I. Purpose of Writing
In October 1945, Taiwan was freed from Japanese colonial rule and, after fifty years of estrangement, returned to the embrace of China. At that time, the Taiwanese compatriots were eager for governance, full of expectations toward the Chinese government, believing that from then on they would no longer be “second-class citizens.” Unexpectedly, Chiang Kai-shek sent Chen Yi to Taiwan to take over, and Chen Yi led a group of morally corrupt civil and military officials to come, adopting the posture of “victors.” Many of their measures were difficult for the Taiwanese people to accept, and public perception grew increasingly negative. The “takeover” gradually turned into a “plundering,” as civil and military officials took the opportunity to line their own pockets. Additionally, the military that arrived in Taiwan was undisciplined, and frictions between soldiers and civilians, as well as inter-provincial conflicts, intensified, ultimately triggering the “February 28 Incident.” Chen Yi commanded the army to carry out ruthless and bloody suppression against the people of Taiwan Province; Taiwanese civilians were arrested and killed, with tens of thousands of casualties.
After the “February 28 Incident” occurred, Chen Yi brought in the military to conduct “village-clearing operations.” The locally organized “February 7 Unit” could hardly resist. Taiwanese elites either died or fled, with some escaping into remote mountainous areas to join forces with the Communist Party, continuing their resistance movement.
In the spring of 1949, the situation on the mainland rapidly reversed. The Nationalist government withdrew from Taiwan and Penghu, and promptly, on May 20, issued the “Martial Law Order.” The Taiwanese people fell into the political winter of the “White Terror,” where one could be blamed at any moment and dare not speak out despite anger. This story begins in the 1950s, describing, under the White Terror, a “village massacre” that took place in Lukou Village, located in the Xizhi mountain area of northern Taiwan. Lukou Village is situated at the intersection of present-day Nangang, Xizhi, and Shiding, at an altitude of over six hundred meters. The story depicts how the villagers of Lukou, despite losing relatives and being subjected to cold discrimination during these difficult days, bravely emerged and worked hard to create a livelihood.
Although this “village massacre” was buried for nearly six decades and time has passed, the remnants of the Lukou “base” have long since been erased by wild smoke and overgrown weeds. Most of the surviving victims and their descendants have received “substantial compensation” from the government. Yet, the shadow of the “White Terror” in their hearts remains the historical suffering endured by the previous generation. The ancients said: “Do not forget past events, for they are a guide for future affairs.” The purpose of writing this long historical novel is not to expose the “scars” of the Kuomintang’s governance period, but to leave a “literary-historical witness record” for that portion of history neglected by society, reminding the people that, in the course of our nation’s progress toward “liberalization and democratization,” no matter which political party governs in the future, these “erroneous political cases and fabricated cases” in Taiwan’s modern history should be properly acknowledged. We must use history as a lesson, and never again treat human life as grass, abusing the power granted by state machinery under the guise of military or police hands to eliminate dissenters.
Furthermore, the various ethnic groups on Taiwan Island should no longer be rigidly segregated or mutually hostile but should integrate into one, as exemplified by the two intermarried Yu families in this novel, who cherish each other. In other words, under the premise of being a “community of shared destiny,” the island’s ethnic groups should set aside narrow ethnic consciousness and jointly form a beautiful and solid “New Taiwan” national identity.
This novel references Professor Zhang Yanxian, former Director of the National History Museum’s “Investigation Report on the Incident,” and presents the over half-century-old village massacre through a television script format. Characters in the story, such as the Taiwanese Communist leader Cai Xiaoqian and the “base” members including Chairman Chen Benjiang (Jiangzi), Lü Heruo (Wangzi), Political Commissioner Chen Tonghe, Instructor Liao Xueli, Secretary Chen Chunqing, Ministry of National Defense Security Bureau Counterintelligence Director Colonel Gu Zhengwen, Township Office General Affairs Section Chief Liao Musheng, Lukou Village Chief Chen Qiwang, Village Officer Huang Bida, villagers Chen Chunqing, Liao Xueli, and Lukang’s Gu Yan Bixia, were all real active figures at that time. Most of the story is based on historical facts, while the daughters’ romantic relationships are partly fictionalized to form a narrative of a complex story in a grand historical era.
