THE WHITE FILES: THE MANY
LIVES OF LU HERUO, TAIWANS
FIRST LITERARY TALENT

Chapter Seventeen: Chang Wen-huan Goes to the Garrison Command to Rescue Su Yu-lan

64

The sky over Xindian hung low in the afternoon, and the clouds churned uneasily, as though they had been scalded by boiling water. A heavy, oppressive atmosphere blanketed the entire city. Now and then, the rumble of a passing train tore through the stillness of the air.

Wearing a wool overcoat lightly covered in dust, Chang Wen-huan hurried into the Xindian office building of the Garrison Command. He carried two cans of powdered milk in his right hand, his fingers pale from gripping them for so long. Beads of sweat trickled from his forehead down along his temples. His gaze was resolute and urgent, as though it could penetrate the high walls and enclosed courtyard of the building. Chang Wen-huan voluntarily presented his business card. The guards in the lobby looked him up and down. At a glance at the name on the card, they recognized him as the novelist whose name frequently appeared in the newspapers, and immediately notified their superiors.

Inside the office, the lights in the Investigation and Defense Section cast a dim yellow glow. The air was thick with the mixed smells of tobacco, old paper, and disinfectant. On the wall hung the flag of the Republic of China and a portrait of President Chiang Kai-shek. Together, they resembled a pair of cold, watchful eyes silently observing every movement of those who entered.

"You can't catch Lü Heruo, so all you can do is make trouble for his woman. There's a saying that a man's crimes shouldn't implicate his wife and children. Aren't you afraid of public condemnation for arresting even a pregnant woman and a child?" Chang Wen-huan spoke bluntly the moment he entered. His tone was firm, his posture upright, and his voice struck the room like a cold wind battering a wall.

Sitting opposite him was Lieutenant Colonel Xing Aihua, dressed in a sharply pressed military uniform. He slammed his military cap onto the desk and sprang to his feet, his eyes as sharp as knives. He strode toward Chang Wen-huan and said coldly, "You must be tired of living. How dare you come here and cause trouble? Do you believe I won't arrest you too?"

Chang Wen-huan did not retreat. Instead, he stepped forward until their noses were almost touching. He met Xing's gaze without flinching.

"I, Chang Wen-huan, have lived long enough to have no regrets. I dared to come here alone today, and I've already made all the necessary arrangements for what happens after my death. Do you think I'm afraid I won't walk out through that door? At the very least, I intend to demand an explanation from your masters!"

Xing Aihua's finger nearly jabbed into Chang Wen-huan's chest. Anger rose to his brow.

"You're a gutsy one, Zhang. Fine! I'll grant your wish and have you arrested and charged!"

At that moment, the inner office door clicked open, and a burly officer with neatly parted hair stepped out. His eyes were keen, and he immediately sensed the tense, confrontational atmosphere.

"That's enough, Aihua. There's no need to be rude."

Gu Zhengwen's voice was not loud, but it carried an unmistakable authority, like a terse command from an experienced military officer.

"So you're the novelist Mr. Chang Wen-huan. I've long admired your reputation. My subordinate was out of line just now. Please don't take offense."

Chang Wen-huan gave a slight bow, but remained on guard.

"You're too kind, Colonel."

The other man extended his right hand first.

"My surname is Gu. I'm the colonel in charge of the Investigation and Defense Section."

Chang Wen-huan recalled that Lü Heruo had mentioned this man before. He felt somewhat reassured and shook his hand, though his grip was restrained and his vigilance remained.

"Colonel Gu, may I ask what crime my younger brother's wife, Su Yu-lan, and her daughter have committed that you had to arrest them as well?"

Gu Zhengwen's smile faded, and his tone became formally composed.

"Mr. Chang, Ms. Su was brought here to assist with an investigation. The military prosecutor has recently been questioning her about Lü Heruo's whereabouts. Once the questioning is over, we will let her and her daughter leave."

"I think you're wasting your time. Even I don't know where Lü Heruo is. How could Su Yu-lan possibly know where he has gone?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Chang Wen-huan realized he had said too much. His expression darkened.

Gu Zhengwen caught the slip immediately, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"From what you're saying, Mr. Chang, your relationship with Lü Heruo must be rather unusual, wouldn't you say?"

Chang Wen-huan calmly countered, "Colonel Gu, are you telling me that the Garrison Command is interested in investigating me, Chang Wen-huan, as well?"

"You're mistaken, Mr. Famous Author." Gu Zhengwen smiled amiably, though his eyes betrayed a probing intent. "I simply want to understand why you came to the Garrison Command all by yourself."

Chang Wen-huan pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket and placed it on the desk. It was a petition addressed to the Military Court.

"I came to visit Su Yu-lan and her daughter. If possible, I'd also like to secure their release on bail."

Gu Zhengwen nodded and picked up the paper.

