Chapter 46: Qingming
Chapter 46: Qingming
The Saint Peter Church Orphanage was located on the outskirts of the Bethune District of the French Concession.
“Officer Cheng, we’ve arrived.”
Cheng Qianfan paid the fare to the rickshaw puller.
“Wait here for a quarter of an hour.”
“Alright.”
The orphanage’s iron gate appeared to have been repainted recently, no longer bearing its former rust-covered appearance, and that put people in a pleasant mood.
Through the iron gate, one could see a row of blue-brick tiled houses, the children’s dormitories and dining hall.
There was a slide and a seesaw in the courtyard.
And three swings.
Bai Ruolan, wearing a light blue jacket and a dark black skirt, was leading the children in play.
As Cheng Qianfan pushed open the gate and entered, he saw Xiaobao on a swing. Bai Ruolan was gently pushing it, and the little girl sitting on it let out delighted giggles.
“Brother Qianfan.”
Swinging through the air, Xiaobao spotted Cheng Qianfan standing in the distance carrying a food box and smiling warmly, and immediately cried out in surprise.
Hearing the voice, Bai Ruolan turned her head.
An orange-yellow hair clip held back the side-parted bangs on her forehead. Her bright, lively eyes sparkled. Her lips pressed together slightly, and a flash of joy passed through her gaze.
“Ruolan.”
Cheng Qianfan waved gently.
A beautiful smile blossomed across the young woman’s face.
In that season when warmth had only just returned and traces of cold still lingered, beneath a long-awaited clear sky, it seemed as though a flood of warm sunlight had descended from above. Wherever the breeze passed, a hundred flowers bloomed.
Bai Ruolan was a teacher at the orphanage.
She had been an abandoned infant, adopted by Miss Vivien, a nun of Saint Peter Church, and had grown up in the orphanage.
Miss Vivien treated Bai Ruolan as her own daughter and hired tutors specifically to teach her English, the Bible, history, geography, and piano.
She was a naturally beautiful, exceptionally intelligent, and extraordinarily kind young woman.
After his parents’ sacrifice, Comrade Xiangwu entrusted Comrade Nongfu with bringing the young Cheng Qianfan to the orphanage, where he stayed for a period of time.
There, the eleven-year-old boy met a ten-year-old girl.
During the saddest and most painful years of the boy’s life, it was the girl’s kindness and beautiful smile that silently warmed his heart and helped him endure the most difficult times.
She asked him how work had been lately.
She softly talked about the joy of spending time with the children.
The breeze brushed through their hair.
Ordinary conversation.
Cheng Qianfan held Xiaobao’s hand.
It felt as though a warm wind had passed through his heart. This was the most luxurious peace and warmth he could ever hope to enjoy.
“Qingtuan from Old Zhenxing, your favorite and Xiaobao’s favorite.” He handed the food box to Bai Ruolan.
“Big Sister Ruolan, remember to save a piece for Xiaobao.”
As Cheng Qianfan led her away by the hand, Xiaobao waved her little hand and spoke in her soft childish voice.
“Brother Qianfan, you haven’t come to see Xiaobao in a long time.”
“That’s Brother’s fault. I’ve been very busy with work lately.”
“Oh, I see. Alright then, I forgive you.”
“Brother Qianfan, where are you taking Xiaobao?”
“Brother is taking Xiaobao to see her father and mother.”
“Really?”
Joy sparkled in the little girl’s eyes, but she quickly puffed out her cheeks.
“Daddy and Mommy haven’t come to see Xiaobao for so long. Xiaobao is angry.”
Cheng Qianfan said nothing.
He gently rubbed the little girl’s head, turned away, and quietly wiped the corner of his eye.
Xiaobao was the orphaned daughter of Comrade Zhulin and Madam Luo Huijun.
Cheng Qianfan first brought Xiaobao to the graves of his parents.
It was a tranquil cemetery.
After the victory of the Northern Expedition, the Shanghai Municipal Party Headquarters of the Nationalists had moved the remains of Cheng Wenzao and Su Zhifu from a mass grave and buried them together here.
