“Episode 12 Finale” — Xintai Returns to Taiwan and Is Harmed, Then Departs Again for Malaya
11
At the end of 1945, British officials and merchants returned to Malaya under military protection, attempting to reestablish their status as the colonial suzerain.
The British established the “Malayan Union” as a puppet structure for restoring colonial rule. Taking advantage of the situation, the Malayan Communist Party expanded its influence, using the political slogan “farmers overthrow landlords and redistribute land, workers seize factories and become their own bosses,” growing stronger in economically underdeveloped rural areas and beginning an armed revolution.
The Malay people could not accept the return of British colonial rule. In March 1946, as the majority ethnic group, they established the United Malays National Organization (UMNO). On one hand, they pressured the British to abandon the Malayan Union; on the other, they sought to curb Chinese influence and restrain the expansion of communism.
Zhang Boda’s Third Division of the National Defense Army was responsible for defense south of the Johor highlands—that is, the southern Malayan Peninsula south of the line from Endau, Keluang, to Batu Pahat. With these Japanese advisors well-versed in jungle warfare, Zhang Boda shifted from defense to offense, launching proactive attacks. The Third Division, in coordination with the First Division stationed in Malacca and the Second Division stationed in Kuantan, formed an encirclement of the Malayan Communist guerrillas entrenched around Danba Lake and Temerloh.
After the Japanese prisoners of war were gradually repatriated, Abe Toshio remained at the U.S. military hospital as chief neurosurgeon. More than a dozen of his former subordinates from the 601 Military Hospital also stayed, because back in their home country, all industries were in decline, and even doctors found it difficult to make a living.
The anti-communist war was in full swing, and bloodied casualties were continuously brought in. Yang Xintai performed surgeries in the operating room, opening up bodies of the wounded, with fresh blood staining his white doctor’s coat. During rare moments of leisure, Zhang Zhiling would bring snacks and fruit to visit him at the hospital and speak with him calmly. Their considerate adopted son Awen would cut watermelon into slices, sprinkle a light layer of salt, and hand them to him.
12
At the end of the year, a company of Chinese soldiers moved into the pilgrims’ lodging at Ziyunyan. These brick-and-tile houses had been temporarily built with funds and labor from local residents and were considered the most luxurious housing in all of Qingshui Street. Now the occupants were soldiers speaking various provincial accents, and they had many demands: fish and meat for lunch and dinner, as well as fruit, tea, cigarettes, and good liquor.
These undisciplined soldiers often went in small groups to the market entrance, eating and drinking at various food stalls without paying. Because of language barriers, if anything displeased them, they would smash bowls and overturn tables and chairs. Occasionally, if local police officers said a few words to them, these soldiers—with their yellowed teeth—would roll up their sleeves, looking ferocious as if ready to fight to the death. Otherwise, they engaged in petty theft or harassed women in despicable ways. The townspeople regarded them as a plague and avoided them at all costs.
Local leaders such as Yang Zhaojia, Cai Dengke, the Dengfa brothers, and Cai Jicheng received daily complaints from residents, but these prominent figures could only offer comfort and urge everyone to endure.
Liao Yingjun, a “half-mountain” (mixed-background figure), returned from Xiamen to Taichung and transformed into a county police inspector, dressed in a Zhongshan suit. His true identity was actually the head of the Security Section of the Taichung Investigation Station under the Military Intelligence Bureau, specializing in the suppression of communist spies. When he appeared at Liao Wuxiong’s house in a jeep, even his own father almost failed to recognize him. When locals heard he had become a high-ranking official, many reacted just as Wu Wenzhang, who interpreted fortune sticks at Ziyunyan Temple, described: “Smear cow dung onto the Golden Palace, and a monkey in clothes becomes a man.” The description was strikingly apt, because not long after, “Cat-Tail Jun,” now stationed as the chief of Qingshui Police Precinct, revealed his true nature and began openly exploiting the townspeople.
