Chapter 8 Chapter 5: Eternal Regret

On New Year's Eve in 1935, Xiangmei's family reunited with their grandmother in the Chen family's old house in Guangzhou. There is no need to hide it, but Xiangmei has a deep bad impression of her grandmother whom she has never met.When she was very young, she learned from the gossip of adults and servants that her grandmother didn't like her, and of course she didn't like her future Xianglian, Pandan, Bamboo, and Cherry Peach; "There are three types of unfilial piety, and the greatest is to have no offspring." Don't six granddaughters count as offspring?Isn't the old grandmother a woman herself?

Xiangmei thought, Grandma must look hideous. Deer deer, the carriage was walking unhurriedly on the streets of Guangzhou, she opened her eyes and greedily looked at the towns in the southern country: tall and bright phoenix trees, brand-new arcades, lean and dark-skinned men and women , completely different from the ancient Peking.The carriage turned into a secluded Taoyuan, and when it stopped in front of a dusty old house, disappointment appeared in her eyes!The exterior walls of blue bricks and clear water are mottled and mottled, and the stone-carved door cover is coldly protruding above the double black-lacquered doors. The lion's head and double copper rings on the door are clearly covered with patina!Where can I find the green trees, red walls and glazed tiles of my grandfather's old house?Could it be that this is a century-old house?Didn't you say that it was designed and built by your grandfather when he was alive?

Some stooped old servants opened the door to welcome them, but there was no excitement.He led the way silently, and the old house was quiet.An old-fashioned sedan chair with mottled red paint is parked under the Fengyu Lang, and the golden phoenix embroidered on the purple-red sedan curtain is like a phoenix with shedding hair because the gold thread has fallen off and grayed over the years.The threshold is as high as one foot, and there are no people in the hall and wing rooms. After turning around and turning into the inner courtyard, there is light smoke curling up and the sound of wooden fish. The old servant lowered his hands and whispered: "The old lady is doing evening classes."

Xiangmei's heart has reached her throat.The dusk was heavy, the silence was gloomy, and the horror of the forbidden palace and the coolness of the ancient tomb seized her.Having read too many ancient books and heard too many ghost stories, she fears that her grandfather's ghost will appear.In fact, the place where grandfather committed suicide by jumping off the building was a four-story house in the Chen family.The strange thing is that Chen Qingyun, who advocates Westernization and science, designed and built such a mysterious and fortified Chinese house with his own hands when his career was flourishing and full of ambitions. Could it be that he had a premonition that he would die soon, like a forbidden palace? His house became the home of wives and concubines?

When the children and grandchildren saw the grandmother, they kowtowed in confusion to say goodbye, and raised their eyes suddenly, but the grandmother was extremely kind!Xiangmei was unexpected.She looked up obsessively, and in an instant, overthrew the old disgust. She had never seen such a classical, noble, detached and peaceful Chinese old lady! She is a woman from the previous dynasty. Wearing an old-fashioned hair bun with no mess, only a jasper hairpin is inserted in the bun; the moon-white slanted-breasted long jacket just reaches the knees, and the hem and cuffs of the big placket are three times thick and thin black satin, and the black satin is black. Black peony flowers embroidered with silk thread; black trousers, trousers also embroidered with black flowers on black satin, and the three-inch golden lotus that looks like a foot but not a foot seems to be stepping on a green brick floor.This is not a person, but a scented soul.There was only a pair of huge sad emerald jade bracelets on her wrists, and the heavy green jade became the only embellishment for her plain body.There is also a polished hookah on the table, which is probably my grandmother's second life.

According to the old rules, the grandchildren kowtow one by one, and the grandmothers give out red envelopes one by one.Xiangmei is not fond of red envelopes, but she is rare for the hands that her grandmother gave them. The backs of the palms are still so full, and the fingers are still as slender as green onions. These hands caress her face earnestly and affectionately. Round and dexterous." Xiangmei couldn't help thinking of Jia's mother in the garden.Although the grandmother was miserable. Next to the grandmother stood the second grandmother and the third grandmother. They were the grandfather's two concubines, but they were all natural feet. The grandmother asked her grandchildren to call them "second wife" and "third wife".The second wife was rude, she was originally the maid of the grandmother, and later she took it as a concubine, and the second uncle was born to the second wife.The third wife is extremely beautiful and juicy.On the snow-white face of melon seeds, the front liuhai hangs down long, and the green eyebrows and eyes are pitiful; but as long as you cover your mouth and smile, a dimple appears on the left cheek, and a pair of big watery eyes can talk!Her attire is not as outdated as her grandmother's and her second wife's, but it is also not fashionable. The round short jacket with big bell sleeves and pinched waist, and the long pleated black skirt that almost drags the floor make her look like a dramatic character.It is true that she was born as an actor, and her grandfather was very favored when she was born.Twenty-six years have passed since my grandfather passed away, but she looks like she is only in her thirties, graceful and charming, and she is also willing to live in this cold house?

Xiangmei's heart was beating wildly, she longed to be involved in the lives of these three women from previous generations, she seemed to understand a little bit why her grandmother wanted her father to take concubines, and it seemed that it was not all hostility and contempt for her mother. In this closed and deep old house, the delicate-looking grandmother is not worried or anxious.Every morning when she gets up early, her second wife will help her dress up, and then she will go to the sutra hall for morning class with the support of her second wife. In the light smoke and fragrance of sandalwood, grandma will lightly close her eyes, twist Buddhist beads with her hands, and chant words in her mouth, which is sincerely chanting sutras , or looking back on the 26 years of hard work?The husband leaps forward, leaving his wife and concubines behind, his three sons and two daughters, and the eldest son is only thirteen years old!Now she has raised her son to be a good man, married her daughter in a dignified way, and she can be regarded as full of children and grandchildren, but she only guards this empty and lonely home.The three uncles and three aunts were in charge of all matters inside and outside the Chen family, and the lintel of the Chen family was finally undamaged. For her, an old-fashioned woman who stays at home, she has done her best.She is satisfied, she has no desires, no tears and no smiles, and she is just devoutly serving the Buddha.Evening classes are held every night, which is equally pious.After evening class, I sometimes wash my feet before going to bed, and the second wife and the little maid serve me.The three-legged red lacquered wooden basin filled with steaming hot water, the grandmother sat on the edge of the bed, took off the exquisite embroidered shoes, took off the white silk anklets, and slowly loosened the white foot wraps, one circle at a time Layer by layer, there are more than ten feet, and there are man-made deformed pointed "jade shoots"!After a long "process", the water has become warm, and the feet are washed, and the grandmother closes her eyes slightly again, sighing softly, feeling helplessly satisfied.In order to peek at the non-legged feet, Sister Xiangmei was so excited and unyielding that she tiptoed to look in through the carved window, lay on the ground and squeezed open the crack of the door to look, so that the little girl said angrily, "Here it is again!" But This scene is unforgettable, and Chen Xiangmei, who became a world celebrity half a century later, still sighs: Among the suppressed and distorted old Chinese women, there is still perseverance and perseverance in the soul.

