《Silent Movement》A Youth Inspirational Film Novel 2

1

Zhao Dongping sneaked furtively into the tailoring workshop, lightly and quietly pulled open the drawer of the worktable, took out a woman's handbag, pulled out the large banknotes inside, then put the handbag back into the drawer. Just as Qiu Yuling came in, she saw this scene. Dongping turned around and was about to leave. The two of them immediately got into a fierce struggle and argument.

"You rotten man, drug addict, stealing money again. Give it back to me! This money is the children's tuition fee for next semester."

Yuling roared angrily, reaching out to snatch the banknotes Dongping was clutching tightly in his hand. Dongping raised his arm high. Yuling stood on tiptoe trying to grab them, but could not reach.

Dongping freed one hand and pointed at Yuling's face, speaking in a vicious tone: "Get out of the way, you slut. Fooling around with other men outside and putting horns on me. Damn it, I still haven't settled that score with you yet!"

Yuling threw herself at him emotionally, kicking and hitting him at the same time. "When did I ever fool around with other men? Don't falsely accuse me! Give me back the money."

The sound of the quarrel startled the children in the bedroom who were about to go to bed. The three of them sat on the bed hugging their quilts.

Yaxin signed to her younger brother and sister: "Dad is bullying Mom again. He's really awful!"

Youji, who stammered, said: "Too bad... we... we... can't... can't beat him!"

Meiyin said: "Why don't we call the police and have them arrest that guy?"

Yaxin signed: "Mom is just soft-hearted. Otherwise she should have left this man long ago!"

2

The three children had just come home from school, and right at the front door they personally witnessed the police putting handcuffs on Dongping and taking him away.

Dongping turned back toward Yuling and said repentantly: "I'm sorry. Take good care of the children."

Two lines of tears rolled down Yuling's cheeks. Yuling said: "Quit the drugs, alright?"

Watching Dongping's departing back, the children gathered around Yuling. Yuling opened her arms and embraced them.

"Children, let's leave this place, alright? Let's go back to Tamsui."

"Tamsui? Grandpa's house?" Meiyin asked.

"Mm, back to Tamsui." Yuling's tone was resolute.

3

They hired a small truck and, bringing only simple luggage, the mother and her three children sat in the back of the truck as it drove along the highway toward Tamsui. Youji leaned against his mother's chest and fell asleep. Looking at the vermilion-colored Guandu Bridge in the distance, Yuling's eyes were vacant. The second daughter, Meiyin, however, was like a carefree skylark, happily humming in a low voice a popular song she had just learned. The eldest daughter, Yaxin, with her golden hair, was mature and sensible beyond her years. She was already able to read expressions and observe moods, understanding that her mother was worrying about their future life.

Inside the main hall of Qiu Yonglai's traditional sanheyuan house, Yonglai and his wife, their two sons, and the elder son's wife—a total of five people—were arguing over Yuling coming back to depend on the family.

"After Big Sister came back with her children to the back house, and even changed the three children's surname to Qiu, it's obvious she's come back to divide the family property!" The elder daughter-in-law, Zhu Aijiao, looked full of contempt.

"So what if she came back to divide the property? Which law says that an elder sister who got married can't come back to live? Can't come back to divide the family property?" The younger son, Zhikun, found it offensive and immediately shot back.

"Aijiao, say a little less, alright?" Mother Laichun tugged at her sleeve and tried to persuade her.

"Mother, I'm telling the truth. Big Sister moving back this time is obviously because she wants to..." Aijiao felt completely justified.

"Shut up! As long as this old man is still here in this family, it is not your place, as a daughter-in-law, to make the decisions." Yonglai cut off Aijiao's words. His displeasure was written all over his dark, wrinkled old face.

Zhikun said: "Big Sister and the children can stay in the room on my side."

Yonglai nodded and said: "Yuling has come back after falling on hard times. We can't let the mother and children have nowhere to live."

4

The truck passed through Tamsui Old Street and drove toward Shalun. After circling past a row of windbreak trees, it stopped in front of the courtyard of a sanheyuan house. Hearing the sound of the truck, the Qiu family all came out. Aijiao stood to one side with a sour expression and her hands on her hips. Zhigan smoked a cigarette with an attitude of having nothing to do with it.

Yuling said: "Dad, Mom, I'm back..."

Yuling instructed the children: "Greet them."

Yaxin struggled to say: "Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle."

Zhikun took the initiative to help unload the luggage. Yonglai and his wife warmly welcomed the three grandchildren as they got off the truck. Only Qiu Zhigan's family of three kept their faces stiff the entire time.

Meiyin wore earphones and swayed to the music all the way into the living room. As soon as Youji entered the house, he took out his paintbrush and concentrated on doodling on drawing paper, without following along to greet anyone.

Standing at the doorway, Yuling shouted loudly into the house: "Meizi, A-Ji, are you two incapable of greeting people?"

Yonglai said: "It's alright. It's enough that you've come back, enough that you've come back."

Yuling said: "Dad, children must not be spoiled."

Yonglai said: "What's wrong with that? A grandfather doting on his grandchildren is only natural."

Zhikun said: "Big Sister, after riding in the truck all the way back, you must be tired."

