Chapter 59: Village music soothes homesickness; old friends reunite to celebrate the wedding
In the autumn of 1966, Luo Guoyun led a visiting delegation and arrived at Taipei Songshan Airport with Xiao Xiangyue on a special plane.
Luo Guoyun's original reason for traveling to the United States was to treat his injuries, not to resign. Although the Southwest and Northwest Army Commander-in-Chief no longer held a formal position, he remained a general in the Kuomintang Army. His return to Taiwan was a significant event for the entire island and the Party-state. The Chairman was in poor health, so his wife and a group of high-ranking officials personally greeted him at the airport.
After twenty years, Luo Guoyun finally donned his military uniform again, his posture as straight and dignified as ever. He walked down the red carpet and waved to the military honor guards lined up at the airport. At fifty-five, his face bears the marks of time, yet his features remain distinct, and his years of martial arts training have preserved his impressive figure.
Although Luo Guoyun has never returned to Taiwan in recent years, the Moen Group has invested in numerous companies on the island, including in emerging sectors like electronics, new materials, and manufacturing, many of which are backed by the group's capital. Taiwan is poor in mineral resources, especially oil and natural gas, which rely almost entirely on imports. For years, the Moen Group has supplied non-ferrous metals like coal and copper through various channels, significantly boosting the island's economic development. Luo Guoyun's delegation to Taiwan this time includes many global experts and business owners from various fields, who are visiting Taiwan to conduct research and discuss investment opportunities.
Although most of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers who initially accompanied the Yishui army to Taiwan have since retired, in the military dependents' villages, former members of the Luo Family Army always receive more gifts and gifts than other units during festivals, sometimes even direct cash payments. The children of former Luo Family Army members receive priority employment at companies invested by the Morn Consortium, and some have even taken positions at the consortium's global organizations. Therefore, despite Luo Guoyun's overseas presence over the past twenty years, he has provided valuable care and support to everyone, his influence pervasive.
The official welcoming ceremony was grand and lavish, with flashing lights. Xiao Xiangyue, wearing a stand-up collar windbreaker and a hat, remained discreet, following behind Yi Shui and the others. When they reached the car, Luo Guyun turned around, took his hand, and asked him to take his seat before getting in.
The airport was packed with people. Despite the police maintaining order, some people were still desperately pushing their way forward. While Xiao Xiangyue had many fans on the island, with the exception of a very small number of people, the public was unaware of his arrival in Taiwan. The tens of thousands of people huddled outside the airport were all former members of Luo Guoyun's staff. They had heard the commander-in-chief had finally returned to Taiwan and had rushed to greet him.
Luo Guoyun saw many familiar faces in the crowd and rolled down his window to wave. The crowd became even more turbulent, and the motorcade couldn't move forward. He had no choice but to get out of the car himself, accompanied by guards and officials, to calm the crowd, which was almost out of control.
A man in his forties rushed out of the crowd, shouting, "Commander-in-Chief! I'm the bugler! Bugler! Mr. Xiao, did Mr. Xiao come back with you?" He tried to grab Luo Guoyun but was blocked by the guards. He burst into tears, "We all know that the commander-in-chief hasn't come back yet because he has no choice... The commander-in-chief is earning US dollars abroad to spend on us! We all know that the commander-in-chief has been taking care of us..."
An elderly man in his seventies, wearing reading glasses and leaning on a cane, was supported by a young man. He squeezed in front of Luo Guyun, tears streaming down his face. "Luo... Commander-in-Chief Luo! General Luo! Young Master Luo! How are you?" Luo Guyun grabbed his hand and said, "Mayor Zhang Tingyun! I told Adjutant Yi that I would make a special trip to visit you another day... Why are you here at the airport?" Zhang Tingyun said, "I can't wait... I heard that the Commander-in-Chief was returning to Taiwan, and I was so excited that I haven't slept well in days..."
