You Must Come Back Alive 6
by Chen Ching-Yang
Episode Three
1
Lin Hsien-tang carried the organizational charter and the list of founding members’ signatures of the Taiwan Cultural Association to the Governor-General’s Office to meet the Chief Secretary, Shimomura Hiroshi.
Shimomura Hiroshi smiled and asked,
“Hsien-tang, you’ve come all the way to Taipei to see me — surely it’s not just to catch up on old times, is it?”
Lin Hsien-tang replied,
“Besides renewing acquaintances, I have come to submit the application for establishing the association, along with the charter and related documents.”
Shimomura said,
“Oh? You wish to apply to form an organization?”
“Yes, sir.”
Lin Hsien-tang presented the documents to Shimomura.
Shimomura glanced through them and said,
“You are establishing the Taiwan Cultural Association to organize various cultural activities and raise the cultural literacy of the Taiwanese people. I approve of this purpose. However, once your association is formed, all activities must strictly abide by the law. I do not wish your events to be interfered with by the police authorities or shut down.”
Lin Hsien-tang replied,
“Yes, sir. I will pass your reminder on to the members of the association.”
Shimomura asked,
“Will your association accept only Taiwanese members?”
Lin Hsien-tang answered,
“Yes, sir. In principle, membership will be limited to Taiwanese.”
Shimomura said,
“Very well. I understand your intentions. You have been leading the petition movement for the establishment of a Taiwanese assembly — that is a long and difficult road ahead. Although Governor-General Den Kenji does not approve, I support you in spirit.”
Lin Hsien-tang said,
“Yes, sir. Thank you, Chief Secretary Shimomura. You are truly open-minded.”
Shimomura replied,
“You and I are both men of learning. We should reason things out — there is no need to make everything confrontational.”
2
In a small wooden cabin on Aofeng Mountain, a group of people were drinking tea among the cherry blossom grove.
Lin Hsien-tang said,
“This cherry grove is truly elegant.”
Yang Chao-chia replied,
“To be honest, the inspiration came from Ueno Park in Tokyo. When I was studying there, I often went strolling there with a few close friends.”
Tsai Hui-ju said,
“The Song Dynasty poet Lin Bu once wrote a poem about plum blossoms:
‘Sparse shadows slant across clear shallow waters,
faint fragrance drifts in the moonlit dusk.’
Borrowing these lines to describe this garden seems quite fitting.”
Chiang Wei-shui said,
“Brother Hui-ju is a refined scholar. When it comes to poetry and moon-gazing, I simply cannot compare.”
Yang Chao-chia said,
“Hui-ju has a deep foundation in classical studies and enjoys writing poetry and lyrics. Had this been the late Qing dynasty, he would surely have become a successful imperial examination graduate.”
Tsai Hui-ju replied,
“Chao-chia, don’t tease me. Writing poetry is merely a pastime. It is far better to be like Brother Wei-shui, applying learning to practice by practicing medicine to help society.”
Tsai Pei-huo said,
“As we sit here admiring flowers and sipping tea, who knows in what year or month the people of Taiwan will finally escape the suffering of colonial rule?”
Lin Hsien-tang said,
“I once heard Mr. Liang Qichao analyze the situation in person. He said Taiwan is unlikely to change its condition in the short term, and that the only path forward is to seek self-governance within the system.”
Yang Chao-chia said,
“Yet that road seems filled with thorns. The Japanese do not truly wish to grant autonomy to the Taiwanese. Their colonial mindset runs deep — they regard the Taiwanese as serfs.”
Lin Cheng-lu said,
“Precisely because of this, we intellectuals must unite, awaken the masses, and demand self-governing rights from the Governor-General’s administration.”
Lin Hsien-tang said,
“This is the mission entrusted to us by our era. We shall do our best. Even if our generation cannot accomplish it, the next generation will continue. Next month, the Cultural Association will officially hold its founding assembly. From then on, we shall use the association as our base and steadily move toward the goal of Taiwanese self-governance.”
3
At Qingshui Public School, during recess, the students were playing on the playground.
Chen Qiu — nicknamed “Smoky Chen” (forty years old) — appeared at the school gate, peering around suspiciously.
Chen Qiu stopped a child and asked,
“Little one, could you help me call Yang Xintai for a moment?”
The student asked,
“Yang Xintai? What do you want him for?”
Chen Qiu said,
“He’s the son of Director Yang Zhao-hua of the hospital.”
Just then, Wang Da-wang walked over and asked,
“Yang Xintai is in our class. Who are you? What do you want with him?”
