Chapter 12 Chapter Twelve

one In July 1937, China suddenly became the headlines of every newspaper.The Feng family and all the Chinese associations were talking enthusiastically about China's formal declaration of war on Japan.Chinatown is like a boiling cauldron, where propaganda and patriotic activities are constantly going on.Chinese newspapers always print out the latest news they get, post it on the wall or distribute it to the Chinese.Crowds of people kept pouring in, vying to watch the news. Overseas Chinese, as usual, organized associations and solicited funds, and they exchanged US dollars for Chinese money without hesitation.Their generosity when donating money is unbelievable that they are usually frugal Chinese.Laundry workers, restaurateurs and waiters all hand over their savings on a monthly basis.It is estimated that by the end of 1940, overseas Chinese from all over the world had donated a total of 300 million U.S. dollars to help the motherland in the war against Japan.By the time the United States entered the war, they were contributing about $700 million a month.Most of the money donated by Chinese overseas Chinese in the United States comes from laundry workers and restaurant owners.As we all know, the overthrow of the Qing government was also funded by the donations of the laundry workers, and now they are donating the money they saved bit by bit to save the motherland.

Feng Lao Er has never cared about political affairs.Ten years ago, he was very happy that the National Revolutionary Army could launch the Northern Expedition from Guangdong to the north.Revolutions seemed to start in Guangdong province, and he was glad the war was over when the National Revolutionary Army unified China.But now such a thing happened suddenly, and it has a close relationship with him.He is oppressed in this country, but he also has his own way of life.This method comes from the wisdom of Taoism, the water flows down to penetrate every place.Among the Chinese proverbs he has heard, Feng Laoer thinks that Lao Tzu’s philosophy is the first to teach people to cover up their own philosophy. Silence is true wisdom, too many words will be lost, the benefits of being low, and the futility of making noise.These philosophies are Feng Laoer's philosophy of life.Lao Tzu is right, those who are in the low places will never be destroyed.

But he is still flesh and blood.Although he only cared about his own business and didn't care about political affairs, he still hoped that his motherland would become stronger. The Chinese who came here across the ocean were driven out of the West Coast, robbed and killed, and driven out of Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and their home countries can't protect them at all.When China wanted to isolate itself from the white people, the white people knocked on the door with gunboats.When Americans want to exclude Chinese laborers, they simply shoot.This long-standing pressure of feeling unequal, of being kicked out everywhere, and of being called a Chinaman in a contemptuous tone by others has made Chinese expatriates remit a large amount of dollars back to the country. China grows stronger.Feng Laoer felt the pressure, and all the laundry workers overseas could feel the pressure too.

Suddenly, the attitude of the United States also changed.Every day the newspapers carried stories of Chinese valor.The Americans began to pat the Chinese on the back sincerely, raised their thumbs and said: Tom.Feng!You are good, your country is at war with the Japanese.Tom.Feng began to feel a kind of national pride growing in his heart, which he never expected.But he didn't learn from the Taoists that those who pat you on the back today are likely to slap you tomorrow. When Old Man Feng was walking on the road, he no longer looked down at the asphalt road. He raised his head and chest to meet the eyes of passers-by. He knew that these people admired his country in battle.Americans have always admired those who are willing to fight and are willing to fight.He knew that the American missionaries who went to China to preach the gospel of peace called it a challenge, as if heathens had challenged them.The North Pole and Mount Everest are also among their challenges.Do the Pagans and the North Pole care about their going?But in this way they could only inspire their missionaries to go to China and preach the gospel of peace to people who didn't believe in war, or who didn't easily raise their fists in arguments.And now it is undeniable that China is fighting heroically, so he is worthy of praise.Passengers on the Eyre train looked at Father Feng and smiled at him.He had an unprecedented feeling as if someone had stuck a flower in his buttonhole and everyone was paying attention to him.People told him: Your country is at war with Japan!good!Want it!Father Feng's answer is: Yes!China is at war.He planted a national flag with blue sky, white sun and red ground on the window of the laundry shop, and at the same time added a line of words on the shop signboard: Yes, China is at war.