Luo Guoyun had not originally planned to give a speech at the airport, but public sentiment was so intense that he had to make a brief impromptu speech. He loudly announced that he had returned to Taiwan and would not be leaving for a while. Everyone should rest assured that he would arrange time to meet with brothers and friends.
Luo Guoyun returned to the car, and the people automatically stood on both sides, making way for the motorcade. The motorcade slowly drove to the Grand Hotel where the delegation was staying.
Seeing tears in his eyes, Xiao Xiangyue felt extremely distressed. She held his hand tightly and comforted him silently.
Yi Shui teased, "How does it feel to be back on your home turf?" Luo Guyun replied hoarsely, "Thanks to my eldest brother, he took over the heavy responsibility from my third brother's shoulders... Without my eldest brother, my third brother wouldn't have been able to enjoy the past twenty years of his carefree life..."
That evening, the Taiwanese authorities hosted a banquet for the visiting delegation at the Grand Hotel. Luo Guoyun and Xiao Xiangyue went to the Veterans General Hospital to visit the chairman, who was hospitalized for heart problems.
Seeing that the ruler who had dominated the country many years ago was now an old man lying on a sickbed, Luo Guyun could not help but sigh.
The chairman, supported by his wife, sat up and said repeatedly, "Guoyun is finally back! Xiangyue is back too! She's finally willing to come back to see an old man like me..."
Luo Guyun held his skinny hand: "The doctor repeatedly told us not to excite the chairman. Let's talk slowly..." His wife sat beside the bed: "After so many years, Guyun and Xiangyue are still so respectful and equal. It's really enviable..."
"In recent years, the brilliant achievements that Guoyun and Xiangyue have achieved together overseas are the pride of us Chinese..." The chairman's voice was hoarse and he was running out of breath when he spoke.
Luo Guoyun said, "Chairman, you are too kind... Yue'er's achievements in music are truly brilliant... As for Guoyun, he is just full of money..."
"General, you are too modest! The wealth of your Moen Group is equivalent to Taiwan's total economic income in ten years!" said Jingguo, the chairman's son who was accompanying him.
The chairman spoke in a Ningbo accent, "I know that although I'm overseas, I care about the Party and the country! The improvement of Taiwan's economy in recent years is due to I'm working hard to mediate, bringing a large amount of capital and advanced technology to our island... He also took good care of his old subordinates..." His expression darkened, "I'm a man of both literary and military skills, both moral and talented. He is a rare and good general for our Party and the country. I only regret that my moral character is not enough to make you completely submit to me. If I hadn't left overseas, history might have been rewritten..."
Jingguo said, "In terms of seniority, I am one year older than General Chi, so I can call you my dear brother... Brother Guyun, would you consider staying in Taiwan permanently? The Party and the State can entrust you with an important position..."
"This...Guoyun is used to a free and easy life, and is not very good at the officialdom..." Luo Guyun hurriedly expressed his opinion.
The lady smiled and said, "Given Gu Yun's current global influence, it would obviously be more appropriate for him to stay overseas. Does Taiwan still need a bureaucrat?"
The chairman nodded, "Madam is right...Guoyun is determined to be like Tao Zhugong, and to follow Fan Li and Xi Shi in retreat. We can't force him..." He sighed again, "I have been living in this tiny place, and I have always wanted to return to the mainland! Now that the mainland has nuclear weapons, the counterattack is obviously a bubble...I have realized that warmongering is not the way out. Only by developing the economy and ensuring that the people live a good life is the kingly way...Guoyun understood this truth more than 20 years ago. In this respect, I am ashamed of myself..."
Madam Xiao Xiangyue, who had been sitting nearby, smiling and listening to everyone's conversation, said, "Although Taiwan doesn't have a world-class concert hall, the entire island is your loyal fan! Since Xiangyue is here, I'm afraid you would condescend to hold a few concerts?" Xiao Xiangyue bowed and said, "Madam, please forgive me. I have decided not to perform publicly anymore..."
