Chapter Twenty-Three: Chen Ruyu’s Love Stands Firm

79

Village Chief Chen Qiwang wore a short-sleeved white shirt and was using a hand fan to drive away the smoke from the tea. A faint, weary smile lingered on his face. Dong Zhiqian leaned back in his chair, arms folded across his chest, looking as though he had something explosive to reveal. He lowered his head and took a sip of tea before finally speaking in an unhurried manner.

“Brother Qiwang,” he began, pretending to speak casually, though his tone carried a hint of provocation. “A little while ago, beneath that old camphor tree by the Earth God temple, I saw Director Wang Wenbo with my own eyes, on a date with your younger sister, Miss Ruyu. They were playing the guitar and singing, exchanging affectionate glances and staying close to each other. I doubt they were just talking about music.”

Chen Qiwang was taken aback. His brows drew together slightly as he put down his teacup and replied calmly, “He’s unmarried, and she’s unmarried. If they really have feelings for each other, I don’t object. Having affection for someone is a good thing.”

Chen Danghe, who was sitting nearby, suddenly leaned forward and interjected coldly, “Brother Qiwang, Brother Musheng, perhaps you don’t know Director Wang’s true identity?”

Liao Musheng looked suspiciously at him, his eyes moving back and forth between the two men. “Director Wang’s background? Could there be more to him than we know?”

The corners of Dong Zhiqian’s mouth lifted slightly, as though he had been waiting for this moment. He put down his teacup, leaned forward, and spoke in a low voice. “Actually, his surname isn’t Wang. He’s none other than that notorious wanted man—Lü Heruo.”

Liao Musheng abruptly straightened in his chair, almost losing his grip on his teacup. “Lü Heruo? The editor-in-chief of the Guangming Daily? Wasn’t he wanted by the Garrison Command?”

“Exactly.” Dong Zhiqian patted his knee, speaking with certainty. “I used to work at his newspaper. He escaped the manhunt and got away. Now he’s changed his name and identity and infiltrated our community. Tell me, can a man like that be trusted?”

Chen Qiwang frowned thoughtfully and murmured, “No wonder... I thought he looked familiar. The day he came to my house for tea, I kept wondering where I had seen him before... It turns out I’d seen his photograph in the newspaper.”

“That’s not all.” Dong Zhiqian’s gaze sharpened, and his words cut in like a knife. “This man is a womanizer. He already has a lawful wife, and he’s also living with another woman. He leaves emotional debts wherever he goes. Are you willing to let your younger sister become his next victim?”

Chen Qiwang sprang to his feet, his brows tightly knitted and his voice stern. “Ruyu is my only younger sister. How could I stand by and watch her fall into a pit of fire?”

Liao Musheng also put down his fan, his expression grave. “We must think this matter through carefully. We can’t let Ruyu go astray.”

“Brother Qiwang,” Dong Zhiqian said, deliberately lowering his voice and speaking with feigned sympathy, “you need to persuade Ruyu as soon as possible. That girl has probably already lost her head over him and become completely soft-hearted.”

Chen Qiwang clasped his hands behind his back and paced back and forth several times. At last, he turned around and said firmly, “I’ll speak to her in person. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We can’t let this matter drag on!”

Liao Musheng nodded and patted Dong Zhiqian on the shoulder. “You really brought this to our attention at the right time. We must protect this base. We can’t let an outsider undermine our unity.”

A wind chime sounded faintly outside the window. The afternoon sunlight refracted off the rims of the teacups, casting mottled patches of light across everyone’s faces. Their expressions suddenly turned unbearably grim.

80

That evening, in the living room of Village Chief Chen Qiwang’s house.

The old ceiling fan creaked overhead. A weak yellow light fell across the terrazzo floor, and an ancestral deity statue stood in the corner. Outside the window came the low croaking of frogs and the rustling of the evening breeze passing through the bamboo grove. Chen Ruyu sat on a small stool beside the sofa, holding an old guitar in her arms. Her brows were slightly furrowed as she repeatedly practiced changing between C major and G chords. The sleeves of her white shirt were rolled up, beads of sweat had formed along her forehead, and her expression was focused. Red marks had already formed on her fingertips.

