Gold Mountain Blues - Ling Zhang [264]
At five minutes to eight, Ah-Yuen pulled a whistle out of his pocket and blew three sharp blasts to assemble the student body. The sports grounds was already crowded with teachers, pupils and some of the local country folk. Ah-Yuen and Kam Sau released the rope binding the flag and the wind snatched at the material with a savage snap. The rays of the rising sun burnished the fields, the school, the flag and the people in a glow of crimson.
Ah-Yuen mounted the mud-brick platform and began to shout: “Boys and girls.…” His voice suddenly cracked and the words would not come out. “The good times are finally here!” was all he could say.
There was a crackle of applause from all around the sports grounds. Ah-Yuen turned to look at Kam Sau, but she was not applauding. She had buried her face in her hands and her shoulders shook.
“Oh, Dad, I wish you had lived to see this day!” She sobbed for the father she had never seen.
The next day was Sunday and Kam Sau and Ah-Yuen set off for the village with their daughter, Wai Heung. The girl was attending the upper primary class at the School for All now, but Six Fingers missed her so much that she insisted that Wai Heung spend Sundays with her. She offered to go and fetch her granddaughter herself but Kam Sau was anxious to spare her mother the journey. Six Fingers was getting on, and it was a long way for her to walk.
When they arrived, Six Fingers and Mak Dau were horrified at the sight of Ah-Yuen’s head wound. Ah-Yuen succeeded in reassuring them with a sketchy account of what had happened, and they sat down to dinner.
Six Fingers cuddled Wai Heung and showered her with endearments. “What did you study at school this week, sweetheart?” “Dancing.” “Dancing?! What kind of a lesson is that, dear?” exclaimed her grandmother. “Should people like us be learning dancing?” “My dad’s been teaching us folk dances for the Victory March in Canton.” Six Fingers was looking more and more bewildered. “What Victory March?” Kam Sau and Ah-Yuen exchanged smiles. “Haven’t you heard, Mum? Canton’s been liberated. In a few days there’ll be a big ceremony to welcome PLA’s official entry into Canton. All the children from our school will be taking part.”
“Another new dynasty? So soon!” exclaimed Six Fingers. “Don’t talk about it as if it was an Imperial dynasty, Mum,” said Kam Sau. “The Communist Party is the people’s government. We common folks rule, not an emperor.” “That’s what the Nationalist government said too. Do you really believe it?” Kam Sau’s voice rose angrily. “Mum, no more backward talk like that. The Communist Party is different. Life will get better, you’ll see.”
“We’ll have to wait and see if the Communist Party is better or not. But my little Wai Heung’s definitely not joining the march. There’ll be far too many people. She might get lost and someone might kidnap her. Then what would we do?”
Wai Heung had been rehearsing the dances for the last two days and went white in the face when she heard that she would not be allowed to go. She tugged at her grandmother’s sleeve. “Granny, I’ll stick close to Mum and Dad. I promise you I won’t get lost.”
At the look of disappointment on Wai Heung’s face, Mak Dau softened at once. “Let her go,” he said to Six Fingers. “It’s not as if she’s going out alone. She won’t get lost.” Six Fingers’ face tightened with anger. “Doesn’t anyone take any notice of what I say any more?”
Ah-Yuen gave his daughter a little kick under the table, as a hint she should keep quiet, but the girl banged down her rice bowl, and ran to her room, slamming the door behind her as she went. Kam Sau went after her but nothing she could say stemmed the flow of tears. Finally she said: “Your dad says when the time comes, you’ll be going. Only don’t tell your granny.” Wai Heung smiled through her tears.
Ah-Yuen and Kam Sau spent the night at the diulau but neither could sleep. Suddenly he wanted her very much. Kam Sau had refused to allow her