II. Story Outline
The temporal and spatial background of this story is set between 1947 and 1963, during the early period after the Nationalist government relocated to Taiwan. The early part of the story centers on some Taiwanese elites, such as the musician Lü Heruo, and certain Communist Party members, such as Chen Benjiang, who were avoiding pursuit by the Nationalist government after the “February 28 Incident” (1947). They entered the Lukou mountainous area of Shiding Township, Taipei County, established a “base,” secretly organized villagers, and spread Communist ideas. The Nationalist government’s military intelligence unit (the Security Bureau) sent personnel to infiltrate the organization. When the opportunity matured, on December 28, 1952, a large contingent of military and police surrounded the mountain area and carried out mass arrests. The village massacre occurred, marking the largest and most extreme miscarriage of justice of the century during the White Terror in Taiwan, with the highest numbers of executions and sentencing.
The latter part of the story focuses on the villagers of Lukou who were victims: Village Chief Chen Qiwang, General Affairs Section Chief Liao Musheng, villagers Lin Maotong, Yu Lianfu, and their four families, as well as the newly appointed village chief Liao Qingwen after the incident, exploring the growth of the next generation and the emotional entanglements between mainland children Xia Xiaoqiao and Ouyang Mingdao.
After the “February 28 Incident” (1947), some local-born individuals, fleeing government pursuit, gradually arrived in Lukou Village. They were all elite members dissatisfied with Chiang Kai-shek’s group and Chen Yi’s Kuomintang takeover government. Villagers commonly called them “Mountain Hiders” (people hiding in the mountains). They established a “base” to train Communist Party members, hold lectures and study groups to propagate ideological principles, aiming to “overthrow the corrupt and authoritarian Chiang Kai-shek regime and liberate Taiwan.” Therefore, they gained the recognition of villagers. Township Office General Affairs Chief Liao Musheng and Lukou Village Chief Chen Qiwang were their patrons, providing them with funds and shelter. Villagers who made a living by cultivating tea, such as Lin Maotong and Yu Lianfu, also sympathized with and supported them.
The Guangming Daily frequently published articles criticizing the authorities’ policies, which drew the attention of the Security Bureau. Security Bureau Counterintelligence Director Gu Zhengwen ordered subordinate officer Xing Aihua to forcibly bring the editor-in-chief Lü Heruo to him. Gu Zhengwen hosted Lü at the dormitory with a banquet, applying both soft and hard pressure, offering Lü preferential positions to buy him off, but Lü remained unmoved, insisting on the newspaper’s supervisory stance. Lü Heruo’s cohabiting girlfriend Su Yulan, learning from Lü about his late return and his interrogation by the Security Bureau, pleaded with him for the sake of herself and her daughter, urging him not to confront the Bureau. After the interrogation, Lü informed the newspaper publisher Zhong Haodong and president Lin Hanwen, who praised Lü’s integrity.
Gu Zhengwen resolved to carry out a purge against Guangming Daily, charging them with “bandit-spy operations.” He sent forces along three routes to arrest the publisher, president, and staff of the newspaper, and went to Keelung High School to arrest Zhong’s wife and faculty, as well as some left-leaning teachers and students at National Taiwan University. Warned by colleagues in time, Lü Heruo fled with Su Yulan and her daughter, seeking help from partners Xiao Dongping and novelist Zhang Wenhuan, as well as Lukang’s Gu Yan Bixia, causing Xiao and Gu Yan to later be implicated.
After arranging for his first wife Lin Xuerong and cohabiting partner Su Yulan and her child, Lü initially intended to illegally escape to Japan. However, his friend Zhang Wenhuan suggested he go to Taipei to seek help from the well-connected Cai Xiaoqian. Upon seeing Lü, Cai informed him that ports were under surveillance, making it difficult to leave Taiwan by ship, and advised him to temporarily hide at the “Lukou Base.” Cai wrote a letter of introduction for Lü to take to Lukou. Upon receiving the letter, Chairman Chen Benjiang, following Cai’s instructions, reinstated Lü Heruo, appointing him as the Director of the Political Department.
