Episode Five
11
On the first day of the annual holiday, Nishikawa Shō and his wife, along with Yasuko and Tetsuhiko, boarded the mail steamer bound for Taiwan at Yokohama Port. During the day, as long as the waves were not too high, Tetsuhiko would come up onto the deck. He always craned his neck toward the south, where the bow of the ship pointed. Yasuko sensed his heart yearning to return home, but she herself felt helpless due to seasickness—this was Yasuko’s first time taking a long-distance mail steamer.
Every few hours, Tetsuhiko thoughtfully wiped cool mint on Yasuko’s temples. The scent of mint helped relieve the discomfort caused by her seasickness. Such small gestures gave Yasuko the illusion, almost like a secret sweetness, that she and her cousin were a couple.
Pointing toward the distance, at the blurred outline of an island, Yasuko asked, “Cousin, look, it seems there is an island appearing in the distance. Is that Taiwan?”
Tetsuhiko said, “That is the Okinawa archipelago; Taiwan is still very far from here.”
Yasuko, a little disappointed, said, “Is Taiwan really that far? On the map it looks just south of the Japanese islands; it doesn’t feel far at all!”
Tetsuhiko said, “Indeed, it’s not far! In two more days, we will arrive at Keelung Port.”
“Two more days? I feel so seasick I can’t stand it!” Yasuko could not help but complain.
Tetsuhiko laughed and said, “It would be strange if you, like me, never got seasick, wouldn’t it?”
12
When the mail steamer arrived at Keelung Port, it was already nighttime. Yasuko was assisted by Tetsuhiko as she walked out of the ship’s cabin and stepped onto the pier, still feeling the ground sway beneath her. Only after boarding the train to Taipei did Yasuko sense a different kind of sway, one she was more familiar with than a ship’s motion. At that point, she was not as seasick, and her complexion gradually became rosy.
On the train, she ate a local Taiwanese boxed meal, which included pickled vegetables, sausage, braised egg, and braised dried tofu, as well as a braised chicken leg. This opened her eyes: “Such a lavish boxed meal!”
Tetsuhiko smiled and advised, “Now that you’re in Taiwan, you must become very warm and generous. Whether interacting with locals or eating and shopping, excessive restraint will make people think you are proud and difficult to approach.”
Yasuko said earnestly, “All right! Cousin, whatever you do, I will follow your example.”
“The simplest example: when eating a chicken leg, you must not take your time peeling it with your fingers. Hold it in your hand and bite it directly, just like I do.” Tetsuhiko demonstrated how to eat a chicken leg.
Yasuko was dumbfounded and asked, “Cousin, is it really all right to do it like that? You look as if you haven’t eaten for several days…”
Tetsuhiko said, “Exactly! Taiwanese people do not like to appear refined in such small matters.”
Beside them, Nishikawa Shō laughed and said, “Tetsuhiko, don’t scare Yasuko; she might choke.”
13
In the waiting room of Qingshui Train Station, Yang Zhaojia, Yang Zhaohua, Riko, Liao Meixiu, and her brother Liao Yingjun had all come to greet Yang Xintai.
Yang Zhaojia took the initiative to shake hands with Nishikawa Shō and said, “Father-in-law, welcome. You’ve had a tiring journey by land and sea.”
Nishikawa Shō said, “Young uncle-in-law, we will be imposing at your residence for a while.”
Yang Zhaojia said, “Father-in-law, you are too polite!”
Yasuko, seeing Liao Meixiu, took the initiative to chat: “Are you Liao Meixiu? You’re so beautiful!”
Xintai had introduced this cousin of Yasuko in an earlier letter. Meixiu said, “Are you Yasuko?”
Yasuko said, “Cousin really has good taste; his sister is indeed a beauty!”
Beside them, Liao Yingjun interjected, “I am Meixiu’s older brother, Liao Yingjun.”
Yasuko nodded and smiled, “Pleased to meet you, Brother Yingjun.”
Yingjun, interested, said, “Xintai, your cousin is very cute; can you introduce her to me?”
Xintai said, “Didn’t you already introduce yourself to her just now?”
Yingjun asked, “Then may I ask her to go shopping or see a movie with me?”
Xintai said, “You can ask her yourself.”
Michiko, holding her daughter Riko, said, “My daughter! Father-in-law thinks of you every day…”
Riko said, “Father-in-law, I’m doing very well here.”
Nishikawa Shō said, “Zhaohua, this is your second time coming to Taiwan. I didn’t expect the infrastructure to have progressed so quickly.”
Zhaohua said, “Regarding infrastructure, the Governor-General’s office has indeed been diligent, but political restrictions are still severe.”
