THE WHITE FILES: THE MANY LIVES OF LU HERUO, TAIWANS FIRST LITERARY TALENT  1

Chapter One: Lu Heruo Studies Vocal Music in Japan

1

Tokyo. A fine drizzle hung in the air like a thin veil. Along the streets of Asakusa drifted the familiar scent of fireworks and the delicate aroma of simmering tofu, mingling with the chilly air of the foreign city. Lu Heruo and Lin Xuerong walked side by side along the stone-paved road. The wind lifted her scarf and brushed it against his shoulder.

When they entered Yoshiko Nagasakas music studio, the sound of piano music was already drifting melodiously through the spacious room. A white upright piano gleamed with a soft, warm luster. The walls were covered with theater posters and photographs taken at musical performances.

Yoshiko Nagasaka sat upright at the piano, her hands gliding gently across the keys, moving through the rises and falls of each musical phrase like flowing water. She was a tall, slender woman of refined elegance, dressed in a kimono, her hair neatly and gracefully arranged in a traditional bun.

"Mr. Lu, youve come at just the right time." Yoshiko Nagasaka looked up, her smile conveying both reserved elegance and warmth. "Today, well practice Liszts Liebestraum. You need to pay closer attention to the emotional nuances in the ornaments and sustained notes of this piece."

"Yes, Teacher." Lu Heruo sat down on the piano bench and gently touched the keys, tentatively playing a few notes. His fingertips trembled slightly, but his eyes shone with longing.

"Relax. Like this." Yoshiko Nagasaka walked behind him and gently placed her hands on his shoulders. She whispered, "Imagine that your hands are feathers and the piano keys are the surface of a lake. Let your movements be light and fluid. Dont strike the keys stiffly."

Lu Heruo took a deep breath and moved his fingers according to Yoshiko Nagasakas guidance. Gradually, the piano music became softer and more flowing.

"Very good." Yoshiko Nagasaka nodded, her voice calm and measured. "You should remember this same feeling when you sing. Dont force the sound out. Instead, let your breath flow naturally."

"I understand, Teacher." Lu Heruo lowered his hands, turned toward her, and looked at her with deep gratitude. "You have helped me so much."

"Thats because youre willing to work hard." Yoshiko Nagasaka smiled, then paused and picked up a letter from the desk beside her. "By the way, the Takarazuka Revue has replied. Theyre willing to take you on as a second tenor in their chorus. They would also like you to try out for a role in a small stage production."

"Really?" Lu Heruo widened his eyes, hardly believing his ears. "Teacher... I... This is wonderful!"

Yoshiko Nagasaka gave a gentle laugh and handed him the letter.

"Go ahead and show them what you can do. I believe you can succeed."

2

In the piano studio at Teacher Yoshiko Nagasakas home, Lu Heruo had just finished practicing several piano pieces. A servant entered carrying a tray of refreshments.

"Heruo, youve been studying vocal music and piano with me for some time now. As far as vocal music is concerned, you already have a solid foundation in music theory. Combined with your natural musical ear, your voice has both strength and softness. Given time, you may well become a professional vocalist. That is what I hope to see you achieve."

"Thank you, Teacher, for recognizing my abilities. I will devote myself even more wholeheartedly to studying vocal music and will never disappoint you."

"As for the piano, you already have a fairly solid foundation. From now on, you should concentrate on refining your playing techniques and, as much as possible, allow your emotions to flow naturally into the melody. Given time, you will certainly reach an even higher level."

"Thank you for your careful instruction, Teacher."

"Here are two cans of powdered milk and a basket of eggs to improve the childrens nutrition. Ive also brought pork and fish so you and Xuerong can have something extra to eat."

Teacher Nagasaka understood that Lu Heruos family was struggling financially and frequently provided them with food and other necessities. She immediately instructed the servant to carry the food into the kitchen.

Lu Heruo looked embarrassed and said, "Teacher, how can I keep letting you spend money on us? I really feel bad accepting so much from you!"

"Theres no need to feel uncomfortable between a teacher and her student. I know you have very little income. Ive been planning to ask the well-known local Takarazuka Revue whether they need male vocalists, so that you might have an opportunity to join their productions and perform in stage plays and operas. For now, just be patient and wait for my news over the next few days."

Lu Heruo was deeply moved. Tears welled up in his eyes as he bowed deeply. His wife, Xuerong, who was standing beside him, quickly followed her husbands example and bowed as well.

3

On the Takarazuka Revues opening night, the theater was ablaze with lights, and the auditorium was already filled with spectators.

Backstage, Lu Heruo stood in the wings, nervously clasping his hands. Sweat seeped from his palms. Beside him stood a group of singers and dancers dressed in magnificent costumes, enthusiastically discussing the performance that was about to begin.