At the “base,” Lü Heruo reunited with He Yunxuan, a young political lecturer from National Taiwan University who had also fled due to the Guangming Daily incident. The two were old acquaintances and felt mutual respect. To avoid drawing attention, Lü assumed the alias “Wang Wenbo,” and He took the name “Zhang Haiqing.” Ideological differences still existed among base members. Chen Benjiang and Chen Danghe represented the “CCP faction,” advocating leadership by the Chinese Communist Party, while Lü Heruo, Liao Xueli, and Chen Chunqing represented the “Taiwan Communist faction,” advocating that Taiwanese themselves overthrow Chiang Kai-shek’s regime. Naturally, this led to clashes of position and power struggles.
Political Commissar Chen Danghe and Instructor Dong Zhiqian each had ulterior motives, colluding to frame Lü Heruo. Chen, driven by a desire for power, sought to remove Lü from the post of Political Department Director and, jealous of Lü’s favor with the young and beautiful Liao Qingyun (Liao Musheng’s younger sister), aimed to eliminate Lü and win over Liao Qingyun. Dong Zhiqian was a Security Bureau mole in the base, tasked not only with gathering member lists but also creating internal conflicts. First, the two executed a midnight plot to release venomous snakes to bite Lü Heruo, which failed. Next, they stole mining explosives from the base’s armory, framing Lü. However, their conspiracy was witnessed by Yu Lianfu’s son, Yu Wenyen.
Dong Zhiqian coveted Chen Ruyu’s beauty. During Lü Heruo’s house arrest by Chen Benjiang over the “explosives theft,” amidst unrest at the base, Dong attempted to assault Chen Ruyu when she was alone, masked and armed with a knife. Yu Lianfu and Wenyen discovered him, and Lianfu fought Dong with a carrying pole. Dong, injured, fled. Chen Qiwang, realizing his sister Ruyu had narrowly escaped assault, inferred from Lianfu that the perpetrator was a member of the base. He personally went to the base, demanding that Chairman Chen Benjiang investigate suspicious individuals.
The schemes of Chen Danghe and Dong Zhiqian—to frame and kill via others—were exposed when Yu Wenyen revealed the truth, allowing Chen Qiwang to recover the incriminating evidence, unmask the plot, and summon Chen Benjiang, who was embarrassed on the spot. Back at the base, Chen Benjiang immediately detained Chen Danghe and Dong Zhiqian. Chen Danghe admitted his crime and received leniency; Dong repeatedly defended himself. Chen Benjiang, noticing Dong’s injuries, suspected him to be the masked assailant of Chen Ruyu, and, by agreement, handed him over to Chen Qiwang. Chen Qiwang maimed one of Dong’s legs and secretly confined him in his own woodshed.
At the end of that year, during the provincial senator elections, Chen Qiwang’s brother-in-law Liao Qingwen, a “semi-mountain” businessman from the mainland, had been bribed by Security Bureau Colonel Gu Zhengwen and, along with former Guangming Daily journalist Dong Zhiqian, infiltrated Lukou Village as moles. While Chen Qiwang was busy assisting friends’ campaigns, Liao Qingwen freed Dong Zhiqian.
Shortly after Dong escaped, Gu Zhengwen obtained the base’s member list and identified villagers sympathetic to the Communist Party. The day after the provincial senator election, he ordered the military, gendarmerie, and police to block Lukou’s access roads and conduct a large-scale search of the villagers.
Fortunately, due to timely warnings by Lukou police chief and Yu Lianfu’s brother-in-law Xu Jialiang, the base members evacuated overnight. Under the joint plan of Chen Qiwang and Liao Musheng, Lü Heruo, Liao Qingyun, He Yunxuan, and Chen Ruyu fled, but during the escape, Lü Heruo was bitten by a venomous snake and died. Villagers sympathetic to the base—including Liao Musheng, Chen Qiwang, Chen Tianqi (Qiwang’s eldest son), Lin Maotong, and Chen Chunqing—were captured and killed by military and police. Regarding the fate of left-leaning Taiwanese novelist Lü Heruo, rumors varied; for narrative purposes, this story fictionalizes this portion, including Lü Heruo’s romantic relationship with Liao Qingyun.
