facebook-like: 太好了！腎病從此不用再花錢洗腎受苦！救一個人等於救一個家！分享出去吧！

facebook-like: 太好了！腎病從此不用再花錢洗腎受苦！救一個人等於救一個家！分享出去吧！: 這秘方如果早 25年收到，也許我家孩子現在就不會怨嘆：人皆有母我獨無！ 我家種荔枝 50 餘年，取得荔枝核何其容易，居然不知是寶！ 連自己的枕邊人也枉費14 年歲月洗腎，最終還是不支奉召回歸西天。台灣洗腎的病友很多，也許您身邊周圍就有人在洗腎，如同作者所言死馬當...

Rose, the second generation "Everlasting Blossoms"

Li-Fen, my sweet caregiver!

She had never crocheted anything but shoelace!  

One day she looked at my book "Everlasting Blossoms",  the Chinese edition. Attracted  by the picture on the cover page. I told her those flowers even the frogs, the dragonfly and the little bug were hand crocheted. she was amazed and said:"How big are they?" I said:" Life size."  She just couldn't believe it!

"Would you like to crochet a rose?" I was half teasing her. I know she  can only crochet a shoelace!

But surprisingly her answer was:" I surely would like to try only if you  like to teach me."

"How can I? With only one hand?" But I give a second thought and asked her: " Do you know what is single crochet, double crochet?  What is skip? slip ?  How to add a stitch?"

"I know what is single crochet, double crochet,. but the others...."  She was a little discouraged.

Poor Li Fen's face moved me.

"OK! First let's make a shoelace with 15 chins. Then it turn over make 4 single crochet 6 double crochet and than 4 single crochet." She did it!

I checked on what she did. 

"Wow! Nice and even"

She looked very happy when she heard what I've said.  Her face looked bright!

"Now, turn it over and make two chins and 4 double crochet, then at the same hole of the 4th double crochet, make another double crochet, then you have added one double crochet."

She looked a little puzzled again. 

I do have one hand.  Do I?  So I told her to hold the ends with her two hands. I tried to poke the crochet hook into the right place. I did it! But trying to pull the yarn out of  thehole...........!

Quickly Li Fen understood what I wanted to do. There she practiced to add 2 stitch even 3 stitches.

Skip, is easy! She got it right away.  But slip, Puzzled again! We struggled for a while. Finally She got them all!

These were very basic skill. It took us more than an hour.

From then on, I read the instruction, Li Fen crochet.. One month later, rose, the second generation "Everlasting Blossom" was born.    

                                   Everlasting Blossoms

 C-2 Renew a sweet experience of bygone days--(last part)--

       In the olden days around Chinese New Year season, the people in Peking loved to watch the fireworks. That kind of fireworks were very different from nowadays. After the firework shoot into the air, it exploded into thousands of sparkles. Suddenly those sparkles may change into some thing else such as an ax, or a cup, or even a war chariot, etc..... Yu Wen told her children the best firework she'd ever watched was at Dung An Men when she was about 6 years old. One of Lyan's long term worker carried her on his shoulder, because she was too short to be standing in the middle of the crowd.

  As Yu wen remembered that:

  After she heard a loud:「Bang!」 There was a big fire ball floating up into the sky. Suddenly the fire ball changed into a knight sating on a horseback. It floated in the air for a little while and starting to fade away. Those fading sparklers in the sky changed into a house. When the house starting to fade away, there was a big cluster of grapes. One by one, the grapes busted. Then the sky returned to it's darkness again!

  The old technique and skill of making these kind of fireworks must be failed to be handed down from the past generations. For Yu Wen had never seen anything similar the rest of her life. Every time when her was telling this story, her grandchildren thought their Granny was tell a magical cartoon story.