Just then, the front door creaked open. Chen Qiwang walked in, still carrying the earthy smell of the fields on his clothes. He put down his straw hat, shook the sweat from his shoulders, and looked at his younger sister.

“Little sister, your big brother wants to ask you something. Where did you go after work?”

His tone was not angry, but suppressed anger was already apparent beneath his words.

Ruyu continued plucking the guitar strings. Without taking her eyes off the sheet music, she replied calmly, “I went to the Earth God temple! I asked Director Wang to teach me guitar.”

Qiwang strode toward her, his voice turning cold. “Stop going to see Director Wang!”

Ruyu looked up, her eyebrows drawing together slightly as she stared at her brother. “Why can’t I?”

Qiwang stood in front of her with his hands on his hips. His tone grew stern. “Do you know who Director Wang really is?”

Ruyu smiled faintly, her voice tinged with disdain. “Of course I do! So what?”

Qiwang’s fists tightened slightly, and his breathing quickened. “Do you want to know how Lü Heruo’s former colleagues describe him?”

Ruyu lifted her chin, her tone challenging. “How do they describe him?”

“They say he’s a womanizer who flirts with women everywhere he goes. He has a lawful wife back in his hometown, and he’s also living with a girlfriend elsewhere!” Qiwang’s voice was almost a roar, and his face flushed with anger.

Ruyu gently set her guitar aside, stood up, and looked her brother straight in the eye. Her voice was firm. “I know all of that, Big Brother.”

“You know all of that?” Qiwang was so angry that he paced around the table twice before finally losing his temper and slapping the tabletop. “And you still dare to be with a womanizer like him?”

Ruyu raised her voice. “Lü Heruo is no womanizer, Big Brother. You don’t understand him!”

Qiwang hurried toward her, while Ruyu stepped back. The tension between them grew palpable.

“I don’t want you to be deceived by him, little sister!” His voice carried both deep concern and helplessness.

“Lü Heruo has never deceived me. I’m the one who likes him!” Ruyu’s gaze was resolute. She folded her arms across her chest, as though shielding herself against every accusation from the outside world.

Qiwang froze. He tried to reason with her patiently. “Little sister, you’re being terribly foolish! You know perfectly well that Lü Heruo is a fugitive, a wanted man hunted by the authorities, yet you insist on being with him. If he gets caught, he’ll be as good as dead! Aren’t you afraid you’ll spend the rest of your life as a widow?”

Ruyu showed no sign of wavering. Instead, her resolve became even stronger. “If I end up a widow, that will be my own choice. I won’t have any regrets or complaints.”

Qiwang opened his mouth to speak, then sighed. “Even if the authorities let him go, sooner or later he’ll return to his lawful wife or his girlfriend. You have neither a recognized place nor any claim in his life. What could you do then? What right do you have to compete with those women for the same husband? With everything you have going for you, I refuse to believe you couldn’t find someone suitable!”

Ruyu bit her lip and replied with an almost stubborn determination. “I’m not asking for a formal place in his life, nor do I expect him to stay by my side.”

“I think you’ve been bewitched by Lü Heruo!” Qiwang laughed in anger, then turned and headed for the door. “I’ll find him and make him explain himself!”

Ruyu grabbed her brother’s arm. Her gaze was cold, and her voice was low but firm. “Big Brother, don’t do that. Otherwise... I’ll leave home.”

The brother and sister stood facing each other beneath the lamplight. One was as steadfast as rock; the other was burning with anxiety and anger. The intense emotions seemed to make the air in the living room thick and suffocating.

81

The night breeze was cool, and insects chirped in the darkness. A light bulb hanging beneath the old banyan tree in front of Liao Musheng’s house swayed gently, emitting a faint humming sound in the wind. Inside the living room, two men sat on wooden chairs. The dim yellow light illuminated an old calendar and a calligraphy painting bearing the words “Loyalty, Filial Piety, Benevolence, and Love” on the wall. Wisps of smoke rose from the charcoal stove, adding a little warmth to the room.