Lukou Village is located at the intersection of present-day Nangang, Xishang, and Shiding, over six hundred meters in altitude. Amid the massacre, the villagers of Lukou bravely came forward despite losing relatives and suffering cold discrimination. The story’s protagonist, Yu Wenyen (Yu Lianfu’s son) and his family, under the perseverance of his mother Xu Laichun, gradually emerged from shadows through Wenyen’s efforts in education and carved out a livelihood.
Wenyen grew up with childhood friends: Apo Liao Enbao (Liao Musheng’s eldest son), Big Head Acai (Chen Tiancai, Qiwang’s second son), Chen Baofeng (Qiwang’s eldest daughter), Lin Aiyu (Lin Maotong’s eldest daughter), Liao Yutang (Liao Qingwen’s eldest son), and Liao Yuhui (eldest daughter). Because their fathers were all killed in the village massacre, Wenyen, Apo, and Acai formed a bond as if brothers. On the first day of school, the three agreed on the ox cart not to sing the national anthem or salute the flag. Yutang and Baofeng warned that this could cause trouble; indeed, the three were caught by teacher Yan Ruyu for not singing the anthem and were questioned in the office. They refused to confess, so the teacher punished them to stand in the hallway. Subsequently, Wenyen and the others were mocked by some older mainland students as “little spies from a bandit village,” leading to a brawl. The disciplinary director made the three stand outside the office, and the teacher learned the cause from Yutang and brought them back.
Wenyen excelled in conduct and studies, earning the respect of teacher Yan Ruyu. Apo and Acai were playful and behind in studies. Yan had Wenyen and Yutang tutor them to prevent their repetition. The four often faced provocations and bullying by mainland classmates, resulting in frequent fights and punishments, sometimes extending conflicts into the city streets.
After primary school graduation, Wenyen, Yutang, and Baofeng entered Keelung High School’s junior division. Apo and Acai, knowing their academic limits, went to the Keelung fish market to sell fish. Aiyu did not pass and stayed in the mountains to help at home. In second year, Wenyen, with good writing skills, participated in a school essay contest and originally won first place for the grade. However, the school unilaterally changed the ranking, angering his class teacher Chen Wuxiong, who, as a fellow judge, learned from the academic affairs director that it was the principal’s decision. Chen Wuxiong brought Wenyen to confront the principal, who explained under pressure that the adjustment was due to Wenyen’s sensitive status as from Lukou, a “bandit-spy village.” Wuxiong strongly disagreed and learned from Yutang about the Lukou massacre, igniting his desire to investigate the truth.
Wuxiong visited Wenyen’s home, learning from Xu Laichun about the massacre and the involvement of Wenyen’s father Lianfu. Wuxiong later submitted a letter expressing sympathy for Lukou villagers and calling for a reopened investigation. His actions caused a sensation, alarming both school staff and the Security Bureau. Plainclothes officers came to the school and took Wuxiong during class, causing great anxiety and unrest among students.
After Wuxiong’s removal, Wenyen and Yutang informed their parents. Xu Laichun prayed for Wuxiong’s safety, while Liao Qingwen was indifferent, believing Wuxiong had brought it upon himself. The contrast revealed the differing warmth of human relations.
At the Security Bureau Counterintelligence Office, Director Lieutenant Colonel Xing Aihua treated Wuxiong, a decorated veteran, with courtesy. Wuxiong showed no fear despite Xing’s coercion. Xing eventually returned Wuxiong, transferring him away from Keelung High School. On his last day, students were reluctant to part with him, and Wenyen momentarily lost control, provoking the accompanying plainclothes officer, but Wuxiong calmed him, preventing further trouble.
