Last Kiss in Tiananmen Square (7 page)

“Today’s scene reminds me of 1976. It has also reminds many people in the crowd of those memorable, exciting days, of the bloodshed and our final victory!” His passionate and provocative voice drew in Baiyun completely. “I come here first as a citizen, then as your teacher, also as your friend, and finally as an old tired warrior in the struggle for democracy,” continued he, “I want to be the first of your professors to come here and say that I support you.” Deafening cheers and applause followed this speech.

Baiyun remembered the 1976 Tiananmen Movement. She had been here with her friends just after Primer Zhou had died. The square was packed with people. Hundreds of poems were posted on the Monument of the People’s Hero, and white flowers covered the evergreen shrubs around it like snowflakes. That demonstration brought down the “Gang of Four”, a power-corrupted group led by Mao Zedong’s widow, Jiang Qing, and started a new era in Chinese history. That had been her first taste of the power of the people.

“Baiyun.”

Baiyun was startled and looked back to see Longfe and Yumei standing behind her. Yumei was leaning against Longfe with her eyes closed. Her wet face was pale. Longfe was the one who had called her.

“Yes,” Baiyun said nervously.

“Yumei doesn’t feel very good. Do you know what we should do?” asked Longfe.

“She must be getting too cold and hungry. We have to get her out of here and find a warm place for her.” Baiyun’s heart went for Yumei. She wished she could carry her out of there immediately and tend her in bed.

“It’s impossible to get out of here.” Longfe said hopelessly.

“We have done enough. Those leaders should not let us suffer any further.” Li Yan sounded very logical.

Baiyun agreed but did not say anything more. Like being at a splendid party, she did not want the demonstration to end. Going home sounded like hell, and going back to school and sitting in the library forever seemed boring.

“Baiyun,” said Xia Nan, who was the head of the student association. He carried a video camera and a megaphone. “You girls have done a good job of keeping everyone in good spirits. Why don’t you say something?” He handed over the megaphone.

Naturally Baiyun thought of Yumei first, “Yumei should do that.”

“Baiyun, Yumei is in pain. Why don’t you do it? I think you can,” said Longfe.

Baiyun was glad that Longfe was so encouraging. In a fraction of a second, many thoughts swept through her head. She was pleased, of course, to be asked to stand up in front such a big audience to say something. On the other hand, she was also aware that there were most likely plainclothes policemen watching her, and she could jeopardize her chances of going abroad by speaking. She stared at her wet, out-of-shape leather shoes and could not make up her mind. She thought of her plan to study abroad, her mother’s advice, her father’s encouragement, and her eagerness to leave her family. She could feel many pairs of eyes staring at her, which generated enough heat to make her sweat. She hated these occasional moments in life when she had a hard time making up her mind.

She still remembered what her father told her when she informed him about her plan to take TOEFL.

“It always has been one of my dreams to go and study abroad.” He sounded rather clear-headed considering how much wine he just had drunk. “But my family was poor and could not afford to send me. I worked as a tutor during college in order to earn some money for me to travel to the place where the exams were held. But by the time I was ready, the opportunity was gone.” Baiyun could see his old eyes glistening.

“Baiyun, stand up and tell everyone that we have a student sick here. We need help.” Li Yan was the practical one.

“Baiyun, do it. Don’t be afraid.” Longfe stared at her with his passionate eyes. Baiyun liked it. How could she refuse Longfe’s request and how could she delay Yumei’s chance in getting help?

“Hi, everybody,” her first sentence was so quiet that no one could hear it.

“Louder, louder.” Li Yan coached her from below.

“The rain has finally stopped. I guess our tough spirit has defeated the bad weather,” she continued. Her jaw shivered, yet she was in a good spirits, “I’m glad that I have skipped classes to take part in this historical event, which was always what I wanted to do.” Everyone laughed. “I’m a Chemistry major.” Her voice was drowned in the loud cheering.