Zhikun and Yuling carried the luggage into the main hall together.

Yonglai wrapped an arm around his youngest grandson, Youji, and kindly inquired about their recent life. The Yaxin sisters stood behind their grandmother's chair. In the corner, Zhigan and his wife still wore poker faces, watching coldly. Yuling sensed the unwelcoming attitude of her elder younger brother and sister-in-law, so she deliberately kept a low profile in her words.

Yonglai asked: "Where is your husband? Why didn't he come back with you?"

"Dad st-st-stole Mom's money, and did dr-dr-drugs, so the police... the police took him away!" Youji said with a stammer.

"Your father did not behave himself, that's why the police took him away." Yonglai lovingly stroked Youji's little head.

Yuling said: "Dad, Mom, I will go find work. I won't increase your burden."

Yonglai said: "Take your time finding work. The family isn't short of a few extra bowls and chopsticks."

Yuling was about to speak, but was interrupted by her elder younger brother Zhigan: "A married daughter is like water that's been splashed out. What are you coming back here for?"

Zhikun found it harsh to hear and countered: "Brother, how can you say that? If Big Sister doesn't come back, where else can she go?"

Yonglai stiffened his face and stared at Zhigan, asking: "Well then, A-Gan, do you have some opinion about this?"

Aijiao at the side said: "Dad, I wouldn't dare say I have an opinion. I'm only saying that it would be more practical if the mother and children didn't come back and become a burden."

Yonglai scolded loudly: "I'm the one asking the questions. What are you interrupting for as a daughter-in-law? If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute."

Zhigan said unwillingly: "Dad, what is wrong with what Aijiao said? She could just get divorced and be done with it, but she even changed the three children's surname to Qiu. It's obvious she wants to come back and divide the property."

Yonglai became so angry that he stood up and pointed his finger as he cursed: "Do you still sound like a human being? How much has your elder sister done for this whole family? More than ten years ago, if she hadn't paid to repair the fishing boat, our whole family would have had to drink seawater! Without her, do you think you would even have what you have today?"

Zhigan said: "The money she earned before was all dirty money anyway."

Zhikun interrupted unhappily: "Brother, what you're saying is getting more and more out of line."

Yonglai said: "Your father isn't dead yet! In this house, it still isn't your turn to make the decisions."

Laichun hurriedly tried to smooth things over and said: "Don't shout so loudly between father and son. If the neighbors hear it and say our whole family is always fighting, it will be terribly embarrassing!"

Yuling said: "Dad, I've caused you trouble. Once things are settled down, I will move out."

Yonglai said: "What are you saying? You and the children coming back to live here only adds a few more pairs of chopsticks. I can still support you. It isn't troublesome at all."

Zhikun said: "Big Sister, if you don't mind, come stay on my side first."

Yuling said emotionally: "Little Brother..."

At that moment, Qiu Dafu ran over to Youji and snatched at his drawing paper. During the struggle, the drawing paper was torn in half, and the adults and children also started quarreling all at once.

Zhikun scolded: "Dafu, have you got nothing better to do?"

Yonglai said: "Dafu, give the drawing paper back to A-Ji!"

Aijiao said: "Dad, don't be so fierce to him. What do children know? If there's something wrong, we can just talk it out nicely..."

Yonglai said: "That brat Dafu has been spoiled rotten by you all..."

Zhigan said: "Dafu, give that mute kid his drawing paper back..."

Yaxin watched everyone arguing into a chaotic mess. Silently, she turned off her hearing aid and comforted her crying younger brother.

5

Zhikun helped Yuling carry the luggage and brought her and the three children into the house.

Zhikun said: "Big Sister, just stay here without worry. These two rooms inside are for your use. If you need anything, just tell me anytime."

Yuling said: "Little Brother, thank you..."

"Big Sister, we're all family. No need to be polite. Just treat this place as your own home." After saying this, Zhikun turned and left.

Yuling said: "A-Xin, help Mom tidy up the things..."

Yaxin nodded and started helping to organize.

Youji held his paintbrush and drawing paper, concentrating on doodling at one side. Meiyin still swayed her body along with the music.

6

Meiyin had already gone to bed to sleep. Yaxin was preparing to take the senior high school entrance examination, and was studying her lessons in the study room. Seeing that there was still a light on in the room, Yuling opened the door and entered.

Yuling said, “A-Xin, you're still studying. If you're tired, then you should rest for a while... ”

Yaxin nodded in response. After Yuling tucked the blanket properly over Meiyin, she left the room.

7

Qiu Yonglai accompanied Yaxin to the entrance of the Taipei First Girls High School gate to look at the posted admission list. The grandfather and granddaughter squeezed through the crowd, searching for the name on the list.

Yaxin pointed at the name and let out a cry while clapping her hands: “Wow!”

Yonglai squeezed his way over and followed Yaxin's finger to find the name.

Yonglai said, “A-Xin, you've been admitted! And it's even the gifted class.”

Yaxin hugged Yonglai, jumping and laughing: “Grandpa, I got in.”