The chairman was a little excited. "What's going on in mainland China with the Cultural Revolution? It's a complete collapse of social order! I'm planning to launch a Chinese Cultural Renaissance movement in Taiwan. Are Guoyun and Xiangyue interested in participating?"
When talking about the situation in mainland China, everyone felt heavy-hearted and fell silent for a moment.
The lady warmly invited: "Now that Guoyun and Xiangyue are back, don't rush to leave. Wait for the chairman to be discharged from the hospital in a few days. Why don't you just stay at the Shilin official residence and get closer to each other..."
Back at the Grand Hotel's villa, Luo Guoyun was feeling agitated today, memories flooding back like a tide. A thousand emotions filled his heart, and his face was a little gloomy.
After washing up, they both put on bathrobes. Xiao Xiangyue took out a guqin and pulled him to sit on the futon. She said playfully, "Brother, close your eyes and listen to Yue'er sing a song before you rest."
After a burst of tinkling piano music, Xiao Xiangyue's ethereal and clear voice sang in unison:
The Yangtze River rolls eastward, its waves washing away heroes. Right and wrong, success and failure, are all in vain. The green mountains remain, the sunsets crimson again and again. A white-haired fisherman and woodcutter on the riverbank, accustomed to watching the autumn moon and spring breeze. A pot of muddy wine brings joy to our reunion, and so many events, past and present, are all turned into jokes.
The vast, ancient rhythm conveys a sense of open-minded relief and profound compassion. It allows the listener to empty their mind, watching the disputes, successes and failures, rise and fall in the long river of time, emerge and dissipate... In an instant, they realize that all merits, faults, honors and disgraces are but a faint stroke in the long scroll of history, ultimately returning to nothingness...
Luo Guyun was surprised and asked, "Isn't this Yang Shen's 'Linjiangxian'? When did Yue'er compose this music?"
Xiao Xiangyue smiled and said, "Today in the chairman's ward, when you were talking, Yue'er was listening beside you. When I thought of this poem, a melody came into my mind..."
Luo Guyun hugged him from behind, pulled off the bathrobe on his shoulders, kissed the crabapple branch on his back, and said in a hoarse voice: "Yue'er is my brother's sweetheart..."
Over 100,000 soldiers and officers of the Luo Family Army who followed the Yishui River to Taiwan were settled in military dependents' villages across the country. Thousands of soldiers and families lived together in simple, cramped quarters. But as refugees in a foreign land, the villages fostered a sense of community and support, fostering a strong sense of community.
This time when they came to Taiwan, Roy was already of elementary school age and could no longer travel around the world with them. After Sun Mu's funeral, they arranged for Daxue to go to Houston and live with Xiaoxue. The two sisters took care of each other and accompanied Roy to study. Qin Ling wanted to follow, but Xiao Xiangyue didn't want him to delay his studies and insisted that he not accompany him. Without a caring and capable person to take care of him, and with all kinds of banquets and parties every day, Luo Guyun became even more nervous, fearing that he would eat something inappropriate. Fortunately, after several months of careful care, Xiao Xiangyue's lost weight has grown back and her condition has recovered very well.
Ching-kuo's words that day aroused Luo Guoyun's vigilance. Later, discussing this with Yi Shui, Luo Guoyun feared his return to Taiwan would be misinterpreted by those with ulterior motives. He certainly wouldn't actually live in the Shilin official residence, and he deliberately kept his distance from the Chairman and his wife. Every day, he would take Xiao Xiangyue to meet with old friends or visit the military dependents' villages to comfort his former subordinates and their families.
Every time they arrived at a place, the soldiers and their families would burst into tears upon seeing the commander-in-chief, constantly asking when they could return to the mainland. Luo Guoyun was speechless... The tide of the times was beyond his control, but the heavy responsibility on his shoulders was unshirkable... He channeled his guilt into concrete actions. Due to the island's power shortage, the Moren Consortium hired French nuclear power experts to build a nuclear power plant. They also allocated funds for the construction of roads, bathhouses, school buildings, hospitals, cafeterias, and nurseries...
