About August 1937, news of the Japanese attacking China flooded to every part of the nation. Everyone was in a state of panic and hysteria. Fright plagued throughout the nation. Many men and boys, as young as 11, joined the army and navy in hopes to contribute to their country while other hid away cowardly in their homes. Phong was one that decided to join the army. With his personality, he was the type to fight for the country. He was patriotic, honorable, loyal, and demanded justice.
Quay however was not supportive of his idea resulting in many arguments. She believed that he should concentrate on his education so he could become a successful businessman. She didn't care about the war or the outcome of it. All she wanted was a peaceful life with him. Phong tried to convince her that there wouldn't be peace in war or even after it, but she didn't care. The only thing important to her was being with the man she loved and sharing a happy life.
Phong and Quay were arguing about the whole war issue again at the Bund Trading port and left each other's side angrily once again. He bumped into Suet, who noticed he was upset so she asked him about it and tried to calm him down. "Quay is only worried about your safety. She cares about you very deeply." Suet said.
"I know she cares about me but if our country is gone, our lives would be taken away from us. We'll become dog, worse than second class citizens in our home land." he replied aggravatedly. Suet shook her head. "Quay doesn't think that way. She believes nothing's more important that you being with her when she needs you most." Suet said knowing her cousin very well.
"But our country is falling apart!" Phong said angrily. Suet explained to him, "For most woman, the whole world could be crumbling but as long as the man we love is with us, safe and warm in our arms, holding us every night our lives are completely fulfilled." She informed him. Phong observed her and noticed how true it was. He smiled at Suet's remark, "So you wouldn't want your boyfriend to go to war either?" he asked her.
Suet shook her head. "No." she responded with a chuckled. Phong arched a brow in curiosity. Suet laughed shaking her head. "I'm like most women too but when the country's falling apart, there are more important things than love." She said honestly. "Anyways I would respect his decision and support him."
Phong nodded. "Only if she was more like you." He said looking out into the horizon. Suet looked hopefully at him. "Actually I wish I was her." Suet said quietly under her breath. Phong turned back to her. "What was that?" he asked.
Suet shook her head and tried to cover up what she just said. "Nothing." she replied.
He placed his hands on his hips. "So that's how it is! I tell you my problems but you don't tell me anything about you!" he said playfully. Suet giggled. "Yeah that seems fair." She said jokingly.
Phong shook his head playfully at her and stared at her for a brief moment. Her radiant charm and beauty mesmerized him for a moment. Suet looked back at him wondering what happened and why he was staring at her the way he was. It gave her butterflies in her stomach.
Then she felt it; his gentle warm lips on her soft tender lips. He kissed her! Her first kiss and it was from him, like she always wanted. He pulled away from her and looked at her confused. She smiled at him and stood up to walk a little. He reached for her hand so she turned around to face him. "Sorry I... I..." he said as she cut him off.
"I wonder what will or country be like after the war is over?" she asked him because she didn't want him to apologize or say he didn't mean it. She wanted to believe he meant it. She didn't want to lose the only moment she believed she could have. He didn't understand her intention but he knew Suet was a stubborn girl so he continued talking to her about the country and the war without mentioning the kiss at all.
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Coincidentally, Quay bumped into Fei. After telling him everything about her argument with Phong she felt better. Fei assured her that Phong had her interest in mind too, because her freedom would be lost without the country.
"Why do you; men always assume that everything would be lost if this country was lost?" Quay asked. "There is so much more China than the foreigners can ever take. We can always go somewhere else. Let them have this country if they like. Wars are fought everyday and always will be!" Quay shouted.
"And if it wasn't for our fight, we would probably be slaves to the Europeans and Japanese by now. You need to understand that if we didn't fight we would lose all of our freedom. When a country gets taken over, so do the people. We would become second class citizens in our own homeland." Fei argued. Quay shook her head. "Then we can move to another homeland!" Quay yelled.
Fei shook his head. "Then it wouldn't be our homeland anymore And we'll be second or even third class citizens" Fei said. Quay started sobbing. "I don't care I just don't want Phong going to war. I want him here with me safe and sound. I'm just a normal woman, wanting a normal life." She cried leaning onto Fei's shoulder. "Why can't I have that?"
Fei let her lean on him and tried to comfort her. "Phong's a very lucky man to have such a wonderful woman care for him." Fei said. Quay shook her head. "I'm not wonderful. I'm just stupid." Quay said wrapping her arms around Fei tighter.
"You're not stupid. You say what you think and that?s not too bad." He said holding her. Quay nodded her head. "Thanks!" she said, "You really helped me understand this war issue more." She said leaning in closer to him with her arms wrapped around him. She felt so safe and warm in his arms. "No problem, anytime." Fei replied still embracing her.
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Days later Fei came rushing up to Suet. "Why are you enlisted into the Nurse Academy?" he asked anxiously. Suet continued walkng. "War is breaking out everywhere. People are dying without enough doctors, nurses, and medicine. They need my help." She replied patriotically.
"Do you know what you're doing to yourself?" Fei asked impatiently holding her arms. Suet pulled away. "I know what I'm doing. I'm helping our country." She insisted.
"This is all for Phong isn't it!" he shouted angrily. He knew it wasn't all because of Phong since Suet was very patriotic herself. But he knew if Phong wasn?t going Suet would not have enlisted so quickly. She turned around to face him. "Nonsense!" she shouted walking away from him.
