THE WHITE FILES: THE MANY

LIVES OF LU HERUO, TAIWANS

FIRST LITERARY TALENT

Chapter Eleven: Lü Heruo Returns to Taichung to Meet Zhang Wenhuan

43

In the living room of the Lin familys home in Fengyuan, Lü Heruo sat facing his stern-looking parents-in-law.

A dim yellow light bulb hanging in the living room swayed faintly, casting its light over an old wooden cabinet and yellowed walls. A family portrait hung beside the wall. In the photograph, Lü Heruo wore a shy smile. Now, however, he sat in a rattan chair, looking haggard, his hands clasped over his knees as he nervously rubbed them together. Outside the window, dogs barked and police sirens sounded in the distance. Every so often, he turned his ear toward the noises, as though he might have to flee at any moment.

Mr. Lin sat upright in a traditional high-backed armchair, his face stern and his gaze sharp as a knife. He immediately asked, “Shidui, your job at the newspaper in Taipei was always stable. How did things get to this point? The Bureau of Investigations officers are everywhere, looking to arrest you.”

Lü Heruo spread his hands helplessly. Avoiding his father-in-laws sharp gaze, he replied quietly, “Does the Bureau of Investigation need a reason to arrest someone? It was simply that our newspaper often published articles criticizing the governments policies. The people above couldnt stand it, so the Bureau moved in, shut down the newspaper, and began arresting people.”

Mr. Lin slapped the armrest of his chair and frowned. “Things are so chaotic these days. As the old saying goes, When the sun burns hot, everyone has to look after their own life. If the government doesnt have the stomach to accept criticism from a newspaper, then you shouldnt have criticized them in the first place. You knew perfectly well they were bears and tigers, yet you insisted on provoking them. You really had no sense of the danger.”

Lü Heruo lowered his head, like a student who had done something wrong, and said nothing.

Mrs. Lin held the knitting needles and yarn tightly in her hands. She had long since stopped knitting. Her voice was choked with emotion, yet she spoke with reason. “Shidui, Im not nagging you just because Im your mother-in-law. Ever since our Xuerong married you, shes taken care of the household and raised your child. Shes never complained about how hard things were. Not only have you failed to take proper care of her and your child, but rumors have also spread about you having another woman outside. Now youre running from place to place, and youve even dragged our family into this trouble. As a husband, youve shown very little sense of responsibility.”

When Lü Heruo heard the words “having another woman,” his face turned pale. He looked up as if to defend himself, but restrained himself. The corners of his mouth trembled before he finally said quietly, “Father, Mother, theres no use talking about these things now.”

Mr. Lin shook his head, his brows deeply furrowed. “Thats true. So what are you planning to do from now on?”

Lü Heruo stood up and walked to the window. He pulled the curtain aside slightly and glanced at the street. After making sure there were no suspicious figures outside, he turned around and spoke in a low but resolute voice. “Ill hide for a while. When things have quieted down, Ill find a chance to come back and bring Xuerong and her child away.”

Mr. Lin sighed heavily. His voice was solemn. “Alas! Shes my daughter, after all. Youre on the run right now. No matter what you say, I cant just stand by and watch Xuerong and her child wander from place to place with you. Ill take care of my daughter and grandchild during this period. You must be more careful yourself. I dont want my daughter to spend the rest of her life as a widow.”

Lü Heruo turned and walked back to stand before his parents-in-law. He nodded firmly. “Father, I understand. Ill be careful.”

Mrs. Lin glanced at her daughter, who had remained silent beside them, and called out, “Xuerong, is there anything you want to say to your husband?”

Lin Xuerong sat in a bamboo chair in the corner, her head bowed in silence, holding her sleeping child in her arms. She raised her head, her eyes revealing unmistakable exhaustion and sorrow. Slowly, she stood up and walked over to Lü Heruo. She reached out and touched his sleeve before finally speaking.

“Things have already come to this. All I hope is that Shidui wont be arrested by the Bureau of Investigation. As for my child and me, no matter how many years or months it takes, well wait for him to come back so we can be together again.”

Lü Heruo looked into his wifes eyes. Tears glistened in his own, and his throat tightened. He wanted to say something, but no words came.

Mrs. Lin wiped the corner of her eye, then spoke more firmly. “Shidui, did you hear that? Your wife has absolutely no complaints against you. You must think carefully about what youre going to do!”

Lü Heruo took a deep breath, as though trying to suppress the pain in his heart. He said quietly, “Mother, I understand... Ill remember every word youve said.”

At that moment, a gust of wind blew in through the corridor, gently stirring the light bulb and the window screen. Yet the people inside seemed frozen before the storm of fate, unable to speak for a moment.

44

It was late at night. The streets of Taichung were unusually quiet. Streetlights cast pale yellow pools of light, outlining the hazy, silent shape of an old Japanese-style building at the mouth of an alley.

Lü Heruo hurried to the wooden door and knocked three times. After a brief pause, he added one more soft knock. From inside came the sound of shoe soles rubbing against tatami mats. A moment later, the door opened just a crack.