Chen Qiu replied,
“I’m a hospital janitor. The director asked me to bring him home — his mother was injured in a traffic accident.”
Wang Da-wang said,
“Alright, I’ll go get him. Wait here a moment.”
Wang Da-wang went to the classroom to find Yang Xintai.
He said,
“Xintai, your mother was hit by a car. Your father wants you to hurry home.”
Yang Xintai replied,
“Da-wang, help me inform Teacher Miura.”
Wang Da-wang said,
“There’s an uncle waiting for you at the school gate. He says he’s here to pick you up.”
Yang Xintai said,
“Okay, I’ll pack my schoolbag.”
Yang Xintai slung his backpack over his shoulder and left the classroom.
4
At dusk, Nishikawa Riko stood at the doorway waiting for Yang Chao-chia to return from work.
Riko asked,
“Second brother, have you seen Xintai?”
Chao-chia said,
“No. Why? Hasn’t he come home yet?”
Riko said anxiously,
“Yes. He has never stayed out this late — especially not alone.”
Chao-chia replied,
“Maybe he went to a classmate’s house? Shall I ask Jiantai to help check?”
Riko said,
“If he went to a friend’s house, he would always come home first to tell me.”
Chao-chia said,
“I see. Then we should let eldest brother know.”
Riko said,
“Alright, I’ll make a phone call.”
Chao-chia said,
“If Xintai hasn’t gone to the hospital, remember to tell me. If necessary, we’ll report it to the police immediately.”
Riko said,
“Alright.”
5
That evening, a little girl brought a letter to the outpatient counter of Yang General Hospital and immediately turned and left.
Nurse A handed the letter to Director Yang Zhao-hua, who opened it.
Yang Zhao-hua’s face turned pale.
“This is a ransom note. It says my son Xintai is in their hands.”
The attending physician, Zhang Wen-ming, exclaimed in shock,
“A ransom note? How could criminals be so bold?”
Nurse A asked,
“Director, should we call the police right away?”
Yang Zhao-hua said,
“Not yet. The kidnappers forbade us from contacting the police. They want money and claim they will not harm the child.”
Zhang Wen-ming said,
“This is unbelievable! How could something like this happen in our simple countryside?”
Yang Zhao-hua asked,
“Who delivered this letter just now?”
Nurse A replied,
“A little girl with braided hair.”
Yang Zhao-hua asked,
“Do you recognize whose child she is?”
Nurse A said,
“No, but I remember what she looks like.”
Nurse B said,
“Director, your wife is on the phone.”
Yang Zhao-hua said,
“I’ll take it. That little girl probably hasn’t gone far — help me look for her.”
Zhang Wen-ming said,
“Alright. The nurses and I will search separately.”
Zhang Wen-ming and Nurse A rushed out the front entrance and split up to search.
On the phone, Riko said,
“Husband, our son still hasn’t come home.”
Yang Zhao-hua replied,
“He’s been kidnapped. I just received a ransom note from the criminals.”
Riko cried anxiously,
“Kidnapped? Then we should report it to the police immediately!”
Yang Zhao-hua said calmly, trying to reassure her,
“Calm down first. Let me think this through…”
6
Yang Zhao-jia accompanied his elder brother Yang Zhao-hua and his wife to the Qingshui Police Substation to file a report.
Inspector Fukuda said,
“Street Chief, after receiving Director Yang’s report by phone, the bureau chief and I rushed back immediately.”
Hashimoto asked,
“Director Yang, did the criminals leave a ransom note?”
Zhao-hua took out the letter.
“Yes. It’s right here.”
Hashimoto read the note and handed it to Inspector Fukuda.
With a grim expression, Hashimoto said,
“These criminals are incredibly bold — daring to carry out a kidnapping case right in my jurisdiction.”
Yang Zhao-jia took out a bundle wrapped in brown paper.
“Please make the child’s safety the top priority. We’ve brought the ransom money.”
Inspector Fukuda studied the handwriting carefully and analyzed,
“The kidnapper is likely left-handed, but deliberately wrote with his right hand to mislead us.”
Hashimoto asked,
“Inspector, in your view, how should we set up the operation?”
Fukuda said,
“These criminals are cunning — they even demanded the payment be made on the train. Director Yang, we will follow their instructions. You will personally deliver the ransom, while we deploy plainclothes officers at Shalu, Qingshui, and Dajia stations.”
Hashimoto said,
“Good. Koizumi, gather all officers early tomorrow morning for a pre-operation briefing and task assignments. We must capture this kidnapper.”