Xiao Xiangyue understood his feelings and did her best to help him bring comfort to these wanderers in a foreign land. Most of the soldiers and their families were his fans, but they didn't see him as a lofty, great musician; they just considered him one of their own. Xiao Xiangyue no longer performed on stage, but instead sang familiar songs with everyone in the dam of the military dependents' village. Music is the ultimate solace to the soul. From Taipei, Taichung, Hualien, Kaohsiung... stopping along the way, it eventually evolved into an open-air concert for tens of thousands of people.
The scene was deeply moving. The wanderers sang songs of homesickness, shed tears of longing, their feelings of homelessness seemingly finding a profound outlet... The accompanying adjutants all joked, "Mr. Xiangyue is truly amazing!" The commander-in-chief's wealth and material possessions seemed insignificant compared to his spiritual appetite...
Conditions in the military dependents' villages were difficult, so Luo Guoyun ordered several RVs and had them airlifted to Taiwan. When they couldn't find a place to stay, they would rest in the RVs. Sometimes, the two of them would ride bicycles through the alleys of the military dependents' villages or along the long coastline, exploring the entire island.
Half a year has passed in the blink of an eye.
On his fiftieth birthday, Xiao Xiangyue invited the symphony orchestra of the Royal Academy of Music in Switzerland to Taiwan for an open-air performance at the largest military dependents' village outside Taipei, attended by tens of thousands of spectators. It was a birthday he considered to be most memorable.
After the performance, a little girl, about fourteen or fifteen, squeezed through the crowd and approached Xiao Xiangyue, holding a copy of his music album and timidly asking for his autograph. The adjutant introduced her, "This is Officer Deng's daughter, Lijun. She loves singing and is known as our local Little White Spirit Bird." The girl summoned her courage and said, "I... I really love your music, but I have a question for you..."
Xiao Xiangyue smiled softly, "Little sister, please speak. It's not so much asking for advice as it is discussing it together." The girl said, "Sir, do you think there's a difference between serious classical music and popular music? Which kind of music is more valuable?"
Xiao Xiangyue replied seriously, "I composed some popular music in my early years, and after going abroad, I created many serious musical works. I think they are like different languages in the world of music. One takes you through time and space to experience the profoundness of art, while the other accompanies you to share the joys and sorrows of the present, and together they compose the rich emotions and thoughts of humanity. Therefore, I believe that there is no distinction between high and low music. Every kind of music has its own unique charm and value, and it deserves to be cherished and appreciated with an equal attitude."
The girl said happily: "Lijun understands! Sir! Thank you..."
During his six months in Taiwan, Xiao Xiangyue made many friends, from all walks of life. He learned how to bake pineapple cakes, make sausages, and even learn how to make the intricate process of preparing mullet roe from a skilled craftsman. The islanders were simple and honest, and safety was a given, so Luo Guoyun let him be. One day, while helping someone cut sugarcane in a sugarcane field, he developed an allergic reaction to the hairy leaves, breaking out in rashes on his arms and neck. After several days of bathing in a herbal bath using Sun Mu's recipe, the rashes gradually subsided. Luo Guoyun, deeply distressed, saw that he was about to go pick tea leaves and wax apples again, so he forbade him from going. He took him back to the Taipei Grand Hotel's villa to rest.
At the Grand Hotel, Xiao Xiangyue was busy too. Every day, all kinds of people came to see him. Some wanted autographs, some had written songs for him to revise, and some simply wanted to see him...
That day, Luo Guyun returned to his room after a meeting with French nuclear experts. Xiao Xiangyue's eyes followed him around. Luo Guyun was amused: "What does Yue'er want me to do now?"
Xiao Xiangyue came over and put her arm around his neck. "That bugler, Cui Jinbao, had five children after arriving in Taiwan. He was living in poverty and wanted to open a shop in the military dependents' village, but he didn't know what to sell. He came to me this afternoon to ask for advice... Yue'er thought, doesn't your brother have a good skill in making shrimp wontons? I'll teach him how to open a breakfast shop and sell 'General Wontons' to provide a living for his family..."