In addition to doing morning and evening classes, the rest of the time, my grandmother smoked a hookah, asked about housework, and read ancient and modern novels.At that time, Zhang Henshui's "Laughter and Smile" was popular in Beiping, Shanghai. My mother was reading it like a drunk, Xiangmei dragged the book out, and boldly showed it to my grandmother. Actors are more open than those in Guangzhou." So, grandma has read these romance novels?Did Grandma mean something?Is it because the third wife who was originally an actor is not open enough or is it hoped that the third wife will never be open?Xiangmei didn't dare to ask and couldn't figure it out, her little brain still couldn't figure out the chaotic yet clear thoughts.

Sometimes, grandma, the second wife and the third wife would sit in the back garden.There is a well in the back garden, two bauhinia trees, and bougainvilleas like waterfalls on the backyard wall.The delicate bougainvillea burned the old wall red, and the bauhinia tree was filled with thousands of pansies. Is it possible that the grandmother's heart has not been disturbed for decades? Is it true that "a concubine's heart is like still water"? What about the second wife and the third wife?Do you have no regrets to be buried with your grandfather?A concubine is just an embellishment of a rich family, such as land, houses, decorations and so on; and taking a concubine also shows the magnanimity of the main family, right?In Xiangmei's mind, the big watery eyes of the third wife who can talk are always flashing, what is she trying to say?

After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, the third wife took advantage of the chaos and eloped with someone.Grandma didn't make any publicity about it, she just pretended that the Chen family had never had such a woman.Perhaps it is to cherish the reputation of the Chen family?Mercy perhaps?Xiangmei seemed relieved when she heard the news. Grandma rarely leaves the house.Going out is only for weddings and weddings that relatives have to go to, and then to go to temples to burn incense.When the second wife helped the grandmother into the sedan chair, looking at the grandmother struggling like a willow in the wind, looking at the old sedan chair with mottled red paint and the embroidered phoenix sedan chair curtain with gray and downy hair, it was like looking at the distant future of the last dynasty and characters. Go, Xiangmei sighed heavily like an adult.

"Follow your mother at home, obey your husband when you get married, and obey your son when you grow old." "Jiedi Jiedi Boluojiedi Parasangha Jiedi Bodhi Savaha." "Women's Commandments" is the spiritual pillar of grandmother's life?Every year, from a young girl to a young woman to a widow for life, grandmother enjoys freedom, wisdom and compassion. Is that enough? Chen Xiangmei didn't know. She only knew that Chen's house and the women in Chen's house on the streets of Taoyuan were a history book, which was more interesting and sad than the textbook "History".Because it is rare for "History" to allow women to occupy a place. On New Year's Eve, Chen's house swept away the 26 years of silence and desolation, and thousands of firecrackers shook the entire Taoyuan street.In the main hall, huge candles were lit, and three fresh fruits were sacrificed, and the descendants bowed down and worshiped their ancestors with respect.In a series of porcelain plate portraits, Xiangmei found the remains of her grandfather Chen Qingyun, who was the only one who didn't wear long robes or long braids.With a suit and tie, a suit cut in half to seven, and a Cantonese face with sharp bumps, his eyes are particularly piercing.Xiangmei heard from her grandfather that Chen Ai was originally from Fujian and moved to Nanhai, Guangdong.The Chen family and the Liao family are all Hakka people.The Hakka people are descendants of migrant families on the South Coast.Where did they come from, sailing and adventure for a living?The hometown of Confucius?The Central Plains where fierce battles have been fought in the past dynasties?Huizhou at the foot of Huangshan Mountain?Who knows?Xiangmei only knows that she loves Beiping, Tianjin and Guangzhou. The grandfather, who had never met, stared at her with piercing eyes, as if showing off the glory he had in the past.He and Liao Fengshu were like-minded friends, they joined the League and were keen on the struggle to overthrow the Qing Dynasty.But he loves business and science more. He is the president of China Commercial Shipping Company and the director of the China Merchants Bureau. He is just 30 years old.He was fascinated by the development of his career. He was unwilling to follow the steps. He envied the great changes brought about by the industrial revolution in the western world. He realized that transportation is the blood of the times. He wanted to introduce trams and cars in western cities to replace China's. sedan chairs, coolies and rickshaws.He resigned from all his positions, and he used the Chen family's family business as a bet to buy a tram company, with the ambition of making this novel transport run "jingling" on the streets of Hong Kong. However, he lost.The old-fashioned Chinese avoid this novel monster like ghosts and gods!Soon the funds could not be turned around, and he was heavily in debt; and he was still stubbornly stuck in it, trying to turn things around, but his partner had already withdrawn, so he was powerless!He regrets the conservatism of the people of the country, he hates the cruelty of the world and the unpredictable people, he