Cai Dengke could not tolerate it and persuaded his father Liao Wuxiong to advise his “wayward son.” Wuxiong reluctantly went to the Qingshui precinct, but after only a few words with Yingjun, he was driven out by the two lackeys, Hongtong and Wuguizi.
After leaving the precinct, Wuxiong cursed his son loudly all the way home, using crude language. The townspeople could only smile bitterly and shake their heads; after all, his scolding of his unfilial son brought no benefit to anyone else.
Liao Yingjun later heard that Cai Dengke was displeased with him and had instigated his father Wuxiong to embarrass him at the precinct. He then remembered that Dengke’s subordinate Xu Laizhi had once had a grudge against him years ago, so he personally led a team to seal up Xu’s import goods shop, taking the opportunity to settle an old score.
Xu Laizhi went to complain to Cai Dengke and the Dengfa brothers. Dengfa was so furious that he jumped in anger, threatening to have Yingjun “bagged and beaten.” Someone spread this rumor to the precinct officers, and Yingjun burst into laughter upon hearing it.
“Do the Cai brothers still think I’m the street punk I used to be? Their era is over. Now Qingshui Street is my domain.”
After speaking, Liao Yingjun spat into the ashtray, a sly grin appearing on his horse-like face.
Hongtong, reading his expression, immediately chimed in with a flattering smile:
“The Cai brothers are nothing but a pair of street cockroaches. Big brother can crush them with a single step.”
A cold glint flashed across Yingjun’s face as he said,
“For now, I don’t intend to touch that old fool Cai Dengke.”
In fact, Yingjun knew his father Liao Wuxiong’s fiery temperament. If he were to attack the Dengke brothers, his father would certainly stand up for them, even risk his life against him. Why provoke the old man?
Unable to take on the strong, he turned to the weak to establish authority and vent his anger. His classmate Wu Wenzhang seemed to be at odds with him; after a few drinks, Wu would publicly denounce “Cat-Tail Jun” in storytelling form at the Guanyin Temple square.
“That crippled classmate Wu Wenzhang really bears a grudge against me—every day he tells stories at the temple square, publicly cursing me. Hongtong, take a squad there, smash his storytelling stall, and bring him back to me.”
“Yes, Chief,” Hongtong replied.
16
After receiving this family letter in Qingshui, Yang Xintai’s parents calculated the date on the letter and concluded that Xintai should already have completed his wedding.
Lizi said with deep unease, “Father of the child, how should we handle this matter afterward? What is wrong with this child Xintai? After going to Malaya for just over a year, he has fallen in love with someone else and married a local girl, betraying Meixiu’s deep affection. In the future, how are we supposed to explain this to the Liao family…?”
Yang Tianfu felt puzzled and said, “According to Xintai’s personality, there is no reason he would not consult us and would instead decide his marriage on his own. I think there may be some underlying reason.”
Lizi asked, “Master, you mean…”
Yang Tianfu thought for a moment and said, “Some time ago, after Xintai fell into the sea and went missing, there was no news of him for more than half a year. If the woman was his savior, then out of gratitude, it would be reasonable for him to enter into this marriage.”
Lizi said, “Oh? But… besides Meixiu, to whom he was already engaged, there is also Masako in Ueno, Tokyo. Both of them are waiting for Xintai to return. Sooner or later, this child Xintai will have to face it!”
Tianfu said, “Marriage is a major life matter. Both emotion and fate are equally important. There is a destined order within providence, and it cannot be forced in the slightest. As for Meixiu’s side, we can only conceal it for now. After Xintai returns to Taiwan, we will find a way to resolve it depending on the situation.”
Lizi said worriedly, “How long can such a matter be concealed? Master…”
17
On this day, Xintai was working at the hospital. A family letter written by Yang Tianfu from Taiwan was received by Zhiling. Although Zhiling was curious, she did not open it and simply placed the letter on the desk in the study.
Late at night, Xintai returned home dragging his exhausted body. When he entered the bedroom, Zhiling was already asleep. He kissed her on the forehead, then turned to the study, where he saw the family letter on the desk. The handwriting on the envelope carried an inexplicable familiarity. Xintai opened and read the letter written by his father, Yang Tianfu:
“My son Xintai: I have received your previous letter. Regarding your marriage in Johor Port to Zhang Zhiling, your mother Lizi and I are greatly shocked and puzzled.