  "Tyan-Chyau" in Peking was another attraction to Chinese. Tyan-Chyau was a stone flyover. In the olden days, each year at the winter solstice the emperor would cross over this flyover from the palace to Tyan-Tan to offer sacrifices to gods. Many years later, the river dried, and the riverbed was filled and leveled up, the flyover was torn down, but people still call that place Tyan-Chyau. This place became the biggest recreation area. Lots of small businesses moved in. It was a place for all kinds of folk artists to show their talent and specialties as well. There were varieties of booths for snacks, pastries.  The Sugar-figure Blowing art was one of Yu Wen's favorite. The folk artist put some sugar into a small pot which was placed on a small burner. Stirring with a small bamboo stick until the sugar melted into thick liquid. He pick up some melted sugar, hot and soft. He poked a tiny copper pipe into that small chunk of sugar and blow it. At the same time with his two magical hands he shaped the soft sugar into different kind of figurines that Chinese people all familiar with. Such as the Big Fat Pig, the Rocky Monkey, Buddha Maitreya, etc..... You name it, he'll make it for you. Buddha Maitreya was always Yu Wen's first choice. Because each time when you push it's big fat belly, some honey will drop out from the bottom of the belly. After all the honey were gone, Yu Wen would finish up the whole Buddha! Sometimes the big fat Buddha was not enough for her, she would ask for a Big Fat Pig.

Once at Tyan Chyau there was some happening shocked You Wen that she could never forget her whole life:

People were circled around a tall young man, his upper body was naked. He was ready to perform some very special Chinese Kung Fu-"gecko Kung Fu"-. Yu Wen saw that he cupping one hand in the other in front of his chest to salute the people around him, then he turn around facing the city wall with is back toward the crowd. Beginning with a few steps of quick running, that tall young man started running on the wall as if he was running on the ground until he almost reach the top of the city wall. Suddenly a armed soldier showed up and aimed him with his rifle. The young man turned his body around and jumped down to the ground as quickly as a flash. People applaud loudly and shouted with "GOOD!" A lots of money dropped into his rugged hat. It tells the performance was awesome!

      

There was one particular particular toy that Yu Wen wanted to play but never dare to try, it was called "Poo- Poo-Dern". It was made of very, very thin glass, shapped as a calabash. At the bottom of the calabash was especially thin. When you slightly and shortly blow some air into the tube at the other end, the bottom of the calabash moves which made the noise "Poo-Dern, Poo-Dern". It sounded cheerfully. Once Yu Wen saw a little boy was play with "Poo-Poo-Dern". He was blowing a little too hard the bottom part of the calabash popped into small pieces and shotted into all the directions. some pieces flew into the boy's face who was standing next to him. That hurted boy screamed out loudly and blooded all over his face. Wang Ma told Yu Wen: "Fortunately it only cut the boy's face not his eye and he was blowing. If he was inhaling the tiny pieces of broken glass could get into his through. That could be too late to sent him to the hospital. That is why there is nursery rhyme, which says:「Poo-Dern, Poo-Dern. Two pennies could cost you life. My lady should never play with it."  

  

                               Everlastimg Blossom

                 ----The 2nd part of   C-2 Renew a sweet experience of bygone days----

                               

Early next morning, Wong Ma said to Yu Wen excitedly, "Hurry up, My lady, Master was asking for you. It seemed that he has something for you."

  Yu Wen remembered that her father had promised her yesterday to look for something that will be more interested than the tiny dog. Now that must be it! She jumped out of her seat dashing out of the door, jumped cross over the pond. There she stopped at the corridor where her parents' room was. Usually it took at least 2-3 minutes walking from her room to where she stood now if she walk as a lady should, but now she jumped like a monkey, it only took her less than one minute! To get here in 2-3 minutes? How could she wait that long?

  She knocked on door and said out loud: "Mom, Dad, your daughter is here to say Good morning to you."

  Mr. Lyan opened the door looking at the huffing and puffing young lady. He looked down and saw her muddy embroidered shoes. He smiled and said kindly:"My! My! That's how you came here so soon. Where is your manner, my young lady? Look at your muddy shoes! Shame on you!" Mr. Lyan handed Yu Wen a cloth bag and said: "give this to Wong Ma, She'll tell you what to do."

  Behind Mr. Lyan, Yu Wen saw her mother was staring at her with a frowning face. She quickly said thanks to her father and went back her room. But this time she dare not to take the short cut any more. She walked like a well educated lady, because she knew her mother must be watching behind her.

  Yu Wen was the only girl in the family, her father's only pearl. Mr. Lyan spoiled her. But her mother, Jin Shr want to shape her with good manners as well as a real princess. Hopelessly Yu Wen inherited the Mongolian's free and easy as well as her father.

  Wong Ma opened the bag exclaimed with surprise:"My good gracious! What a Rarity!" Yu Wen couldn't figure out why was it a rarity? They were but only 4 paper made figurines made with very thin bamboo sticks in the middle. One small copper plate and a small wooden stick.

