Explore Chapter 45 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.
When news of Japan's surrender arrived, Mulan was taking refuge in the mountains of Hangzhou with her family. She heard firecrackers and cheers from afar, initially mistaking them for a Japanese riot. Upon learning it was the end of the war, she could not hold back tears. She thought of the years of displacement, the countless dead and wounded she had witnessed during the flight, and the compatriots who had given their lives for the resistance. Stepping outside, she saw neighbors rushing to share the news, their faces lit with smiles long absent.
Mulan's husband, Sunya, returned from town with more precise news: the Japanese emperor had announced unconditional surrender, and Chinese troops were about to enter and take over. Sunya gripped Mulan's hand tightly. They looked at each other in silence, their hearts filled with complex emotions. They thought of their family in Beijing, the wounds the war had inflicted on the nation, and the hope for reconstruction in the future.
A few days later, Mulan and Sunya decided to return to Beijing. They packed their belongings and bid farewell to the mountain hut. Along the way, they saw many others heading home as well. Though the roads were muddy, everyone's steps seemed light. At the train station, they encountered a group of students who had escaped from the occupied territories. The students were singing patriotic songs at the top of their voices, and Mulan joined in humming. She felt a unity she had never known before-the people of this nation, after enduring immense suffering, had finally come together.
When they returned to Beijing, the city's appearance had changed dramatically. Bullet holes on the city walls were still visible, but shops along the streets had reopened, and life had returned to people's faces. Mulan went back to the old house on Ma Da Ren Lane and found that her father, Yao Si'an, had arrived earlier. The old man looked older but was still vigorous in spirit. He told Mulan that he had remained in Hangzhou throughout the war, protecting the ancestral books and artifacts, and had now safely weathered the storm.
Mulan and Sunya went to visit the Zeng family elders. Mrs. Zeng had passed away from illness, and Zeng Wenpu appeared very aged. He was sitting in the courtyard basking in the sun. When he saw them return, tears glistened in his eyes. He murmured, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back." Mulan recalled the time she had encountered the Zeng family during the flight, and it felt like a lifetime ago.
Soon, the entire nation held grand celebrations. Beijing was filled with flags and slogans everywhere. People paraded, performed lion dances, and set off fireworks. Mulan, Sunya, and their children took to the streets, looking at this sea of joy with hearts full of gratitude. Mulan realized how closely her personal fate was intertwined with that of the nation. She remembered her father's often-spoken words, "The Way follows nature," and felt that although this war had been cruel, it had also purified the nation's soul, making the Chinese people more united.
On a clear autumn day, Mulan climbed alone to Jingshan Hill and looked down upon the city of Beijing. The golden roofs of the Forbidden City glittered in the sunset, and the Western Hills loomed in the distance like dark brows. She recalled the days of her youth when she had played here, thought of Mannia, Pingya, Mochou, and other relatives and friends, some of whom were no longer in this world. She sighed softly, but there was no grief in her heart, only a serene peace. She knew that the Chinese nation, despite all its trials, could always rise again from the ruins, just as the seasons cycle endlessly.
That evening, Mulan wrote a poem under the lamp to commemorate this great era. She wrote: "Beacon fires over the land, home and nation shattered; With hearts united, we broke the siege. Today we celebrate the day of peace, Never forget the blood and tears of our ancestors." She tucked the poem away, planning to leave it for her descendants. She believed that China's future would surely be even brighter, and that all she and her compatriots had endured would become an immortal chapter in the long river of history.