You should know that before leaving Taiwan, you were engaged to Meixiu of the prominent Liao family in Qingshui. Meixiu is still waiting for your return, yet you have betrayed her and married Zhang Zhiling. How will you explain this to the Liao family in the future? You must consider this matter carefully…
When maritime transport between the two places is restored, I hope you will bring your new wife back to Qingshui together and properly handle Meixiu’s matter.
Father: Yang Tianfu.”
At this moment, Yang Xintai suddenly awoke as if from a dream. Many fragments of memory of his time with Liao Meixiu suddenly surfaced in his mind, and he felt deeply uneasy. Xintai wanted to take up a pen to write a reply, but he did not know how to begin, nor how to persuade his parents back home to believe that he had been injured and lost his memory, and had during this period forgotten his engagement to Liao Meixiu. Xintai covered his face with both hands and sat blankly at the desk.
Early the next morning, Zhiling entered the study and saw Xintai sleeping crookedly in a grand armchair, along with the family letter on the desk, several crumpled sheets of letter paper, and a draft letter Xintai had written only a few lines of, seemingly unable to continue. After reading both letters, Zhiling felt a faint unease in her heart. She could not blame Xintai for his memory loss due to injury, but she felt that this matter would have to be resolved sooner or later.
18
In July of 1946, Yang Xintai, accompanied by Zhiling, Awen, and Zhiling’s parents, boarded a passenger ship bound for Taiwan. On the deck, gazing at the undulating waves and the deep blue sea, Xintai was filled with mixed emotions. Having left Taiwan for more than two years, he had originally boarded a warship with the tragic resolve that he might die in a foreign land; now, with his beautiful wife and accompanied by others, he was returning to a Taiwan that had already undergone a change of regime.
When Xintai and his party returned to Qingshui, the Yang family was filled with joy and festivity. Only Meixiu alone was despondent and grief-stricken. She could not accept such a reality; after such a long wait, this was the outcome she received. The next day, Meixiu moved back from Yang General Hospital and from then on shut herself in her room, remaining depressed, silent, and withdrawn.
Liao Wuxiong and Yingjun both heard that Xintai had returned from the South Seas with his newlywed wife. Wuxiong was naturally very dissatisfied with Xintai’s change of heart; he felt instinctively that the Yang family had deceived him. He very much wanted to go to their home to demand an explanation from Yang Tianfu and Xintai, but he could not bring himself to do so. Deeply frustrated, Wuxiong went to Cai Dengke and the Dengfa brothers to pour out his grievances. Yang Tianfu soon heard of Wuxiong’s bitterness and decided to arrange a meeting with Wuxiong and Meixiu, so that his son Xintai could explain the situation face to face and obtain the Liao family’s understanding. However, Cai Jicheng, the former neighborhood head whom Yang Tianfu sent to deliver the message, was rebuffed by Liao Wuxiong.
Cai Jicheng said, “Wuxiong, I understand the grievance Meixiu has suffered. No wonder you are resentful.”
Liao Wuxiong angrily said, “Jicheng, judge this fairly! At that time, there was already a marriage engagement between the two families. Meixiu waited faithfully for Xintai to return from the South Seas. Who would have expected that he would change his heart and marry someone else? The Yang family has taken advantage of us completely. They have no conscience at all.”
Cai Jicheng said tactfully, “However, I heard from Xintai that the troop transport ship he was on was sunk by American forces. He was rescued by Zhang Zhiling, but because of his injuries, he lost his memory. The two supported each other over time and developed feelings, which led to their marriage. If that is the case, Xintai did not intentionally betray your Meixiu.”
Liao Wuxiong said coldly, “Even if he temporarily lost his memory due to injury, for a lifelong matter like marriage, he should have consulted the elders in his hometown beforehand. How could he decide it by himself?”