regrets that his family was born at the wrong time and his talents were not met. On New Year's Eve in 1908, he took his own life at the age of thirty and three. His eyes were burning, even though he was dead, he stared at his wives, concubines, children and grandchildren.Xiangmei felt her scalp tingling. On the porcelain plate was a Chinese man who was dying with regret. He is brave but also cowardly; he is open and conservative; he is an admirer of "Mr.The old house and wives and concubines are the witnesses of things and people. Xiangmei did not engage in philosophical speculation, she knew that Chen Zhai had told her a lot: the stories of Chinese women and the stories of Chinese men.She didn't even want to leave this old house that wasn't old so soon. However, as soon as the Spring Festival was over, Chen Yingrong sent his wife and daughter to Hong Kong, and immediately set off for New Mexico, USA to take up his post. Soon, Chen Yingchang also got a chance to apply for the Air Force and went to the United States for training. Liao Xiangci and her daughters lived in a small red brick house in Kam Lung Terrace, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. This was the house of a relative of the Liao family. Women are very happy, calling themselves "daughter garden".Li Ma, who was always with them in Beiping, was promoted to official mother-in-law on her own initiative and hired two servants. The family still lived a middle-class life. The Catholic church run by the Belgians is just across the street, and St. Paul's Girls' College is also run by them. From the principal to the teachers to the minorities, almost all of them are foreign nuns.Xiangmei was full of curiosity about this girls' school: Those nuns in black hats and black robes with white hats floated around like shadows, would they say that the earth is round in their lectures?All organisms are made of cells?Cells are composed of nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, etc.These are what Jingyi, who has been in middle school, told her.How do nuns who believe in God talk about science? She and her sisters soon joined the girls' school. The thing is this: her grandfather’s family is Catholic, and Sister Xiangmei often went to church with her elders to celebrate mass since she was a child, but it was just for fun and she was not officially baptized.After living in Hong Kong, probably inspired by the sound of church bells, Liao Xiangci asked his daughters if they would like to believe in God?The daughters were overjoyed.So, on a Sunday morning full of warmth and music, the six sisters of the Chen family were baptized in a dimly lit church.Jingyi's Christian name is Xue Diya, and Xiangmei's Christian name is Anna. The organ creaked, the windows inlaid with colorful glass made people dreamy, the wine was red, and the small bread was hard. Why compare this to the blood and flesh of Jesus?The Virgin Mary is very peaceful because she is the mother.Mother!Xiangmei only wants to be close to her mother forever, even though the cushion of the kneeling stool is very hard, which makes her knees ache, but she is willing to sing hymns hard. Liao Xiangci was also very satisfied.She believes in religion and believes that it not only purifies the soul, but also comforts the heart, especially for women.The four eldest daughters are all in school, and Wuxiangzhu and Liuxiangtao are still young, so they play at home, and Liao Xiangci's life is not too lonely.There is an old piano in the small hall. She never forgets to put flowers in the vase on the piano. In her free time, she plays and sings an outdated foreign love song: "At dusk, when you think of me, don't hold grudges , darling—" There was an abrupt end.Who is she singing for?The English aristocratic youth has become an ancient poem.Chen Yingrong, who went to the United States, said that he would pick them up as soon as they settled down.However, day after day, month after month, and few letters and money, his life there was very difficult.Liao Xiangci could only wait patiently. St. Paul's Girls' School is well-organized, but it lacks the vitality that a middle school should have, and the management is too strict and rigid.There are also many boarders in the women's college, most of whom are overseas Chinese girls from Southeast Asia, who pay 50 yuan for board and lodging every month.In the dormitory, there are narrow wooden beds squeezed next to each other. In the dining hall, there are monotonous meals, even taking a bath, and the old lady with green eyes stares at you quietly, hoping that everything will be quiet.Xiangmei doesn't like this kind of air, it's really sad to be homeless.However, only four years later, she returned to this school again, and she and her four younger sisters became members of the boarding students, where she experienced the loneliest and most terrifying beginning of her life! Chen Xiangmei completed her junior high school studies after only two years in her girls' school.She jumped from the first grade to the third grade, thanks to Ms. Zhi Yang Suying, who teaches Chinese.In the girls' school, only Yang Suying and Miss You, who teaches art, are Chinese.Yang Suying looks thin and thin, with the charm of a talented woman in ancient China.Her name itself is the charm of ancient Chinese poetry.Yang Suying has a solid foundation in Chinese studies. She can recite many Tang poems, Song lyrics, and Yuan songs, and she also requires students to recite them.She recited very lightly and slowly. The artistic conception of "withered vines, old trees, faint crows, small