The Spring of Lukou10

Chapter Nine

1
In the school classroom, a general knowledge test was in progress. A-pao and A-cai drew four large squares on the desk and wrote 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively. They spun a pen on the desk, and wherever the tip pointed, they filled in that answer on the test paper.
Teacher Liu Mei-qi walked up to them: “What are you two doing?”
A-pao said: “Reporting to the teacher, we are writing the test.”
Liu Mei-qi said: “Is this how a test is written?”
A-cai said: “Reporting to the teacher, otherwise how should we write it?”
Teacher Liu Mei-qi folded her arms, shook her head, and gave a bitter smile, while the students nearby were secretly chuckling.
Mei-qi said: “A-cai, you didn’t review at all before the exam!”

2
Teacher Liu Mei-qi was calling names and handing out test papers.
“Liao Yu-tang, ninety-five points.”
Students below exclaimed in admiration: “Yu-tang is amazing!”
Liao Yu-tang went up to receive his paper.
“Chen Tian-cai, five points. A-cai, how did you even take this exam?”
A-cai stood up and walked over: “Reporting to the teacher, I still got five points!”
A-pao laughed loudly: “Hahaha, A-cai, you only got five points!”
Liu Mei-qi shook her head and smiled bitterly: “A-cai, I really surrender to you.”
Liu Mei-qi said: “Liao En-bao, twenty points. Did you even study?”
A-cai laughed: “Hehehe, A-pao, you only got twenty points too.”
The whole class burst into laughter.
“Yu Wen-yan, one hundred points. Come, everyone, let’s give Wen-yan a round of applause.”
Wen-yan stood up and walked toward the podium, passing by Ai-yu.
Ai-yu said: “Wen-yan, you’re amazing, another perfect score.”
Wen-yan took the test paper from the teacher.
Liu Mei-qi said: “In this exam, our classmate Yu Wen-yan got full marks in all subjects. Everyone should learn from him.”
Student A said: “What’s so great about that, Taiwanese mongrel.”
A-pao said: “Then you try and get that score, you mainland pig!”
Teacher Mei-qi glared at the two students.
Liu Mei-qi said: “After class, Wen-yan, Liao En-bao, and Chen Tian-cai, come to the office to report to me.”

3
In the office, the three stood beside Teacher Mei-qi.
“Liao En-bao, Chen Tian-cai, with results like this, I’m worried you might be held back.”
A-pao said: “Teacher, no way. If I’m held back, my mother will beat me to death.”
Liu Mei-qi said: “If you’re afraid of being punished by your mother, then you should study properly. A-cai, the same goes for you. Don’t just play all day.”
A-cai said: “Teacher, I just can’t learn it.”
Liu Mei-qi said: “That’s why I called Wen-yan here as well. From now on, if you don’t understand your homework, ask Wen-yan. Wen-yan, if you don’t want your good friends to be held back, help the teacher teach them well.”
Wen-yan said: “Teacher, I will teach them.”

4
After class, Wen-yan kept A-pao and A-cai in the classroom to teach them mathematics. Seeing this, Yu-tang approached the three.
Yu-tang asked: “Class is over. Why aren’t you going out to play?”
A-pao scratched his head and said: “I also want to go out and play, but…”
Wen-yan said in a stern tone: “No! The teacher told me to teach them. Otherwise, they will be held back.”
Yu-tang said: “I see. Then I’ll help you teach them too.”
A-cai stared blankly at the students playing ball outside the window. Seeing this, Yu-tang tapped A-cai’s head with a pencil: “A-cai, focus! Do you want to be held back?”

5
Lai-chun, Zhou Tian, and A-xi were picking tea. A snake slithered past Lai-chun’s foot. Seeing this, Zhou Tian grabbed a hoe nearby and stepped forward, smashing the snake’s head flat.
Lai-chun exclaimed in shock: “Mother! How are your hands and feet so agile?”
Zhou Tian said with a silly smile: “I don’t know either.”
Lai-chun asked: “Mother, didn’t your joints always ache?”
Zhou Tian said: “Oh, right. Recently, it doesn’t seem to hurt much anymore. Don’t waste this snake. Take it back; we can make soup tonight.”
A-xi, standing nearby, laughed and said: “Lai-chun, from what I see, your mother is so strong she could go to the street and perform martial arts and sell medicine!”
Zhou Tian said happily: “That would be great!”
Lai-chun said: “My mother is getting stronger as she gets older.”