Chen Qiwang dropped heavily onto the long bench, clasping his head in both hands. His face was filled with worry.

“Musheng, what do you think I should do about this matter?” The moment he began speaking, his voice carried a heavy, nasal strain. He sounded utterly exhausted, as though he were about to collapse under the pressure.

Liao Musheng put down his pipe and shook his head, smiling with a touch of helplessness. “Even an honest official can hardly settle a family dispute, Qiwang. From what I’ve observed, your younger sister Ruyu is the one who fell for Lü Heruo. It wasn’t Lü Heruo who went after your sister.”

Qiwang’s eyes widened, and he leaned forward. “I asked my younger sister about it. It really is just as you said. She was the one who took the initiative to approach Lü Heruo... I’m at my wits’ end.”

As Musheng opened a drawer and took out two cups of hot tea, he said, “That’s exactly where the trouble lies. To be honest, from what I’ve observed of Lü Heruo, I feel he’s an honorable man. In both character and talent, he’s exceptional. The only problem is that he already has a wife and a mistress.”

“What kind of nonsense are you talking about?” Qiwang slapped his thigh and stood up, pacing back and forth across the floor. “Even if our Ruyu is willing to be with him, he’s still a wanted man hunted by the authorities. I’d rather die than see my sister spend the rest of her life alone and widowed!”

Musheng raised his eyes, his gaze sharp. “Aside from whether she’ll have a recognized place in his life, there’s something else you should consider. Lü Heruo isn’t an ordinary criminal. He’s wanted because he spoke the truth. I respect a man like that.”

“You call that respect. I call it worry!” Qiwang sighed and sat back down, his face tense. “When I told my stubborn younger sister that I wanted to find Lü Heruo and talk to him, she said that if I did, she would run away from home... It’s enough to make my head feel like it’s on fire!”

Liao Musheng patted Qiwang on the shoulder, his tone softening. “If that’s the case, you can’t force the issue. Here’s what I suggest: why don’t you invite the two of them over to my place? The three of us can sit down and talk things through, and find out what they intend to do. If Lü Heruo is sincere, then you should give them your blessing this once.”

Qiwang looked at Musheng, his brows furrowing even more. He murmured, “Musheng, about this matter... I’ll take your advice.” He nodded, his voice carrying a trace of helpless resignation.

Musheng nodded. He was about to say something else when his tone suddenly changed. “Qiwang, actually, I’ve also noticed that our younger sister Qingyun has been spending a lot of time with that Zhang Haiqing lately...”

Qiwang froze. “What? Could that Zhang fellow also be... also a wanted man?”

“That’s right,” Musheng said calmly, walking over to the bookcase and taking out a yellowed newspaper. “I went out of my way to look into him. Zhang’s real name is He Yunxuan. He’s a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at National Taiwan University. He was targeted by the Garrison Command and is now wanted because he published articles criticizing the Kuomintang government in a newspaper edited by Lü Heruo.”

“Damn... You’ve got to be kidding me! Are the two younger sisters in our families deliberately falling for heroes who are wanted criminals?” Qiwang asked, looking utterly incredulous.

“Honestly, if you judge them by their character, both men are intellectuals with ideals and a sense of responsibility. Our younger sisters, I have to say, certainly have good taste.” As Musheng spoke, a hint of admiration appeared in his eyes.

“But... Zhang Haiqing isn’t married, is he?” Qiwang asked cautiously.

“That’s the difference,” Musheng said with a smile. “That’s why I don’t object to the two of them seeing each other.”

Qiwang let out a long sigh and tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling. He murmured, “Sigh... Musheng, after hearing you put it that way, I feel even more weighed down.”

The charcoal in the stove flickered between light and darkness. The two men sat facing each other amid the curling smoke. A cup of tea and a burden of helplessness hung heavily over the night.