“Baiyun, you have never skipped one single class,” said Li Yan.

“Hey, Chemistry doesn’t just produce nerds!” shouted someone.

“The Police are coming! The Police are coming!” A voice in the distance stirred up the crowd. The sea of people started rippling, moving like waves.

Taking the microphone from Baiyun, Wuer Kaxi exhorted the crowd: “Don’t panic! We aren’t doing anything wrong! We have completely achieved our goal today,” waving his arms. “Being here itself is a victory! We came here in a very orderly way. Let’s leave peacefully the same way. I’d like to have the brigade of marshal come to me and we could use some volunteers, too. We’ll rent buses and send everyone home.” His pockmarked face was gleaming in the dusk.

“Longfe, Li Yan, would you come and help me?” Xia Nan jumped into the action immediately.

“Who is going to take care of Yumei?” Longfe was still holding Yumei to his chest.

“Let Baiyun take over.”

Longfe handed Yumei to Baiyun and shook her hands. “Baiyun, take care.”

“No problem.” Baiyun’s heart was dancing with joy because she and Yumei were left alone again. The newfound closeness she felt for Yumei brought her joy, even though she suspected that Yumei did not share the affection in the same way.

The situation was rather chaotic in the square. More people flowed in after dusk. They were citizens who had just come back from work. The square was dark, without official lights. Many of the curious people just wandered around, and then gathered in circles, and talked quietly, as they listened to the reciting of passionate poetry. There was no sign of a police crackdown. Because they walked slowly, Baiyun and Yumei soon fell behind the crowd. The rain had stopped, but the wind was chilly. They found a stone bench in front of Zhongshen Park, which was a little further down from the Forbidden City, and sat down.

“How are you, Yumei?” asked Baiyun.

“I can’t walk anymore,” moaned Yumei. Baiyun held Yumei tightly to keep her warm.

“Ok, maybe I can find someone with a bike to take you home.”

Yumei rested her head on Baiyun’s lap and drew her legs up on the bench. It looked like the cold wind had caused another cycle of devastating cramps. Baiyun could tell because Yumei’s moaning was getting louder. Her wet clothes became icy cold. Even Baiyun was shivering.

“Hi, girls. Do you need any help?” A tall middle aged man stopped his bike in front of them. He wore a pair of tight blue jeans, a white polyester shirt and a tan windbreaker. He sat erect on his very high bike seat. His eyes were deep and bright. His face was chiseled and sun-tanned. He had a head full of thick black hair. His long and straight nose made him look noble.

This nice man startled Baiyun. He was like a knight appearing in front of her. She blinked her eyes to make sure he was still there.

“Yes,” said Baiyun. “She is cold and exhausted. We need to take her home immediately. We are from Beida, a long way from home.”

The man swung his leg across the bike and got off. He sat next to Yumei and felt her head softly, “she has a fever.” Then he turned to Baiyun. “My name is Dagong. I work in the Beijing Electronics Parts Factory. I think we should try to take her to Fuwai Hospital Emergency Room, which is not too far from here. Would you help me move her onto the bike?”

They lifted Yumei up and let her hold on to both of their shoulders.

“Where are we going?” Yumei slowly opened her eyes.

“We are going to take you to the hospital.” Then Baiyun asked Dagong, “front seat or back?”

“Let’s put her in the front,” said Dagong matter of factly.

“Why not in the back?”

“Because you are going to sit in the back,” commanded Dagong.

“Me? I can take the bus. Don’t bother.” Baiyun’s heart leaped. Yes, of course, she wanted to go with them but she was also realistic.

“You don’t believe I can take both of you on my bike?” Dagong beamed at her and looked more attractive.

“I.. .do. But.. .it’s hard. A lot of traffic police are here, you know?”

“Trust me. I know the area.”

Baiyun did not respond. Staring at Tiananmen Square in the dark, people scurrying around, she suddenly felt tired.