The tomb in their hometown of Jiangshan contained only their clothing and personal effects.
Pastries and a bottle of liquor were placed before the gravestone.
He lit the joss paper ingots.
“Dad, Mom, your son has come to see you.”
Cheng Qianfan knelt down and kowtowed heavily.
“I’m living very well now.”
“Your son will inherit your ideals and continue fighting for a free and democratic New China.”
“Xiaobao, come.”
Cheng Qianfan signaled for Xiaobao to come kneel.
The little girl obediently knelt down.
“Brother Qianfan, who’s inside here?”
“Brother Qianfan’s father and mother.”
“Oh.”
The little girl nodded.
“Dad, Mom, this is Xiaobao. She’s your daughter. Please remember to bless her with good health and a lifetime of peace.”
When his parents had been alive, they often joked that they would give Cheng Qianfan a younger sister.
Big Brother must cherish his little sister.
When his mother, Su Zhifu, was sacrificed, she had been pregnant.
This was a desolate wilderness.
More precisely, it was a potter’s field.
In one hand Cheng Qianfan carried pastries and joss paper ingots; with the other he held the little girl’s hand as they walked among the scattered graves.
Sensing Xiaobao’s fear, he bent down and picked her up.
They arrived before a grave mound.
A strip of red cloth was tied to a thin sapling standing before the grave.
“Xiaobao, we’re here.”
The little girl timidly poked her head out from his arms and looked around nervously.
“Brother Qianfan, where are Daddy and Mommy? Xiaobao can’t see them.”
“Shh.”
Cheng Qianfan set the little girl down.
“Xiaobao’s mommy is lying here. They’re sleeping.”
Only Madam Luo Huijun and another sacrificed female comrade were buried in this grave mound.
Comrade Zhulin had been executed at Yuhuatai.
Cheng Qianfan placed the pastries before the grave.
Using a lighter, he lit the joss paper ingots.
Blue smoke rose into the air.
The little girl, only half understanding, followed Cheng Qianfan’s instructions and knelt to kowtow.
“Xiaobao, kowtow once more. There’s also an auntie here.”
She had been a young female comrade.
At the age of blossoming youth.
When she died, she had been the same age Cheng Qianfan was now, only twenty-one years old.
Cheng Qianfan’s eyes were filled with sorrow as he bowed deeply.
Then he turned toward the south and bowed deeply once more.
At the far southern end of the potter’s field lay Old Liao’s grave mound.
Cheng Qianfan could not go pay his respects.
He did not know whether agents of the Party Affairs Investigation Department were lying in wait and observing. He could not take the risk.
Afterward, Cheng Qianfan did not pause. He bowed in two other directions as well.
Once the joss paper ingots had completely burned into ashes, Cheng Qianfan gathered several handfuls of yellow earth and covered them.
“Aunt Luo, don’t worry. Xiaobao will definitely grow up healthy and strong. She will live in a beautiful New China and enjoy a lifetime of happiness.”
Cheng Qianfan spoke these words in his heart.
It was a vow.
A vow he was willing to guard with his life.
“Brother Qianfan, are Daddy and Mommy dead?”
As Cheng Qianfan carried the little girl away, Xiaobao suddenly asked.
Cheng Qianfan froze.
For a moment, he did not know how to answer.
“Xiaobao, remember this. Daddy and Mommy will always be alive. They live in your heart. As soon as you close your eyes, you’ll be able to think of them.”
He spoke softly.
“Oh.”
The little girl nodded as though she understood, though not completely.
Cheng Qianfan stopped walking.
He sensed that the little girl in his arms had fallen silent.
“What’s wrong, Xiaobao?”
“Waaah...”
The little girl suddenly burst into tears.
Her tiny body curled up in Cheng Qianfan’s arms as she sobbed.
“I... I... I can’t remember what Daddy and Mommy look like anymore.”
Cheng Qianfan said nothing.
He gently hugged the little girl tighter.
Tilting his head upward, he could no longer hold back his tears.