Nishikawa Shō said, “That is inevitable, isn’t it? Japan still does not fully trust Taiwanese people, unlike me, willing to let Riko go with you to Taiwan. This time in Taiwan, I also want to visit your hospital.”
Zhaohua said, “All right, Father.”
14
In the evening, Yang Zhaohua accompanied his father- and mother-in-law to visit his own hospital, while Xintai took Yasuko and Meixiu to Ziyunyan to see the lanterns.
Xintai said, “The lantern festival here will continue until after the Lantern Festival, and there is also a lantern-riddle guessing activity! It’s very lively.”
Yasuko said, “Guessing lantern riddles? That sounds very interesting!”
Meixiu said, “It’s just guessing riddles! Actually, it’s not difficult.”
Yasuko exclaimed, “Sister Meixiu, you are so knowledgeable!”
In the square in front of the temple, Taiwanese opera and glove puppetry were each performing in their respective corners.
Yasuko listened to the Taiwanese opera performers on stage singing in Japanese, and found it interesting: “Cousin, why are your opera performers not using your language to sing?”
Xintai said, “Don’t mention it. It’s because the authorities forbid the use of Chinese, which makes it so unnatural. Shall we go see the lanterns?”
Xintai pulled Meixiu along, and Yasuko followed behind them, observing the lanterns hanging on both sides.
The three of them then went to the night market in front of the temple. It was Yasuko’s first time seeing various Taiwanese snacks. The three of them ate stinky tofu, oyster omelet, meatballs, tube rice cake, and meat thick soup.
Yasuko said, “Cousin, I want to try some other things, but I really am too full.”
Xintai said, “We’ll come again to the market tomorrow night.”
Yasuko said, “All right! I like all the snacks in Taiwan.”
Meixiu said, “Don’t eat so much that you upset your stomach.”
Yasuko said, “It’s all right! Sister Meixiu, I can still eat quite a lot.”
As the three were about to leave, they encountered Liao Yingjun and the patrolling officer Murano Yohei.
“Little sister, Xintai, the beautiful Miss Yasuko, you are here at the night market too?” Yingjun turned and introduced: “This is the patrolling officer Murano, just transferred from the mainland. I am bringing him around to familiarize him with the area.”
Meixiu reminded, “Brother, you forgot what Father told you…”
Yingjun pretended to forget: “Did he? Officer Murano is very nice!”
Murano, seeing Xintai wearing a Tokyo Imperial University jacket, asked Yingjun, “Who is this…”
Yingjun said, “This is Yang Xintai, the son of Yang Zhaohua, director of Yang General Hospital. We were classmates in elementary school. He is now a student in the medical department at Tokyo Imperial University.”
Murano, with great courtesy, extended his hand: “Pleased to meet you! I am Murano Yohei from Ueno, Tokyo.”
Xintai said, “Very glad to meet you, Officer Murano. I am also residing temporarily in Ueno, Tokyo.”
Murano said, feeling a sense of closeness, “What a coincidence!”
Yingjun took the opportunity to be attentive: “Miss Yasuko, may I have the honor of inviting you to try some local snacks?”
Yasuko said, “Thank you, but I am already very full.”
Yingjun persisted: “Then tomorrow night I will pick you up and bring you to the night market, all right?”
Yasuko said, “No, tomorrow night I have to accompany my grandfather.”
Yingjun could not hide his disappointment: “Then, whenever you are free, give me a call.”
Yingjun handed Yasuko a business card: “The phone number of my house is on it.”
Meixiu, seeing her brother Yingjun being so persistent, could only shake her head and smile wryly.
15
As soon as Meixiu returned home, her father Takeo asked her, “Did you go out with Xintai tonight?”
Meixiu said, “Yes! He rarely comes back from Tokyo on vacation.”
Takeo said, “This Xintai boy, I like him. In these past years, you have been together. I know you and him are mutually affectionate. Does he have plans to marry you in the future?”
Meixiu said, “Father, Xintai is still studying medicine in Tokyo. I am waiting for him to finish his studies and return.”
Takeo said, “If you marry into the Yang family in the future, you will be the mistress of the household, which carries prestige in the local area. Father is actually worried about your brother Yingjun, who idles all day and gets into trouble everywhere.”
Meixiu said, “Recently, my brother met a new police officer assigned to the precinct. I ran into them with Xintai at the night market just now.”
Takeo said, “That Yingjun is like this. When he encounters a Japanese police officer, it’s like a fly on fat pork; he won’t listen to any words.”
Meixiu said, “My brother is obsequious, and I don’t like him flattering Japanese officers, but he is just like that.”
16
On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. On the 8th, it rapidly invaded Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaya, and Singapore, and actively prepared to occupy Burma. With the rapid expansion of the “Southern Advance Strategy,” the “assimilation policy” became the guiding principle for stabilizing Taiwan as a southern advance base.