  "No! My lady, You know originally this was one of the treasures in the treasures pavilion in the royal families. "

  "What is a pavilion?" Yu Wen asked. "Where is this pavilion? Could you take me there someday?"

  "No. My lady, pavilion is not a place. It was a cabinet where the royal families kept their most valuable treasures. They could be some very special agate or jade sculptures, rings, necklace or pines or bracelet. Or the very original painting and calligraphy, or mini Imperial Collection of Four, or toys. " Wong Ma kept on:"Usually this kind of pavilion has a secret door. It can be opened only if you can find the secret switch. After it was opened, the cabinet can circled around. Therefore you won't miss anything. it's an unrivaled sight!" Yu Wen opened her eyes wide. She was enchanted by what she was listening. Speechlessly.

  Wong Ma pointed at the articles that Mr. Lyan gave to Yu Wen and said:"These are called 8 hummers. Because these 4 people each one of them holding two ball shaped hummers. They all looked differently from each other's. These people were ancient heroes long times ago. Look at this one with golden hummers, his name is Li Yuan Ba. This one with silver hummers his name is Pei Yuan Ching. This one with copper hummers is Chin Chung. This one with steel hummers is Lyang Shr Tai. Now watch! After I put them up standing in this copper plate and...." As Wong Ma was talking, she picked up the small wooden stick and slightly knocking on the edge of the copper plate. Magically the four paper made figurines started to move around, waving their hummers. When one of them getting very close to another one, they knock on each other, one of them would be knocked down.

  "Oh! Oh! My goodness! This is really fun."Yu Wen was thirlled. She jumped up and down, clapping her hands and laughing! She grabbed the little wooden steel from Wong Ma's hand and did as Wong Ma was doing until there was only one left standing in the plat. She raised her hands up high and shouted; "Hurrah! Here is the champion!" Then she put the 4 of them back standing in the plat, and started the game over and over and over again. If it wasn't Wong Ma calling her for lunch, Yu Wen could play with it till midnight! These 8 hummers kept her company through many lonely childhood days. Yu Wen was going to take them with her when she was getting married, but her mother took them away along with many other precious things the night before her marriage.

  At Yu Wen's old age, when she was telling the story about the "8 hummers" to her grand children, one of them, a grandson was so enchanted as much as she was so long ago. This little one couldn't help but asked her: "Granny! Granny! I want one too! Where Can we buy it? Can we get one here in Taiwan? Please! Granny!" 

----The last part of C-2 Renew a sweet experience of bygone days will be continued---- 

Everlasting Blossom
C-2 Renew a sweet experience of bygone days

   Yu Wen was born in Pei-Jing, China,1914. The beginning years of a new democratic government, The Republic of China. The glory of Ching Dynasty faded.

  All the relatives of Mrs. Lyan's were with blue blood. One of them, Lord Jin Sz Ye who loved to tell jokes.

  Once Jin Sz Ye told Yu Wen a true story which she could never get over with. It was about a downgrade lord who was so sensitive about his reputation.

  One morning, Lord Jin Sz Ye was strolling with his bird's cage close Hu Gwo Sz, a famous temple in Pai-jing. There were all kinds of small business around the temple. People loved to shop around there. Jin Sz Ye walked into a tea hut for some breakfast. Sitting behind him, there was a poor old jobless lord. It was very noisy at that tea hut; some were calling for the waiters to take orders, some were asking for the prices. Friends talking to each others across several tables. Birds twittering in their cages restlessly....... All of a sudden, he heard a loud slam coming from the table behind his. Someone shouted: "It's too loud, Be silent!" Everybody stopped talking and turn around and looked at the table behind him. That was the jobless lord, standing with his dignity. The hut was as silent as the night. The people at the tea hut begin eating or drinking quietly.

  Even if he was a jobless lord; he still is yesterdays majesty. Jin Sz Ye stood up trying to calm the old man down. But he found out that the old jobless lord was wetting his finger with his mouth and trying to pick up some sesames seeds which jumped out of the cracks in the table, due to the force of his slam.

  The story was told when Yu Wen was around six or seven years old, she was so innocent and naive. She could not understand the ways of the world. She thought the old jobless lord was so funny. She was even imitating his action, banging on the table and made lots of loud noise.

