In the middle of the night they disembarked from the ship. It was the first time that Shen Hui had met the other family who had traveled with them on the same boat. In this pitch-dark dock, John and Shen Hui were at a complete loss about where to go . The other family, however, appeared to be waiting for someone to pick them up. Through conversation, Shen Hui learned that their surname was Gu. The family consisted of Madam Gu, her daughter-in-law and two grandsons, one eight years old and the other 5 years old. Madam Gu's son was an assistant general serving under General Fu Zuoyi. Aware of the worsening situation in Peking, he had arranged early on for his family to go to Tianjin and asked Office Wu, his close friend, to find an opportunity to send them to Qingdao by sea, where his sister lived. Office Wu had agreed to help him.
Noticing that Shen Hui looked pale and weak, John helped her sit on their luggage while she chatted with the Gu family. Seeing a foreign man and a Chinese woman stranded in an unfamiliar city with no clear destination. Madam Gu couldn't help but ask, hesitantly:
"Miss, how do you end up here? And why is this foreign man still...?"
It was clear that she didn't quite understand why this foreigner would choose to stay in China, especially when this country was engulfed in war though she wasn't sure how to phrase this question politely. Shen Hui understood her meaning so explained to her:
"This is my husband, Lei Yuehan. He stayed in China for me. We're trying to make our way south, but under this current situation, we have no choice but take things step by step at a time. Leaving Peking was our first step. It is known that Peking could become the battlefield at any moment."
Madam Gu glanced at John who was standing behind Shen Hui, with a hint of surprise and then said:
"So what do you plan to do now? I means it is the middle of the night."
Shen Hui replied:
"We really have no idea where to go. We're not familiar with this city so my husband tought we'd try to find a hotel nearby to stay in for the night."
Mrs Gu said kindly:
"I have actually been here before but I got to here by train. If I remember correctly, there is a fairly busy street just outside this dock so you should be able to find a hotel there."
Shen Hui nodded and said:
"Thank you. But what about you? It's so late at night and you have got both the elderly and the children with you."
Hearing this, Mrs. Gu seemed to realize this situation too so she looked at her mother-in-law. Madam Gu nodded and said:
"Well, my child, it is impossible for us to go straight to your sister-in-law's home at midnight. I think it is best for us to find a hotel and take a rest for the night first. Tomorrow we can visit her. What do you think?"
Mrs. Gu said softly:
"I'll go with whatever you decide, Mom."
Shen Hui asked:
"Would it be alright if we go with you?"
Mrs Gu smiled and said:
"Of course. Let's go together."
John knew Shen Hui was still too weak so he put the bundle on his back and held two suitcases in his hands. Shen Hui followed him empty-handed but soon she began to dry heaving again. This made John nervous once more and he couldn't help ask:
"Why are you still vomiting after we've gotten off the boat?"
Shen Hui just shook her head, unable to speak. At that moment Madam Gu came over in concern and asked:
"Mrs. Lei, what's wrong with you? Are you still feeling dizzy?"
John replied anxiously:
"She hasn't eaten much since yesterday and kept vomiting all the way on the boat. I don't understand why she is still vomitting after landing. Once we get to the hotel, I will make sure she gets a thorough check-up."
Madam Gu looked thoughtful and asked:
"Could she be pregnant?"
This question caught both John and Shen Hui by surprise. Shen Hui thought for a moment and suddenly realized that her period had never come at all since she had been with John again two months earlier. She looked at John who was gazing at her with a spark of excitement in his eyes. Finally he said:
"I will have to give you a thorough check when we get to the hotel."
Then he set down the suitcases on the ground and held her tightly in his arms.
The group slowly made their way out of the dock. As expected, they arrived at a fairy busy street so it didn't take long time for them to find a hotel. When the staff saw an American among them, he immediatedly offtered warm and attentive service and arranged rooms for both families.
The next day Mrs Gu came to Shen Hui and John's room to express her concern for Shen Hui. She asked:
"Are you feeling better?"
Shen Hui said shyly:
"I'm fine, just pregnant."
Mrs. Gu smiled warmly and said:
"Congratulations! Now you really need to take good care of yourself and protect the pregnancy during the first three months. You really must be cautious during this time."
John added:
"Mrs. Gu, my wife has just become pregnant now. As you know, we had originally planned to travel to Shanghai by ship but we have to change our plan after I have seen how much she has suffered during our trip to Qingdao. We have decided to stay there for a few month. Since we don't know anybody in this unfamiliar city, I have to ask you a favor. Could you please ask your relative here help us rent an apartment."
Hearing his words, Mrs. Gu replied:
"I can't make any promises to you but I will talk with my sister-in-law about your situation after I meet her."
The next day Mrs Gu came to the hotel with her sister-in-law, Mrs. Liu. Mrs. Liu said in a straightforward manner:
"My sister-in-law told me about your situation. To be honest, ever since the fighting broke out in Shandong Province in July, many people from various district have been pouring into Qingdao. It's become extremely difficult to find a house or an apartment recently. But if you don't mind, there is one room available. The surroundings aren't great and you will have to share the toilet and the kitchen with others."
Shen Hui glanced at John worriedly but he quickly responded:
"It's no problem for me. Hui, what do you think?"
He turned to her, looking for her opinion.