6
At Lai-chun’s home, during dinner, Lai-chun felt unwell and kept retching.
Zhou Tian asked with concern: “Daughter-in-law, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Lai-chun said: “Recently I’ve often felt nauseous and vomited sour fluid.”
Zhou Tian asked: “Are you pregnant again?”
Lai-chun nodded: “Maybe.”
Zhou Tian said: “Such unfortunate timing. Fu-cai has just passed away, and now you are pregnant. How will you raise two children in the future?”
Lai-chun said: “This child is fated with us. What else can we do?”
Zhou Tian said: “That’s true. Everything is destiny.”
Wen-yan said: “Mom, I’m going to be a big brother. That’s great.”
Lai-chun shook her head and smiled bitterly: “Children don’t understand the hardships of adults.”
Zhou Tian said: “Don’t worry. I will help take care of the child.”
Wen-yan said: “Mom, I will also help take care of it.”
Lai-chun said: “Stop talking about that. Let’s eat snake soup. This snake was caught by your grandmother.”
Wen-yan said: “Grandma, you are really amazing!”
Zhou Tian said proudly: “If I see another one in the future, I’ll catch it again and make soup!”

7
In the living room of old village chief Chen Huo-lu’s house, A-cai excitedly held his quiz paper and showed it to his mother Ai-jiao: “Mom, look, I got sixty-five points this time!”
After seeing the test paper, Ai-jiao hugged her son emotionally: “My good child is so capable, you’ve improved so much!”
A-cai said: “Yes, this is all thanks to Wen-yan and Yu-tang; they teach me to study every day after school!”
Chen Huo-lu said: “Wen-yan is really a thoughtful child, very well-behaved and also very good at studying.”
Ai-jiao said: “But why did Wen-yan think of teaching you to study?”
A-cai said: “Well, the teacher said that if A-pao and I don’t do well in the next exam, we won’t be allowed to go up to third grade with Wen-yan.”
Chen Huo-lu said: “Silly child, that teacher is just trying to scare you!”
Ai-jiao said: “Dad, what the teacher said is also out of good intention; of course she hopes the students can study more diligently. We should listen to the teacher.”
Chen Huo-lu said: “What you say is not wrong. Since Wen-yan and Yu-tang are so good to our A-cai, how about this—Ai-jiao, take A-cai to pick some of the sweet potatoes and corn we grew ourselves, invite everyone, and let’s all go to our field to build an earthen kiln.”
A-cai said: “Okay, okay, I like building earthen kilns the most!”

8
Wen-yan and a group of children were playing by the stream. A-pao and A-cai were catching crickets, Wen-yan and Yu-tang were tending the earthen kiln, while Bao-feng, Yu-hui, and Ai-yu were washing sweet potatoes by the stream.
Bao-feng, Yu-hui, and Ai-yu carried the washed sweet potatoes to Wen-yan and Yu-tang. Seeing their faces covered with dirt and soot, the three girls burst into laughter.
Bao-feng said: “Here are two little tabby cats.”
Wen-yan and Yu-tang wiped their faces with their sleeves.
Bao-feng took out a handkerchief and said: “Wen-yan, let me wipe your face.”
Yu-tang said jealously: “Why don’t I get that? Such a big difference!”
Bao-feng said: “Ask your sister to wipe it for you!”
Yu-hui said: “Can’t you go wash your face by the stream yourself?”
After eating and drinking their fill, the boys, led by A-pao, stripped off their clothes and jumped into the stream. A-cai followed, and Wen-yan and Yu-tang took off their shorts and joined them. The four splashed water and played in the stream, while the girls sat barefoot on stones by the stream, eating sweet potatoes and corn.

