Chapter Twenty-five
WHILE OLD MAN CHI was struggling to go out of the courtyard， the Japanese of house Number Three had already bolted the gate of their compound. They had also piled many things against the gate as if to guard against street-to-street fighting.
They had already received word of Japan's surrender.
They were very frightened. When their war lords had drummed up the war they had not had the courage to stop it. When the battles went well they forgot the guilt of war and felt only its satisfaction and glory. Even if they themselves had not wanted to kill people， how many Chinese had not their soldiers killed？
After bolting and barricading the gate they all went into one room and wept soundlessly. War was now a nightmare. Glory and privilege had suddenly disappeared. They must give up beautiful Peiping， their handsome house， and their own livelihood， and be sent back like prisoners to their own land. And there was the possibility， if the Chinese neighbors should now come for revenge， that they might lose their lives.
While they wept silently they listened for sounds from outside. If the news of the Japanese surrender got to the Chinese ears would not the Chinese， with swords， spears， and sticks， knock down their gates and split their heads？ They did not think of the crime of having started the war but thought only of the shame and fear of defeat. At most they felt only that war was not a dependable thing.
The old Japanese woman in house Number One opened the two halves of her gate. When the gate was opened she smiled to herself as if to say， “Let those who wish revenge come. We oppressed you for eight years; now you should take revenge. This would be justice.”
Standing inside the threshold she looked at the big locust trees outside the gate. She was not elated by the news of the defeat of the Japanese army， but she did not feel any shame. She had been antiwar from the beginning. She had long known that those who blindly believed in force would bring disaster on themselves. She stood quietly in the gate and in her heart was sadness. The war was over， but what of those thousands and hundreds of thousands dead？
She walked out of the gate. She should go to the neighbors and tell them that Japan had surrendered. This was nothing to be ashamed of. The surrender of Japan was the inevitable result of blindly worshipping force. She could not because she was a Japanese refuse to admit this truth. At the same time she should become good friends with the Chinese and make for her and them a friendship built on foundations above revenge and hatred.
As soon as she came out of the gate she walked inevitably toward the gate of the Chi family. She had always considered that Old Man Chi represented some kind of dignity， but she felt that she understood Rey Shuan. Rey Shuan used English to talk with her; his attitudes and knowledge were such as to make her like and respect him. She had traveled all over the world， and Rey Shuan had never been outside the city of Peiping， yet what she knew he knew also. No， he not only knew but was understanding about world affairs， and had definite hope for the future of mankind.
Just as she reached the threshold of the Chi family gate， Old Man Chi carrying Niu Niu came around the spirit screen. Rey Shuan was supporting his grandfather. The Japanese woman stood still. In a glance she saw that Niu Niu was dead. She had come to please the Chi family， and to talk with Rey Shuan about the future relations between China and Japan; but she saw a half-dead old man carrying a dead child — as if half-dead China embraced thousands and tens of thousands of dead sons. What was the difference between victory and defeat？ What was the good of victory？ The day of victory should be cursed and should be wept.
The shame of surrender had not made her downhearted but the death of Little Niu Niu made her lose her self-confidence and courage. She started to go back home.
Old Man Chi's eyes moved from Niu Niu to the gate. It seemed as if he could not recognize the gate through which he had come in and gone out a thousand times， and felt only that it was a place through which to go out and find the Japanese. He saw the old Japanese woman.
The old woman， like Old Man Chi， loved peace and had lost the young people of her family; she should have been able to go forward to the old man without any sense of shame， but a war of aggression makes the militarists arrogant and the people with conscience feel ashamed. She was after all a citizen of Japan. She felt that she should carry some of the responsibility for the death of Little Niu Niu. She backed a few steps. Before Old Man Chi she felt that she was guilty.
Old Man Chi without stopping to think shouted， “Stand still， look， look！” He lifted Niu Niu's thin corpse for the old Japanese woman to see.
The old woman stood silent. She wanted to turn and run but it was as though the old man held her fast.
Rey Shuan， still supporting his grandfather， called quietly， “Grandfather， Grandfather.” He knew that the death of Little Niu Niu had nothing to do with the old woman of house Number One， and he knew that his grandfather had always respected the old woman; but he dared not argue with his grandfather for the old man was already half-dead and half-alive， half-conscious and half in a stupor.
The old man， still staggering， went forward. The neighbors silently followed him.
The old woman seeing the old man was coming closer seemed to brace herself. She had some fear of the old man， but she knew that he was a righteous man and that if it were not for the death of Niu Niu he would not have made this scene. She must tell them that Japan had surrendered so they could have a little comfort.
In English she said to Rey Shuan， “Tell your grandfather that Japan has surrendered.”
Rey Shuan did not seem to understand and asked himself in Chinese， “Japan surrendered？” and looked again at the old woman.
The old woman nodded slightly.
Rey Shuan suddenly began to tremble. Trembling and in a daze he placed his hand on Little Niu Niu's body.
“What did she say？” Old Man Chi asked in a loud voice.
Holding one of Niu Niu's little cold hands Rey Shuan looked at her little face and said to himself， “Victory， Niu Niu， but you— ”
“What did she say？” the old man shouted again.
Rey Shuan quickly let go Niu Niu's hand and looked at his grandfather and at the neighbors. He smiled with tears in his eyes. He wanted to shout， “We've won the war，” but in a low voice and as if unwillingly he said to his grandfather， “Japan has surrendered.” When he had told them the tears streamed down his face. The sufferings of the last eight years in his mind and body seemed to weigh a thousand and ten thousand catties.
Although Rey Shuan's voice had been very low， the words， “Japan has surrendered，” were like the wind that blows， and reached the ears of all the neighbors.