The fever of war spread to the Feng family.Father and mother regard war as a kind of pride and dignity, and Tom and Eva are no exception, especially quiet Eva.pull.What is the position of Mayor Gautier?He is running for re-election as mayor again, and his position is in favor of helping China's war against Japan.He was Italian-American, as was Flora.So the whole family felt that Flora was on his side, and she herself felt proud and happy. Before the United States declared war on Japan, Chinatown was already the center of the Anti-Japanese War.It was a high-spirited place, as if an invisible force was pulling all the Chinese into the vortex of war, except for some wealthy Chinese who lived in the Uptown area.The latest news of the war was often loudly announced in Cantonese on the street.Flags fluttered; posters covered the walls; a white cloth hung at the street corner with a bold slogan;

two Freddie was on the committee, he knew everyone in Chinatown, he knew the unofficial mayor of Chinatown, and he knew the addresses of all the Chinese who lived south of Thirty-fourth Street.While a fundraiser was still going on for soldiers fighting near Shanghai, he visited his father's house one day. Dad, he said, I am a committee member of the foundation, everyone knows you are my father, how much can you donate? The whole family is in the living room. How much do you think I will donate?Dad asked. Freddie thought a hundred dollars would be enough, but he said: I know we are not rich, but as a member of the committee, I should set an example.I think 200 or 300 yuan is more appropriate, it's all for our soldiers.

Father kept his mouth shut, then silently smoked his pipe, glanced at everyone, and exhaled. I don't know if we should embezzle our savings.As she spoke, the mother looked at her husband. We've only saved five dollars a month since the war started.Father finished biting his pipe again. This money is what my mother plans to use to open a restaurant.Lowy said.Flora, Tom, and Eva watched with concern. Dad stood up slowly, walked into his room, and took out a small cloth bag.He took out a brown envelope with cursive writing on it from the sack.He looked at Freddie, breathed heavily and said: What do you mean by donating this money?

Donate to those soldiers who fought on the front lines, shed blood and died for the country. The whole family knows this little cloth bag, but everyone rarely sees it. Most of the money is placed in the drawer, and the father holds the key. There are more than 2,400 yuan in the bag.He had an account with the Manhattan Trust Company, into which Flora deposited their usual earnings, but Father never allowed more than two or three hundred dollars to be deposited there, and he drew out any excess in fifty-dollar bills. Their business has always been good, and their father and mother have a simple set of financial management methods, which is to live within their means.They all avoid extra expenses.If they can save fifty yuan a month, they will have six hundred yuan a year, and six thousand yuan in ten years.What about their ten-year plan?The act of donating money was completely against their economic principles, so when Dad returned to the living room with the little cloth bag, everyone looked at him nervously.

Father sat down, and he took out two fifty-dollar bills and put them on the table.Freddy's eyes lit up suddenly. Dad, this is for our soldiers. Father Feng had a great conflict in his heart.The kids had never seen that look on his face, and he pulled out another fifty-dollar bill, and then another.He twirled the notes with his fingers and made a crisp sound, as if he were making a bet, or a dowry for his daughter.Here, and here!A total of two hundred yuan!Then just sat there without saying a word.He panted contentedly, and the whole family fell silent. Freddie got out his solicitation book and wrote a receipt to his father.He likes to sign in English because he is good at it.He hooked the T with a thick, straight line, and then barbed back the Z at the end to form a horizontal line under the full name.But he did not fill in the amount of money.

Dad, I'm getting engaged.Freddy said. got engaged?With whom? Xi Yin.Toy.Roy replied. A Broadway star, Dad!She's famous, and I can show you the clippings. You don't have to tell me at all.Mom said, are you engaged yet? Freddy nodded. He had always been estranged from his mother.Now she came quickly up to him.Dong, you've almost become an American.That girl who is going to be my daughter-in-law, don't you have to let me see her first? The whole family talked about it.Freddie took Senyn from his wallet.Toy's photo, this photo of Xi Yin.Tui turned her face sideways, looking at her bare shoulders.It wouldn't shock Mama any more if Freddy married an American woman.