9
Yu-tang and Yu-hui, their faces covered with dirt, walked into the house.
Yu-tang said: “We’re back!”
Wu Zu said: “Why are you two so filthy? Go wash yourselves quickly.”
Liao Qing-wen asked: “Where did you go to play?”
Yu-tang said: “A-cai said that because Wen-yan and I taught him, he did well on the test this time, so his mother asked him to invite everyone to the stream to build an earthen kiln.”
Liao Qing-wen lowered his head and thought for a while. Yu-tang thought he was angry.
Yu-tang said: “Dad, sorry, I took my sister out to play without telling you first.”
Liao Qing-wen said: “I’m not angry, but from now on, you’d better not play too often with Wen-yan and A-cai.”
Yu-tang asked in confusion: “Why!?”
“Children don’t need to ask so many questions. Just do as I say.” Liao Qing-wen said with a serious expression, then turned and left. Yu-hui was frightened by her father’s stern manner and began to cry. Wu Zu and Yu-tang hurried to comfort her.
Liao Qing-wen sat alone in the living room, drinking in silence. Wu Zu came into the living room.
Wu Zu said: “They played outside all day and are exhausted. They’ve already fallen asleep.”
Liao Qing-wen responded with a “Mm.”
Wu Zu said: “You shouldn’t have said those things to the children just now.”
Liao Qing-wen said: “What, should I not say anything? If one day they find out that I betrayed the villagers, will they still be able to play together like they do now?”
Wu Zu comforted him: “Don’t think too much. The children won’t know.”
Liao Qing-wen said: “How can you be so sure? Do you know that recently I haven’t been sleeping well at all? I often dream that my brother-in-law is covered in blood, reaching out to me to demand my life!”
Wu Zu said: “What nonsense are you talking about? You’re speaking so loudly—are you trying to wake the children?”
Liao Qing-wen said: “I don’t want them to grow up and be spat on by their good friends. I don’t want that…”
Liao Qing-wen lowered his head and sobbed. Seeing this, Wu Zu took away the bottle from the table.
Wu Zu said: “You’ve just been drinking too much, that’s why you’re thinking nonsense. Don’t drink anymore. Go wash your face and get a good sleep. Tomorrow everything will be fine.”
Wu Zu walked out of the living room with the bottle, while Liao Qing-wen remained lying on the table, crying.

10
Jia-liang came to Lai-chun’s house, and the two sat in the living room.
Jia-liang said: “Sister, I’m about to be transferred to the Hengke police station in Xizhi. I may not be able to visit you often anymore.”
Lai-chun said: “Xizhi is close to our Luku village. You can still come often. This should count as a promotion—it’s a good thing.”
Jia-liang shook his head and smiled bitterly: “I don’t see it that way. This transfer came too suddenly. I guess the higher-ups have become suspicious of me and want to move me away from Keelung to monitor me more closely.”
Lai-chun asked: “What? Then will you be in danger?”
Jia-liang said: “I don’t think so. After all, my work performance has always been fine, and they don’t have any evidence that I’m involved with those people at the base. There shouldn’t be any trouble.”
Lai-chun said: “You must be more careful. Your brother-in-law was also completely innocent, but still…”
Jia-liang said: “Sister, don’t worry. Once I report to Xizhi and settle down, I’ll contact you right away so you won’t worry, okay?”
Lai-chun said: “That would be best.”
Wen-yan, still drowsy, walked into the living room.
Wen-yan said: “Uncle, you’re here.”
Jia-liang opened his arms and said: “Wen-yan, come closer and let your uncle have a look at you.”
Wen-yan walked to Jia-liang’s side.
“It’s only been a short while, and you’ve grown taller again! Wen-yan, you are now the only man in the family. You must take good care of your mother and grandmother. Don’t let your mother worry. When you grow up, become a useful person, understand?”
Wen-yan said: “I understand.”
“Come, make a pinky promise with your uncle.” Jia-liang extended his little finger. Wen-yan hooked fingers with him. Jia-liang patted Wen-yan’s head, and Wen-yan showed an innocent smile.
Jia-liang said: “Good boy. From today on, you are a man who can stand on his own!”
Tears welled up in Lai-chun’s eyes.