Cai Jicheng said, “At this point, the rice is already cooked. Brother Tianfu has asked me to tell you that he and his son sincerely wish to apologize to you in person and provide practical compensation.”
Liao Wuxiong, still angry, said, “Compensation? How are they going to compensate our Liao family? This is not only a loss of reputation, but also the lifelong happiness of our daughter. Are they expecting Meixiu to lower her status and become Xintai’s concubine? That is simply going too far!”
Cai Jicheng said helplessly with a forced smile, “Where there is forgiveness, let there be forgiveness. Why must you speak so absolutely?”
Liao Wuxiong said through clenched teeth, “In any case, in this lifetime, I will never forgive the Yang father and son. I want them to be condemned by their conscience for the rest of their lives.”
Seeing no possibility of reconciliation, Cai Jicheng had no choice but to take his leave.
Liao Yingjun, however, was not so easy to reason with. He was indignant at his sister Meixiu’s situation and felt that Xintai should not have betrayed her deep affection. Although cold-blooded, he loved this sister the most, and thus planned to use his authority to find an opportunity to take revenge on Xintai and seek justice for his sister.
19
Just after Zhang Youcai and his wife left Taiwan by ship, Liao Yingjun had already devised a vicious plan of revenge.
Yingjun ordered his subordinate “Tortoise Boy” to disguise himself as a patient, smuggle leftist books and forged correspondence with Taiwan Communist agents into Yang General Hospital, and secretly place them under the bed in Xintai’s lounge, framing him. Yingjun then used the excuse of receiving a report and mobilized a large force of military and police personnel to search the hospital. As expected, they found secret correspondence with Taiwan Communist agents and other evidence in Xintai’s lounge. He immediately ordered Yang Xintai to be detained on the spot and taken back to the Qingshui police substation for intensive interrogation and torture, intending to force a confession. At the same time, he released news to the public claiming the capture of an undercover communist agent, stating that the suspect Yang Xintai had been transferred to the Military Statistics Bureau’s Taichung Investigation Station to be prosecuted under the “Regulations for Suppressing Communist Spies.”
The arrest and prosecution of Dr. Yang Xintai on charges of being a communist spy shocked Qingshui and neighboring towns. The villagers all knew the character of the Yang father and son, and no one believed the one-sided account of the Qingshui police. The townspeople were filled with righteous indignation at Police Chief Liao Yingjun’s abuse of power and wrongful arrest of an innocent man. Even local gentry who knew of the feud between the Yang and Liao families, such as former Qingshui town head Cai Dengke and the Dengfa brothers, felt that Yingjun had gone too far, because at this time, a charge of being a communist spy could easily lead to a death sentence.
Zhang Zhiling, unfamiliar with the place and having no connections, could only worry helplessly. Faced with her husband’s grave injustice, she was unable to help at all. Her mother-in-law Lizi comforted her, saying that her father-in-law Yang Tianfu and her younger brother-in-law Zhaojia would do everything possible to rescue Xintai.
Yang Tianfu sent an urgent telegram to Zhang Youcai in Malaya, requesting him to use his connections to actively rescue Xintai; Yang Zhaojia coordinated with gentry from neighboring towns to submit a joint petition guaranteeing Xintai’s innocence.
When Liao Wuxiong heard that Yang Xintai had been arrested and tortured on charges of being a communist spy, he knew that this must be his son Yingjun’s act of revenge. Although he was angry at Xintai’s heartlessness, he was not blinded by anger. He went personally to the Military Statistics Bureau’s Taichung Investigation Station, intending to report his son Liao Yingjun for abusing power out of personal vengeance, but he was stopped by the guards at the gate and could not gain entry.
20
Zhang Youcai and his wife had just returned to their mansion in the Lion City when they immediately received an urgent telegram from Taiwan. Upon learning that their son-in-law had been detained on charges of being a communist spy, they found it utterly unbelievable. Based on Zhang Youcai’s long experience in intelligence work, he judged that someone must have framed him out of personal resentment. He immediately sent a telegram to Nanjing to contact his former subordinate Tian Yingjie, and at the same time set off with his family at once to Taiwan to rescue him.