Isn't she cute?asked Freddie proudly, Mom!Your son is engaged to a celebrity, you should be proud.I love her and she loves me too. This statement of love, so shameless and unnecessary, was too much for Mom. A Dong, if you don't obey your parents' choice and marry such a daughter-in-law, it will ruin your life. Let's talk about this issue a little later!Dad said, you write the receipt first. Dad, that's what I'm going to talk to you about.I've never asked you for money in all these years, and now that I'm engaged, I need some money. Fill out the receipt!What does this have to do with what you said? I think you can give me another hundred dollars. The money is donated to the soldiers, give me the receipt. Freddie said hesitantly: Of course this is donated to the soldiers.He went on to say: It's just that when I wrote the receipt, I thought I should also donate a little money.It's just that after buying the engagement ring, I'm broke and the ring is still unpaid!You wouldn't know about me if I didn't tell you about my engagement. I donate this money to the war, you put it in now, if you dare to take a penny of my hard-earned money Dad, can you lend me one hundred yuan and return it to you when I have money.I'm on a committee and I gotta donate some money to be an example. So this money is not used to buy a ring? No, it is for donation.said Freddie in his professional tone of assurance. Everyone was confused, and Roy and Flora always felt that something was wrong. Dad gave Freddie two more fifty-dollar bills, and he filled out the receipt and gave it to Dad. A week later, when the list of donations was published in the Chinese newspaper, my father was furious. Among the list of donations of 100 yuan was Frederick. A． T．Feng's name, and his father was actually on the list of donating 50 yuan. He called Freddie. what do you mean?Dad asked. Dad, let me explain. It's against the law, what good have you done? Let me explain, Dad, I will pay you back one hundred yuan, and you have nothing to lose! I have nothing to lose?You took two hundred dollars from me and said that you would donate them to the war, but as soon as you changed hands, it became fifty dollars, and you got a hundred and fifty dollars for yourself.Are those soldiers lost?I have the receipt you gave me, if I take this receipt to the foundation, do you think you can explain anything else? Dad, you know I never lied, I was honest with anyone, I always have been. You are dishonest with your own family. Dad, don't be angry, you won't ruin my reputation.I really need that money desperately.Your donation of 50 yuan is considered very high among laundry workers. And you yourself donated a hundred yuan outright. This is different.Freddy's voice hardened a little.You know, everybody knows who I am.I have to donate one hundred yuan, but you are still a lot.The Feng family donated a total of 150 yuan.My glory is your glory, no laundromat donates more than we do.I need that extra money to buy a ring. If you can't afford a ring, you don't need to get engaged at all.Dad said angrily, but there was nothing he could do.He knew he wouldn't reveal his son's misdeeds, and he knew Freddy was sure of it. What kind of girl are you going to marry? Dad, you don't know what she looks like.She is a very good girl and you will be proud of her. Haven't I seen her? No, but you will see her, she is quite well-known among Chinese people! Even if this incident is over, the one who is really angry is Flora.She hasn't had a diamond ring so far, big or small. three In Shangcheng District, there is an organization called the Chinese Women's War Rescue Committee, and its influence extends to Chinatown. There is a girl on the women's committee who teaches in Chinatown.Ace.Cai, the Chinese school hired directly from Shanghai, because the elderly in Chinatown, they need someone who can speak Mandarin Chinese, usually almost everyone in Chinatown speaks Cantonese.The Chinese class is held in the evening, and Chinese students learn Chinese here from four o'clock to before dinner after school in regular schools.Ace was recommended by her school and is very good at speaking Mandarin and teaching Chinese.The elders in Chinatown like classical literature, and Ai Si is from a scholarly family in Fujian. She is only a third-year student in college, but when she heard about this opportunity to go to the United States, after a lot of hard work, Finally, she won this opportunity and came to the United States alone. The work done by the Women's Committee in Chinatown was discovered by Tom.He was on the wall of the school in Chinatown, looking at the war news posters, and saw a young and beautiful Chinese girl, holding paste in both hands, and some posters with half-dried writing, coming out of the school gate.The girl has straight hair with curls at the ends, which is softly draped over her shoulders; she is wearing a black woolen cheongsam, which looks simple and elegant.She was so engrossed in the poster that she didn't even see Tom standing next to her.Tom was looking at her from the side. She had a small frame, a detailed face, two bright eyes, lively yet demure.It seemed to Tom that she was a girl who had stepped out of the illustrations of a thread-bound