The Japanese authorities still vividly remembered the long-term anti-Japanese actions of the Taiwanese people and feared that the Taiwanese might rise in rebellion again during the war, becoming a concern for Japan. Therefore, in Taiwan, they actively promoted the “Imperialization Movement,” hoping to completely change the Taiwanese people’s language, thoughts, culture, religion, and customs, to eliminate their national consciousness, and to assimilate them as “loyal Japanese nationals,” willing to serve the Japanese Emperor and the Empire of Japan.
The gentry formed the “Imperial Citizen Public Service Association, Qingshui Street Branch,” which triggered a trend of changing surnames. Local authorities required these gentry and other local opinion leaders to “take the lead” and adopt Japanese surnames.
The gentry of Qingshui Street, under both soft and hard pressure from the authorities, thus made “changing surnames” a temporary fashion. Yang Zhaohua symbolically split the character “Yang” and changed his surname to “Mu Yi”; Liao Takeo was one of the few who insisted on not changing his name; Liao Yingjun, in order to flatter the newly appointed precinct chief Miyata Ichirō, changed his surname to “Miyata Yingjun,” creating the strange phenomenon of father and son having different surnames.
Takeo asked, “Yingjun, why did you change to the Miyata surname? The neighbors laugh at us father and son having different surnames.”
Yingjun was unconcerned: “Father, let them laugh if they want…”
Takeo asked, “Someone told me you changed your surname to flatter Chief Miyata. Is that true?”
Takeo’s old wife Harumomo said, “Your father has a thin face; he’s afraid of being laughed at.”
Yingjun said, “We must get along with Miyata; later he will be our backing.”
Takeo smiled wryly and asked, “Aren’t you afraid others will call you a sycophant?”
Yingjun said, “Afraid of what? Being scolded doesn’t take away any meat. Having backing is solid!”
17
During the middle period of the Pacific War, many young people were conscripted into the military. Nishikawa Tetsuhiko, studying medicine at Tokyo Imperial University, felt that the city was gradually becoming desolate. On weekends, the streets no longer had groups of young men laughing and joking together. Only some elderly people and women remained. The entire city seemed to be losing its original youthful vitality bit by bit.
Yasuko carried in a tea tray: “Cousin, you should go out for a walk and refresh yourself. Don’t come home from school and just sulk at home.”
Tetsuhiko said, “There are very few young people on the streets. Recently, a few times on the street I was stopped and questioned by the police, so I’ve been less inclined to go out.”
Yasuko said, “Then, I and Keiko can take turns accompanying you on the streets.”
Tetsuhiko said, “No need to deliberately accompany me. I won’t get bored; I will find things to do myself.”
Yasuko said, “Don’t say that! Tomorrow, I’ll accompany you to watch a movie and go for a walk on the street.”
18
Liao Meixiu returned home from class.
Yingjun said, “Tomorrow after school, patrolling officer Murano Yohei wants to invite you to his house. Murano will personally cook Japanese cuisine. I have already accepted on your behalf.”
Meixiu complained, “Brother, how can you be like this? You didn’t consult me first, yet you took the liberty to promise on my behalf!?”
Yingjun humbly and earnestly pleaded with his sister: “Consider it I owe you once; just go to the appointment. Murano will be my backing in the future.”
Meixiu said, “Recently I am stretched for time. The number of injured patients in the hospital is increasing. By then, I am afraid I won’t be able to go.”
Yingjun said, “Don’t say that, little sister.”
Meixiu said, “If Father knew you were flattering a Japanese patrolling officer, he would certainly scold you again.”
Yingjun said, “Father is very stubborn. I make good relations with the Japanese for the sake of our family.”
Meixiu said dismissively, “We follow the rules to do business. We don’t need to rely on the Japanese’s favor.”
Yingjun said, “You will understand in the future.”
19
Yingjun called a tricycle to the gate of the public school to pick up his sister Meixiu and take her to patrolling officer Murano’s dormitory.
Murano put on an apron and personally cooked, preparing a table full of authentic Japanese cuisine, which greatly impressed Meixiu, revealing Murano’s delicate and considerate side.
During the meal, Yingjun’s conversation always revolved around the two of them, entirely unabashedly, praising his own sister in front of Murano as beautiful and intelligent, certain to be a good wife and capable homemaker in the future; at the same time, he praised Murano as upright, with an excellent reputation among the neighborhood, a recognized young talent, highly valued by precinct chief Miyata, and destined to rise further. The implication was clear.
Murano said, “When I studied at the police academy in Tokyo, Japan, I often cooked for myself. If I wanted something, I would buy it and prepare it. It’s just one extra step; it’s not troublesome.”
