-cai—I can tell they just want to play.”
Wenyuan said firmly, “I don’t want to repeat a grade!”
Yutang said, “Don’t worry! If there’s something you don’t understand, you can raise your hand in class, or go to the office after class to ask the teacher. Or after school, you can ask me.”
Wenyuan asked, “We can ask the teacher directly?”
Yutang said, “Of course! The teacher is our living dictionary!”
Wenyuan asked with a puzzled expression, “Living dictionary?”
Yutang smiled and said, “I almost forgot—you don’t know how to use a dictionary yet. I’ll teach you how to use one.” He immediately returned to his seat, took a dictionary out of the drawer, and said, “This is a dictionary. I’ll teach you how to look up new words.”