All immediately forgot the death of Little Niu Niu， forgot to pity Old Man Chi and Rey Shuan， forgot to care for Yun Mei and Mrs. Tien Yiu. Everyone wanted to do something and say something. They seemed to want to run out to see what victory looked like and to open their mouths and shout， “Ten thousand years to the Chinese Republic.” Even Old Man Chi seemed to forget what he had been about to do， and could only look at this one and look at that one. Sorrow and joy and confusion were all mixed together.
The old Japanese woman suddenly became the target of all eyes. She was now no longer a peace-loving old Japanese woman with ideals; she was a Japanese and the symbol of force， invasion， and slaughter. Those eyes all carried the fire of hate and bored into her. What should she do？ She could not defend herself with words. Words on the day of settlement were of no use. She knew she had no guilt but she could not speak. It seemed that she had to share in the crime of the Japanese militarists. In spite of the fact that her ideals were above national boundaries and race she had — pecause of her country and her race — to be charged with the crime.
She looked at the people before her and suddenly felt that she did not know them. They were no longer her neighbors but people who hated her and perhaps even wanted to kill her. She knew that these neighbors were gentle people and easy to deal with， yet who could guarantee that today they would not become delirious and want revenge？
Yun Mei had stopped weeping. She went to her grandfather and took Niu Niu from him. What had victory to do with her？ She asked only to hold Niu Niu a little longer.
Holding Niu Niu's little dead body tightly Yun Mei walked slowly back into the courtyard. She bent her head and looked at Niu Niu's greyish， thin， and quiet little face， and called in a low voice， “Niu Niu，” as if Niu Niu were only sleeping.
Old Man Chi turned and followed her. “Mother of Little Precious ，did you hear？ Japan has surrendered. Mother of Little Precious， don't weep any more. We have good days before us. Just now I was out of my mind with grief. I wanted to take Niu Niu to find the Japanese. I was wrong. I should not have thought of desecrating Niu Niu that way. Mother of Little Precious， find some clean clothes for Niu Niu， wash her face. Don't let her enter her little coffin with tears on her face. Mother of Little Precious， don't worry. The Japanese devils will soon have all rolled away， and we will be able， peacefully and happily， to live our lives. You and the Eldest are still young and can bear more children.”
Yun Mei seemed not to hear the old man's pleading， his efforts to comfort her. She walked forward slowly， calling in a low voice， “Niu Niu.”
Mrs. Tien Yiu was still standing in the courtyard， and when she saw Yun Mei she followed her. She seemed to know that Yun Mei would not be willing to let her take Niu Niu， so she only followed her daughter-in-law.
Fourth Mistress Li had been standing with Mrs. Tien Yiu and now without thinking she followed the mother and daughter-in-law. The three women slowly went into the room.
At this moment — beyond the screen — the storyteller Fang the Sixth said loudly to his neighbors， “Neighbors， we should today take our revenge.” The words were addresed to all the neighbors but his eyes were on the old Japanese woman.
All heard the words of Fang the Sixth but did not understand what he meant. They were all people of Peiping who could bear disaster with patience and who did not think of vengeance when the disaster had passed. They always followed history but never thought of creating or changing history. Even when contrary winds blew they would still live by their never-changing philosophy for living in the world. Behind this philosophy was the belief that evil had its own evil reward — there was no need for them to strike back at their enemies. How terrible the Japanese had been — yet Japan had surrendered. Eight years of occupation， how long that had been！ But compared with the six or seven hundred years of the history of Peiping， what did eight years count？ No one moved.
Fang the Sixth began to explain to them， “We have had eight years of suffering， and not a day on which anyone dared say that his head would not come off his body. Should we not today give them a little bitterness to eat？ Even if you dare not kill should you not at least spit upon them？”
The always mild and gentle Cheng Chang Shun agreed with Fang the Sixth. “Right， even if we don't beat or kill them， should we not spit squarely in their faces？” In his nasal tones he shouted， “Come on！”
All started toward the old Japanese woman. She did not understand what they had been saying but she could see that their attitude was hostile. She wanted to walk away but she did not move. She straightened her back and waited bravely for their attack. She must suffer their insults and blows; only so could she lessen her guilt and that of the other Japanese.
Rey Shuan had been sitting all this time on the ground as though he had lost comsciousness. Suddenly he stood up and with one step came between the old woman and the crowd. His face still had no color， but his eyes were bright. Lifting his chest he seemed suddenly taller. Determined but still gentle， he said， “What are you planning to do？”
None of them， not even Fang the Sixth， dared reply. Chinese respect men of scholarship. Rey Shuan fitted their ideal and was the only one among them who was educated.
“Are you planning first to beat this old lady？” Rey Shuan emphasized the words “old lady.”
Everyone looked at Rey Shuan and looked at the old Japanese woman. Fang the Sixth was the first to shake his head. No one was willing to hurt an old woman.
Rey Shuan turned and said to the Japanese woman， “You had better go.”
The old woman sighed， bowed to all， turned and walked away.
After the old woman had gone John Ting came in.
As soon as he saw John Ting come in Fang the Sixth thought he had reinforcements. Ever since the defeat of Germany， John Ting had told them all that when Japan was defeated they should deal properly with the Japanese in Peiping.
“John， what do you think？ Should we not go to house Number Three and give those Japanese a lesson？”
“What's happened？” John Ting had not heard the news.
“Japan is finished， surrendered，” Fang the Sixth answered in a loud voice.
John Ting closed his eyes as he was in the habit of doing in church when he said “Amen.” Then without a word he turned and started to run.
“Where are you going？” Rey Shuan asked him.
“I—I'm going to the English Palace，” John Ting shouted.