Zhang Wenhuan peered out with half his face visible, holding a dark red kerosene lamp in one hand. His sharp eyes swept the alley in every direction. Only after making sure no one had followed Lü did he step aside.

“Come in quickly.”

The door clicked shut, releasing the mixed smell of old wood and kerosene. The two men moved quietly through the entryway and into the study. It was a simply furnished Japanese-style room, with books and newspapers piled against the wall. A tatami mat covered the floor, and a teapot sat on the low table in the middle of the room, already brewed and still steaming.

“Sit down.” Zhang Wenhuan patted the tatami mat.

The two men sat cross-legged, facing each other. The lamplight flickered across their faces. On the paper window, the shadow of a moth appeared as it flew over, then quietly settled.

Zhang Wenhuan looked at Lü Heruos somewhat haggard face and spoke first. “I had a feeling youd come to see me sooner or later.”

Lü Heruo let out a quiet sigh. He placed the canvas bag he was carrying beside him, rested both hands on his knees, and leaned forward slightly. “Brother Wenhuan, Ive really fallen on hard times this time... For now, Yulan and her daughter and I are hiding on Grass Mountain, staying in the old house of Xiao, my business partner. I secretly came back to Fengyuan this time only to leave Xuerong and her child in the care of my parents-in-law.”

Zhang Wenhuan nodded and picked up the teapot from the low table to pour him a cup of tea. “The news about Guangming Daily being shut down and the report that youre wanted have both appeared in the newspapers and on the radio. What are your plans? Have some tea.”

Lü Heruo shook his head. “No, thanks. Im too troubled to drink, and my mouth is too dry. Ever since the newspaper collapsed, Ive been no better than a stray dog, running from place to place. Fortunately, I still have friends willing to stand by me. I plan to sell my shares in Daan Printing House to raise money for the journey, then take Yulan and her daughter to Japan.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wenhuan frowned slightly. He suddenly stood up, walked over to the bookcase, took out his wallet, and pulled out a stack of banknotes. He returned and held them out to Lü Heruo.

“Our bond is closer than that of real brothers. Youre on the run, so take these five hundred dollars and use them for now.”

Lü Heruo opened both hands and shook his head with a bitter smile. “I cant accept this, Brother Wenhuan...”

Zhang Wenhuan simply pressed the money down onto his lap. His voice was firm. “Were brothers. Stop refusing. Of course, this money isnt enough to get you to Japan, but keep it with you for emergencies. As for the rest of the travel expenses, Ill find another way to help you.”

Lü Heruo thought for a while, then lowered his head and put the money into his pocket. He said quietly, “Ill go to Lukang and see Gu Yanbixia. Ill ask whether she can use the shares in the printing house to help me secure an advance. I came to see you tonight not only to ask you to help me find out about possible smuggling routes, but also to make some arrangements in case things go wrong... If Im arrested, please look after Yulan and her daughter for me.”

Zhang Wenhuan did not answer immediately. He simply watched him in silence for a long moment before slowly nodding.

“I will. But dont rush to assume the worst. Theres still a chance you can get out of this. You could go to Quanzhou Street in Taipei and look for Cai Xiaoqian. Ive heard he has an extensive network of connections. He might know a way to get you out of the country.”

“Hmm... Ill go see him.” Lü Heruo nodded.

Zhang Wenhuan pushed the newspaper on the table toward him. “Todays Central Daily News reported on what happened to your newspaper. It says that Chung, the publisher, and Lin, the president, have confessed. The Bureau of Investigation has also issued a public statement urging you to surrender, claiming that youll be treated leniently. Take a look for yourself.”

Lü Heruo did not reach for it. His gaze lowered, growing somewhat bleak. “If the Bureau of Investigations promises could be trusted, pigs in Taiwan would be able to fly. They arrest people first, then slap the label of Communist spy on them and force confessions out of them. How often has that happened already? Do you think Im stupid enough to walk straight into their hands?”

Zhang Wenhuan scratched his chin and leaned against the corner of the wall. “Youve got a point. If you keep hiding on Grass Mountain, sooner or later theyll track you down. If you cant leave the country anytime soon, youll have to find somewhere even more secluded to hide. That would be safer.”

Lü Heruo took out a thick roll of manuscript pages and handed it to him with both hands. “Brother Wenhuan, please keep this novel manuscript for me. If Im arrested, or if I have to leave the country and live abroad, I ask you to find an opportunity to have it published on my behalf.”

Zhang Wenhuan accepted the manuscript solemnly and patted him on the shoulder. “Dont worry. I can take on this responsibility.”

“Ive written the address where Yulan and her daughter are staying at the end of the manuscript... If anything happens, please look after them for me.” Lü Heruos voice trembled slightly.

Zhang Wenhuan nodded gently, his gaze as firm as steel. “Shidui, as long as Im here, you wont be alone.”

A dogs bark outside shattered the night sky. The two men sat facing each other inside the room. It seemed as though the winds of the turbulent times were already approaching the window, yet there was also a faint glimmer of hope that fate could still be resisted. It burned in the kerosene lamp on the table, flickering but refusing to go out.