Deeply moved and gratified, Yonglai said, “Wonderful, wonderful! My granddaughter is a top female scholar. A-Xin, let us grandfather and granddaughter go to the nearby streets and eat something good, to celebrate a little.”

The people beside them who were looking at the admission list curiously gazed at Yaxin, with her golden hair and sharply defined facial features.

8

Inside the living room of the Qiu family's sanheyuan house, Yonglai beamed with joy and said, “Our A-Xin truly is very talented. She got into the gifted class of Taipei First Girls High School. She is a top female scholar.”

Beside him, Aijiao said coldly, “What's so rare about that foreign brat? The pig is not getting fat, but the dog is getting fat instead.”

Zhikun could not stand it and said, “Sister-in-law, do you have to speak so sarcastically?”

Aijiao said, “What I say is the most truthful. Where did I say anything wrong? Dad is simply being partial.”

Zhigan also spoke up in support of his wife: “Dad, what use is it for a girl to study so much? In the future, won't she still have to get married and leave?”

Yonglai said, “Whoever has the talent to study, I will support and cultivate. I, as the head of this family, have always been the fairest.”

Zhikun said, “That's right. Elder brother and sister-in-law, your Dafu gets calls from the teachers every now and then complaining about him. Yet you yourselves never reflect on it, and still cannot bear to see others doing well.”

Yuling said, “Dad, little brother, don't quarrel over this matter. Since A-Xin has been admitted to high school, no matter how hard it is for me, I will still support her studies.”

Laichun pulled Aijiao and said, “Stop arguing now! Aijiao, come with Mother to the kitchen to cook dinner.”

Zhikun said, “Elder sister, your way of thinking is correct. By the way, have you found a job yet? If it's hard to find one, then I can rent a stall for you at our fishing harbor, and you can sell small green fish there.”

Yuling said, “I'm still looking for a job. I should find one very soon.”

9

At the market of Tamsui Fishing Harbor, Yaxin found her youngest uncle, Zhikun, beside a fishing boat. Zhikun was unloading the catch. Yaxin waved to Zhikun.

Yaxin said, “Youngest Uncle, I'm here.”

Zhikun said, “Little girl, wait a moment. Youngest Uncle is preparing a bag of small green fish for you to carry home.”

Zhikun turned around and walked back into the cabin. From the refrigerated compartment, he carried out two bags of fresh fish and walked down. “Take these two bags of small green fish back for your mother.”

Fish Vendor A teasingly asked, “So the plain-looking jar is actually filled with soy sauce! A-Kun, since when did you get yourself such a young girl? And she's even a foreign girl?”

Zhikun laughed and scolded, “What nonsense are you talking about? She's my niece.”

Fish Vendor A said, “Oh, is that so! I thought that your luck with women had become that good.”

Yaxin secretly laughed a little, took the two bags of fresh fish, turned around, and left.

Zhikun looked at Yaxin's departing back and said, “This niece of ours is really good at studying. She just got first place in the gifted class of our Taipei First Girls High School.”

Fish Vendor A said, “First place in the gifted class of Taipei First Girls High School? That's amazing?”

Zhikun said, “That's right. She's beautiful too, but unfortunately she's somewhat hard of hearing... ”

Yaxin, who was walking away, heard the end of the sentence, but did not mind it. She walked toward the market at Fisherman's Wharf. Seeing a crowd of people gathered not far away, she realized that there was a street performer giving a performance, and Yaxin curiously walked over.

Yaxin squeezed into the crowd and saw a young man playing the violin. This young man had deep-set facial features and was intently drawing the bow across the strings. Yaxin listened in complete absorption, and the young man noticed her. When the piece ended, applause rang out, but Yaxin still did not move at all, staring at the violin in the young man's hands like a wax figure.

The young man carried his violin and walked over. Noticing that Yaxin had a student's hairstyle and a hearing aid hanging beside her ear, the young man asked:

“Little sister, do you like the violin?”

Yaxin nodded and smiled, saying, “Mm.”

The young man asked, “Have you ever watched a street performer before?”

Yaxin said indistinctly, “Yes, at the underground mall of Taipei Main Station.”

The young man said, “My name is Xi Yang. Little sister, have you ever learned an instrument?”

Yaxin shook her head. She wanted to speak but hesitated, then pointed at the violin: “Brother Xi, I want... ”

Xi Yang asked, “You want to learn the violin?”

Yaxin nodded shyly: “Mm.”

Xi Yang said, “All right, I'll teach you. But you have to come here to find me.”

Yaxin smiled shyly: “Thank you, big brother.”

Xi Yang asked, “What is your name?”

Yaxin said, “Qiu Yaxin.”

“Yaxin, very pleased to meet you.” Xi Yang smiled as he gazed at the mixed-race girl with golden hair standing before him.

10

As Yaxin passed by the entrance of a musical instrument shop and saw the violin displayed in the window, she began to imagine things. She put down the two bags of fresh fish in her hands, raised both hands as though she were playing the violin, and gestured in the air.

This action caused passersby to look sideways at her. When Yaxin returned from her fantasy back to reality, she then realized that some passersby were looking at her strangely.

Yaxin blushed, picked up the fish she had set on the ground, lowered her head, and quickly left the place.