       *  *  *  *  *

  Yu Wen's father, Mr. Lyan was the descendant of a Mongolian prince. Educated in Japan. Because of his education back ground, he operated an arsenal in Pei-king. That was during the beginning of The new republican government. Political affairs were very unstable. There were many warlords did not agree with to the policy of the new government, and also they would like to enlarge their own territories by taking lands from the other Warlords. Hoping someday they could take over the whole country. Wars happened here and there in China. Munitions were needed for both government and the warlords. Mr. Lyan's arsenal was mutually benefited.

  Yu Wen's mother was a descendent of empire's direct lineage. Supposing the Ching was still in power, Mrs. Lyan should be a princess. Yu Wen should be princess as well.

  Due to the business Mr. Lyan was operating, the Lyan family was courteously treated by both government and the warlords. The Lyans were able to keep their splendid house with courtyards which were located at Bei-Wu Alley in Pei-king. It was not as big and beautiful as a prince's house, but certainly it was very unusual. There were beautiful gardens with rockeries in the pond. A pair of stone lions stood on each side of the main entrance. The rooms in the first yard were menial. The houses in the second yard were for the masters. Eaves are long and wide. If you place a manhjong table under the eaves with 4 people playing around at the table, they would not get wet by the heavy rain. The bricks of the pathway were carved with moral stories. When Yu Wen was a little girl, she often asked Wong -Ma, her nursing mother to tell her those stories.

  In the second yard there was an artificial hill with a secret door, a cave behind the door. In the cave there was a stone table. Yu Wen knew in the hot summer days, the ice for the whole family were stored here. They used those ice blocks for cold drinks, cooling fruits, and bring the room temperature down. As a naughty child, Yu Wen loved to ask Wong Ma to be with her to explore the cave. She believed there must be some kind of secret path that could lead to somewhere. Such as to the country side, or another mansion...... Due to the darkness and the cold air, poor Wong Ma was never be able to accomplish the adventure with her.

  There were various kind of flowers in front of the artificial hill. Yu Wen loved the nature since she was a little girl. She appreciate the beauty of the nature. She often being attracted by a small flower, a butterfly or a bug. Whenever she found something special, she would ask Wong Ma to help her to bring it home to study it. Sometimes even use it as a model for her embroidery. That was why her needle works were so different from others.

  There were many cultural or historical relics from Ching's palace or bigwigs of Ching government. Many of them flowed away to the market. Once there was one of Yu Wen's uncle from her mother side came to visit her father. He dressed with the traditional garments, long gown and a mandarin jacket, a formal dress. Usually the end of the sleeves were wide like a funnel. Yu Wen noticed that one of the end of the sleeve was moving up and down. The sleeve could not move by itself. There must be something, some kind of living creature in it. She was so curious and opened her eye big and wide and stared at it. She wished that it would come out so she can see it. But it was just didn't want to show it's face. Yu Wen couldn't wait any longer. She sneak behind her uncle's back. Before her mother could stop her, Yu Wen jumped out to her uncle's side and shouted at her loudest voice at her uncle's arm. Out it jumped a tiny dog. The dog was really so small, as small as you can put it in your palm. The sudden appearance of the tiny dog startled Yu Wen.

   "Wow!" She hopped up with her two feet and shouted:「My heavens! It's a dog!」

  After she put herself back into one piece, she gently touched the tiny dog. It was real, not a toy! It even sniffed on her fingers. Yu Wen found there was a tiny silver chain chained the dog to her uncle's wrist.

  The more Yu Wen looked at the tiny dog, the deeper she fell in love with it. She asked her uncle, "Can I have it?"

  Before any more requests, her uncle gave himself an excuse, he put his beloved pet into his sleeve. Left quickly.

  Yu Wen couldn't get what she wanted, she started to cry out loud. Nobody can stop her from crying but Mr. Lyan.

  "My child, Let me tell you something. This kind of dog is called Sleeve dog -Tibetan Spaniel. People put it inside their sleeves or the undershirt pocket when they going out. This kind of dog was a tribute, very unusual and precious. It is very difficult to take care of and hard to bring it up. If it was in your hands, surely it will die within two days. We'd better get you something else to play with."

