Explore Chapter 28 of 'Moment in Peking' with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
After the Japanese army occupied Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hangzhou, they continued to advance inland. The home of Yao Si'an's family in Hangzhou was bombed, forcing them to flee again. Mulan and Sunya, along with their children, joined the massive tide of refugees heading westward. The roads were clogged with fleeing crowds-cries, curses, and the neighing of livestock all mingled together. Mulan held her son's hand tightly while Sunya carried their luggage, struggling to move through the throng.
After several days of walking, they arrived at a small town. Most of the houses had been destroyed, leaving only crumbling walls. They found a dilapidated temple to rest in temporarily. The temple was already packed with refugees-some weeping, others groaning. Mulan was deeply saddened by the sight. She recalled her father's words: "When the world is in chaos, the people suffer. We can only adapt to circumstances and trust to fate."
Sunya went out to gather information and returned to tell Mulan that Japanese soldiers were searching nearby villages. They had to leave as soon as possible. Mulan decided to continue westward, heading toward Sichuan. They walked for several more days and came to a river. The bridge had been blown up, leaving only a few small boats for ferrying. The ferry dock was crowded, everyone scrambling to get on board. Mulan and Sunya barely managed to squeeze onto a small boat. As soon as the boat left the shore, they heard gunshots behind them.
They turned to look and saw a squad of Japanese soldiers pursuing the refugees. Some were shot and fell. Mulan felt a surge of anxiety and hugged her child tightly. The boatman rowed desperately, and they finally reached the opposite bank. After disembarking, they dared not linger and continued onward. After half a day's walk, they came to a small mountain village. The villagers had all fled, leaving only a few elderly people at home. They found an empty house and prepared to spend the night there.
In the evening, Mulan sat in the courtyard, gazing at the stars. She remembered her childhood life in Beijing, her father, mother, sister Mochou, and Manniang. Now they were all scattered, and she didn't know if they were safe. Sunya came over, sat beside her, took her hand and said, "Don't worry, we will find them." Mulan leaned on Sunya's shoulder, feeling a measure of comfort.
The next day, they continued their journey. After several days, they finally reached a small county town. It had not yet been occupied by the Japanese army, and some shops on the streets were still open. They found an inn and settled in. Mulan went to the street to buy things when she suddenly spotted a familiar figure. She looked closely-it was actually Manniang! Manniang also saw her, and they ran to each other and embraced tightly.
Manniang told Mulan that she and Pingya had been separated while fleeing, and now she was alone with her child. Mulan brought Manniang back to the inn. They recounted what had happened since parting, and tears streamed down their faces. Sunya was also delighted to see Manniang, and they all decided to travel together. They hired a cart and continued westward. Along the way, they looked after each other. Despite the hardship, hope was kindled in their hearts.
After more than ten days of travel, they finally reached Sichuan province. This was the rear area, relatively safer. They rented a house in a small town and settled down. Mulan and Manniang began to rebuild their lives, and Sunya found a job in town. Though life was hard, the family was finally reunited. Mulan often thought of her father and the past years, her heart filled with myriad emotions. She knew the war was not over, but as long as her loved ones were together, she had the courage to go on.