"There's no problem with your request to visit Ms. Su, Mr. Chang. As for bail, we'll have to wait until the military prosecutor has finished questioning her and confirmed that she genuinely knows nothing about Lü Heruo's whereabouts. Only then can we consider granting your request."

Chang Wen-huan's mocking smile disappeared. His tone remained firm.

"Then please allow me to meet with Ms. Su."

Gu Zhengwen gestured toward Xing Aihua.

"I'll arrange it for you immediately. Aihua, take Mr. Chang to the women's detention center."

Although Xing Aihua was deeply reluctant, he forced himself to suppress his anger. He shot Chang Wen-huan a cold glare, turned around, and led the way. The two men left the office, one following the other. Chang Wen-huan's steps were heavy, yet his determination was as unyielding as steel. The lights in the corridor flickered faintly. He knew that what awaited him was not merely a prison visit, but a life-and-death confrontation with the forces of his time.

65

The visiting room in the women's detention center was dark and cramped. Its walls were painted a yellowing gray, and a lone light bulb flickered unsteadily in the corner. Under its dim yellow glow, even the air seemed motionless. Outside the barred window, a soldier stood watch with an indifferent expression. Separated by thick glass and communicating through telephone receivers, Su Yu-lan and Chang Wen-huan sat facing each other. Between them stood not only a transparent partition, but also the invisible barriers of surveillance and fear.

Su Yu-lan wore a gray prison uniform. Her face was pale, her eyes sunken, and her lips cracked and dry. She held her little daughter tightly in her arms. Frightened by the unfamiliar surroundings, the child had long since stopped crying. She simply stared at the visitor with a pair of vacant, wide-open eyes.

Chang Wen-huan's eyes grew moist at the sight. Gripping the telephone receiver, he asked in a low, concerned voice, "Sister-in-law, these people... have they given you a hard time?"

Su Yu-lan looked up at him, her expression complicated. Her eyes quickly glanced past him at Lieutenant Colonel Xing, who stood behind him with a stern expression. Then she turned back and spoke in an exceptionally calm voice.

"They've taken me in for questioning three times so far. Every time, they ask about Heruo's whereabouts... I told them I didn't know. They haven't beaten me either. They just keep asking the same questions... I really don't know anything."

Her voice was even, yet beneath it lay a deep sense of grievance and fear that she was struggling to suppress.

"That's good... That's good."

Chang Wen-huan repeated the words twice, as though trying to comfort her as much as himself. He glanced at the child in her arms, then suddenly took the cans of powdered milk out of his bag. He gestured toward them through the ventilation opening.

"I brought some powdered milk. Let little A-mei have it for now."

A faint, grateful smile struggled to appear at the corners of Su Yu-lan's mouth.

"Thank you... Brother Wen-huan."

She lowered her head and looked at her younger daughter, who was sleeping in her arms. Her expression suddenly darkened.

"I'm not afraid of dying, and I'm not afraid of being thrown in prison... But I'm afraid that if something really has happened to Heruo... what would be the point of my staying alive?"

Her voice trembled. Her arms tightened unconsciously around the child, who shifted in her embrace and let out a faint whimper.

Chang Wen-huan's heart tightened. He leaned forward slightly, holding the receiver close to his lips. His voice was firm.

"Don't ever think that way, Sister-in-law. Heruo wouldn't want you to do that. If he knew you couldn't hold on, it would only make him suffer even more. For his sake, and for this child... you must stay strong and keep living. I'll come back again. No matter how many times it takes, I won't give up helping you both."

Tears welled up in Su Yu-lan's eyes, but she fought to keep them from falling.

"There's nothing I ask for now except that Heruo be safe. If you get the chance... please take a message to him for me."

"Go ahead."

Her voice was barely audible.

"Tell him that Yu-lan hasn't said anything, and never will. Even if I have to die, I'll keep his secrets."

Chang Wen-huan nodded. His chest felt as though it were weighed down by a thousand pounds of stone. He slowly let out a breath.

"I'll make sure he gets your message."

"The powdered milk is enough. There's a shortage of everything here, but... we can still manage to survive."

Su Yu-lan looked up and managed a faint smile.

"Thank you, Brother Wen-huan."

Chang Wen-huan gazed at her gaunt face. Then, with a strong sense of responsibility in his voice, he said, "You're pregnant. You need to eat more nutritious food. I'll bring you some nutritional supplements next time. You and little A-mei should share these two cans of powdered milk. Don't just worry about the child. You need to take care of your own health, too. I'll do everything I can to get you and your daughter released on bail as soon as possible."

As he finished speaking, the guard watching them gave a loud cough, as though warning them that their time was up. Su Yu-lan gently took her little daughter's hand and pressed it against the glass, as if saying a final goodbye to this member of her family.

Chang Wen-huan raised his palm and pressed it against the opposite side of the glass. Their hands aligned silently on either side of the transparent barrier, like a boundary in fate that could no longer be crossed.