‘
Sorry, but...’
‘
Get out!’ The official scolded.
Hence, the old lady left the ‘Ya Men’ disappointingly. She had asked different officials already, but none of
them could help her. However, she was not going to give up of looking for her family, although she knew it
would be a tough and inconvenient mission for a 71 years old lady to do so, she had an insight.
In an early morning, the sun had not been entirely risen, she took out a rattan suitcase with her clumsy limbs.
Put the suitcase on the bed, sit down, opened the suitcase by her wrinkled hands and got two sets of her
favourite clothes from the wardrobe and put into it. She grabbed the pinwheel on the table, her eyes were wet
again, this unique pinwheel conjured up the memory. After she finished packing her stuffs, she brought along
the suitcase also held her wooden cane, began her journey.
She planned to travel to the capital of the Great China, Xian Yang, since she thought she might probably find
hints there. Throughout the journey, she walked across grasslands, mountains and plateaus from the day to the
night. A week passed away, she arrived at Xian Yang eventually. The main street was filled with crowds. She
asked a passer to find her way. With the guide of the passer, she found the ‘Yao Men’ there.
‘
Excuse me, Excellency. Pardon me asking you for little information?’ she asked when she was still holding
her stuffs.
‘
Put down your belongings first, Miss.’ The official said gently, ‘Take a seat, Miss.’
‘
Thank you.’ She thanked.
‘
May I ask that do all the workers of the construction of the Great Wall have been sent back home?’ She
asked
‘
Sure, if they are still alive.’ He replied.
‘
Oh... Please.’ She begged, ’Are there anyone called Wen Er and Wen Qing? They’re my family.’
‘
Eh... Wen Qing...’He murmured when his eyeballs turned upwards, ’Oh Yes! I know someone is called
Wen Qing and I surely confirm that he’s living nearby here.’
‘
Thanks, Thanks, Thanks! Thanks so much!’ She thanked the official gladly as she was tearing with her joy.
With the auspicious help from the official, she could find the residence of Wen Qing. The residence showed
that he might become a middle class because it was well-decorated.
She knocked the front door, ‘May I Find Wen Qing?’
A maid opened the door and replied kindly, ‘Mr. Wen? Please come in, Miss.’
While she was walking along the corridor, she took the pinwheel out immediately. The maid closed the door
until she had entered the study room. When Hua Yue saw Wen Qing’s face, her tears were running out again.
Wen Qing was shocked when he had noticed the pinwheel on Hua Yue’s wrinkled hand.
‘
Are you... Mum?’
‘
Yes, my dearest son!’
They hugged and cried.
‘
I have never thought of seeing you, my son.’ She whispered, ‘How is your Dad?’
‘
Eh... He... departed.’ He said.
During the construction of the Great Wall workers continued working no matter they were exhausted. This
inhuman working condition forced workers died. On the day of the death of Wen Er, it was a hot day. The
workers kept sweating while they were carrying stones. Suddenly, Wen Er fainted, Wen Qing ran to him at once.
A custodian hit Wen Er as he tried to wake him up. However, he was found no heartbeat. Wen Qing burst into
tears and his tears fell on Wen Er’s face. In this second, the sun was hidden by the thick dark clouds, pieces of
frost were flying from the sky. Everyone was terrified there because falling of frost was described as fortuneless.
Luckily, the Emperor was superstitious who command to stop the construction of the Great Wall and set free all
the workers.
Since then, this moving and unbelievable tale of Wen Qing was made popular in China, he was then given
opportunities by the government. Now, he was the Secretary.
Wen Qing and the old lady were walking along the Great Wall, she held the pinwheel and asked, ’Did you
remember the meaning of pinwheel?’
‘
Whenever there is a breeze, pinwheel can turn around and around. No matter what’s the situation, the
pinwheel keeps turning when there is a breeze. The world turns as we turn...’
Wen Qing and Hua Yue were holding their hands, walking along the path of life, and the pinwheel turned
around and around endlessly.
* * *