Luo Guyun said: "How difficult is that? I'll teach him, and when the shop opens, I'll go and support him in person..."
Above the simple wooden house of only a few square meters, there is a sign of "General Wonton" written by Luo Guyun himself. Diners line up at the door, and if you come too late, you can't get any food... Many years later, Jinbao's "General Wonton" breakfast shop has become a famous old brand and a classic snack that must be eaten when visiting Taiwan.
The two of them had some free time that day. Yi Shui discussed with them that he was over sixty and didn't want to bother with anything anymore. His sister-in-law Liu Ruifang had been with him for many years, so he should give her a proper status. He wanted to hold the wedding while they were in Taiwan. Luo Guoyun said happily, "Great! Big brother is finally willing to settle down! Let's invite all our relatives and friends from all over the world to Taipei and have a good wedding!"
Yi Shui's wedding was scheduled for June 18th, at the Grand Hotel. A few days in advance, relatives and friends from around the world began arriving. Yi Han's private jet also arrived from Hong Kong, and Luo Guyun and Xiao Xiangyue personally went to the airport to greet their second brother.
Ban Deng was beaming as he walked down the gangway arm in arm with a gorgeous blonde woman. Xiao Xiangyue's mouth dropped open. This... isn't this Catherine? Ban Deng happily tugged at him, "Catherine and I have already scheduled our wedding for September. The General and Yue'er have been in Taiwan. To save you, we plan to sail a cruise ship from Greece to Keelung Harbor, and hold the wedding on board. I came here this time just to tell Yue'er the good news in person..."
Xiao Xiangyue felt as if all three perspectives were shattered.
Luo Guyun laughed and said, "The wind is strong at the airport, let's get in the car!" He was even more suspicious: "Why...Brother...you...you knew it a long time ago?"
For over five hundred days and nights that Xiao Xiangyue was in a coma, people from all walks of life lined up every day to visit him. Luo Guoyun also felt that if more people spoke to him, perhaps he would wake up. Princess Bena, Princess Elsa, Miss Hepburn...were all regular visitors. Ban Deng also lived in the Moren Building and often told him all sorts of interesting stories from his childhood in Lizhuang.
That day, Luo Guoyun was in a meeting at the Morn Consortium headquarters on the 80th floor. A guard downstairs reported, "General, a woman has come to visit Mr. Xiao. She claims to be your old...old lover." Luo Guoyun checked the surveillance video and saw it was Catherine, dressed voluptuously. Unwilling to let her talk nonsense in the lobby, he ordered the guards to take her to the private club on the 88th floor.
After Luo Guoyun finished the meeting, his secretary reminded him that Ms. Catherine was still waiting. Arriving at the club, he found Ban Bench chatting animatedly with Catherine. He was bragging about how his two uncles had grown up together in Lizhuang, how they had fallen in love with each other, and how he had been the flower boy on their wedding day...
As soon as Catherine saw him, she rushed over passionately, kissing him and teasing him: "Your sweetheart has turned into a mummy. General, is it fun to guard a living dead?"
Luo Guyun pushed her away angrily: "Miss Catherine, if you keep talking nonsense, I'll have to kick you out!" Catherine giggled and said, "I came here specifically to visit Mr. Chalad! Why don't we do it in front of him? Maybe it will wake him up..."
Luo Guyun didn't bother to pay attention to her. He told Banben to see the guest off and turned to leave.
Catherine shouted behind him, "Young Mr. Charade is incredibly handsome! But he will eventually grow old and lose his beauty! When beauty fades, love fades... I don't believe that when his face is covered with wrinkles, the general will still love him as much as before!"
Ban Bench was full of confidence: "I, Ban Bench, have a bet with Miss Catherine! You will definitely not live to see the day when the general's love for Yue'er fades..."
Catherine stamped her feet and said, "Let's bet! I just don't believe there is such a deep and lasting love in this world!"