Tian Yingjie, holding the rank of major general and serving as Director of Intelligence of the Military Statistics Bureau, had once been Liao Yingjun’s superior. Upon receiving Zhang Youcai’s telegram, he immediately flew to Taiwan. As soon as he got off the plane, he ordered that Liao Yingjun and his deputy be brought to the Taipei Investigation Station to be questioned in person.
At first, Liao Yingjun and his subordinates “Tortoise Boy” and “Red Copper Boy” stubbornly denied having committed the act of framing. Tian Yingjie then made a decisive decision to suspend Liao Yingjun from his position as chief of the Qingshui substation, detain the three of them, and interrogate them separately. He also ordered that all files and documents related to Yang Xintai’s alleged spy case, along with the suspect, be transferred from the Taichung Investigation Station to the Taipei headquarters, where he would personally investigate the matter thoroughly so as to give an account to his former superior Zhang Youcai upon his arrival in Taiwan.
After separate interrogations, “Tortoise Boy” and “Red Copper Boy” could not withstand Tian Yingjie’s pressure and inducements and confessed the truth in full. Liao Yingjun was dismissed for abuse of power and framed charges, and held criminally responsible for dereliction of duty. At the Taipei Investigation Station, Tian Yingjie personally handed Yang Xintai over to his former superior Zhang Youcai and arranged for a vehicle to escort the two of them back to Qingshui.
Liao Yingjun was once again imprisoned. Liao Wuxiong, unable to withstand his wife Chuntao’s threat to take her own life, had no choice but to humble himself and go to the Yang family residence to plead for leniency with Yang Tianfu and Xintai. Zhang Youcai was also present.
Liao Wuxiong said in a choked voice, “Director Yang, my son Yingjun committed a foolish act out of personal revenge. I ask that you, in your magnanimity, do not hold it against him.”
Zhang Youcai said, “So you are Liao Yingjun’s father. Liao Yingjun is indeed bold to dare to target my son-in-law.”
Liao Wuxiong pleaded earnestly, “Elder brother by marriage, this matter originated from my son Yingjun seeking revenge because his sister Meixiu was abandoned by Xintai. Meixiu has fallen into depression because of Xintai breaking off the engagement and stays shut in her room all day…”
After hearing the whole story, Zhang Youcai’s anger gradually subsided. He said, “Hearing it this way, Liao Yingjun’s actions are somewhat understandable. I will instruct Tian Yingjie to spare your son.”
Liao Wuxiong said, “Director Tianfu, since you are willing to forgive Yingjun, from now on our two families owe each other nothing.”
Wuxiong brought back the good news, and Chuntao’s anxiety finally subsided. Two days later, Wuxiong and Chuntao went to the Taipei Investigation Station to bring their son Yingjun back to Qingshui. Feeling too ashamed to face the townspeople, Liao Yingjun took his two subordinates and went to Taipei to lie low. Wuxiong gave Yingjun a sum of cash and urged him to settle down and do honest business.
Zhiling, kind-hearted and compassionate, could not bear to see the lovesick Meixiu remain depressed and desolate. She took the initiative to visit Meixiu and reopened her heart. Meixiu accepted Zhiling’s goodwill, and the two became close friends. Gradually, Meixiu emerged from the shadow of emotional loss.
Before long, Meixiu returned to teaching at school and became colleagues with Cai Tingkai. Although Cai Tingkai had been left with a crippled leg due to the war, he remained proactive and optimistic. He taught during the day and studied at night, preparing for the judicial examination. Meixiu was moved by his diligence, and the two, sharing similar suffering, developed affection out of sympathy. With Xintai and Zhiling as witnesses, they became husband and wife. On the day of the wedding, five black sedans stopped at the gate of Qingshui National Elementary School (formerly Qingshui Public School). Nearly twenty men in dark suits, white ties, and black sunglasses stepped out—“brothers”—with Meixiu’s elder brother Liao Yingjun at the head, standing in two rows at the school gate. Yingjun walked into the wedding hall, and when he saw his younger sister Meixiu in full bridal attire, he slowly removed his sunglasses under the gaze of everyone present.
