Huiqin, my beloved wife:

I don't know if you are okay in Jinling, my father and I have arrived in San Francisco a few days ago, and it is inconvenient to talk to you about what we have seen and heard along the way, but I feel that I am small and incompetent. The steamer I was on departed from Canton Province and passed through the Xiang River, but the largest number of Chinese on board were human traffickers and girls they had abducted, and when they arrived in San Francisco, they weighed people like livestock, and they were sad but unable to do anything about it. I also wanted to put pen to paper, but I could only hate myself for being weak and incompetent.

By the time you receive the letter, it is time for you to leave for Canton, and my father has asked me to entrust you with taking care of your mother and eldest sister. The second sister has passed away, Fen girl is lost, you must watch them closely after getting on the boat, so that they don't have to move around at will so as not to see the abducted girl touching the scene. Although the Ming and Qing dynasties are men, they are cowardly and have no opinions, and Mingzhe is used to being ridiculous and nonsense, if you encounter a major event, you still need to pay more attention. I don't know if there is any news from my uncle now, and you don't need to worry too much, my father has already arranged for someone to pick you up in Jinling, and I believe you will be reunited soon.

For months, I have often spent the night on deck thinking about the cleaving of the ship, the sound of the waves crashing against the heavy hull of the ship to my ears. In the past few months, I have only been happy when I think of you, the sea has a wide view, and I can see the starry sky when I look up, but it is not as dazzling as you. I miss you more and love you more and more every day.

I bought a pot of your favorite moon season, just waiting for the winter snow to melt and the spring flowers to bloom, and when you arrive, it will bloom for you.

Li Mingyi, December 17

*

Hui Qin Wu Love:

Last week you wrote to complain that Mingzhe was upsetting his mother by making nonsense, and I wrote to teach him a lesson. He had good intentions. After his father left, his mother has been depressed, and although Mingzhe is always messing around, his intentions are always good.

I took it upon myself to sell my property in Vancouver, and now that the situation in the country is very good, I and a few friends have donated $200,000 to help fight the war. Vancouver has a pleasant climate, with cold winters and cool summers, and many white people who are not as unfriendly to yellow people as San Francisco. I have mentioned this to my mother many times, but she has never been willing to come, and now that you have finished your studies, I hope you will join me in convincing her that the climate in San Francisco is really not suitable for her to live in.

By the way, there is good news, I recently got the Simone de Beauvoir's "The Second Sex" that you have always wanted to see, and I am worried about losing it in the mail, and I will bring it to you next time I go back.

Today is Tanabata, but it's a pity that I can't be with you. Over the years, we have really been like the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, and we can only meet once a year. I have planted many flowers, but unfortunately you cannot see them with your own eyes, and if these flowers can reach a bridge with the magpie to send me to you, I will plant flowers every day and do nothing else. Unfortunately, I can't tell you how much I miss you, so I can only write to you in a letter.

Every time I see the moon and the season I plant, I feel like I see you. Huiqin, I only like you in my life, do you know?

Li Mingyi is the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar

*

Wu Fu Mingyi:

Today is Tanabata, and if it weren't for my mother mentioning it, I wouldn't have found out that you and I have been separated for more than ten days. During this time, so many miscellaneous things are mixed together, and it is so busy that it is difficult to detect the passage of time.

Some time ago, I heard that the situation in the country was very good, and everyone was excited, and after discussing with my mother, I decided to donate all the remaining money in the family. As soon as I get a new job, the salary is not high but it is enough to make ends meet, you don't have to send money over, don't be tired, take care of your health.

Mother has been in poor health recently, often coughing and waking up in the middle of the night, and often thinking of the eldest sister, every time the eldest sister hangs herself, she is sad and unbearable, and she always cries a few times, but fortunately, Mingzhe is finally sensible, and from time to time she will make her mother happy, and she will no longer cause trouble everywhere. Although the results are not always satisfactory, they can also be a lot of relief for me.

When you're not around, the days always go by very quickly. I wanted to tell you what I thought in my heart, but the pen stopped on the paper but I couldn't write, maybe I am not good at writing, I can only say it when you are in front of me. Look at the days when you're coming back, I miss you so much.

Aunt Liu in Chinatown is going back to China, her youngest son died in battle, she wants to go back to collect the body, she said that she can't let her youngest son become a lonely ghost who doesn't even have a grave. I also want to return to China, my eldest sister and father's ashes are still at home waiting for us to return to China for burial, my brother and seven nephews still have no news, knowing that it may be difficult to meet again in this life, but I still have extravagant hopes in my heart. I often wondered, if they were still alive, how could they find me across the vast Pacific Ocean?

I only hope that the war will end as soon as possible, and God bless China!

Another: I love you.

Jiang Huiqin is on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar

*

Mingichi:

The mother is gone.

Since you left last month, your mother's health has been not good, and Dr. Cao said that her mother was homesick and sick, and she was empty inside, and it was difficult to treat the medicine. I wanted to write to you back, but my mother refused, and took my letter and burned it, not wanting you to worry.

The Ming and Qing dynasties are in Europe, Mingzhe is in New York, and you are in Vancouver again, and there is no more joy at home, only me, but there is an extra urn. Before my mother left, she always said that she was homesick and wanted to go back to Beiping, and I also missed Beiping. The newspaper said that the Japanese side was going to surrender, the war was finally over, and we were finally able to go home, but unfortunately my mother couldn't last a little longer and couldn't go back to see the city of Beiping with her own eyes. Before she left, we asked us to bury her ashes in the courtyard of the old mansion when we returned home, if the old mansion was still there.

Let's go home.

Jiang Huiqin, December 5

*This chapter is an exception.