Yingjun said, “That means, Murano-kun, you are a domestic man. That’s very good. You will be considerate of your wife in the future.”
Meixiu said, “I heard Japanese men are very patriarchal, treating wives only as cooks. Perhaps you are not like that?”
Murano said, “Since childhood, I stayed beside my mother. My mother is a secondary wife. I don’t want her to labor every day. Whatever I can do, I try my best to help her.”
After hearing this, Yingjun encouraged from the side: “Murano, I believe you will be a husband considerate to your wife. Little sister, you must cherish such a match.”
As the saying goes, “Flattery never fails,” regarding Yingjun’s extreme compliments to his sister, though Murano was formally polite on the surface, he understood Yingjun’s intention to matchmake the two. He felt not only quite pleased but also deeply grateful to Yingjun.
“As the flowing water intentionally chases falling blossoms, the falling blossoms unfeelingly betray the water.” Alas, Meixiu already had her chosen person in mind. Her decision was firm and unshakable. In order not to give brother Yingjun the impression that she was over-eager, Meixiu also displayed proper etiquette and grace, conversing freely with Murano. Through casual conversation, Meixiu understood Murano’s family background, upbringing, and philosophy in dealing with people, gaining a deeper understanding of him.
20
Liao Takeo could not find his daughter Meixiu and asked Hong Tongzi, “Meixiu is not at home, nor at the hospital helping. Do you know where she might be?”
Hong Tongzi said, “Master, our eldest son brought Miss Meixiu to visit patrolling officer Murano’s dormitory.”
“That Yingjun boy is really bad! He’s scheming with our own little sister…” Takeo immediately realized Yingjun’s clever plan. For Yingjun to carefully curry favor with the Japanese patrolling officer, using his sister as bait, Takeo felt disapproving.
Takeo said, “When those siblings return, tell Yingjun to see me.”
Hong Tongzi said, “Yes, Master.”
Before long, the two siblings returned to the cloth shop.
Hong Tongzi said, “Eldest son Yingjun, Master wants to see you.”
Yingjun entered the inner room: “Father, are you looking for me?”
Takeo asked, “Why did you take your little sister to the Japanese patrolling officer’s dormitory?”
Yingjun said, “Patrolling officer Murano sincerely invited my little sister to visit. I could not let her go alone to the appointment, so I accompanied her.”
“You are scheming in your heart; I know it very clearly,” Takeo warned, “Meixiu and Xintai’s relationship is stable. Don’t try to stir up trouble. Otherwise, I will not let you off!”
Yingjun smiled wryly: “Father! I am so attentive for the sake of our Liao family. You see, if we maintain good relations with patrolling officer Murano, in the future no one will dare bully us locally.”
Takeo dismissively retorted: “I, Liao Takeo, have established myself locally, handling people and matters with conscience and reason. When have I ever had conflicts with anyone? I don’t see who would bully us.”
Yingjun defended: “Father, you always said, ‘You brothers should associate with some loose friends.’ Murano is upright. If I associate with him, Father need not worry that I will be led astray.”
Takeo said, “Even so, you don’t need to deliberately curry favor with Murano. In the eyes of our townsfolk, those Japanese police are like quadrupeds! If we often associate with the Japanese patrolling officers, people will inevitably gossip and mock us as Japanese dogs, which is unpleasant.”
Yingjun said, “Father, your mind just can’t turn. If we make friends with some Japanese police, having them as our backing, people locally will give us three parts of courtesy.”
Takeo said, “All my business is built with my own hands. I don’t need to rely on that Japanese patrolling officer for an extra backing. Moreover, Xintai will soon return from Japan after completing his studies. Meixiu is devoted to him. Xintai’s family background and profession are the only choice for my daughter-in-law.”
Yingjun said, “If Xintai returns and does not intend to marry little sister Meixiu, have you considered that, Father?”
Takeo was momentarily speechless: “This… I believe Xintai is not that kind of person.”
Yingjun patiently said, “I can see that patrolling officer Murano has a favorable impression of Meixiu. Introducing Meixiu to Murano now means that if Xintai does not intend to marry her in the future, she still has Murano, a well-conditioned match. Many townsfolk would even hope to marry a Japanese to raise their social status. Moreover, Murano’s character and integrity leave nothing to criticize.”
Takeo worriedly asked, “But in making such arrangements, did you get Meixiu’s prior consent?”
Yingjun said, “I will explain it to my little sister. I believe she will accept my arrangement.”
Takeo said, “I think you’d better not act on your own, to avoid your sister feeling resentment toward you…”
Yingjun confidently said, “No, Father. I do this with my sister’s consideration in mind.”
