Chapter 68 Chapter 12 Return to India

As soon as I was released from wartime responsibilities, I felt that my work was no longer in South Africa, but in India.That's not to say there isn't much else to do in South Africa anymore, but I'm concerned that my main business might just be about making money. My friends in China also urged me to go back, and I also felt that I should go back to India to do more work.As for the job in South Africa, of course there are Mr. Khan and Mr. Mansuklar Naza.So I asked my colleagues to relieve me of my job.After going through great difficulties, my request was accepted conditionally. The condition was: if the overseas Chinese group needed me within one year, I had to prepare to return to South Africa.I guess it's a difficult condition, but my love for the overseas Chinese community made me accept it.

Allah has bound me with the yarn of love, and I am his slave. Milo Bai sang.And for me, the yarn of love that binds me to the Indian community is too strong to break easily.The voice of the people is the voice of God, and the voice of the friends here is too real to refuse.I accepted the condition and got their permission to leave. At this time I had a close connection with Natal.The Indian diaspora of Natal bathed me in the wine of love, arranged farewell parties for me everywhere, and sent me many precious gifts. When I returned to India in 1899, they had sent many gifts, but this time the farewell was very grand.Gifts naturally included things made of gold and silver, but also precious diamonds.

What right do I have to accept all these gifts?After accepting these gifts, how can I explain that I am not paid for my service to the overseas Chinese group?All these gifts, with the exception of a few from my clients, were purely rewards for my work for the overseas Chinese community, and I could not distinguish between my clients and my colleagues, since the clients also helped me with my public work. One gift was a gold necklace, worth fifty guineas, for my wife.However, even this gift was given for my public work, so it cannot be separated from the rest. The night I received this huge pile of things, I couldn't sleep at night.I walked up and down the room, deeply agitated, but unable to think of a way.It is difficult for me to refuse expensive gifts, and it is even more difficult for me to keep them.

Even if I can accept it, what about my children?And what about my wife?They are being trained to live a life of service to the people and understand that service is its own reward. I don't have any valuable jewelry at home.We quickly simplified our lives.So how can we wear gold watches and chains and diamond rings?At that time, I was still telling people not to be obsessed with jewelry. Now that jewelry has come here, what can I do? I decided not to take these things.I drew up a letter conveying these gifts to the Chinese community, and formed a trusteeship for them, appointing Bashi Rostenji and several others as trustees.The next morning, after consulting with my wife and children, I finally let go of this heavy burden.

I know there will be some difficulty in convincing my wife, but as for the children, I think there will be no difficulty.So I decided to start with them first. The kids immediately agreed with my suggestion. "We don't need these expensive gifts, we have to pass them on to overseas Chinese, and if we need them, we can buy them," they said. I'm glad to hear that. "Then you're going to convince Mom, aren't you?" I asked them. "Of course," they said, "that's our business. She doesn't need jewelry. She must have kept it for us, and if we don't want it, why doesn't she agree to throw it away?" Yet it was easy to say , it is difficult to do.

"You may not need these things," said my wife, "and your children may not. They will obey after you coax them. I can forgive you for not allowing me to wear jewelry, but what about my daughter-in-law?" ? They must be used. Besides, who knows what will happen tomorrow? I am reluctant to throw away such a kind gift from someone." The debate unfolded in such a turbulent way, and finally cheered with tears.But the children are firm, and I am not wavering. I said softly: "The children are not married yet, and we don't want them to marry early. When they grow up, they will take care of themselves. And we must not find some jewelry-loving wives for our sons. Besides, take a step back Said, if we need to buy jewelry for them, I will be here, and you will ask me for it when the time comes."

"I want it from you? This time I know you. You deprived me of my jewelry. I have jewelry, and you make me restless. I also expect you to buy jewelry for my daughters-in-law! From today on, you want to Call our sons Shatuo! No, these jewelry cannot be returned. Besides, what right do you have to interfere with my necklace?" "But," I retorted, "is the necklace a thank you for your service or mine?" "I agree. But your service is actually my service. I work hard for you day and night, isn't it considered service? You make everyone come and force me, make me cry, and I work for them !"

This is a straight line, and some words are very reasonable.But I still decided to return the jewelry.I finally got her reluctant consent.All gifts received from 1898 to 1901 are returned.We prepared an escrow contract, and the jewelry was deposited in a bank for use by overseas Chinese missions according to my wishes or the wishes of the custodian. When I need a fund for public purposes, and feel that the money should be drawn upon, I have often sought to raise another, and try not to draw upon it.The money is still there and has been used when needed, but it is often accumulated. I have never regretted taking this step, and years later my wife has seen the wisdom of it.To save us from many temptations.

I firmly believe that a public worker should not accept expensive gifts.