"Relax, Mr. Lu." A tall actress patted him on the shoulder and smiled. "This is only your first small-scale performance. Youll get used to it very quickly."

"Yes. Thank you." Lu Heruo managed a strained smile, but his heart was still pounding like a drum.

When Lu Heruo stepped onto the stage, the spotlight was as dazzling as the blazing sun. Nevertheless, he struggled to steady his breathing and recalled every detail Teacher Yoshiko Nagasaka had taught him.

As the piano accompaniment began, his deep voice gradually flowed forth, like a small stream murmuring through the darkness of night.

"Very good, Mr. Lu." After the performance, the person in charge of the troupe approached him and patted him on the back. "Your voice is steady, and you know how to convey emotion. Keep working hard. This stage can be yours."

"Thank you... Thank you so much!"

Lu Heruo bowed deeply, feeling warmth and strength welling up inside him.

4

Tokyo. The cold, damp rainy season seemed like a black-and-white film that would never end.

The gloomy gray sky hung low. The narrow alleyways were filled with dampness and the musty smell of mildew. Lu Heruos family lived in an old apartment on the outskirts of Asakusa. The wooden floorboards, damp from years of exposure to moisture, creaked faintly from time to time.

The fire in the stove had gone out. In its place, the weak glow of a kerosene lamp cast trembling shadows on the walls.

Lu Heruo sat at the table, looking down as he leafed through a scattered pile of letters. Although the Takarazuka Revue, which Teacher Nagasaka had introduced him to, had recognized his singing and performance abilities, it had never been able to provide him with a stable income.

The shadow of war hung over all of Tokyo. The audiences were becoming smaller and smaller, and the troupes performances were gradually decreasing in number.

"Heruo, please eat something."

Lin Xuerong brought him a bowl of thin rice porridge. Her voice conveyed worry, softened by an effort to sound gentle. She carefully placed the bowl on the table and held it with both hands, as though trying to preserve its faint warmth for a little longer.

"Im not hungry. Save it for the children."

Lu Heruo waved his hand, his eyes still fixed on the letters.

"The children... are already asleep." Lin Xuerongs voice choked slightly. "But... just look at them. Their little arms are as thin as bamboo sticks, and their faces are so pale..."

Lu Heruo raised his head, his eyes revealing deep guilt and anguish.

"I know... But Ive worked so hard to find even a small opportunity here. If I give up now and return to Taiwan, wont all my efforts have been wasted?"

Lin Xuerong gently took his hand. Her fingertips were cold.

"But we cant go on like this much longer. You know that... The children are getting weaker and weaker. Xiaoying, especially, has had a fever for several days in a row."

Just then, one of the letters slipped from the pile on the table. When Lu Heruo picked it up, he discovered that it was from his maternal uncle, Lu Changsheng. The edges of the envelope had turned yellow with age, but the handwriting remained neat and orderly.

"Heruo,

I know that life in Tokyo has not been easy for you. Although Taiwan is also going through a period of change, it is still your homeland, and life here is relatively more stable.

We all miss you very much, especially your wife and children. Teacher Lin Deyin has also written to express his concern for you. He says that with your talent, you will certainly be able to build a promising career if you return to Taiwan.

Please think this over very carefully."

After reading the letter, Lu Heruo placed it back on the table. His fingers were trembling.

"Teacher Lin Deyin... has written to me, too." Lu Heruos voice was somewhat hoarse, like a piano key that had not been properly tuned in a long time. "He still cares so much about me."

Lin Xuerong said softly, "He was your first teacher, the man who watched you grow up. I think his advice is worth considering."

"But I..."

Lu Heruo covered his face with both hands. A long silence settled over him like a shadow, weighing heavily on his shoulders.

"I keep feeling that perhaps theres still a little hope if I stay here... But every time I come home and see how emaciated the children have become from hunger, I hate myself for being so helpless."

Lin Xuerong reached out and gently stroked his back. Her voice was soft but firm.

"Heruo, perhaps going back is the real beginning. You shouldnt have to struggle so desperately through a winter that will never bring anything into bloom."

Lu Heruo slowly raised his head. Outside the window lay a vast expanse of darkness. Raindrops tapped against the glass, as though delivering a silent reminder that a decision could no longer be postponed.

"Perhaps... its time to make a decision," he murmured, his voice almost drowned out by the sound of the rain.

Lin Xuerong said, "You should know that, given our present circumstances, life will only become more difficult for us. If we return to Taiwan and encounter difficulties, there will always be relatives and friends willing to lend us a helping hand. Zhang Wenhuan is your close friend, your good buddy. He wouldnt make fun of you for coming back."

It was not until Lu Heruo discovered that he had contracted pulmonary tuberculosis that he finally decided to return to Taiwan with his wife and children.