11
After school, Wen-yan and his group walked on the road toward the market, chatting and laughing. Suddenly, a group of mainlander children appeared and blocked their way.
Child A said: “Look, there are a few dirty Taiwanese mongrels here.”
Child B pinched his nose and said: “So smelly, so smelly.”
Child C said: “No wonder I smelled something from far away.”
Unable to bear the humiliation, Bao-feng immediately retorted: “You mainland pigs, your mouths stink of bad breath and pig manure!”
A-pao supported her and said: “Of course, because they were raised eating slop, hahaha!”
A-cai also said: “Mainlander pigs love eating slop, so funny, hahaha!”
Child A angrily put his hands on his hips and asked: “What did you say!”
Child B said: “Looks like you’re asking for a beating?”
A-pao said: “Come on! I think you’re the ones itching for a fight!”
Ai-yu said: “Let’s go. Ignore these mainland pigs.”
Both sides became enraged. A-pao and A-cai rushed forward first and began fighting with the group of mainlander children. Wen-yan tugged at Yu-tang’s clothes.
Wen-yan waved and said: “Yu-tang, let’s join in too!”
Yu-tang said: “Okay!”
Wen-yan and Yu-tang joined the fight. The girls stood behind, shouting: “Go!” “Teach them a lesson!”
A male teacher from the school rode by on a bicycle. From a distance, he saw the group fight and hurriedly stopped and ran over.
The teacher shouted: “What are you doing?”
Child A said: “This is bad! The teacher is here!”
Seeing this, Wen-yan quickly put his arm around the shoulder of Child C, whom he had been fighting, and the two put on innocent smiles, pretending to be close friends.
Wen-yan said: “Reporting to the teacher, we are playing a game.”
Child C said: “Yes, we’re playing.”
Seeing this, the other children quickly paired up, put arms around each other’s shoulders, and grinned. Although A-pao and Child A had their arms around each other, they secretly stepped on each other’s feet and pinched each other’s buttocks. The teacher saw that their clothes were torn and knew exactly what had happened, but he did not want to expose them on the spot.
“Enough, enough. If there’s nothing going on, don’t stay here. Go home immediately!” the teacher ordered. Wen-yan’s group and the mainlander children then left separately.

12
(Four years later)
Wenyan carries his four-year-old younger sister Wenying on his back in front of the house yard. While cutting sweet potato leaves, he also holds a book and reads. Wenying sleeps soundly. Liao Yutang and his sister, A-Pao, A-Cai, and Baofeng, this group of childhood companions, ride bicycles to Wenyan’s house.
A-Pao excitedly says: “Wenyan, come out quickly and go play with us!”
Wenyan says: “Shh! Keep your voice down, little sister is sleeping.”
A-Pao says softly: “Sorry, Wenyan, come out and play with us.”
Wenyan says: “I can’t. The housework isn’t finished yet. Besides, if I go out to play, who will take care of little sister?”
Yutang says: “Wenyan, you really are a busy person!”
Laichun comes out from inside the house, wiping her hands with a cloth. Seeing her, Yutang and the others all greet her: “Aunt.”
Laichun says: “You came to ask Wenyan to go out and play?”
Wenyan says: “Aunt, I don’t plan to go play.”
Laichun says: “Hmm, but since everyone made a special trip here, how about this—Ive just cooked a big pot of sweet potatoes for feeding pigs. I’ll pick out a pot for you first, and you can all stay and eat sweet potatoes, alright?”
Yutang says: “Okay, thank you, Aunt!”
The group parks their bicycles in front of Wenyan’s house yard and follows Wenyan and Laichun into the house.