Wenyen, Baofeng, Xia Xiaoqiao, Mingdao, Yutang, and Yuhui, attending the same school, formed a close-knit group, studying and traveling together. Baofeng harbored childhood affection for Wenyen. When she noticed that friend Xiaoqiao also seemed to like Wenyen…
Wen Yan, at Shao Yanling’s invitation, joined the school’s literary magazine club. Yanling took considerable care of Wen Yan; she possessed both talent and beauty, which made Xiao Qiao worry that Wen Yan might develop feelings for his senior over time. Xiao Qiao not only monitored the two during club activities but also frequently asked Wen Yan about his feelings toward the senior. To appease Xiao Qiao, Wen Yan invited him to his home to help his mother celebrate her birthday. Yanling repeatedly showed favor toward Wen Yan, giving him a box of chocolates, which left Wen Yan feeling confused and flustered.
The club president, Mu Minhua, highly appreciated Wen Yan’s talent and wished for him to succeed as the next club president, but the Discipline Director, Du Jincheng, constantly made things difficult for Wen Yan due to his special status, requiring Wen Yan to obtain Kuomintang membership before allowing him to assume the presidency. Upon hearing this, Wen Yan insisted on not joining the party. Both Yanling and Wen Yan were dissatisfied with Director Du’s attitude, and the two withdrew from the literary magazine club together. Mu Minhua also did not wish to involve herself further.
The homeroom teachers, Zhang Ronghua and Fan Danfeng, at Director Du’s request, persuaded the three to remain in the club until the presidential handover was completed. Although the three felt helpless, they reluctantly agreed.
The deaf-mute Ah Yuan sold tea, sweet potatoes, and other agricultural products at the Xizhi market. Thrifty Ah Yuan would collect scrap metal and cardboard on the return trip of his ox cart to sell. One day, Ah Yuan found a stack of political propaganda papers. Being illiterate, he did not know that they were reactionary propaganda and used the papers to wrap tea leaves. After a while, two plainclothes officers brought a customer to find Ah Yuan. The customer claimed that the propaganda had come from Ah Yuan. Ah Yuan was then taken by the plainclothes officers to the Xizhi police substation. The neighboring vendors discussed this matter, all feeling it was incredible.
Wen Yan, Wen Ying, and Bao Feng waited at the bus stop for Ah Yuan’s ox cart. Wen Yan instinctively felt that Ah Yuan was in trouble and went with Bao Feng and Wen Ying to the market to look for him. Ah Yuan’s stall was unattended, and he was nowhere to be found. Upon inquiry, neighboring vendors told them that Ah Yuan had been taken by plainclothes officers to the substation. The three rushed to the substation and demanded to see Ah Yuan, but were refused by the duty officer.
Wen Yan returned home and consulted with his mother, Lai Chun. Mother and son decided to seek help from the village head, Liao Qingwen. When Lai Chun explained to Qingwen that Ah Yuan had been taken by plainclothes officers, Qingwen, considering the sensitivity of the case, did not wish to intervene, but instead advised Lai Chun to have her police officer brother, Xu Jialiang, intervene. Lai Chun and Xu Jialiang went to the substation, requesting to meet Ah Yuan, but were politely refused by the substation chief, Zhao Zhibiao.
Wen Yan, worried about Uncle Ah Yuan, was distracted during school. Ming Dao noticed Wen Yan’s preoccupation and actively inquired. Wen Yan told him that Ah Yuan had been taken to the substation by plainclothes officers for allegedly distributing reactionary leaflets. Ming Dao felt the plainclothes officers were detaining people arbitrarily and said he would ask his father, a military judge, to intervene. After returning home, Ming Dao explained Ah Yuan’s arrest to his father, Ouyang Jing, and requested that he go to the Xizhi substation to understand the situation. Convinced by his wife and children, Ouyang Jing went to the substation that evening.
Substation chief Zhao Zhibiao was acquainted with Ouyang Jing. Ouyang Jing successfully met Ah Yuan and found it difficult to communicate with him due to his muteness and deafness. He then requested to review the police interrogation records. Upon reading them, Ouyang Jing told Chief Zhao directly that the interrogation records contained many flaws and were obviously fabricated. He warned that if the records were submitted together with the suspect to the prosecutor, they would certainly be “rejected” by the prosecutor. Zhao Zhibiao, embarrassed, said the case was under high attention by the Security Bureau. Ouyang Jing replied that he would contact the Security Bureau himself. Zhao then agreed to release Ah Yuan on bail.