He followed her. "You can lie to heaven and earth including me but you can't lie to yourself!" he shouted pulling her back. She refused to look at him and pulled away from her. "Let me go!" she shouted.
"You know how dangerous it is out there?" he hollered. She tried to pull away from his grasp. "I don't care!" she replied."Let me go!" she struggled . He let her go."I'm sorry." He said softly. "I was just over reacting."
"I know you care about me,"She said. "But I want you to know that I will be careful. I can take care of myself. Don't worry about me." She said to reassure him while she rubbed her risk. He looked at her arm. "I'm really sorry. Let me give you some oil to rub on it." He suggested apologetically. She shook her head. "No need." Suet said with a smile. "Let's just call a truce." She suggested.
Fei nodded and the two walked together the rest of the way back to Suet's house. Suet tried to lessen the tension but Fei felt really bad, so he was really quiet. Finally when they stood outside Suet?s house, Fei apologized to her once more. He was never aggressive with her but his worry took over his reasoning.
"It's ok." Suet said walking into her house. Fei suddenly reached for her arm again but very lightly this time. Nadia turned around and was surprised with Fei's lips touching hers. He kissed her gently.
She quickly pulled back and stared at him nervously. Her heart was pounding quickly. She was very nervous because he was her friend, not the man she loved. She immediately ran into her house and closed the door with her heart beating rapidly.
Fei stood there watching her walk in. He was very happy that he kissed her but wondered how she felt about it. He'll ask her tomorrow he told himself. He turned around to see Fuo standing across the street with an angry face. "Why did you kiss her?" Fuo asked angrily approaching Fei.
Fei was tense about replying but he knew he had to. "I like her." Fei replied bluntly. Fuo was face to face with his brother. "Does she like you?" Fuo asked apprehensively. Fei looked his brother in the eyes. 'I don't know." Fei replied lying because he knew she had feelings for Phong too, but didn't want to break it to his brother yet since Suet never admitted anything.
"Do you like her?" Fei asked Fuo. Fuo didn't respond to his question. "Let's go home. I have the driver waiting at the end of the block." He replied. Fei decided not to ask further because he knew his brother wouldn't respond.
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A few weeks later.... Phong and Quay were arguing at Phong's house where his mother and sisters all heard everything because they were very loud. "How can you say such ignorant things?" Phong yelled. Quat shook her head. "Me ignorant! You're kidding me! You're the one that's ignorant, joining the military. Why do you want to do such silly things?" Quay screamed.
"Fighting for the country is not ignorant! Without this country we won't have a home!" he argued. She started sobbing. "I don't require anything but for you to be at my side so that we can have a happy family." She cried. "Why can't you just let this country pride go?"
"I would do anything to be by your side. That's one of the very reasons I need to join the army to fight the Japanese out so that we can have a happy family, a safe home." He said. She turned away from Phong as tears streamed down her face. "Why? Why must you leave me?" she cried hugging herself. Phong embraced her in his arms. "Wait for me, I'll come back. I promise." Quay nodded hugging Phong close by to her. "I'll wait. I'll wait. No matter how long it takes, I'll wait."
Finally after a huge argument and a promise, Phong left to join the military. Suet also left Shanghai 3 days later to become a nurse. Fei and Fuo couldn't help the country because Madam Kwok did not permit her sons to endanger their lives.
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During the war Quay witnessed more poverty than she could bear. She saw swarms of people running into Shanghai hoping to find salvation. Quay's father Chiang Luo Hei's business was falling into despair because of the war. Her family status was dropping.
Quay and her mother needed to sell almost all of their jewelry and clothing. Her life was becoming a nightmare for her. Internal conflicts between the people of Shanghai lead to many riots. Students were protesting more than going to school.
The foreigners were invading with more aggression. They did what they wanted to without obeying Chinese Laws or regulations. They made up their own laws and if you were Chinese you were below the law, but if you were a foreigner you were above it.
Quay was afraid of walking from her own home to school. She couldn't walk out of her house without being afraid of getting raped or robbed. Many men roamed the streets at night trying to find a woman as their victim to either rob, rape, or sell. Chaos had entered not just Shanghai but the majority of China.
Suet wrote many letters home to her parents, Quay, Fei and Fuo. Phong wrote letters home to his family and Quay. Sometimes their letters were misdirected but most of them came through. Suet and Phong didn't keep in contact because they were both on rotating battlefields.
After a year, Suet and Phong were coincidentally stationed at the same battlefield. Phong became badly injured and Suet took care of him. Even during Phong?s injury he managed to ask about Quay and hope that she was well and happy. Suet was very sadden by this and wrote Fei a letter.
In the letter she revealed her deep emotions for Phong. Why? She didn't know. Maybe because the whole country was falling apart in front of them that she felt weak and disoriented enough to admit such a thing, but she finally did and she admitted it to Fei.
Fei read her letter feeling the deep pain that she felt. His love for her was still very strong. Reading a letter from the woman you love stating that she loved another man was not easy. Fei wrote her a letter to reassure her that one day her wish will be granted and she will find the happiness her heart has always desired.
Suet never realized that one letter could cause years of chaos she never expected. One letter, which would raise more trauma then any of them could handle. If she knew the consequences ahead of time, she would have never written that one letter. Can one letter really bring that much anger and misunderstanding for years to come? More than you know. More than you know.
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