Fiction: Group 4
He was a boy of ideas and opinions. He was a political young man, believing in building a stronger home
country. He was a soldier, serving the government. He was a friend of her father. She felt in love with him
the moment she met him. Their love was young and passionate and well – revolutionary. After enduring
years of war, they thought a peaceful time and a New China would come, and they would live happily ever
after. They never knew how wrong they were, for another war would arrive, one that was fought between
brothers and neighbors, tearing up families and couples once again.
*
Gwen retrieved an old sepia photo from the heaves of useless items. The two people in the photo made her
take an interest in it.
“Grandma, this is you… but that is not Grandpa. Am I right?” Gwen pointed at a young girl in pigtail braids
and a boy of similar age in military uniform in the picture.
“How long are you working in Guangzhou, my dear?” Grandma asked.
“Oh, I’m not sure. I have signed a contract of two years,” Gwen replied. “No, that isn’t Grandpa. Grandpa
didn’t even look like this.”
“Oh shush. Why can’t young people be quiet these days?”
“No, but – “
Grandma obviously chose to stay deaf for the moment.
“When are you bringing me to see your little boyfriend?” Grandma asked bluntly.
“Oh, he’s in Hong Kong now. He is not coming with me,” she shrugged. “You know there is this new
bridge they are building? Travelling between Hong Kong and Guangzhou would be even faster in the
future. If you want to go to Hong Kong, I can bring you there.”
“You won’t see him for more than a year then?”
“I’m not sure. His is going to Macau soon, so if I get the chance to work there, I may go and meet up with
him. He is going to the States next month, so I don’t really know. I have to work. He has to work. I guess
we will try squeeze some time. We now talk on the phone every day.”
Grandma looked at this young girl talking about her boyfriend.
Oh, young love.
“Anyway, who is that boy in the picture?” Gwen definitely had no intention to let the topic drop.
Grandma just kept chuckling and paid more attention to the daisies on the window ledge than she probably
should.
“Dad doesn’t know about it, right? If you are not telling me, I’ll ask him,” Gwen urged.
Grandma was soft-hearted when it came to her only granddaughter. “Okay girl, time to keep quiet.”
*
She was reading a book while listening to the radio that afternoon. She wasn’t reading actually. She was too
distracted by the radio. “The Communists are coming to Guangzhou.” They said. Her father was coming
home from work soon, so were her brothers.
“It is okay, the war is ending soon,” her sister said to her, though her smile couldn’t cover the doubts in her
eyes.
It was the year 1949. She wasn’t sure if she wanted the war to end or not. The ending of the war would
mean the defeat of the Nationalists, but if the fighting carried on, it would mean a higher chance for him to
lose his life.
*
“Oh Grandma, you
had
a past,” Gwen expressed her surprise.
She suddenly realized how silent Grandma had become. The spark in Grandma’s eyes died away, replaced
with creased eyebrows on that aged face.
“Tell me what happened, please?” Gwen asked.
*
The door bell rang.
“May I speak to Lady Ling?” Standing at the doorsteps was him, in his full military uniform, looking as
handsome as eve.
She met him at the door. Before he spoke, she could already feel the sense of urgency and danger.
“We are losing.” He started off directly. “The Communists’ army is coming to town in a few hours. We
have suffered too many losses and they are stronger than ever before.”
Ling expected this, didn’t she? She had heard too much on the radio.