bridges, flowing water, people, ancient roads, west wind, and thin horses" is bleak, desolate, and lonely, just like a Canadian landscape painting. Stretch it slowly, and when you recite "the sun sets, the heartbroken man is at the end of the world", aren't your eyes wet?In the dusk of Autumn Plains, a lonely traveler goes to a foreign land, can he not remember his hometown? Xiangmei's impression of Hong Kong is complicated. Since the signing of the "Nanjing Treaty" in 1842, which lost power to the Kingdom of Chen, Hong Kong has been under the rule of the British for nearly a hundred years.The hybridization of capital economy and colonial culture gave birth to abnormal prosperity, and various incongruous local backgrounds and the atmosphere of the times forcibly blended together to create a real and illusory world.Among all kinds of people crowded shoulder to shoulder on the street, and the relationship between people is everywhere and all the time, Chen Xiangmei, with the eyes of a precocious girl, feels piercingly that this is the world of Caucasians! However, she is still obsessed with this gorgeous and tragic city!She loves the blue-green sea, the eye-catching giant billboards standing on the pier; the crazy wild flowers and weeds growing wildly on the red clay cliffs, and the shadow trees full of flowers, like wildfire roaring down and burning the sky red; There is fog in the mountains of Hong Kong, and the white fog melts all the wooden sheds of the foreign houses; I love the lively streets and the dazzling array of foreign goods in the shops.Everywhere is full of novelty stimulation and exaggeration, she feasts her eyes; but there is a heavy sense of loss in her heart. Hong Kong is not Peking! She misses Peiping.She misses her grandfather. Grandpa sang with her: "Slowly flowing creeks, high-flying dreams, flying up to the sky with the wind..." What's going on in Peking?What's the matter outside? In the early morning of December 9, 1935, five to six thousand students from various high schools and high schools in Peiping chanted the slogan "If you resist Japan, you will live; if you don't resist Japan, you will die", they flocked to Xinhua Gate from all directions to petition and demonstrate.I'm afraid they rushed over like the mighty May 4th Movement!Xiangmei regrets not being able to witness this scene with her own eyes, as her family has moved south. On December 12, 1936, Generals Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng remonstrated against Chiang Kai-shek at Huaqing Pool in Lishan.She also knew a thing or two from her grandfather's letters and the tense discussions of the adults.She sat on the corner of the sofa with her hands on her cheeks and listened, imagining in her mind the scene of Mr. Jiang running and climbing barefoot on the cliffs and steep ditches at night. Her thinking was just that of a literary teenager. In the summer of 1937, the tone of my grandfather’s letter became more serious and anxious. My grandfather said that the greedy and brutal nature of the Japanese devils would not change.Xiangmei told her mother, let her grandfather's family move to Hong Kong.Mother shook her head: Your grandfather's family business is all in Beiping, and there is that precious study, he is reluctant to part with it!Teacher Li Jiewu wrote the last letter to Xiangmei, saying: "My little friend, I will return to my hometown to serve my mother." Isn't Teacher Li's hometown in the Northeast? An intuition made Xiangmei feel that the war would not be far away.At that time, Hong Kong was still peaceful.For the people of Hong Kong, war is only a matter of radio and newspapers. This summer, Claire Chennault rationally asserted that the disaster of war has ravaged the whole of China even more crazily!At this time, he had already boarded the "President Garfield" of the American Doral Cruise Company, left San Francisco, crossed the Pacific Ocean westward, and headed for Shanghai, China. The blue ocean waves are rolling, and a group of white seagulls reluctantly soar with the President.Chennault stood leaning on the railing, smoking his favorite Camel brand cigarettes, and he exhaled the smoke, which was quickly blown away by the sea breeze.He smiled wryly. He was forty-seven years old, and he had twenty years of not-so-short air force career. He went around everywhere but achieved nothing. He didn't make any achievements, but he was only a mere captain. He was only promoted to a temporary major a few months ago.Heh, has everything in the past been blown away by the wind? He was unwilling. In the early spring of 1936, Chennault and the "three-person flying team" Luke and Billy made a farewell performance in Miami, Florida.The red-haired and freckle-faced Luke was sitting in the cab, but an old woman in the audience staggered out, begging Zack to pick her up.The thrill-loving audience clapped and applauded. Luke shrugged helplessly and helped the old woman into the cockpit. The plane started, and before it was too late, Luke fell from the cabin to the ground, but the plane suddenly fell to the ground. Straight into the sky!The audience shouted and roared, the plane hovered in the blue sky, turned somersaults, and suddenly, the plane fell straight down. Seeing that it touched the ground, the audience was dumbfounded, and the universe froze—the plane crashed? !Don't panic, the belly of the machine almost wiped the ground but then flew up to the blue sky like a swallow!Who took the lead in shouting: "Chennault--", so the crowd rejoiced and the mountains shook and the ground shook, it was this