A few days later, Catherine returned to the Morn Building. This time, she wasn't alone. She brought with her a handsome man in his early twenties, who appeared to be Korean. She went straight to the bench and said, "The general is indifferent to me. I guess he doesn't like women! I don't believe he wouldn't be tempted by such a handsome man."
The luxurious club was a hazy place, a saxophonist playing soft, romantic music. Yi Han chatted animatedly with several business partners over wine. Luo Guyun strode in. A handsome man, holding a glass of red wine, accidentally spilled some on his chest and hurriedly and attentively tried to wipe it off.
Seeing this man was unfamiliar, Luo Guoyun took a step back and said coldly, "No need to trouble you, sir." He sat down next to Yi Han and asked, "Second brother, what's the matter with you, third brother, so anxious?" Yi Han laughed and said, "It's nothing urgent. I have some new friends today. Come on... Let's have a drink and get to know each other."
The handsome man sat down next to Luo Guyun and raised his glass to drink with him. Luo Guyun picked up the glass of mineral water and took a sip. He said to Yi Han, "It's time to feed Yue'er later. You can't drink now. If it's nothing important, second brother will accompany the guests. Third brother will take his leave first." He stood up and was about to leave. The man got anxious and grabbed his arm, as if to act coquettishly: "Since the general is here, don't be in a hurry to leave!" Luo Guyun then took a closer look at the man, a little angry, and said coldly: "What do you want?"
Yi Han knew his third brother's temper and feared he would soon turn hostile... He stopped right there. He scolded the man, "The general wants to leave. Who dares to stop him? What are you doing pulling and tugging?"
Hiding aside, Catherine, who had witnessed this scene, finally gave in. Yi Han burst into laughter: "You want to test Third Brother and trick him? You want him to betray Yue'er? Have an affair with someone else? If you really succeed, it will be the sun rising from the west..."
Ban Bench then led Catherine to the top-floor bedroom. From outside the door, Luo Guyun half-carried Xiao Xiangyue, carefully feeding him a liquid meal made from a variety of nutritious ingredients. He licked any spillage from his lips and kissed her with tongue. He was truly cherishing her, tender and affectionate.
Catherine was stunned and asked in confusion, "Are all you Oriental men so affectionate and loyal?" Ban Bench said proudly, "Of course! The love between my two masters is higher than the sky and deeper than the sea. It can't be described in three days and three nights! If Miss Catherine is interested, I will tell you slowly..." and then he pulled her away quietly.
Catherine, drawn to her daughter, developed a strong interest in oriental men. Perhaps having seen enough of the world of pleasure to be a seasoned courtesan, she was growing weary of the men who approached her with their attentions. A few encounters sparked a romance between her and the straightforward Ban Deng. Besides chatting with Xiao Xiangyue, Ban Deng often met with her in hotels. Luo Guyun was initially opposed, fearing Yue'er would wake up one day and have second thoughts. Yi Han teased, "You really don't understand your Yue'er! She's the sole heir to the Greek shipping magnate, the object of countless men's clamor! A marriage between the Morn Consortium and the shipping magnate group would surely strengthen the company, and our stock would skyrocket..." Luo Guyun reflected, and it made sense. For the benefit of the consortium, Yue'er might even initiate a marriage with him... If Ban Deng could secure her, he would be removing a major threat...
On the way back to the Grand Hotel from the airport, Luo Guoyun recounted the story of how Ban Deng and Catherine met. Sure enough, Xiao Xiangyue responded, "They're both single and they like each other, so being together wouldn't be a problem for anyone else! Even though Ban Deng is a few years older than Catherine, he's quite handsome if you look closely. They're a perfect match..."