13
An inter-class dodgeball match is taking place on the playground.
A-Pao shouts: “Zhu Huihong, pass the ball to me!”
Zhu Huihong passes the ball to A-Pao, and A-Pao hits an opposing student.
During the break.
A-Pao praises: “You outsider pig, not bad, you really know how to dodge!”
Zhu Huihong says: “You Taiwan mutt aren’t bad either, your throws are very accurate!”
Wenyan drinks water at the side. Ouyang Mingdao comes to his side.
Mingdao says: “Class leader Wenyan, do you want to come to my house after school? My mom’s dumplings are very delicious!”
Wenyan says: “But I don’t have an ox cart to ride back.”
Mingdao says: “Don’t worry, my dad has a jeep that can take you back.”
Wenyan says: “Is that alright?”
Mingdao says: “Of course it is!”
A-Pao overhears their conversation.
A-Pao says: “Mingdao kindly invites you, just go, what’s the problem?”
Mingdao says: “See, even A-Pao says so.”
Wenyan says: “Alright then, A-Pao, help me tell my mom.”

14
Mingdao brings Wenyan into the house. Mingdao’s mother, Lin Peixuan, wearing an apron, comes to the door.
Mingdao says: “Mom, I brought a classmate home to play.”
Wenyan says: “Hello, Auntie, I am Yu Wenyan.”
Mingdao says: “Wenyan is our class leader, his grades are very good.”
Lin Peixuan says: “Hello, Wenyan. Sorry, I was making dumplings, so I came out wearing an apron.”
In Wenyan’s mind appears the image of his mother, a rural farm woman, dressed casually, with hands always covered in dirt. He quickly shakes his head.
Wenyan says: “Not at all, Auntie is much prettier than my mom.”
Lin Peixuan smiles and says: “You child, you speak so sweetly.”
Wenyan blushes deeply.
Mingdao says: “Wenyan, my mom’s dumplings are super delicious, you must try them later.”
Lin Peixuan says: “Do you and Mingdao want to help me make dumplings? If we finish earlier, we can eat earlier.”
Wenyan says: “Sure!”
The three go to the kitchen. Lin Peixuan teaches Wenyan how to wrap dumplings nicely. The three are very happy, and the atmosphere is harmonious. At this moment, the sound of the door opening comes from the entrance.
“I’m back.” Ouyang Jing, wearing a military uniform, walks into the kitchen.
Mingdao says: “Dad, this is our class leader, his name is Yu Wenyan.”
Wenyan says: “Hello, Uncle.”
Ouyang Jing says: “Hello, welcome, make yourself at home. Peixuan, come here, I have something to discuss with you.”
Lin Peixuan says: “You two continue wrapping first.”
Ouyang Jing and Lin Peixuan leave the kitchen.
Wenyan asks: “Mingdao, your father… he is?”
Mingdao says: “My dad is a military judge, impressive, right?”
Wenyan says: “Oh…”
Wenyan, Mingdao, Ouyang Jing, and Lin Peixuan sit around the dining table eating.
Wenyan praises: “Oh my, these dumplings are really delicious!”
Mingdao proudly says: “See, I told you!”
Lin Peixuan says: “If you like them, eat more. I made a lot this time.”
Ouyang Jing says: “Yes, Mingdao doesn’t often bring friends home. If you have time, you can come to our house often.”
Wenyan says: “Alright.”
Ouyang Jing says: “Wenyan, where are you from? From your accent, you should be a local, right?”
Wenyan says: “Yes, I was born in Lukou Village in the mountains of Xizhi.”
Upon hearing “Lukou Village,” Ouyang Jing’s expression changes, and he says nothing. Lin Peixuan notices something unusual and quickly changes the topic.
Lin Peixuan asks: “Wenyan, living in the mountains, it must be difficult to go to and from school every day, right?”
Wenyan says: “Yes, I have to get up very early every day to catch my uncle’s ox cart. From the village to the city takes about an hour.”
Lin Peixuan says: “Wow, that means you spend two hours a day commuting?”
Wenyan says: “It’s okay, I’m used to it. Besides, I’m not the only one. Yutang, Yuhui, A-Pao, A-Cai from my village all ride together. We chat about everything on the ox cart, and time passes quickly.”
Ouyang Jing puts down his bowl and chopsticks and says: “Mingdao, come here for a moment.”
Wenyan and Lin Peixuan continue eating and chatting. Ouyang Jing pulls Mingdao aside.
Mingdao asks: “Dad, I also have something to say. Can you ask your driver to take Wenyan home later?”
Ouyang Jing says: “Mingdao, do you know he is from Lukou Village?”
Mingdao replies: “Yes, so what?”
Ouyang Jing says: “Do you know that village is called a spy village?”
Mingdao says: “Dad, that has nothing to do with Wenyan!”
Lin Peixuan comes over.
Ouyang Jing says: “I didn’t say it definitely has something to do with your friend. I’m just worried you might be implicated by being with him.”
Lin Peixuan says: “You are overthinking.”
Ouyang Jing says: “Overthinking? I am a professional soldier. How the authorities deal with spies, how could I not know? Right now, their attitude is rather kill a hundred by mistake than let one go. We really cannot be careless.”
Mingdao says: “Dad, actually you are just worried about being implicated yourself, aren’t you?”
Ouyang Jing says unhappily: “How can you speak to your father like that?”
Lin Peixuan says: “Alright, the guest is still waiting in the dining room. Let’s stop this topic here. It would be embarrassing if he heard.”
Ouyang Jing says: “Fine, do as you like.”
The family returns to the table with serious expressions. Wenyan notices something unusual but continues eating quietly.
After the meal, Lin Peixuan brings a plate of fruit.
Lin Peixuan says: “Wenyan, please have some fruit.”
Wenyan says: “Thank you, Auntie, but it’s getting late, I should be leaving.”
Mingdao says: “Dad, please ask your driver…”
Ouyang Jing says: “No, my driver has already rested.”
Mingdao says: “Last time I asked, you clearly said it was possible!”
Ouyang Jing says: “Not this time.”
Mingdao looks distressed. Wenyan looks embarrassed and at a loss.
Lin Peixuan says: “Just take him home. It’s so late, what is he supposed to do?”
Mingdao says: “Dad!”
Ouyang Jing says reluctantly: “But that place is… sigh, alright, alright.”
Ouyang Jing walks to the phone and picks up the receiver.
Wenyan says: “Mingdao, sorry for causing trouble…”
Mingdao shakes his head: “No, I invited you to my house, yet it turned out like this.”
“Wenyan, take this box of dumplings back with you. Keep it in a cool place so it won’t spoil.” Lin Peixuan hands him a box of dumplings.
Wenyan takes it and says: “Okay, thank you, Auntie.”