Three days later, Shen Hui and John moved into the room recommended by Mr. Liu. Actually, it was in a small two-story house which had once belonged to a wealthy family. However, their descendants had been unfilial and squandered the family fortune. In the end, even this house was divided and rented out room by room to support their living expenses. Mrs. Liu's husband happened to be the superior of the son of that family so they knew more information about this family very well. That son was informed about the situation of Shen Hui and John. In order to make money, the family vacated their largest room and moved in with relative, leaving the room for rent to Shen Hui and John.
There were three other families living in the same house, all refugees from the different places in Shandong Province. The Zhao family, six persons across three generation, occupied two rooms. The Wang family also lived in two rooms, including a middle-aged couple and their three children. These two families stayed upstairs. On the ground floor, besides Shen Hui and John, who lived in the former living room, there was another family consisting entirely of women, Madam Li, an elderly woman, Mrs. Li, the daughter-in-law and a seven-year-old girl. Mrs. Li appeared to be in poor health and was bedridden. Though conversation, Shen Hui learned that Madam Li's son had died in the war against Japan. When Mrs. Li received the devastating news, she went into premature labor and gave birth to a baby girl. The trauma left her with lingering health issues. Madam Li, a proud and capable woman, had once lived a comfortable life. As soon as the battle broke out in Shandong Province, she sold off all of their belongings in the hometown and brought her sickly daughter-in-law and granddaughter to Qingdao, hoping to find the relatives. But, unfortunately, they didn't find any relative. Mrs Li was too frail to continue moving further so they had no choice but stay in Qingdao. The name of her granddaughter was Li Yan whose nickname was Liu'er. She was a thoughtful and well-behaved child. She often helped her grandmother with household chores and sometimes the sound of her reading aloud could be heard from their room. After learning about Mrs. Li's condition, Shen Hui took the initiative to check her pulse and John had also given her an examination. He said:
"I think it is better to take her to the hospital for treatment. I think she has the problem on her lung. If the pneumonia, it is worse because this illness is highly contagious. I don't have the proper instruments or equipment to make a definite diagnosis but her symptoms point in that direction."
Upon hearing this, Madam Li was stunned. If it really was the pneumonia, her daughter-in-law would have to be sent to the hospital immediately. Not only the neighbours but even her granddaughter could be infected. So she said:
"Mr. Lei, you are the doctor. Whatever you say, I will follow. I'll take her to the hospital right away."
John replied:
"Madam, don't worry. I will go with you. In fact, I was planning to visit the hospital myself to see whether I could get a job there or not."
Madam Li entrusted Liu'er to Shen Hui's care. With John's help, she took her daughter-in-law to the hospital. When the hospital director learned that John was an American, a former military doctor who had also worked at a hospital in Peking, he immediately offered him a position and even promised to pay him in US dollars instead of the worthless fabi (the legal tender Chinses currency at the time). From then on John and Shen Hui settled down in Qingdao. Before long, they heard that Paking had been completely surrounded by the PLA.
Not long after starting his job, John heard that there was a US Navy base in Qingdao, which excited him greatly. It was very often for him to visit the bars near the US navy base on Daxue Road, where he would have a few drinks and chat with American soldiers. Through these conversations, he began to uncover more information about US-China relations that wasn't known to the public.
First US government was deeply disappointed with the current Chinese central government so that the US had decided to give up any support to China. Second US goverment not only avoid had no intention of getting involved in Chinese civil war but might even abandon its influence and power in the Northern China altogether. The US government hoped China could be divided two parts along the Yangtze River, just like the Southern and Northern Dynasties period in China, covering the 5th and 6th centuries. Lastly, in the event of the central government's collapse, it might retreat to an island whose name was Taiwan.
John was shocked when he heard the news and immediately asked when it would happen. He was told that US navy would remain in Qingdao untill the very last moment. What comforted him, however, was the assurance that all American would be allowed to evacuate with the naval warship. Through his connections at US Navy base, John was able to get in touch with his family back in USA and shared detailed updates about his current life. He even sent them a wedding photo of himself and Shen Hui. He also took Shen Hui to a Christmas Party hosted by the US Navy.
Meanwhile, their neighbours, upon learning that John was an American, tried their best to curry favor with him. But Shen Hui and John paid little attention to it and went about their lives as usual.
Since it was very often for Madam Li to go back and forth to the hospital, she had to left Liu'er in Shen Hui's care. Whenever Shen Hui had spare time, she would teach Liu'er some Chinses ancient poetry and basic knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine. John also occasionally taught her some English as well. Madam Li was deeply grateful to the couple and ofter expressed her thanks by cooking delicious meals for them. She also frequently told John how to take care of the pregnant Shen Hui.
But just as the New Year was approaching, Mrs. Li lost her battle with illness and passed away. From other people's opinion, her death may have seemed like a relief for Madam Li but for Madam Li herself, the life only became more difficult. Most of her savings had already been spent on Mrs. Li's medical treatment. With inflation and a severe shortage of essential goods, she was at a complete loss. There was no more valuable things left. In desperation, she had no choice but to ask John to help sell some of her jewelry to the US soldiers in exchange for US dollars. Later, it was John who came up with a suggestion that two families became one family. He offered to take full responsibility for supporting Madam Li and her granddaughter while he aked Madam Li to help take care of Shen Hui who was beginning to show signs of pregnancy. He didn't want Shen Hui to overexert herself and hoped she could focus on resting for her and the baby. This proposal moved Madam Li deeply and the couple treated Liu'er with genuine kindness, which gave her great comfort. Indeed, thanks to John's American identity, he was able to obtain some goods that the ordinary Chinese people couldn't get at the time. And so, this newly-formed family welcomed the Chinese New Year ---- 1949.