As soon as Shen Hui returned home, Cui rushed into her room, her voice trembling with concern:
"Are you alright? You have no idea how worried I've been about you. I know you went there that day, but then you just disappeared. Please tell me what happened."
Shen Hui gave a brief account of her injury to Cui in a subdued tone, her words heavy with unspoken emotion. Cui's eyes widened as she listened. She leaned closer and immediately pressed further:
"So did you go to claim the compensation? You shouldn't let this go unaddressed."
Shen Hui shook her head:
"No, I didn't. But what exactly happened afterward?"
Cui took a deep breath and began to explain what had unfolded since July 5th:
Following the tragedy on July5th, the public outrage surged nationwide. People across the nation condemned the government's brutal action, which further fueled the students' anger. They demanded justice and punishment for those perpetrators.
On July 9th, more than 10,000 from various colleges and universities gathered for a massive mourning and protest assembly. They carried banners with powerful slogans: "We oppose the suppression and the massacre of the people." and "We demand the right to study and live in peace for the colleges and universities of Northeast and North China." The students marched to petition President Li Zongren. Although President Li claimed to hold the title without real authority, he nevertheless agreed to the students' demands, which included "severe punishment for the perpetrators, lifting bans on assembly, speech and petitions, providing generous compensation to the families of the victims and establishing temporary schools and universities for displaced students". Tensions flared when the Peking Garrison Command deployed armored vehicles, nearly sparking another violent confrontation. However, Li Zongren intervened and ordered their withdrawal, averting further bloodshed.
The following day Fu Zuoyi issued a public statement pledging to investigate and prosecute those responsible, provide generous compensation to the victims' families and address the educational and the living arrangements of the Northeastern students. He also dispatched personnel to deal with the aftermath and contacted the Nationalist government in Nanjing. His efforts eventually pressured Chiang Kai-shek to dismiss Chen Jicheng, the Peking Garrison Commander, along with other military and intelligence officers in Peking. Chen Jicheng was relieved of his duties as the Peking Garrison Commander and the 208th Youth Army was transferred out of Peking.
Shen Hui asked, her voice tinged with hope and doubt:
"So does that mean your issues with living and studying have truly been resolved?"
Cui sighed, her tone a blend of resignation and cautious optimism:
"They promised to distribute our rations on time. As for the education issue, we have to wait until the school term starts in September. What about you? Do you have any plans?"
Shen Hui hesitated before replying:
"My father wrote to me, urging me to go back home. He's worred about my safety, especailly after I got injured. He insists I must return as soon as possible and wait for the situation to stabilize before I can resume my studies."
Cui nodded thoughtfully:
"Well, that might be for the best. Unlike us, who can't go back to our families, you have the option. And with the constant fighting in the Northeast, it won't be long before Peking becomes unsafe too. It's probably safer for you to leave. Do you have bought the ticket yet?"
Shen Hui shook her head:
"Not yet. I have just recovered so I still have some things to sort out. I plan to buy it tomorrow or the day after."
Shen Hui initially thought it would be easy to buy a train ticket to Nanjing. But to her surprise, the earliest tickets available were for the 20th and the ticket clerk's words only added to her unease:
"I have heard that Shandong Province isn't safe right now. The Nationalist and the Communist Party are on the verge of war, and there is constant fighting there. Even for the train on the 20th, we can't guarantee whether it will reach Nanjing safely."
Shen Hui's heart sank. She pressed further, her voice tinged with desperation:
"Is there really no earlier train?"
The clerk shook his head, his expression grim:
"To be honest, it's not just about the tickets anymore. The real problem is whether the train can safely travel south or whether it will even reach its destination at all. You see, even the train scheduled for the 10th doesn't have been confirmed to run on time and many people are already stranded."
Hearing this, Shen Hui's anxiety tightened her chest, but she had no choice but to wait for the 20th, clinging to hope that the train would depart as planned. In the meantime, she began selling or giving away her belongings, preparing for the uncertain journey ahead.
During this time, she often thought of John, the American man. She remembered how meticulously he had cared for her, their nightly conversations about all sorts of things and that passionate night that left her both guilty and longing. She didn't know whether to feel relief or regret at the thought of never seeing him again. Whenever these memories surfaced, her tears would stream down her face uncontrollably and a bittersweet ache settling deep in her chest.