familiar name!The farewell show was without a trace of pathos, funny, funny, humorous, and real men say goodbye with laughter, not tears. Among the tens of thousands of spectators, another person with a heart fell in love with Chennault. He was the Chinese Air Force's memory of General Mao Bangchu.At that time, the Chinese Air Force was established not long ago, and Italians mainly trained Chinese pilots at Hangzhou Jianqiao Airport, but the results were very poor.This time, he had invited Roy Holbrook to China as a flight instructor, and Roy was Chennault's friend.Soon, Roy wrote to Chennault from China, hoping that he and his friends would go to China as coaches. Chennault recommended Luke and Billy, but he himself hadn't made up his mind yet. He was already the father of eight children. Unforgiving, chronic bronchitis, hypotension, and hearing loss often tortured him. In the autumn of 1936, he fell ill and was stopped flying and sent to the Army and Navy Hospital in Kansas for treatment; when autumn came and spring came, the Air Force signaled him to retire, and he was stunned!Twenty years of military career is over?Will he go back to his old age and go back to being a cotton farmer on the banks of the Mississippi?Or go to an aircraft factory to be a small technician?No.He was unwilling.He silently accepted his retirement, but his hands tightly grasped the throat of fate. He wrote Roy back.At this time, Roy has served as a confidential adviser to the China Central Trust Bureau; Soong Meiling has served as the Secretary-General of the Aviation Committee.Song Meiling agreed to all the conditions proposed by Chennault, and hired him as a consultant to the National Aviation Committee of China, with an annual salary of 12,000 US dollars and a two-year contract.This time, he only went to China for three months to investigate first. Of course, the expenses for these three months of travel and inspection were all borne by the Chinese side. After he settled his family in his hometown in Louisiana, he set off.His decision is not all because of the generous treatment given to him by China, but also because he has seen a turning point in his destiny, and he will make a difference!That is in China. From autumn to spring, lying on a hospital bed, he read newspapers and listened to the radio, and he followed developments in China.It has been more than five years since Japan invaded China, but governments around the world have not taken firm sanctions against Japan. The so-called "neutrality" of Britain, France, the United States and other countries undoubtedly fueled Japan's aggression.Chennault's emotional balance leans toward the suffering Chinese people. The sea breeze blows gently, and the waves shake gently.Chennault stubbed out his cigarette butt and returned to his cabin 12.He drank whiskey and started a journal.Interesting, he never kept a diary in the past.Right now he has a feeling: start from scratch.He seemed to be impetuous, thinking that the boat was going too slowly. He hoped to arrive in Shanghai, China as soon as possible, but the sea voyage would take as long as a month! Five days from San Francisco to Honolulu.The boat was moored in the port, and it was raining heavily.He braved the rain to go to Luke Airport in Hawaii, where the three years were the golden years of his flying career.Revisiting the old place, the blood in the whole body is boiling again, he is not old!Forty-seven years old is the right age. It took another ten days to sail from Hawaii to Kobe, Japan.Huge Billy met him at the pier.Billy's travel papers identified him as the deputy manager of the circus, which made Chennault laugh.His own passport listed his occupation as a rancher in Texas.He said, NO, at best he is a farmer, sowing seeds, fishing, and hunting.Of course, the acrobatic troupe and the farmer want to avoid trouble. If they specify flight instructors or something, they might not be able to get a visa.After all, the two are soldiers. They hid their cameras deliberately and drove to visit this narrow and densely populated island country.The ancient Falong in Kyoto, the Great Buddha in Todaiji Temple, the rows of small shops lined up on both sides of the alleys in Kobe, the rice wine and sushiyaki in Osaka restaurants attracted them. In the area, the ship route could not escape their sight, and they took many photos half-hidden.Chennault's heart is heavy: Japan is no longer a small agricultural country wearing bamboo hats and planting rice devoutly praying to the gods. Through the appearance of industrial deformity and prosperity, Chennault is more convinced of his hunch that this small country is ambitious and a crazy War is inevitable.He was worried about China. After the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, Japan's powerful naval power only blocked the gateway of China's sea traffic.The photos they took turned out to be important combat intelligence in the future. At two o'clock in the morning, the cruise ship they took left the port, crossed the Seto Inland Sea, passed Shimonoseki in dense fog, and headed straight for the East China Sea. Shanghai is here.Under the scorching sun in June, the "Adventurer's Paradise" still exhibits its beauty and prosperity. Countless rickshaws and crowds are surging on the pier. It is lively and peaceful, and it seems that the trauma of the Songhu War in previous years has not been left behind!Chennault's heart throbbed again.He was shocked by the peace and numbness of this place, and at the same time, he suddenly realized that he and this place seemed to have a