  "Do you remember That once I had a small Aye-aye? " Mr. Lyan went on: "It slapped in my brush pot, looked so cute! When I needed to make some ink, I knock on the brush holder, it would jump out, picked up the ink stick and started to ground on the ink tray until I say "Stop". Then it stood next the ink tray looking around with his big sparking eyes. If it saw an ant creep nearby, it would catch it and eat it. After I left the desk, it would lick the left over ink in the tray until the ink was all gone."

  "Yes! Yes! But how come I don't see it anymore?" Yu Wen asked anxiously.

  "It got sick one day. I took it to a veterinarian. But they couldn't help much and it dead. I say, my child, tomorrow I'll find something that you'll have more fun to play with it."

  By now, Yu Wen smiled through tears, She knew for sure that whatever her father's promise will always be accomplished.

-----To be continued.----- 

STRAW SANDALS

                 Everlasting Blossoms

       C-1 The Laundry Lady (B)

"Now, what am I going to do next?" She said to herself again. She looked into the bucket where they kept the rice, there was very little rice left in it, barely enough for the dinner that evening. But how about tomorrow? She had to think about something ease off Syau Wen's stomach ache. To have enough food to for her poor honey. To have enough milk for Syau Yun. Suddenly she got an idea.

After Syau Yun fell into sleep, she said to Syau Wen:"My good girl, will you watch over your little sister for me? Make sure that she will not fall off of the bed. I'm going to see our landlady, and will be back very soon."

Yu Wen went into the landlady's yard. She saw Han Jung( one of the landlady's sons) was sitting under the tree with a book in his hand.

"Excuse me! Mr. Lee, Is your mother home?"

The young man stood up embarrassingly."'Aunt Ho, Please call me Han Jung. Don't call me Mister. My mother went to visit my sister. I suppose she will be home at any minute. May I ask what can we do for you?"

"I........I......" Yu Wen murmured, she found it was very difficult for her to speak it out.

At that very moment, Mrs. Lee came home. She saw Yu Wen was standing in the middle of the yard.

"Oh My! Oh my! I say, Mrs Ho, don't stand here. Please do come into the living room and have some tea."

The arrangements of Lee's living Room looked pretty much like the Lyan's. There was a long table against the wall in the center of the room. A tablet with the name of Lee's ancestry was placed at the middle of the table. An incense burner, the one with three legs, place in front of the table, There were some fresh flowers and fruits placed on the table in front of the tablet. . A typical furnished and decorated living room for a traditional Chinese family. All these reminded Yu Wen her own mother house. She stopped at the doorway swallowed her tears.

"Mom, Aunt Ho was looking for you." Han Jung told Mrs. Lee.

Mrs. Lee, age around sixty, a friendly and rather heavy lady, with a kind smiling face. She looked at Yu Wen and said:

"Of course! Is there anything that I can do for you? Just let me know it."

"I.....I....., I would like to know......., if.....if there are some clothing you.......need someone to.......wash for you." Yu Wen said stuttering:"I would like to wash them for you. If...........if you just give me some rice and fire woods."

Mrs. Lee looked at Yu Wen's blushing face. She picked up her hands and looked at them graciously. and said:

"What a child! You make my heart aching. I suppose you are just about two years older than my own daughter. Look at these tender hands, I can tell that they've never had any tough task."

When Yu Wen heard what Mrs. have just said, she thought she was going to lose the only chance she can grab. Right away she said: "Yes! Yes! Mrs. Lee, I can do it. I really can do it."

"Of course! My dear!" Mrs. Lee said. She was such a understanding lady. She could tell that Dz Yun and Yu Wen were from good families. If it was not because of the current situation, Yu Wen would never think of she needs to get a job. She felt so sorry for this noble young lady.

"Han Jung," Mrs. Lee called her son. "You and your younger brother's pillow cases and bed sheets and also all the cloths you've changed last night, they all should be washed. I don't think if I'll have time to do it today. I'm glad that Aunt Ho can help me. So you brothers don't just stand there doing nothing, go get those dirty clothing and the others out to the back yard. Then help Aunt Ho to get water from the well. Also to watch over the little girls.」

Then she said to Yu Wen: "Mrs. Ho, come, come with me to the kitchen to get something."」.

One of the boys running back and forth. Not long some big bundles of fire woods, rice, vegetables and meat were transported into Ho's kitchen.

Before Yu Wen knew it, Syau Yun were put into her baby stroller, laugher and playing with those two big boys.