Koizumi replied loudly,
“Yes, sir!”
7
At the Shalu Street Station police outpost, Inspector Fukuda was giving operational instructions to several plainclothes officers.
Fukuda said,
“We’ll enter and exit the station separately. Nakagawa and I will screen suspicious passengers in the waiting hall. Sakai, when the train arrives, you four will blend in with the passengers and board. Each of you will search two carriages.”
Sakai (25 years old) responded,
“Yes, sir!”
Fukuda added,
“The hostage is likely still in the criminal’s hands. Everyone must act with extreme caution to avoid harming the child.”
Sakai replied,
“Yes, sir!”
Fukuda said,
“Before the train departs, Nakagawa and I will also jump aboard. On the train, we will communicate using hand signals.”
Sakai answered,
“Yes, sir!”
8
In the waiting hall of Shalu Station, Inspector Fukuda and Detective Nakagawa (28 years old) hid separately in corners, using newspapers to cover their faces. They kept glancing at the passengers entering the hall.
Chen Qiu walked in, nervously looking around in all directions. His behavior immediately caught Fukuda’s attention.
Fukuda thought to himself,
“That opium addict Chen Qiu — look at him scanning around so anxiously. This guy is definitely suspicious.”
Fukuda signaled to Nakagawa with his eyes. Nakagawa understood at once and fixed his gaze on Chen Qiu.
Chen Qiu noticed Fukuda, was startled, and immediately lowered his head, walking quickly toward the ticket counter.
Chen Qiu bought a ticket and then purchased a newspaper, sitting on a bench in the waiting area, pretending to read.
After a while, the train arrived at the platform. Chen Qiu lined up and headed toward the platform. Fukuda and Nakagawa followed behind him, one in front and one behind.
Chen Qiu boarded the train, chose a seat near the exit, and continued pretending to read the newspaper.
Trying to remain calm, Chen Qiu noticed that Inspector Fukuda, dressed in plain clothes, was seated one row behind him on the aisle side.
Several plainclothes officers boarded from different carriages, and the train slowly pulled away from the platform.
9
Yang Zhao-hua held a black leather suitcase in his hand and sat with his wife in the waiting hall of Qingshui Station. In several corners of the hall, plainclothes officers were lying in ambush, disguised as vendors or office workers.
Station Chief Hashimoto and Officer Koizumi stood on the platform in uniform.
When the passengers saw Chief Hashimoto on the platform, they seemed to sense that something unusual was happening and spoke only in hushed voices.
The train arrived. After giving his wife Riko a few instructions, Yang Zhao-hua stood up with the suitcase, joined the line, had his ticket checked, and entered the platform. Several plainclothes officers blended in among the passengers and followed him onto the platform.
On the train, Chen Qiu looked out the window and saw two uniformed police officers. He recognized one of them as Chief Hashimoto.
Chen Qiu thought to himself,
“So Director Yang has already gone to the police… Maybe I should give up on this ransom money.”
10
Inside the Fangminglou opium den, Li Zixian was lying on a wooden bed, comfortably smoking opium.
Black Dog arrived with several of his men and viciously dragged Li Zixian off the bed, grabbing him by the collar.
Black Dog cursed,
“Li Zixian, you’ve really got some nerve — cheating us with a fake necklace.”
Zixian said in terror,
“How could that be? That necklace was my wife’s dowry when she married me!”
Black Dog dangled the necklace in front of him.
“Take a good look yourself. The gold shop owner burned it with fire and found out it’s fake.”
Zixian said angrily,
“That woman dared to deceive me! I’ll go settle accounts with her when I get back!”
Black Dog sneered,
“Stop acting for me, Li Zixian. If I don’t teach you a hard lesson today, others will follow your example. Brothers — do it!”
Several of Black Dog’s men immediately beat Li Zixian viciously with fists and kicks.
Li Zixian collapsed onto the ground, blood seeping from the corners of his mouth and eyes as he passed out, his body limp like mud.
One henchman said,
“Second Brother, this punk has passed out.”
Black Dog said,
“Drag him to the hospital entrance and dump him there.”
The men hoisted Li Zixian up and dragged him away.
The owner, You Fangming (45 years old), said,
“Second Brother, another one came to smoke without money?”
Black Dog replied,
“Yeah. I just had the brothers teach him a lesson.”
You Fangming said,
“Don’t hit too hard. If someone dies, it’ll be troublesome to clean up.”
Black Dog said,
“Don’t worry, Boss. I always keep things under control when dealing with this kind of troublemaker.”