Finally, August 19th arrived. Shen Hui went to the train station to confirm whether the train would run the next day or not. On the way home from the train station, to her surprise, she noticed something unusual: the streets were lined with an increasing number of checkpoints, where the soldiers and police stopped and searched every passersby. When she returned home, she went straight to Cui's room. Cui was packing her books in preparation for the new school term. She looked at Shen Hui and asked, concern etched on her face:
"Back from the train station? How was it?"
Shen Hui shook her head in frustration and said:
"It's the same story. Shandong Province isn't safe. There is a war going on there." she casually flipped through a book and continued, "It's really strange. There are a lot of temporary checkpoints on the street. The soldiers and police are stopping and searching everyone. I couldn't stand their prying hands so I took a detour through some alleys to get home."
Cui's heart tightened at this and asked:
"When did this start?"
Shen Hui replied:
"Just now, on my way back from the train station."
Cui put down her book and said to Shen Hui, her voice urgent:
"I have to go out right now. Whatever you do, stay home."
But before she could leave, a group of men burst into the room and seized both women without a word. Cui shouted, her voice fierce and defiant:
"What are you doing? Who are you?"
Shen Hui also shouted, her voice trembling but loud:
"Help! Help!"
Hearing their shouting, the landlord and her children rushed out of their room. One of the men barked sharply, his tone menacing:
"We are the police, arresting communist members. Don't interfere with official business!"
The landlord, terrified, quickly retreated back to her room with her children, shut the door behind them, too afraid to come out. As Cui and Shen Hui were taken into the police car, they saw three boys already sitting inside. One of them was crying and said:
"I'm just a student. I didn't do anything wrong."
Shen Hui also murmured:
"Neither did I."
Cui wrapped her arms around her protectively, whispered reassuringly:
"Don't be afraid. You will be fine."
She patted Shen Hui's shoulder gently but her eyes flicked toward one of the boys who gave a faint, almost imperceptible shake of his head. Cui blinked back in response. However, Shen Hui, unaware of the silent exchange, only felt Cui's arm tighten around her protectively. When they arrived at the prison, they found that it had already overcrowded with people. Most of the detainees were students. Soon after, a large number of students were brought in until the space was teeming with young face. After speaking with others, they found out that all of them had been arrested from various colleges. Everyone speculated on what was going on:
The origins of this matter traced back to July 31st. When the Nationalist Government's Ministry of Education issued a secret order to all colleges and universities. It regarded anyone within campus suspected of having ties to the Communist Party as a threat and must be eliminated during the summer vacation. In early August, a high-level joint meeting was held in Peking involving the Kuomingtang (KMT) party, government, military and security leaders. The officials leaders from the municipal governments, the local party branches, security headquarters, military control units, secret agencies and military police headquarters from both Peking and Tianjin were present. According to the secret order from the Ministry of Education, it was decided to arrest the Communist Party members in various colleges and universities soon.
On August 10th, the central Nationalist authorities issued orders to the administrative and political security agencies across the country, announcing the "Four Guildlines for Eliminating Communist Spies and Maintaining Public Order", which stipulated:
"If the judicial or police agency lawfully arrests a suspect and has sufficient evidence to believe that the individual has committed a crime, and the situation is urgent, even if there is no search warrant, they may directly search the suspect's residence or other premises." The order further clarified that the polices and secret agents were permitted to arbitrarily search and arrest innocent civilians and students without any legal procedures.
On August 12, Chiang Kai-shek dispatched Chen Xueping, the Minister of Youth, to Peking with a secret order for a "Communist-clearing operation" to convey and arrange the arrest of progressive students with the relevant authorities in Peking. After getting off the plane, Chen Xueping went straight to the Peking Garrison Command to meet with former commander Chen Jicheng, instructing him to urgently convene a meeting of the heads of relevant departments. Those present included Wu Zhuren (the Secretary-General of the Peking Municipal Party Committee of the KMT Party), Liu Yaozhang (Mayor of Peking), Yang Qingzhi (Chief of Police), Hu Shi (the Present of Peking University), Mei Yiqi (the President of Tsinghua University) and Yuan Dunli (the President of Peking Normal University). There were the representatives of the "North China Suppression Headquarters" and Deng Jiyu (the Secretary-General of the Garrison Command) and Ni Chaofan (the Director of the inspection Department) attending this meeting. At the meeting, Chen Xueping read out the secret order issued by the Nationalist Government of the KMT Party, which called for the swift arrest of the Communist Party members and ensure full cooperation from all colleges and universities. This directive set the stage for a large-scale crackdown, which began on August 19th in Peking.