Frequent conflicts broke out in various places between local Taiwanese and mainland Chinese. The main reason was that these mainland officials and soldiers made excessive demands on the Taiwanese, believing that they had shed blood and sweat to liberate Taiwan from Japanese rule, and that the Taiwanese should therefore be grateful and submissively accept their governance.
However, Taiwanese people, long influenced by Japanese education and accustomed to abiding by the law, did not see it that way. They witnessed the incoming officials abusing power for personal gain and embezzling public wealth, turning “receiving” into “looting,” and held these corrupt officials in great contempt. Taiwanese people referred to this as “Three Yangs Prosper, Five Sons Achieve Success.” Furthermore, the misconduct of mainland troops stationed locally grew increasingly severe, preying on the populace without restraint and completely losing discipline, which aroused even greater resentment among the people.
On February 27, 1947, the fuse was finally ignited, unleashing the pent-up anger of the Taiwanese people, and resistance quickly spread across the entire island.
In the town of Qingshui, under the secret organization of Cai Dengke, Chen Muhuo, and others, the townspeople formed a militia of two hundred men. At dawn on March 1, the militia led by Cai Dengke, with the assistance of a Taiwanese police officer Li Zhonghe as an insider, attacked and swiftly seized the Qingshui police substation and all branch stations, capturing weapons and ammunition. Upon hearing the news, Director Yang Tianfu intervened to plead for mercy, stating that Wang Jun had not committed major wrongdoings in the town, and requested that Cai Dengke not kill the captured Chief Wang Jun and the other police officers.
Cai and Chen split into separate groups and advanced, engaging in a bloody battle with a company of Nationalist troops stationed on Aofeng Mountain.
The militia led by Cai Dengke and Chen Muhuo was outmatched in firepower by the Nationalist army, and thus retreated along Jiuzhuang toward the Shengang area, recruiting more villagers along the way. To preserve their strength, Cai and Chen decided to retreat toward Dongshi and enter the mountainous region.
On Aofeng Mountain, the enraged mainland soldiers, led by Company Commander Zheng Kun, entered the town to conduct searches, shooting anyone they deemed suspicious. More than a dozen townspeople were innocently killed.
The Yang family temporarily closed the hospital. All medical staff and hospitalized patients remained inside. Director Yang personally went to the Qingshui police substation to request protection. Wang Jun, owing Tianfu a favor, agreed to send armed police officers to guard the hospital.
21
On March 7, fighting also broke out in the Taichung area between militia forces and Nationalist troops. During this period of unrest, the Yang family, recalling that Yang Xintai had previously been imprisoned on charges of being a communist spy, caused the elder Yang Tianfu great concern that Xintai might again be unjustly implicated. He therefore strongly urged Xintai to take Zhiling and Awen and temporarily leave Taiwan to return to the Lion City to avoid the turmoil.
On March 10, at the most critical moment, Liao Yingjun returned to Qingshui with his subordinates. Using his previous connections within the Military Statistics Bureau, Yingjun negotiated with Company Commander Zheng Kun and promised to provide him with a quantity of gold, thereby quickly stabilizing local order. Most townspeople expressed admiration for Yingjun’s efforts to protect them. Seeing that Yingjun had finally turned over a new leaf, Wuxiong grasped his son’s hands, tears streaming down his face.
On March 12, Xintai, accompanied by Zhiling and Awen, boarded a large fishing vessel at Wuqi Fishing Port and bid farewell to Taiwan with tears. At this time, many parts of Taiwan had already been engulfed in a bloody storm. After more than ten days of sea travel, the three returned to the Lion City and reunited with Zhiling’s parents. Xintai and Zhiling went to Johor Hospital, where husband and wife worked together wholeheartedly to manage the hospital.
After that, Xintai would often come alone to the seaside, gazing northward toward that homeland of suffering, where dark clouds hung low.