“Come on. I can carry five or six people on a bike, no problem.” said Dagong firmly. He started to sound like a knight with magic power.

“Really?”

“Yes. I used to work for the Beijing Acrobatic Company,” boasted Dagong.

Dagong sat on the bike first. Baiyun jumped onto the rear fender seat which was a little too high for her. Dagong kicked the ground, and they were off.

“Hold on to me, if you have trouble staying on,” said Dagong. She wrapped her arms tightly around him.

Baiyun could feel heat radiating from his body. She knew he was riding hard. She gradually leaned closer until finally she was resting her head against his back.

“So, you are from Beida.”

“Yes. Have you heard of it?” Baiyun teased him. She couldn’t believe that she was in such a happy mood.

“Are you kidding? Of course, it’s the most famous university in the country. What do you study?”

“Chemistry.”

“I have a degree in physics.”

“You have been in college too?”

“Yes. That was ten years ago. You see, I’m very old.”

“No, I don’t think so.” So Dagong would be at least ten years old than she was, thought Baiyun. She could not believe her luck that she had run into such an attractive older man.

“What you are doing here in Tiananmen Square is great. Now I’m always looking forward to the evenings. I could just walk out of my alley, and see what’s going on. It has become a habit.”

“Do you live close by?” Baiyun realized it was very useful to know someone in the neighborhood if they were going to come here more often.

“Yes, I have no excuses for not getting involved. Although I’m just a technician, I support you students whole-heartily. I believe you are going to make a difference.”

“I hope so. I’m just a follower.”

“You are telling me I’m just helping two followers?”

“But that’s worthwhile,” said Baiyun.

“Yes. Why?”

“Don’t you think so?”

“I guess you are right, college student.”

“How is Yumei?” asked Baiyun. She just remembered that her friend Yumei who was still sitting on the front handlebar and she hadn’t heard from her for a while.

“She is sleeping, I think,” said Dagong while pedaling faster.

They rode through many small streets and alleys, and stayed away successfully from the traffic police. It was a pleasant journey for both Baiyun and Dagong. Dagong had never ridden a bike that ran so fast and smoothly. Baiyun had never found a place so comfortable and so like home.

Chapter 4

Baiyun was riding her bicycle home while still indulging in the sweet dream of the fun episode in Tiananmen Square last night. As the last ray of sunlight disappeared behind the horizon and sky turned gray, the reality hit her. Meiling called her dormitory this morning and the building manager woke her up from her dream. She told her that her mother was sick and wanted her to go home. How sick could her mother be? Wouldn’t she rather see her boyfriend Lao Zheng instead of her? She didn’t leave until she was done with her classes.

The weather was windy and gloomy. A few people walked on the street alone and swayed with the wind. Women covered their faces with thin transparent nylon scarves; men pulled down their hats' brims to hide their identities. They clutched their food baskets as though they might be snatched away at any moment. The loudspeakers on campus kept telling people not to go to Tiananmen Square in order to avoid dire consequences. Baiyun parked the bicycle outside and walked into the main entrance of the apartment building and then her own home on the first floor. Right away she noticed Meiling was lying in bed moaning in her bedroom with the door open for once.

“Mom, what can I do for you?” asked Baiyun.

“Nothing. I should… be better tomorrow. You should bring some food for your father. I don’t know what he is doing in the other room.”

Baiyun was not used to take care of Meiling because she rarely asked her for help. She would rather deal with her father. She was curious about what her father was doing because she smelled something funny.

It was a small odd-shaped hallway, with the kitchen and a room on the left and an entrance that led into two rooms on the right. The white wall in the hallway was cold and smooth like porcelain under the late afternoon sun. Dried-up bok choy, muddy turnips and tall spinach lay, looking tired, against the wall. In the middle of the hallway, to one side, stood a refrigerator and an old bamboo dish cabinet set on top of a wet looking wooden rack.