flesh-and-blood relationship.Every time I set foot on this land, it is so affectionate! Luke greeted them both on the pier.The three "trapezemen" embraced enthusiastically.In the sky of China, they will open a more serious and brilliant page. In his diary on this day, Chennault wrote: "I am finally in China, hoping to serve a people who are fighting for national unity and a new life." On June 6, Roy came from Nanjing and led Chennault to drive to see Song Meiling.In a high-walled house in the French Concession in the old city of Shanghai, Chennault and Roy were waiting in the small quiet living room. It was lunch break time, and the cicadas in the courtyard were singing continuously.At this time, the bamboo curtain was lifted, and a young and beautiful woman walked in lightly. The calico cheongsam set off her tall and straight figure, and her cheerful smile added to her charm. Chennault looked at her attentively, but thought it was Roy's girlfriend Unexpectedly, she was Song Meiling who was already forty years old!Song Meiling spoke frankly and frankly about the worrying current situation of the Chinese Air Force in authentic southern American English. She sincerely hired Chennault as a consultant of the Chinese Air Force and awarded him the rank of colonel. Work, and then went to various air force bases for inspections. Chennault was deeply moved.For her enthusiasm and vitality, for her frankness and straightforwardness, for her trust and high expectations.He wrote excitedly in his diary: "I will call her 'Queen' in the future." This stubborn and proud American man was impressed by the Chinese woman he met for the first time, nothing else, if he knew China Language, just one sentence: a scholar dies for his confidant. But he doesn't understand Chinese.There is also a China hand who does not understand Chinese, and that is Duan Na, the personal adviser of Chiang Kai-shek and Song Meiling.Duanner believed that China urgently needed to build a powerful air force, and he and Roy were two important figures who strongly recommended Chennault.The next day, Chennault met Duanner at his apartment in the Broadway Building. Chennault made no secret of his curiosity and admiration for the legendary figure.This Australian with reddish brown hair and ruddy face has something to do with modern Chinese history! In 911, he participated in the Revolution of 1911 and was the first foreigner to fire at Nanjing; he served as an adviser to Sun Yat-sen, who became the interim president and tasked him with drafting the foreign declaration; He was an important person who revived the young marshal; at the beginning of 1934, he became the personal adviser of Chiang Kai-shek and Song Meiling, and he was also an indispensable figure in the mediation of the Xi'an Incident.The two men drank heavily.A thousand cups of wine is less than a bosom friend.Duan Na also opened his arms and talked to Chennault about the rise of Chiang Kai-shek, the successive civil wars of the Chinese warlords, and the legends of the three sisters and two brothers in the Charlie Song family.Chennault listened intently. He was a military expert, but by no means a political expert.Duan Na is an open book, from which Chennault read the first modern Chinese history. On the third day, Chennault and Roy flew to Nanjing, overlooking the wide and flowing Yangtze River. Chennault was confused. Isn't this his Mississippi River?He knows that China and his hometown are inseparable.After inspecting Nanjing Air Force Base and flying to Luoyang Air Force Academy, Chennault was worried and angry: Where did Mussolini support the construction of the Chinese Air Force?It is clearly the destruction of the Chinese Air Force, the pilots trained by the Italians cannot participate in the war at all, and the aircraft equipment factories they run in Nanchang and other places cannot assemble fighter jets at all!This is a conspiracy!It's a trap! On the night of July 7, 1937, gunshots rang out by the Lugou Bridge in Wanping County, southwest of Beiping. The Japanese army launched a long-planned all-out war of aggression against China. The Chinese nation has reached the most dangerous moment. Chennault was inspecting in Luoyang, and he immediately telegraphed Chiang Kai-shek: "As long as there is a place for me, I will take orders." However, the "Neutrality Act" passed by the U.S. Congress in May 1937 made it illegal for Americans to provide aid to China by appointment. Chennault didn't care. He did not hesitate to shoulder the responsibility of countering aggression. On the second day of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, the Communist Party of China issued an anti-Japanese telegram, pointing out that "Pingjin is in danger! North China is in danger! The Chinese nation is in danger! Only the whole nation's anti-Japanese war is our way out!" When the news spread to Hong Kong, the newsboys, the newspaper vendors, ran and shouted among the street crowd with their numbers. Xiangmei and Jingyi followed their mother, also running in a hurry.I went to the Post Office and inquired about the news from relatives and friends. The grandparents in Peiping, the grandmother’s family in Guangzhou, and the father in New Mexico were all worried about Xiangmei’s mother and daughter.The beacon fire lasted for three months, and the family letter was worth ten thousand gold. But the beacon fire is only three months? The Japanese invaders frantically launched an all-out attack. On July 17, 1937, Chiang Kai-shek finally delivered a speech at Lushan Mountain. The Marco Polo Bridge Incident was