Yi Shui's wedding banquet lasted three days. This was mainly because there were too many guests. The soldiers who had accompanied him to Taiwan sent representatives from their regiments to attend. Many lower-ranking soldiers also came to pay their respects. Although he was not a close confidant of the Chairman, he only held a nominal position as an advisor to the Presidential Office. In recent years, with the huge financial resources of the Moren Group, he has become very good at manipulating the government and has been very successful in the officialdom. Yi Shui was generous to his brothers and former subordinates, but he lived a very simple life and never showed off his wealth. He lived in a Japanese-style wooden house near the military dependents' village, shared the hardships with the soldiers, and had a very high prestige in Taiwan.
Luo Guoyun officiated the ceremony, while Xiao Xiangyue played piano music to offer her blessings. The Chairman, who hadn't participated in a public event in a long time, attended the ceremony with his wife. The ceremony was warm and festive, becoming a gathering of military personnel stationed in Taiwan.
After arriving in Taiwan, some of the Nationalist generals Luo Guoyun had been friends with died or were placed under house arrest, and he looked down upon the rest. After the chairman and his wife left the table, he sat down with Zhang Tingyun and several of his old friends from Anyang to chat.
Zhang Tingyun and his children born to his later wife lived in Taiwan, and their lives were not easy. Fortunately, his two eldest sons were already adults and were working with Yi Han in Hong Kong. Although they had not met in recent years, they kept in touch. Zhang Tingyun sighed, "I am old, but I still have two unfulfilled wishes. One is that I want to visit my hometown before I die, and the other is that I miss Jianmei so much that I don't know when I can see her again..." Luo Guyun comforted him, "I had no choice but to leave Erhu and Jianmei in the mainland. Don't worry, uncle, no matter what happens in Taiwan, once the time is right, they will take you back with them."
At the time, Mr. Zhou, the richest man in Anyang and head of the Mining Chamber of Commerce, feared the Communists would seize his wealth if they invaded. On the eve of liberation, he sold all his possessions, took a few boxes of gold, and followed Yi Shui to Taiwan. Over the years, he also participated in the Moen Group's investments in Taiwan, becoming a business partner.
Boss Zhou said, "When I evacuated the mainland, I took nothing with me. The only things I couldn't bear to leave behind were the two plaques inscribed by the Commander-in-Chief at the entrance to the Buddhist temple. They traveled with me across the ocean to Taiwan. A couple of years ago, an auction house approached me, saying that the two plaques were valued at a million! They urged me to sell them, but I couldn't bear to part with them..."
Luo Guoyun was an exceptional calligrapher and painter. Occasionally, his works, which he inscribed for others or presented to friends, were deliberately hyped up by some institutions and fetched sky-high prices in the auction market.
Lin Lirui, the former director of Anyang Hospital, was also present. He had saved Xiao Xiangyue several times in Anyang. He had also been involved in the brothers' stunt of escaping. On the eve of liberation, Yi Han had sent him, now nearly 70, to America to live out his remaining years.
President Lin was close friends with Sun Mu and they often visited. He was deeply saddened by Sun Mu's untimely death. This time, he returned to Taiwan with the delegation to visit his old friend.
Dean Lin said, "There are no fewer than hundreds of thousands of our fellow Anyang people living overseas. Most of them live in poverty. Two years ago, a fellow villager contracted a strange disease in Malaysia. He had no money to treat it and could only lie at home waiting to die. Dr. Sun learned about this by chance when he visited a medicinal material base in Malaysia. He took great pains to cure him. Later, I heard from Dr. Sun that the disease could be prevented in advance, and he wanted to raise funds to establish a preventive medical system. But before he could implement it, he passed away..."
Luo Guyun said, "In that case, the Moen Consortium will invest and name it after Big Brother Sun to establish an epidemic prevention fund. We will also set up an Anyang fellow countryman aid association. Oh, and include fellow countrymen from Yishun and Luling in it. We'll assign someone to investigate..."
Boss Zhou said, "If the Commander-in-Chief has to pay for everything, where will we put our dignity? Besides, we also want to do our part!"
Another fellow villager said, "We're all willing to contribute financially and physically, but we're struggling to come up with much cash... I know a few of my fellow Anyang folks have collections of the Commander-in-Chief's calligraphy and paintings. If they were sold at auction, they would fetch a considerable sum. However, if they were sold en masse, they might affect the market..."