Those boys not only helping to draw water from the well, they also put the clothing into the water. Yu Wen wash the clothing and the boys rinse them, and hang them on the cloth line. Soon after the launders were all done.

Mrs. Lee came out of the house and said to Yu Wen:「I really appreciate your help today. I wish that if you could be my daughter. Wouldn't it be wonderful! you'd better run home now. It's about time to prepare for dinner.」

Yu Wen was speechless but nodding her head endlessly with tears in her eyes. The warmth in her heart wiped off all the anxieties.

Dinner was ready!

It seemed for a quite a long time they hadn't had any steamed rice, It smelled so good! There were soup, vegetables and twice-cooked pork, the famous Sz Chwan dish.

For Syau Wen, Yu Wen mixed steamed rice with some small pieces of pork , some juice from every dish. It was so delicious!

"Yammy! mammy! Yammy!" There were rice all over Syau Wen's nose and face!

Dz Yun appeared at the doorway, he heard what Syau Wen had just said and saw her with a funny looking face. But she looked so lovely!

"Syau Wen, what's so delicious? Ah? Look at you! You even eat with your nose and cheeks!" Dz Yun said his daughter.

"Rou-rou(baby's talking for Meat in Chinese.)!, rou-rou yammy!"Syau Wen pointing at the dish on the table.

Dz Yun was happy too. Because he hadn't had any meat for quite a while.

"Well! So we have a Sumptuous meal today, right? That's wonderful!" Dz Yuen cheered!

Yu Wen handed over a big bowl of rice for Dz Yun with a sweet smile. And said: "You must be very tired and hungry, hurry up and eat before it gets cold."

Dz Yun, a typical man. He had never thinking of to ask Yu Wen where those food came from.

While Yu Wen was cleaning the table, she found out that Dz Yun didn't really eat much of the second-cooked pork. She understood it's because that Dz Yun meant to save some for tomorrow for the whole family.

When Yu Wen looking back the life she had at her mother home and now, they were so different. She never cooked, had never washed any clothing, not even make her only tea. But the live she is in now, the warmth and hope filled her heart. No more tears! She believe that everything will be getting better. 

Everlasting Blossom

C-1 The Laundry Lady(A)

  My father, Dz Yuen was a man with a great sense of purpose. He was a man dedicated to his role in the Air Force but his real purpose in life was to find ways to make my mother's eyes sparkle. Sometimes it would be the simplicity of putting a rose under her blanket before she got into bed. Although she always got into bed long after he went to sleep, she would find the flower with a note that would provoke a smile and that special sparkle. My father was a special man of great kindness. He regretfully spent much of his time looking for jobs but he would always return with new ways to remind my mother of how much he loved her.

   After my father left for looking for job that morning, my mother Yu Wen She was cleaning house and singing. Cleaning house was something new that she learned after her marriage. Actually my mother never had to do any house chores before she married. She began singing one of her favorite Drum Song of Peking, The Story of the West Wing . 

"A sixteen year old young lady

Too lazy to dress up.

Tswei-Ying-Ying lying in bed sluggishly.

Lack of appetite, didn't call any tea

Lonely and miserable.

cold and cheerless,

Holding her cheek with her tinny skinny hands

With her big eyes half opened............. "

This Song always reminded her childhood. As in her memory: that was a cold spring morning............

  In that big living room. Yu Wen stood there as straight as a soldier in front of her mother, who was sitting in a big wooden lounge chair.

  "I said, NO! Didn't you understand what I've just said to you?" Mrs. Lyan said with a rather loud and harsh turn."Who have ever heard of a young lady like you from an illustrious family, would ever learn to sing " Drum Song of Peking ", such low class folk song was only for those people in the street who have to work for their daily bread. If our relatives and friends ever heard of this: the Lyan's only daughter is learning Drum Song of Peking, what would they think about you? How am I going to be able to look for a matched marriage for you?"

  Yu Wen was the pearl of the family, but when she violate Mrs. Lyan's principles, her mother would never tolerate.

  "So, I'll say it again: NO! YOU - ARE - NOT - ALLOWED - TO - LEARN - IT ! " Mrs. Lyan said: "Wong Ma, escort your lady back to her room. Without my permission, your lady should not leave her room."