the last moment. The Chinese government was determined to fight the war to the end. The responsibility of the war of resistance should be determined to sacrifice everything." The Chinese soldiers and civilians who do not want to be slaves build a new Great Wall with their flesh and blood, and fight against the war!There are the tragic and fierce battles of Pingjin, Songhu, Taiyuan, Xuzhou, and Wuhan, and the glory of Pingxingguan and Taierzhuang bloody battles! However, after all, the Japanese invaders had planned for a long time and were rampant. At the end of July 1937, Pingjin fell successively; in November, Shanghai fell and Taiyuan fell; in December, Nanjing fell and Jinan fell; in May 1938, Xuzhou fell; in June, Kaifeng fell; in September, Baoding fell; in October, Shijiazhuang fell, Wuhan fell, Guangzhou fell... In just one year and three months, the great rivers and mountains in North China, Central China, and South China trembled and groaned in blood and fire.However, the sons and daughters of China are still making their final roar, the Japanese invaders cannot conquer the Chinese people!The war of resistance has entered a difficult stalemate. Hong Kong in the southern corner of the world has not been disturbed by the flames of war. She seems to have become a paradise for the troubled Chinese.Tycoons and celebrities in the business and literary circles flock here, and various political forces are also active here, overtly or covertly. Hong Kong and Macao compatriots from overseas and overseas Chinese are also active in donations to save the country. This place became one of the cultural centers in the early period of the Anti-Japanese War.And a small group of traitors and lackeys are also secretly carrying out criminal activities here. In the Little Red House in Causeway Bay, Liao Xiangci and her six daughters really depend on each other.Liao Fengshu's family moved from Beiping to Shanghai. After the fall of Shanghai, he didn't plan to run away any more.The grandmother's family moved to Hong Kong to live with them for some time during the war, and the third wife disappeared at that time, but the grandmother was not used to life in Hong Kong, and it was hard to leave her homeland, so she moved back to the old house on Taoyuan Street, Guangzhou soon.As for Chen Yingrong, he neither urged them to go to the United States, nor did he come to Hong Kong to see them.Xiangmei was very upset: Did father forget them?Leave them alone?However, Liao Xiangci tried his best to conceal the sorrow and resentment among his compatriots, and explained lightly: "Your father is on official business, and it is not easy to leave the post without authorization during a war." On Christmas in 1938, Chen Yingrong sent them money and a thick letter, which of course was the best Christmas present. In Chen Yingrong's letter, he talked about a retired American captain Chennault who participated in the war in China. There were rumors in American newspapers that he fought anonymously in China, which was not allowed by the "Neutrality Act" of the United States.Undeterred, however, Chennault wrote a letter to the Montgomery Newspaper in Montgomery, Alabama.He wants to announce broadly: "China has always believed that the United States and the American people's friendship and sympathy for the Chinese people are selfless. "China is fighting for the Pacific at this time (believe it or not!) and the officials and people of the United States are eager to leave China at the very beginning of the Japanese slaughter of Shanghai. The Chinese people cannot understand this situation anyway. "I wonder why I should be considered to be fighting anonymously? Don't I dare to use my real name to express my resentment against this war of aggression? As for why I have devoted myself to the Air Force for twenty years, I really have no intention of repeating it." Make a statement. Now I have no hesitation to take up the responsibility of resisting the Japanese imperialist aggression against a peaceful nation. Therefore, I can assure you: you can definitely call me by my real name forever!” 在桔黄的光晕中、暖暖的炉火旁，廖香词和六个女儿读着这封抵万金的家信，家信中用了整整一页写这个美国友人，她们不孤立，中国人不孤立。 四岁的小妹香桃奶声奶气地说：“这个美国叔叔跟我们一样姓陈！” There was a roar of laughter.开怀大笑。好久了，没有这么痛快地笑过。 香梅说：“我觉得，他倒真有中国大侠的作派，坐不改姓，行不更名。” 这位中国大侠风的“陈叔叔”还在中国么？ 卢沟桥事变后，蒋介石即回电陈纳德，感谢他的投效，并令他去南昌主持该地战斗机队的最后作战训练。 七月的古城南昌，燠热难忍，睡不好吃不好，陈纳德觉得自己像一只蒸笼里的螃蟹。战斗机差，飞行员基础差，一切像是一个噩梦，但是中国飞行员不乏勤学苦练、勇敢无畏者，这让他感动，他只是焦急：时间来不及了！ 就在7月，蒋介石急召他和毛邦初上庐山牯岭去禀报空军情况。美庐别墅中，毛邦初不得不告知，号称拥有500架战斗机的中国空军，实际上仅有91架能参战。蒋介石勃然大怒，毛邦初冷汗热汗交流。养兵千日，用兵一时，奈何？陈纳德以冷峻的目光冷峻的语调谈了20分钟，宋美龄激动地作翻译。如果说生命是种缘，蒋介石对这位第一次见面的美国人印象极佳，他信赖陈纳德，认为他坦白、自信，有力挽狂澜的气魄和能量。 8月，蒋介石召陈纳德赴南京中央军校参加最高级军事领袖会议，白崇禧、龙云、阎锡山、余汉谋、韩复榘、冯玉祥、何键、刘湘、蔡廷锴、石敬宁等都出席了会议，决定抗战到底。参加这次军事会议的只有两个外国人：端纳和陈纳德。 陈纳德刚回到南昌，准备与战斗机群一起北上到开封空军基地时，宋美龄急召他去九江，告知他日本人正准备占领上海，让他速飞往上海通知美国人。然而美国驻上海总领事高思等却很不以为然。他在陈纳德去南京的路上，淞沪之战打响了。他以军人的勇猛一往无前，神速赶到南京。宋美龄请他指挥中国空军的第一次空战！what to do?并非知己知彼，但时间不等人。他肩起了重任。一方面决定以寇蒂斯鹰式飞机去俯冲扫射日本轻型巡洋舰，以诺思洛普的轻型轰炸机去轰炸泊在黄浦江上的“出云号”，日本海军司令部设在这艘重型巡洋舰上。另一方面发挥他已在南京、上海、杭州这一三角区组织的空中警报网的作用，组织战斗机群在杭州上空狙击日本的轰炸机。 8月14日陈纳德独自驾驶鹰75式单翼战斗机从南京起飞，他不放心，决定沿江而下低飞视察战斗情况。上海地区正遇台风袭击，狂风呼啸，大雨倾盆。陈纳德的深棕色的眸子燃起了火：天哪！中国飞行员终究缺乏经验，炸弹扔到国泰旅馆和汇中饭店！外滩上空硝烟滚滚，起火的却是英国的巡洋舰！这真是上海的“黑色礼拜六”呵。陈纳德痛惜不已。所幸的是杭州上空的战斗打得极漂亮，中国飞行员猛冲猛打，视死如归，结果歼灭了敌机12架！不管怎么说，至少粉碎了日本空军不可战胜的神话。陈纳德的飞机两翼也留下了几处弹痕，战火已燃烧着他的心，他对高思的软硬兼施的“劝阻”不予理睬。 8月15日，日机首次空袭南京。在首都饭店屋顶平台上，一群外国记者和美国飞行员正在极目远眺。天气炎热沉闷，云层又厚又低，有情报说，日本的机队已从台北基地飞往南京了。可俯瞰这六朝故都，仍是一派宁静美丽。奔腾的长江、古老的城墙、高高的紫金山、幽清的玄武湖尽收眼底，战争在哪儿？刹那间，警报尖利划破长空，日本机群已从云层里钻出来，投掷炸弹、扫射机关枪，肆无忌惮，不可一世；而地面和高楼上的高射炮、机枪也愤怒回击。炸弹的爆炸声、机枪哒哒哒的扫射声、人群的呼叫声在火光中被撕裂被夸张，到处在爆炸，到处在燃烧，城市在毁灭，人群在流血。楼顶平台上的记者们触目惊心，仿佛世界末日已来临。