15
The jeep drives along a rugged mountain road. Villagers point and comment.
Villager A says: “Look, isn’t that a military vehicle?”
Villager B says: “Damn! They turned our village upside down, and still dare to swagger like that!”
Villager C says: “They come when they want, leave when they want. What do they take our village for?”
Villager D says: “Outsider pigs, get out!”
Along the way, angry shouts from villagers are heard. Wenyan sits in the car, looking embarrassed, lowering his head in silence.
The driver nervously asks: “Sir, will something happen to us?”
Ouyang Jing says nervously: “Seeing how agitated the villagers are, I am also worried.”
Mingdao says: “Dad, we didn’t do anything to wrong the villagers. Besides, Wenyan is in the car. Nothing will happen.”
Ouyang Jing says: “If things were as simple as you think.”
The car arrives at Laichun’s house. Laichun, working in the yard, hears the jeep engine from afar and rushes out. Seeing Wenyan in a military jeep, her face turns pale. Wenyan and Mingdao get out together.
Wenyan says: “Mom, I’m back. This is my classmate Mingdao.”
Mingdao says: “Hello, Auntie.”
Laichun asks: “Hello. This military vehicle is…?”
Wenyan says: “Mingdao’s father is a military judge. He sent me back.”
Laichun says to Mingdao: “Help me thank your father.”
Ouyang Jing calls from the car: “Mingdao, let’s go!”
Mingdao waves goodbye: “See you tomorrow!” After he gets in, the jeep quickly turns and leaves. Laichun says nothing, tightly holding Wenyan’s hand and leading him into the house.