On that morning of August 19th, the nationalist army, the police, the gendamerie and secret agencts mobilized in full force, surrounding and blockading all entrances to eleven colleges and universities in Peking, including Peking University, Tsinghua University, Normal University, Yenching University, Sino-French University, Fu Jen Catholic University, Railway Institue, Chaoyang Yuniversity, North China University, Peking Art College and China University. They also posted notices on the streets with threatening language, ordering the arrest of Communist students. They also set up checkpoints on various streets where the military and the police officers inspected every passer-by. By the end of the operation, more than 200 students had been arrested. This event became known as the famous "August 19th Arrest" in Chinese history.
Shen Hui had already been in this crowded and squalid prison cell for three days. At first, she was overwhelmed with fear. After all, it was her first experience in such a situation. However, she noticed that some students, like Cui, displayed remarkable courage. They not only protested loudly but alos engaged in reasoned arguments with the guards. Some guards even showed sympathetic but helpless expressions. Most of the time, these courageous students constantly encouraged their more timid ones like Shen Hui. Their words and actions gradually gave Shen Hui's strength. Gradually, her fear diminished. However, Cui cautioned her:
"Right now, I'm encouraging you to be brave and give you confidence but if they interrogate you, don't confront them. You only participated in the July 5th demonstration. That's all, nothing more. To be honest, you're not a radical. I think the main reason you were arrested is because of me. I have implicated you. Actually I feel guilty for dragging you into this injust situation." Shen Hui was about to say something but Cui stopped her, "I know what you want to say. You don't need to speak out. I understand. But you must remember my words: being brave does not mean meaningless sacrifice. Take good care of yourself."
"What about you? They have tortured you and there is no treatment for your wounds here."
"Me? They didn't have done much to me yet. At worst, they'll throw me in jail forever or kill me. But it is one day that someone will avenge me or us. What worries me most about you is that they might not believe your words and resort to torture on you as well."
Shen Hui couldn't help but feel a pang of fear at these words. But when Cui, who was covered in wounds, held her tightly in Cui's arms, she seemed to have absorbed strength from Cui. Slowly, the fear in her heart gradually began to fade.
As expected, Cui's warning came true. When Shen Hui's answer didn't convince the interrogators, the ruthless whip hit her mercilessly. But no matter how they pressed her, Shen Hui, through her tears, kept repeating the same story:
"I really don't know anything. I just followed the crowd and participated in the demonstration that day."
"I was injured and saved by an American doctor from XX hospital. His Chinese name is Yuehan Lei. You can go and check it out."
Another interrogator leaned over and whispered to the chief interrogator:
"She isn't on the list and there is indeed an American doctor named Yuehan Lei at XX hospital."
The chief interrogator said:
"Go and verify this with this American. Take her away."
After Shen Hui was taken away, the chief interrogator asked his subordinate:
"How do you know about this doctor?"
"Oh, we came across him before when we went to arrest people at the hospital. In addition, his medical skills are excellent. In just two years, many high-ranking officials and prominent figures in Peking have sought him out for treatment when they were sick. But this person doesn't play along with them. He doesn't care much about their status. He treats all patients equally every day and then leaves work on time. After work, he either goes to taste Peking's delicacies, listens to storytelling and crosstalk in teahouses or hangs out with his fellow Americans at nightclubs."
"Do you, the Peking Police Department, dare to investigate an American?"
"It was not a real investigation or surveillance. We were just trying to figure out what kind of person he is. At that time, our director had a sick relative who wanted to see him so he ordered us to investigate this American."
The chief interrogator showed a look of ruthlessness. At this moment, the military police brought in another person for interrogation.