Chapter 181 Memories in Fire Tree and Silver Flower

Outside the window, there are dense and loud firecrackers, and there are two kicks played by children in the middle. It is a sound from the ground, followed by a residual sound, and then a loud noise in the sky.From time to time, the gauze curtains reflected sparkling lights, which were the children setting off all kinds of fireworks.What a lively and cheerful Beijing New Year's Eve, why is there a little melancholy in my heart? I think of two lines of poems by the ancients, which are "One year will end at night, and thousands of miles will not return to people". Now Beijing is my home, and I don't have any regrets of homesickness anymore. What I remember bitterly are my many friends thousands of miles away!

I don't have many good friends, and among the few, overseas friends account for almost half; among this "half", Japanese friends account for the majority. I started to make Japanese friends, still thousands of miles away in the United States.In the early twenties, I studied abroad in the United States, and among my classmates, I was more likely to get close to Japanese female students. Everyone picked up brushes to write Chinese characters, picked up chopsticks to eat rice, and all of a sudden "looked at each other and smiled, irresistible".At that time, Japanese militarists were in power, and the relationship between China and Japan was quite tense, but when we talked about state affairs, we all had a firm belief that our two eastern countries should and must be peaceful and friendly forever, so as to maintain the prosperity of East Asia and the world And progress, as long as our younger generation continues to strive for this, our lofty ideals will definitely be realized in our lifetimes.

Among these Japanese classmates, I would like to mention Seo Sumie, who lives in the same dormitory as me - Na'an Bijia Building.She is an authentic oriental girl, sensitive and eager to learn, quiet and gentle. Although we are in different classes, we often stay together after class.We got tired of eating western food, so we bought some rice, minced meat and vegetables from nearby villages, and cooked them on the electric stove.Usually I cook and she does the dishes and eats happily.In the past few decades, except for the years of the Anti-Japanese War, we have kept in touch with each other.I see her every time I go to Japan; she has also been to China, Beijing.I also got her New Year's letter a few days ago.

In the winter of 1946, I went to Tokyo after the war and met Yoko Matsuoka.She is a commentator and a person who is enthusiastic about Japan-China friendship and world peace.She also studied in the United States. We talked in English, and the more we talked, the more excited we became.Since then we have been meeting in Beijing or Tokyo, or at international peace conferences.Unfortunately she passed away in the late seventies.In 1980, when our writer delegation visited Japan, Ba Jin and I went to her home to express our condolences; we met her daughter, Matsuoka Seiko, who had studied in China.A few days ago I got a New Year's letter from her, she said: "I will make more contributions to the friendship between Japan and China this year." What a lovely successor!

Here we should mention the female writer Amoko Miyake, who also joined Yoko Matsuoka in the Peace and Friendship Movement.I wrote an article "Spring on the Nile" in the early 1960s, and the two Japanese women in it used them as models.They have all visited China alone, and I have accompanied them to take the Beijing-Guangzhou train to the south, visit and tour all the way, and have been sent to Shenzhen.Thinking back now, we had a lot of in-depth conversations on the boat in the car at that time, among the mountains and rivers, which are really worth remembering. When it comes to women writers, I also hosted Kazuko Gisa.She has a lot of affection for China. I only travel with her in Beijing. There are not many days, but I see her every time I go to Japan.

There is also Soto Uchiharumi, also a female writer. During an interview in the 1960s, the poet Li Ji and I visited her home.In the spring of 1980, when I came to Japan again, she had already shaved her hair and turned into a nun, but her eloquence was as strong as before. All the way to write, all mentioned are some female friends!In fact, the number of my Japanese male friends is not below my girlfriends.Now simply put them aside and talk about their wives. Kenzo Nakajima calls himself my elder brother, and Mrs. Nakajima is my most beloved sister-in-law.Every time I go to Mr. Nakajima's house in Tokyo, among the books on the four walls, the fragrance of tea and wine, there is always Mrs. Nakajima's kind smiling face and kind conversation.After I fell ill in 1980, every time Mrs. Nakajima came to China, she would visit me in the hospital or at home.And the wife of Mr. Yasushi Inoue also entertained me with the most exquisite refreshments in Mr. Inoue’s study many times, and also visited me in the hospital or my dwelling when I was ill.

The generosity of both of them made me grateful and inspired me. I hope I will recover soon so that I can do more work with them that is beneficial to the friendship between China and Japan. My memories flooded in, and my pen ran wild.Before I rein in the reins, I must also mention a lady who is running to say hello on the Bridge of Friendship, Ms. Junko Sato.When I meet Japanese friends, she is often present.Just over a month ago, she was the one who accompanied Mr. Yasushi Inoue to my new house to see me! The sound of firecrackers outside the window became more crisp and bright, and more fireworks illuminated my curtains, which were thick red and green for a while.The children cheered loudly, clapped their hands and jumped, the day of Jiazi has arrived!It took me two years to write this essay, which is unprecedented.In the midst of this celebration, I wish my Japanese friends (whether ladies, sirs, or madams) a long and healthy life.I will always work with them to the end for Sino-Japanese friendship and world peace!night of february 1, 1984