Page 119 - SELECTED WORKS OF CHEN YUN Volume I

LATE ONE NIGHT 115

the hostess to call the rickshaws.
Pointing to the host, Comrade Qiubai asked me: “Have you two met
before?”
“No,” the host and I responded simultaneously.
“This is Mr. Zhou, or rather, Mr. Lu Xun,” Comrade Qiubai made the
introduction, and indicating me, he continued, “This is Comrade ‘Z’.”
“How I’ve been wanting to meet you!” I said with sincere respect.
This was actually the first time I had ever seen Lu Xun. He wore an old
grey padded cotton robe. His serious, worried look revealed a deep concern
that Qiubai, Zhihua and I might be caught by detectives or police on the
road.
“Is it safe outside so late at night?” he asked me.
“Luckily, it’s raining, so we can raise the rickshaw canopies and then
there will be nothing to worry about,” I reassured him.
I had no idea where Lu Xun was from although there was something of
a Shaoxing accent to his speech. (Not until I had taken Qiubai and Zhihua
to their new place and asked Comrade Qiubai about this did I learn that Lu
Xun was indeed a native of Shaoxing).
The hostess soon returned. “The rickshaws are at the door,” she said.
“Let’s go,” I said, helping Zhihua with her bundle, and we went to the
door. Comrade Qiubai told Lu Xun, “Please give the two books that I want
to you-know-who to pass on to me,” then pointing at me, “or ask Comrade
‘Z’ to come for them.”
I seized the opportunity to respond to this request: “I’ll come for them
in a few days.” We were at the door, but Zhihua was still saying her parting
words to the hostess, so we waited a moment for her.
“When you get there safely tonight,” Lu Xun told Comrade Qiubai,
“ask you-know-who to tell me, so that I won’t worry.” Comrade Qiubai
agreed and a moment later the three of us were on our way downstairs. At
the door Lu Xun and the hostess repeated, “Take care. We won’t see you
out.” When we were halfway downstairs, I looked around. They were still at
the door watching us, Lu Xun’s serious, worried expression showing his
concern for our safety.
Then, Comrade Qiubai also glanced back. “Please go back in,” he said.
They nodded silently. Only after we had reached the second floor landing
did we hear the door shut on the third floor.
Ever since Comrade “Y” was arrested in 1932, the detectives had been
chasing Comrade Qiubai. He had been seriously ill and stayed at Lu Xun’s
home for a long time. Although he was being hunted by the police, Lu Xun
had managed to protect Comrade Qiubai for several months. As time passed,