Ouyang Jing sent Ah Yuan back to Lukou Village overnight by military vehicle. Lai Chun and Wen Yan expressed gratitude to Ouyang Jing, and the villagers warmly praised his righteous deed. Ouyang Jing gained a new understanding of the villagers’ simplicity and kindness. He began to reflect on the massacre in the village ten years ago, realizing that there might have been many injustices involved.
Through this incident, Wen Yan deeply realized that knowledge of the law is necessary to protect one’s family and good villagers. He therefore changed his original plan and decided to apply to the law department at National Taiwan University. Wen Yan’s decision received support from his mother, Lai Chun.
Dong Zhiqian, terminally ill with cancer, was receiving treatment in the hospital. Knowing that he did not have long to live, his only wish was to return to Lukou Village to confess to the villagers for betraying them ten years ago. Dong Zhiqian took the opportunity to escape from the hospital and collapsed from exhaustion on a mountain road in Lukou Village, where he encountered Ah Yuan and Wen Yan with their ox cart. Wen Yan brought Dong Zhiqian home. Upon regaining consciousness, Dong asked Wen Yan where he was. Wen Yan told him that he was in Lukou Village. Dong became emotional and asked Wen Yan his name and family. Wen Yan recounted the past events, including the death of his father Lian Fu in the massacre ten years ago. Dong knelt before Wen Yan’s family to repent, revealed his identity, and requested Wen Yan to gather the villagers to disclose the truth about the massacre.
Wen Yan took him to see village head Liao Qingwen. Unexpectedly, Qingwen recognized Dong Zhiqian and realized that he had returned to expose the massacre and Qingwen’s betrayal of the villagers. Qingwen attempted to preemptively kill Dong Zhiqian to silence him, but Wen Yan protected him, and Qingwen failed. Amid the scuffle, Dong revealed that Qingwen had been an undercover agent sent by the Security Bureau and the mastermind behind the betrayal, then escaped from the Liao family. Qingwen, upon hearing that his identity was exposed, collapsed and sat on the ground.
On the mountain road, Dong Zhiqian met the old security officer Chen Huolu. Recognizing him, Dong told Huolu that he had important inside information to reveal. Huolu brought Dong home. In front of Huolu and Meijiao, Dong fully recounted the massacre ten years ago and the critical role played by Liao Qingwen. He requested Huolu to arrange a meeting with the villagers to confess in person. Although Meijiao pleaded with her father Huolu to spare her younger brother Qingwen for the sake of two innocent children, Huolu said that because the matter involved over a hundred villagers, it could not be allowed.
Huolu summoned the villagers to Liao Qingwen’s house. Dong revealed the details of the massacre and publicly exposed Qingwen’s crimes. By then, Qingwen had gone insane and was mentally unstable, but the villagers still did not forgive him and intended to mete out private punishment. Huolu, at the request of Wen Yan, Lai Chun, and Meijiao, asked the villagers to leave the two in his hands and promised to give them a satisfactory resolution. The next morning, Dong Zhiqian hanged himself in front of Huolu’s house. The villagers were informed the following day. After reading his will and the restitution money for the villagers, Huolu arranged for his burial.
Liao Qingwen went mad and wandered in the village, where villagers surrounded and attacked him. The siblings Yutang and Yuhui were also mocked and pointed at by villagers. Liao suddenly disappeared from his home. When Yutang, Yuhui, and Wen Yan found him in the mountains, he had already died. After handling Qingwen’s funeral, the Liao family left Lukou Village with his ashes.
Subsequently, Ming Dao was admitted to military school. Wen Yan, Bao Feng, and Xiao Qiao reluctantly bid him farewell. Bao Feng was admitted to the Normal University History department, while Wen Yan and Xiao Qiao were both admitted to National Taiwan University. While preparing for a celebration banquet, Bao Feng had an epileptic seizure and, lying in bed, accidentally overheard a conversation between Zhou Tian and Wen Yan. She decided no longer to compete with Xiao Qiao for Wen Yan. Zhai Jialing approved of Xiao Qiao dating Wen Yan, but her father Xia Yitian opposed it due to family prejudice. Ming Dao and Bao Feng both experienced heartbreak, and as they shared their feelings, their friendship gradually turned into love.