novel, looking so unattainable and so charming.When she came out, she took a brush out of the paste jar and slowly brushed it on the wall with unfamiliar hands, holding the poster in the other hand.Her movements are very slow, and the way she holds the brush is like holding a brush, which looks very strange. Whether it is the movement of the wrist, the position of the thumb and other fingers, it looks like a big calligrapher writing, slender His fingers are as white and tender as onion tubes.When she swiped left and right, the jade bracelet in her hand was sliding on her arm. Tom stared blankly.He felt as if he heard a note that he had heard before but was forgotten deep in his heart, and he also remembered when and where he heard this music.He didn't know it himself, he was completely controlled by emotion.She had a brush in one hand, a paste jar and a poster in the other, and Tom was eager to help her, but was strangely timid.When she finished brushing, and stooped to put the paste-jar on the floor, Tom wanted to help her carry it, but he could not muster the courage.She gently pasted the poster to the wall, then smoothed it out with the palm of her hand, pressing gently with her fingertips. This poster is purely female. On the top of the poster is a bust of a modern woman, which is completely outlined with thin black lines.Below is a cry from women asking for automated help.After pasting it up, she looked at what she wrote, and found that when she smoothed the poster with her hands, she accidentally touched the undried circle next to the first line, and the traces of red ink stained the side.She hesitated for a moment, then angrily decided to tear off the poster. oh!it's a pity!Tom cried out involuntarily. As soon as she turned, she saw Tom's flushed face. This is smudged and I'm going to rewrite one.She spoke in Mandarin, and Tom couldn't understand what she was saying. She stooped for the paste jar, and Tom stepped forward to help. I will do it myself.She looked at Tom, smiling timidly at the same time.Tom was wearing a shirt unbuttoned, tie and hat, looking like a college boy. Can I get it for you?Tom speaks Cantonese politely and respectfully. if you are willing to.Her tone was extremely soft. Tom followed her into the school office, not knowing what to say. You are seeking aspiring women. Department!Department! (Cantonese, meaning yes) You've seen it. She spoke Cantonese with a strange accent, and Tom just smiled.She knows her Cantonese is ridiculous, but she likes to speak it because she has only recently learned it. You're laughing at my Cantonese, I know.she said with a smile. No!Tom said.Then he said: When you speak Tangshan dialect, you have a foreign accent. Yeah?And you are Chinese, but you can't speak the Mandarin of Tangshan.She finished the long sentence carefully in Cantonese. What kind of language is Tangshan?Tangshan is China.During the Tang Dynasty, the empire expanded outward, and people from southern China to overseas all said that they were Tang people, or people from Tang Dynasty, Chinese, and Tangshan people. If you're looking for aspiring women, I can bring Eva. Who is Eva? my sister. Where do you live? Tom told her, then asked: What are you going to do with these posters now? Get another one. Can I watch from the side? as you like! She took another piece of pink paper and began to write on it.Tom watched, completely taken in by the way she wrote, the way she drew, and the whole of her being.He looked at her face under the black hair, its lines were so soft; her nose was small and pointed, and her lips moved unconsciously when she was brushing.Tom saw a modern Chinese woman holding a writing brush with her wrist raised at a steep angle, writing beautiful characters.Tom seemed to have entered a world he was unfamiliar with.Not only the words she wrote, but also her movements, her posture, all belong to ancient China, and even her graceful skeleton seems to be from another century.When she spoke to Tom, she did not turn her face to look at him, but lifted her eyes slightly, and then looked at her poster again.From this angle Tom watched the expression in her eyes. You are the Chinese teacher here, right? Yes!And you?What are you doing I am a laundry worker.Ace gave him a suspicious look.laundry worker.Tom repeated it.He threw the word at her, as if casually, to see how she would react. You are so young, you should learn more.she says. I'm still studying.Our family is here.Where are you from? I am from Fujian, your neighboring province.But I grew up in Shanghai. May I know your name? Ace.Cai (Tsai). Ace wrote her name on a piece of paper. oh!Your surname is Choy, Miss Choy. Don't call me Miss Choy. Why? It sounds awkward, and we are all Chinese, we should speak correct Chinese.My surname is Cai.You should learn Mandarin. I'd love to learn if someone taught me. Ace.Tsai glanced up quickly, and Tom's eyes sparkled. I am here to teach Mandarin Chinese.she said softly. Her poster was written, and Tom picked up the paste jar, and they walked out of the school gate together, and when the poster was put up, Ace said to Tom: Bring your sister, we need a lot of help. Then she said good-bye to Tom, as if she had closed a business, and went into the school gate.