Mulberry and Peach by Hualing Nieh Page B

university were released. Some people say that Nationalist Commander Fu Tso-i is talking peace with the Eighth Army, and that he wants to form a coalition government with them. Other people say that Fu Tso-i is withdrawing to the Northwest to join forces with Ma Hung-k’uei. Anyway, Peking will never be the same. Someone else said . . .’
    â€˜Hsing-hsing, stop it, don’t go on!’ says Aunt Shen lying on the k’ang with her face to the wall.
    â€˜Hsing-hsing,’ laughs Chia-kang. ‘Tell us some good news, not bad news. We’re just doing fine here, and then you come bursting in like a firecracker with all this bad news. May I ask where you got all these rumours?’
    â€˜Rumours? Things are changing out there. You are still shut up at home playing Second Master Shen. There are all sorts of reports on
the bulletin board at school. We don’t even go to class anymore. Everyone is wriggling and dancing to the Rice-sprout Song.’
    â€˜Hsing-hsing, are you happy that the Eighth Army is coming?’
    â€˜Why should I be happy? I’m just not afraid, that’s all.’
    â€˜Do you think that once the Eighth Army arrives, your family will have an easy time? Your grandfather was a wealthy landlord and your father is an official in Nanking!’
    â€˜That has nothing to do with me. My mother and I are victims of the old society. My father hasn’t paid any attention to my mother for more than ten years. He took his concubine and her children to the South to live in luxury. We never had any part of it. My mother stayed home and took care of his parents. When the old lady died, she was the one who had to find someone for the old man. Joy!’
    â€˜Hai!’ Joy is still sitting on the k’ang, massaging Aunt Shen’s legs. She is still grinning.
    â€˜Joy, my grandfather has your new room all ready for you. He has even bought the flowers you’ll wear!’
    â€˜White lilies.’
    Hsing-hsing laughs. ‘Silly girl, even if it were summer now, you couldn’t find white lilies in Peking. No fresh flowers or vegetables can come into the city. You have to pay gold for cabbages. Aunt, I came today about Joy . . .’
    â€˜Has the old gentleman changed his mind?’ says Aunt Shen, suddenly turning over.
    â€˜He won’t change his mind! He wants her to come earlier. He says that things are getting worse and worse. When the Eighth Army enters the city, he won’t be able to marry Joy.
    â€˜He had wanted to invite enough guests to fill two tables at the wedding banquet. Now the guests can’t come. Some suddenly left for the South. Others are moving to smaller houses. Some have set up stalls in Tung-tan selling things. Others are trying to get plane reservations to escape. The old gentleman asked me to come over and ask Auntie if Joy could come over tomorrow.’
    â€˜How can I bear to see Joy leave? For the past few years, I have had to have my legs massaged day and night. These days you have to give up whoever wants to leave and whatever you have to throw away. Come and get her tomorrow.’
    â€˜Joy!’
    â€˜Hai!’
    â€˜Pack up your things. I’ll come get you early tomorrow.’
    â€˜Hai!’ Joy’s grin widens.

    â€˜Lately the old gentleman has been very cheerful, even praising my mother for being a good daughter-in-law. Things are getting worse and worse. All the scrolls in the house have been taken down and packed away. He took out a painting of the sun rising in the East above the ocean and hung it in the parlour. He said it had a double meaning: it’s supposed to bring good luck and decorate the room, but it also could welcome the Red Army. Mulberry,’ Hsing-hsing suddenly turns to me, ‘I really envy you. You came up here to the North all by yourself. The South really is more open-minded. I’ve never been to the South, but I really want to go. When I think of the South, I think