The flirtatious young master of the Foreign Languages Department, Wang Jun, set his sights on the beautiful Xiao Qiao, determined to win her over. Senior Chu Yao warned Xiao Qiao that Wang Jun was unfaithful and told her not to be deceived. Wang Jun’s girlfriends, upon hearing this, also came to trouble Xiao Qiao. Wang Jun tried to use the English play as an opportunity to get close to Xiao Qiao, but Xiao Qiao declined to perform. When Wen Yan came to pick up Xiao Qiao from class, he finally met Wang Jun. Wen Yan encountered Zhang Meihua in the library, and Meihua invited him to join the Aurora New Poetry Club.
Xiao Qiao invited Wen Yan to her home to help celebrate her mother’s birthday. Xia Yitian, however, set a condition for Wen Yan, telling him that unless he obtained a lawyer or judicial officer qualification, he was not allowed to associate with Xiao Qiao. Wen Yan realized that Xia Yitian was deliberately making things difficult because of his family background. Xiao Qiao was very dissatisfied, and the family had disputes over this matter. Xia Yitian wanted Xiao Qiao to date Wang Jun and deliberately arranged outings for them. Xiao Qiao and Wang Jun walked on Ximending streets and were seen by Bao Feng. Concerned that Wen Yan might misunderstand, Xiao Qiao left after watching the movie with Wang Jun and went to Wen Yan’s dorm to explain the misunderstanding.
The National Taiwan University Literature Award was announced. Wen Yan and Meihua both won major prizes. Zhang Meihua took Wen Yan to Taichung to meet Zhang Wenhuan. Meihua, upon hearing about the Lukou incident, was very interested and wanted to visit Lukou Village. Xiao Qiao, jealous of Meihua and Wen Yan going to the village together, also accompanied them. Meihua learned about the base case at Chen Huolu’s house and recorded key points in her notes.
Meihua’s new novel, The Coldest Spring, was excellent, but due to sensitive subject matter, Wen Yan worried that she might get into trouble. Meihua showed the novel to her father Zhang Wenhuan, who highly praised it and sent it to a newspaper for publication. Once published, it immediately drew close attention from the Security Bureau. Xing Aihua pressured the NTU chief instructor Huang Guangming, but soft persuasion could not convince Zhang Meihua. Gu Zhengwen and Xing Aihua then visited Zhang Wenhuan in Taichung. After negotiations, Zhang Wenhuan softened and promised to withdraw the serialized novel.
Wang Jun continued pursuing Xiao Qiao, but she ignored him. The Xia family, facing competitive price reductions from rivals, saw declining performance. Xia Yitian wanted to use his daughter’s relationship with the Wang family to achieve his goals and rescue the company’s performance. Xiao Qiao politely conveyed her parents’ wishes to Wen Yan. The two felt heavy-hearted and helpless about the future. Wen Yan’s roommates, Li Qiwen and Chen Liangmou, knowing that the Xia family split the couple due to prejudice, felt wronged on Wen Yan’s behalf. Bao Feng, upon learning of this, arranged to meet Xiao Qiao to clarify with Wen Yan. The two agreed to break up in Wen Yan’s tea garden.
During a date in Ximending, Wang Jun attempted to court Xiao Qiao but met resistance everywhere. They were seen by Yanling, raising her suspicion. Yanling pulled Wen Yan out of the dorm to ask about his relationship with Xiao Qiao. Wen Yan admitted that he had agreed to break up with Xiao Qiao a few days earlier. Seeing Wen Yan now single again, Yanling wanted to become his girlfriend but was politely refused. Wen Yan stated that he would set aside personal affairs and focus entirely on preparing for the college entrance exam.
Xia Yitian reviewed the reports and was satisfied with the sales performance recovery. He was also optimistic about Xiao Qiao and Wang Jun’s match. However, Jialing, understanding her daughter’s personality, held a contrary opinion.