机场上原本岿然不动的陈纳德也不得不向防空洞跑去，美国机械师史密斯扛着自己的小电影摄影机跟在陈纳德身后奔跑，他想摄下这罪恶的一切！陈纳德攥紧了双拳，他看清了日机上的膏药旗，看清了日本飞行员扭曲了的面孔。这就是侵略！这就是疯狂！他咬牙切齿：“狗强盗！” 日机的狂轰滥炸五天中又进行了三次。陈纳德住在紫金山旁的乡村总会，他一次次目睹日机的猖獗，一次次目睹城市的毁灭，一次次目睹无辜的市民倒在血泊中。这就是战争。 直到南京陷落前一天的黄昏，陈纳德才驾着鹰式飞机离开古都。早已不是什么三个月的视察了，他和中国水土中国人无法分割了。The setting sun is like blood.陈纳德的心也在淌血。 陈纳德去到汉口，住在神界饭店，又有缘跟端纳彻夜长谈，同时通过端纳结识了另一位中国通——詹姆斯·麦克休，他是海军陆战队的一名大尉，在中国当海军副武官，能说一口流利的中国话，他用玩世不恭的口吻一针见血地指出蒋介石等都不过是投机政客。陈纳德同样有兴趣地聆听着。汉口下了雪，机场在融雪中一片泥泞，飞行员得在泥泞中跋涉才能上飞机；而要发动飞机引擎，得上用棉袄捂着，下烧煤油炉先加热才行。陈纳德看着民工们用鹅卵石铺垫跑道滑行道，心中酸楚难言。从苦夏到寒冬，中国空军经历了艰苦卓绝的空战，飞机只剩下十余架，飞行员也死的死伤的伤，中国空军的路几乎走到了尽头！然而，战争不需要叹息。在敌众我寡的险恶形势下，中国空军在1938年的春天再创辉煌，日机中号称“四大天王”者被打得三亡一俘；4月29日日本天皇生日这天，中国战斗机和苏联战斗机齐心协力；击落日机36架。这需要怎样的意志和勇猛！不只是一架中国战斗机在紧急关头就是以撞机而与敌机同归于尽的。陈纳德忘不了这些有名者和无名者的英勇事迹。他想，中国飞行行员本来应成为世界第一流的飞行员。 1938年9月，国民政府迁都重庆。陈纳德接到宋美龄的指令，要他去湘西芷江，用最后剩下的几架鹰式飞机成立一所航校。他和舒伯炎驱车到了那里，可仅有的两架飞机很快也被士官生摔坏了。于是，宋美龄又指令他们去云南昆明郊区的航校，航校才建立，校长是王叔铭。宋美龄希望陈纳德尽力将航校办好，不管付出多少代价，仗总是要打下去的。10月下旬冒着··细雨，陈纳德和舒伯炎驱车离芷江，经镇远到了贵阳，可车抛锚了。陈纳德再没耐性在路上折腾，有人便打电话给周至柔将军，比利·麦克唐纳开了飞机来接他。另一位“空中飞人”卢克·威廉逊在七七事变后，迫于官方命令，回了美国。矮个子的长沙人舒伯炎少校是陈纳德的翻译，在以后的岁月里，他跟着陈纳德满天飞，几乎形影不离，但可怜的是他始终有着顽固的晕机症。 陈纳德一眼爱上了昆明。他自此在昆明一住七年，深情地称她为第二故乡。 此时，铜锣湾的陈香梅并不知道陈纳德的行径，更不知晓这些枝枝节节。她不曾想到，半个世纪以后，她有意而天也有缘让她重新踏访陈纳德当年走过的路，当年路过的城！此刻，她只是闪过一念：今生今世会有缘见着这位中国大侠风的美国人吗？ 这一年，香梅姊妹有缘见到的是二叔婆一家。 二叔婆便是何香凝女士，廖仲恺的遗孀。其实香梅姊妹该喊她二舅婆，廖仲恺是她们的二舅公呗。大约是跟着母亲喊，母亲称她二婶母。 二舅公是个大人物，二叔婆也不同凡响。香梅从母亲的片言只语中，知道母亲很敬畏二婶母，赞叹她是巾帼英雄；但又有敬而远之的感觉。二叔婆和她的女儿梦醒儿子承志也像很神秘似的，行踪不定，但常能从报纸上觅到二叔婆的名字，常跟宋庆龄的名字在一块。香梅姊妹对二叔婆也就充满了仰慕和好奇。 礼拜天，廖香词和女儿们做了礼拜就兴致勃勃去到二叔婆家。 没想到，一盆凉水从头浇到脚，香梅对二叔婆的第一印象糟透了。 58岁的二叔婆矮矮胖胖，头发剪得很短，脑门光溜溜的，一张国字脸冷若冰霜，目光看人却很是锐利。她着一件没有腰身的素色旗袍，如挂着一顶蚊帐。浑身上下不加任何一丝修饰。 香梅母女让她锐利地盯着看，竟有不寒而栗之感。 廖香词赶紧让女儿们给二叔婆请安，二叔婆倒不拘礼节，即不要香梅姊妹磕头鞠躬，可她也没有红包给。 二叔婆的目光仍盯着廖香词：“女儿家，怎么打扮得像群花蝴蝶似的？哦，还涂脂抹粉？” 廖香词怔住了。出门得化妆，这是她的习惯，且认为是对别人的礼貌。这些日子她觉得自己气色不好，出门时还特地化了浓妆。 香梅深深为母亲抱不平，她看见母亲的羞赧都透过胭脂了，二叔婆怎么一点情面都不讲？ 廖香词已缓过神来，轻声解释说：“二叔婆，我刚领着她们望弥撒来。” 二叔婆高高挑起两眉：“望弥撒？莫非你让她们全信了天主教？” 廖香词只有点点头。 二叔婆更火了：“你呀你，亏你还是个受过高等教育的女子呢，世上哪有什么鬼神上帝？真是无知！想得出来！上帝？上帝只对那些无法面对现实的弱者微笑！” 圣母玛利亚呵，香梅打心里恨起这位蛮横的二叔婆。二叔婆的声音宏大，给人震耳欲聋之感；她还有力地挥动着手臂，仿佛在公众集会上演讲，而廖香词和她的女儿们是群颓废的不争气的女子！ 香梅的心被刺伤了。 二叔婆的女儿廖梦醒也极其朴素，素面朝天，但她很沉静，身边带着个十来岁的女孩儿。但香梅姊妹从没见过梦醒姨的丈夫，梦醒姨自身也像个谜，她从不对香梅姊妹说什么，惜话如金，只是偶然间，她会不经意地吐出一句唐诗宋词，恰到好处，让香梅佩服不已。 香梅姊妹最喜欢的是承志舅舅，她们见到他的第一面起，就全主动省略掉“表”字。舅舅年轻潇洒，没有一点架子，既不像他的母亲那样大喊大叫，也不像他的姐姐那样沉默寡言。他爱跟这群外甥女逗闹，没大没小，快快活活。而唯有此时，二叔婆挂霜的脸蓦地变得晴朗朗，漫出慈祥和怜爱。 香梅听母亲说过，二叔婆极爱儿子，1933年承志舅舅在上海被捕，二叔婆就冲进市府找市长吴铁成要人，否则，请他连她也一起关！后来宋庆龄、柳亚子、经亨颐三人做保，放了承志舅舅。出狱不久他就悄然离去，只留下三封信，一封给母亲，一封给柳亚子，还有一封给经亨颐的女儿经普椿。原来，他俩在偷偷恋爱呢，他要她等他两年，如若真爱他的话。眼下，有情人终成亲眷，可香梅没见着这位新舅妈。香梅很想问问舅舅，这些传闻当真否？可是，舅舅从不跟她们说这些正儿八经的事，也许她们太小？也许舅舅潇洒中仍藏匿着神秘？也许从舅舅的身上能寻觅到舅公廖仲恺的灵魂？ 香梅若是缠着母亲盘根问底，母亲会笑着摇摇头：女人家，怎么弄得清政治上的事？香梅立马反诘：二叔婆不也是女人家？母亲说，就你灵跳过人。二叔婆可不是一般的女人家，她有她的信仰，个性刚烈，认定的事，不屈不挠，九死不悔，不达目的，誓不罢休。就是蒋介石，她也敢跟他对着干。怎么说，你二叔婆也是个自立自强的女性。母亲是诚挚的。香梅思忖，二叔婆严厉呵斥的母亲，仍不改对二叔婆的敬意，这怕不全是做一个淑女的矫情所致吧，还因为什么呢？ 香梅姊妹却在背后偷偷给二叔婆取了个绰号：肥婆。 二叔婆不知道，就是知道了也无暇顾及她们。二叔婆很忙。香港也积极开展了抗日救国活动，为抗日捐衣捐粮捐药品；中华全国文艺界抗敌协会常有义演。在不少集会上，二叔婆常作声振寰宇、响遏行云的演讲，她号召港澳同胞为抗日出钱出力，挽救民族的危亡。同时，她还警告说，日寇决不会放过香港，战争在即！而且会是漫长的！拥挤的听众几乎屏声敛息听着她颇有感召力的演说，但说到战争与香港时，听众中却有人发出不以为然的嗤笑：危言耸听！二叔婆镇定自若，有穿透力的目光咄咄逼人：请你丢掉幻想！很少有女人能镇得住这种场面，况且是个老妇。 终于有一天，有人心急火燎赶到香梅家，要她们火速去二叔婆家。廖香词和女儿们急急赶到时，硕大的厅堂却如大年三十夜般热闹火红！几扇石磨嗡嗡响着，不分老幼，无论主仆都在忙忙乎乎做米饼。米磨成浆，浆滤干水，粉揉成饼，饼蒸蒸熟。搭起的案板、锃亮的八仙桌、大小茶几上全是白粉粉的世界。女人们揉搓着湿软的米粉，不忘加点糖加点香芝蔗，爱美的还偷偷蘸上几点红胭脂，手上、衣袖衣襟上乃至脸上头发上都粘着白米粉，可这是怎样地热闹和开心呀。香梅姊妹忙得团团转，最小的香桃快乐得手舞足蹈。二叔婆伫立厅堂的正中央，时而指责米浆磨得太细，时而呵斥女人们叽叽喳喳，时而批评运米饼到厨下蒸熟的男人们手脚太慢。她像是亲临战场指挥若定的大将军，还不时作紧急的战地动员：就要开仗了！兵马未到，粮草先行。每家每户的米饼至少要对付得了三五天呵。 夜深了，厅堂里点着雪亮的汽灯，挑灯夜干为备战，香梅不觉疲惫，这是很开心的一回。 但是，战争并没有立即来到香港。这些米饼一度成为大家的累赘和笑料，可没谁敢当着二叔婆一家笑出来。二叔婆毕竟是权威的。 战争也终究来到了。 但二叔婆一家早在战争前就又从香港消逝了，像他们突然来到香港一样，都没有铺垫。 说他们像灯火，说亮就亮，说暗就暗？wrong.他们从未熄灭过。 说他们像海潮，起起落落？wrong.他们的行踪无规律可寻。 香梅想，还是用梦醒姨喜欢的唐诗来作比喻吧：“花非花，雾非雾，夜半来，天明去。来如春梦几多时？去似朝云无觅处。”二叔婆一家，是一个耐人寻思的谜。 香梅不喜欢二叔婆，但怎么也忘不掉二叔婆。 二叔婆是一个奇特的女人，不同于她从前的生命中接纳的所有的女人。 1938年，陈香梅考进真光女中念高中。 真光女中是中国南方的名牌女中，以优雅的校园环境，第一流的师资力量及严谨又科学的管理吸引着求学的富家女。因为战乱，真光女中从广州的白鹤洞迁到香港峡道的凤辉台，仍不失她原有的声誉。真光女中有半数女生住校，同属严谨，但她与圣保禄女书院有着截然不同的风格和情调。真光处处洋溢着少女的活泼和浪漫，教室里传出的琅琅读书声，操场上飞来飞去的羽毛球，就是浴室里哗啦啦的流水声，也还伴着少女们悦耳又杂乱的歌声和故作大惊小怪的喊声，少女的喉咙真亮呵。 陈香梅也要住校。 廖香词摇摇头：“你还是个小不点呢，你能照顾好自己？” 香梅小学初中都连连跳级，13岁上高中，无论年龄还是个头，都是班上最小的。 香梅却像小大人般皱着眉头严肃地说：“妈，请您检查我住校的'行李'嘛。” 乖乖，小不点自个把衣被鞋袜日常用品书籍文具等打了包装了袋，还真是井井有条呢。 廖香词笑了：“也好，你从小就要强，早点尝尝自立的滋味也好。我送你去学校，总得跟校方商量妥吧。” 香梅调皮地眨眨眼：“妈，不用劳您大驾，我全自理啦。” 天知道这鬼灵精做了个什么暗号，眨眼几个比她高大得多的女同学蹦进屋，嘴里嚷嚷：“阿姨好”，七手八脚把香梅和“行李”一溜烟似地卷走了。 廖香词叹口气：“嗬，这丫头主意可大呢。” 李妈拍着巴掌：“太太，二小姐是我奶大的，三岁看大，七岁看老，吃奶时我就说过，二小姐是大富大贵的命相，定会有大出息的。” 廖香词不语，凝睇门外的路，都市的路被高楼矮屋遮挡切割，是很难望见远方的。 小不点倒成了全班女同学的主心骨。 严厉而忧郁的国文主任罗慕华先生是北方人，他很不满意香港世界重英文轻中文的倾向。他一口漂亮的京片子，讲课时让女生们神魂颠倒，可讲评作文时不留一点情面，还总是重重加上一句：“别忘了，你是中国人！”那一口漂亮的京片子却又叫好些女生泪眼汪汪。陈香梅却很得宠，因为她的作文写得太棒啦。很快她担任了校刊的记者和编辑，负责同学通讯专栏，她还真个办得有声有色、鲜活生动呢。不久，全港中学举办演讲比赛，罗先生又力荐小不点参加。台上是黑压压的听众，台前是一排评委，目光炯炯盯着你，小不点的心都跳到喉咙口了，可怪了，一开口，那火一般的激情，排山倒海的气势汹涌而出，小不点的音量竟如此宏大，挥动右臂，双臂高举，像要托起明天的太阳！She did it!她让全场折服！小不点勇夺冠军！真光女同学能不钦佩艳羡么？香梅却有点恍惚，那演讲时的感召力莫非源于二叔婆？她分明不喜欢二叔婆，但潜意识中却在仿效二叔婆？她理不清。 香梅成了女友们的圆心儿，还有一重大秘密：代写情书。 广州失陷，经历过战争恐怖逃难奔波的南国少女，反倒像这又湿又热的季节里繁茂绽开的野花一样，充满了躁动和不安。也许战乱让人更渴求爱恋？十六七岁的少女们匆匆又偷偷地恋爱起来。对方是昔日的老邻居老同学？抑或一次集会一场游戏中的邂逅客？她们只知道要爱和被爱。不过这爱也真可怜，只是鱼雁传书而已。真光对住校女生的管束也是一丝不苟的，不要说夜间不能外出和会客，即使周末，也无例外。然而写情书，并非人人都能心有所感笔有所言的，先是好友雪莉央她代写情书，对方回信，惊服得要拜倒在雪莉的石榴裙下，雪莉却又大大咧咧说出了此中奥秘，于是竟有五六个女友央香梅代写情书了。每逢周末，她便孜孜笔耕，乐此不疲，既要有真情，又得端庄含蓄，还不能雷同，陈捉刀也算是绞尽脑汁，呕心沥血。在她伏案疾书的当儿，女友们已快乐地帮她洗衣浣被熨衣铺床了，这真是少女的别样友情。 有时也惹出了麻烦。雪莉的大大咧咧竟扩展到她的男友，这位心高气傲的邻校男生闻之勃然大怒，认为这是对他的愚弄，坚持要陈香梅道歉。雪莉急了，又央求香梅；香梅倒老老实实致信解释，说只不过甘愿为朋友两肋插刀而已，决无恶作剧之意。谁知这位男生得寸进尺，又坚持要见陈香梅一面！陈香梅这才慌了，幸而女友们众志成城当她的保护伞，这一面才迟迟未见成。 女生们便又重新感到她只不过是小不点，情窦未开，不懂爱情。 差矣。香梅的心情又快活又沉重。她不是晚熟，是早熟，比这些女生还要早熟。这种青梅竹马、两小无猜的情感，她早在北平跟罗明扬的友好中就体验过了。她仍旧思念罗明扬，这一封封代写的情书，是否仍流泻着对明扬浓浓的情意呢？Yes and no.战火隔绝了他们的书信往来，她珍藏着昔日的那份情。但是，她在炮制情书时，也蓦然悟到：这不是爱。就像她眼下也决不会爱这些奶里奶气的邻校男生一样。如若她要爱，定会爱上一个成熟的男子，哪怕年纪比她大许多。 全港中学举行作文竞赛，她又一次夺魁！她还是个小不