Xiao Xiangyue's eyes rolled. "Wasn't Ban Deng's wedding in September held on a Greek shipping magnate's cruise ship? By then, I guess half the world's wealthy people will be on that ship! Why don't we hold a charity auction on the cruise ship and sell your respective collections of calligraphy and paintings for a good price? We can all contribute to the Anyang Fellows' Aid Association, and the Moren Consortium will be responsible for the infectious disease prevention fund. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"
Luo Guyun laughed: "Yue'er, you have so many ways to make money! It seems that you and your second brother are close friends..."
Bandeng's wedding was extravagant. Following Xiao Xiangyue's idea, the ship's guests included not only wealthy Western businessmen but also world-class collectors. The charity auction included not only Luo Guyun's calligraphy and paintings, but also several unreleased Xiao Xiangyue discs, which fetched high prices. As expected, a large sum of money was raised, and the "Sun Mu Epidemic Prevention Fund" and the "Anyang Fellow Aid Association" were soon established.
Mid-Autumn Festival is here again. Madam had already invited Luo Guoyun and Xiao Xiangyue to a family dinner at the Shilin official residence. She said the chairman didn't want to see anyone else, so she wanted to get together with them.
After the dinner, the Madame took Xiao Xiangyue to admire her paintings. The Chairman dismissed his attendants and had a private conversation with Luo Guoyun in the study.
The chairman's voice trembled, his voice hoarse. "Guoyun is the youngest senior general in the Party-State. When I first met you, I felt that you possessed a determination not often found in young people... How old was Guoyun when we first met? I think he was just in his early twenties?"
Luo Guoyun replied, "Yes, the Chairman is not mistaken. I was exactly twenty-one when I brought my father's former subordinates to meet with the Chairman."
The chairman probed, "Guoyun did not participate in the subsequent civil war and has always maintained good relations with the Communist Party. I heard that the mainland has repeatedly invited you, so why haven't you returned yet?"
Luo Guyun pondered, unsure how to respond. He hadn't returned initially because Xiao Xiangyue had lost her memory. Although her memory had returned over the years, Yue'er still couldn't let go of the destruction of Lizhuang and the tragic deaths of Aunt Chun and Uncle Deng. He himself had his doubts about the mainland's practices and didn't want to be associated with them.
The chairman sighed, "Even if I didn't tell you, I could probably guess the reason. I heard that you were very close to Mr. Shizhi when you were in the United States. The ideas of freedom and the spirit of democracy that Mr. Shizhi advocated are contrary to the policies of the mainland. I guess I don't agree with the Communist Party's way of doing things..."
Luo Guoyun was very close to Mr. Hu Shi, whom the Chairman mentioned. He was both his teacher and friend. They had frequented each other in the United States, but unfortunately he passed away a few years ago.
The chairman said, "I've invited Gu Yun back to Taiwan to ask for an important favor... I've already made a will, stating that after my death, my coffin will not be buried. I hope to be buried in my ancestral tomb in Cixi one day. I know this is extremely difficult. Today, I entrust this wish to Gu Yun. You are the most suitable person to fulfill this wish. I hope that Gu Yun will intervene at the appropriate time."
駱孤雲站起身，鄭重作揖：“孤雲定會在有生之年，盡最大努力達成委員長的願望，不負所托......”
委員長又道：“我蔣某雖戰敗，絕不會将臺灣從中國分裂出去！從古到今，世界上只有一個中國，這是我一貫堅持的底線和原則。他日孤雲若返大陸，也請向共黨高層轉達我的思想，統一是必須的，也是遲早的......”
駱孤雲神情凝重：“是！謹遵委員長指示！......其實，孤雲一直認為，黨派之争無甚意義，民心向背才是真理！老百姓日子好過，千年華夏能重煥生機，政黨的地位便穩如泰山，反之，也長久不了！”
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