Wen Yan and Zhang Meihua met at the library. Meihua wanted to introduce novelist Long Yingzong to Wen Yan. Wang Jun, carrying flowers, tried to pick up Xiao Qiao from class, but she ignored him and secretly left through the back door after class. Wen Yan’s roommates, Qiwen and Liangmou, saw Wen Yan with Shao Yanling and misunderstood that Wen Yan had a new romantic interest, telling Xiao Qiao, who then abandoned thoughts of reconciling with Wen Yan and sincerely wished them well.
Zhang Wenhuan, Meihua, and novelist Long Yingzong visited the Yu family. Wen Yan guided them to see the thatched hut previously lived in by teacher Wang Wenbo (Lu Heruo). Later, the group went to Chen Huolu’s home to inquire about Lu Heruo’s time in the village and left contact information to reach Liao Qingyun. Meihua stayed at Wen Yan’s house to help with tea picking. Zhou Tian noticed the girl’s cleverness and liked her. Bao Feng, upon hearing from Xiao Qiao that Wen Yan had a new romantic partner, felt puzzled about his attitude. After inquiry, Wen Yan clarified that he was currently not pursuing romance and was focusing entirely on preparing for the national exams. Bao Feng reminded him not to let Xiao Qiao down and decided to talk privately with Meihua, hoping she could accompany Wen Yan in his studies and encourage him to pass the lawyer and judicial officer exams.
At the start of the university semester, Zhang Meihua and Shao Yanling launched gentle romantic advances toward Wen Yan, but he only wished to be ordinary friends and did not agree. Wen Yan submitted his short essays…
Wen Yan, due to failing the family background investigation and his firm refusal to join the Kuomintang, lost the qualification to become a reserve officer. Xiao Qiao suggested that Wen Yan ask Ouyang Mingdao to request his father, military judge Ouyang Jing, to help Wen Yan. The two of them, accompanied by Bao Feng, went to discuss this with Mingdao. Upon hearing about the matter, Ouyang Jing stated that although he was unable to help Wen Yan restore his reserve officer qualification, he was willing, after Wen Yan completed basic training, to arrange for Wen Yan to serve as a clerk in the Military Judicial Bureau.
Lai Chun led Wen Yan, Xiao Qiao, and Wen Ying to the graves of Yu Lianfu and Lin Maotong. The group held incense sticks and paid their respects at the graves. Lai Chun hoped that Wen Yan would know gratitude and find an opportunity to repay Ouyang Jing, and also wished that Xiao Qiao, in the future, no matter what difficulties she encountered, could support each other with Wen Yan and overcome them together. They all looked at the distant Lu Ku Village, the mountains covered with tea gardens, accompanied by the mountain streams, resembling a fairyland on earth. (End)
3. Writing Notes
[1] In this series of the novel, the earlier episodes focused on the main line involving the “Taiwan Communist Party” leaders Cai Xiaoqian, base chairman Professor Chen Benjiang, and literati Lü Heruo, National Taiwan University young lecturer He Yunxuan, village chief Chen Qiwang, and villagers such as Chen Chunqing, interacting with the Bureau of Confidential Affairs’ Mao Renfeng, counter-intelligence leader Gu Zhengwen, and “undercover agent” Dong Zhiqian and Liao Qingwen. Starting from the sixth episode, the narrative focus shifts to the family life and bleak growing years after the loss of fathers of the childhood gang consisting of Yu Wenyan, Chen Baofeng, Chen Tiancai (Bighead A-Cai), Liao Enbao (A-Pao), Lin Aiyu, Liao Yutang, the Yuhui siblings, and mainland-origin classmates Ouyang Mingdao, Xia Xiaoqiao, and Guo Dezhui. During high school, the childhood gang forms complex romantic entanglements with twists and turns.
[2] The novel contains many types of characters; the writer only elaborates on those with important relationships to the story’s plot. Additionally, regarding the language used in the characters’ dialogues, in the earlier episodes, most of it is Japanese, Holo (Taiwanese Minnan), and some Hakka and mainland dialects; in the later episodes, most is Holo, with some Hakka, Beijing dialect, and other local mainland dialects.