  Wong Ma was Yu Wen's wet nurse, who took care of Yu Wen ever since she was an infant. She loved Yu Wen so dearly as her own daughter.

   Wong Ma whispered to Yu Wen softly: "My lady, let's go back to your room now. Don't make it difficult for me."

  Yu Wen was going to say something, but when she looked at her mother's angry face and Wong Ma with tears in her eyes, she withdrew quietly from her mother's room.

  While they were walking to her room, she said to herself: 「Ok! Ok! I am not going to learn it, but I really don't understand how could "learning a drum song" being related with " lower one's identity "?」

  Mr. Lyan, Yu Wen's father, a good husband, but he would do his best to be on his daughter's side if he is needed.

  That evening Mr. Lyan heard the servants were talking about the unhappy incident that happened between Mrs. Lyan and his only daughter, Yu Wen, he went into his daughter's room instead of going to his wife's room.

  "My girl, I say, you are playing revolution again! And you upset your mother, right?" He said to Yu Wen.

  "No! I did not."Yu Wen was trying to defend herself.

"I was just telling her that I wish to learn the drum song, -The Story of the West Wing-. I didn't know that could upset my mother that bad and she enumerated all my wrong doings. 」The feeling of wronged her, tears running down her cheeks.

  "Pa-pa! You have to think of some ways to help me. I really want to learn it."

  「The Story of the West Wing? Isn't that the romantic story about Tswei Ying Ying and Jang Jun Rei? I know it. Nice melody! But.............. 」It wouldn't be hard for Mr, Lyan to figure out why that Mrs. Lyan would not allow Yu Wen to learn it. He didn't want the happening gets too complicated.

  「How about the pouch you promised me? En? It should be done by now. Isn't it?」Mr. Lyan changed the subject.

  「Almost! Pa! But I don't feel like to do anything anymore after what I got from my mom today.」

  Yu Wen was the pearl in Mr. Lyan's palm. Yu Wen was so precious to him. On one hand Yu Wen's personality was inherited from him, free and easy. On the other Yu Wen's exquisite intelligence was from his wife. In addition to this, Mrs. Lyan had painstakingly educated Yu Wen with the Chinese traditional needle works. Yu Wen was a priceless treasure to him. Therefore Mr. Lyan always granted whatever Yu Wen requested .

  Mr. Lyan was very proud of his daughter's needle works. Whatever Yu Wen embroidered were beautiful and unique. He had a handkerchief was embroidered by Yu Wen. He always carry one or two pieces of Yu Wen's needle works with him. When he had some social active with his friends, he wouldn't miss any opportunity to show off.

  Mr. Lyan was a pipe-smoker and carried a pouch with him all the time. He thought, it would be the best chance to show off Yu Wen's masterpiece each time when he was loading his pipe. And people will not notice that he did it purposely! Therefore he asked Yu Wen to embroider a pouch for him. Now when he realize his daughter will go on a strike, he gave-in.

  "OK! You tell me what's in your mind? How would you learn it?"Mr. Lyan asked.

  "I'm ......wondering if it is OK to employ a Drum Song actress to come to our home to teach me?" Yu Wen thought that would be the best way, which would be complete in both respects.

  "You mean to learn it secretly at home, so that our relatives and friends will not know it and also it wouldn't embarrass your mother too, right? But should we let your mother know about it?"

  Yu Wen laughed happily because she knew her father will help her now.

  A beautiful young lady came to Lyan's residence the next afternoon to teach Yu Wen secretly! Whom Yu Wen found out later that she was a very famous Peking Drum Song actress, Jang-Tswei-Feng. May be it was because of that Jang Tswei Feng was famous, therefore Mrs. Lyan accepted the whole idea and did not give Yu Wen any more hard time. Yu Wen remembered after class when Miss Jang was about to leave, she lowered her head and walked backward for a few stapes, then turn around walked quickly out of room. Because she was of humble birth.

  "Meow!" A cute little kitten came to the kitchen door. It woke Yu Wen up from her day dreaming, and put her back to the reality.

  Big tear drops dropped to her hands. Yu Wen shook her head, trying to shake off what was in her mind. But tears said "No!" kept on running down to her cheeks and wet her blouse.

  Yu Wen resolutely wiped off her tears and kept her chin up, looking out the windows with her red eyes,

  "What am I going to do next?" Yu Wen asked herself the question with no answer.