Chapter 64 Donating Gold

Chapter 64: Donating Gold

A little past seven in the morning, Liu Yunyi opened the doors of the Chinese Overseas Association. As usual, he first lit the coal stove, boiled several kettles of water to fill the flasks, and then poured himself a cup of tea, placing it on his simple office desk. Lighting a cigarette, he perused the newspapers he had just bought amidst the rising curls of steam and smoke.

After a while, Liu Yunyi knitted his brows. Having read the paper for so long, he had no idea what he had actually just read. In a wave of irritation, he tossed the newspaper onto the desk and continued to smoke in gloomy silence.

Today, key members and backbone representatives of the Chinese Overseas Association were rushing in from all over New York to hold another meeting regarding the purchase of the P-26 fighter planes.

Currently, the funds raised still fell far short, and the deadline given by the Boeing Company—the manufacturer of the P-26 fighters—was rapidly approaching. If the National Government still could not produce the payment for the warplanes, the contract for these eleven P-26 fighters would automatically become void. Many nations were eyeing this batch of fighter jets and eager to buy them.

Before long, a dozen or so key members of the association arrived one after another. At eight o'clock, Qin Youfu and his niece Shu Qin also arrived.

They sat clustered around the long table in the courtyard, their faces etched with worry. If these eleven fighter planes were to fall into the hands of other countries, it would deal a massive blow to the cohesion of overseas Chinese communities.

The people back home and the air force were waiting with bated breath for these eleven fighter planes to return to the motherland to strengthen the air force. If the warplanes were bought away by other nations, it would inflict a devastating blow to the confidence of the soldiers and civilians resisting Japan at home.

Before the meeting officially began, everyone chatted idly about recent events.

A few days ago, that patriotic overseas Chinese had been murdered, leaving more or less of a shadow hanging over the hearts of the Chinese living in America. Although they knew that nine times out of ten the Japanese were behind it, everyone felt utterly helpless!

At that time, the National Government was weak and frail, possessing no diplomatic voice, leaving its citizens abroad to be bullied by others.

This feeling was agonizingly stifling!

So stifling it hurt!

After a while longer, most of the overseas Chinese living around New York and further away arrived in succession. Today, the meeting would begin promptly at nine o'clock sharp.

At this moment, there were still a few minutes left before the start of the meeting, and a few members had yet to arrive—perhaps held up by matters at home and unable to make it.

Gradually, dozens more nearby overseas Chinese arrived. They were regular visitors here, frequently donating to the domestic cause. Some stood, while others crouched against the wall, all with grave expressions. They were all well aware of the situation regarding the P-26 fighter planes.

"There are still two members who haven't arrived. Perhaps they are tied up with matters at home, so we won't wait for them anymore."

Vice President Liu Yunyi extinguished his cigarette butt, stood up, and said, "I'll get straight to the point. The reason I invited everyone here today is still regarding the purchase of the P-26 fighter planes.

"The funds we have currently raised for purchasing the fighters are still considerably short, and the deadline given by the Boeing Company is about to expire. By then, the fighter planes will be bought by other countries, so..."

Suddenly, an overseas Chinese who had been tidying up sundries in the front yard hurried over, walking up to Liu Yunyi with a hesitant expression, as if he had something to say but swallowed his words.

Liu Yunyi asked, "What is it?"

The overseas Chinese replied, "Vice President Liu, there is a half-grown boy outside the door who wants to see you. He says he has something to hand to you in person." With that, he nudged his chin toward the main entrance.

"Oh?"

Liu Yunyi and the others looked toward the main gate and indeed saw a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years old, cradling a small box in his arms, looking at them with a timid and shy expression.

"Child, are you looking for me?" Liu Yunyi asked gently.

"Are you Uncle Liu Yunyi?" The boy's voice was also very shy.

"Yes, that's me!" Liu Yunyi said, looking at the box in the boy's arms.

The boy said, "Just now, an older brother asked me to hand this box to you in person. He said to tell you not to worry, that the things Uncle Liu needs are right in here."

Hearing this, Liu Yunyi immediately stepped forward and took the box. Regardless of whether there was any danger inside the box, he couldn't let this child keep holding it.

"What did the older brother who gave you the box look like?" Shu Qin stepped forward, stroked the boy's head, and asked softly.

The boy replied, "The older brother was wearing a big hat, so I couldn't see his face clearly. He gave me five dollars to deliver this box, and said to tell you not to worry, that the box is safe."

Shu Qin saw the boy out, searched around for a bit without seeing any suspicious characters, and then returned to the courtyard.

Liu Yunyi weighed the box in his arms; it was quite heavy. He used the coal-tongs to pry open the wrapping paper on top and opened the box. Instantly, a flash of golden light burst forth into the courtyard.

Inside the box were actually dozens of gold bars!

"They're gold bars!" Liu Yunyi exclaimed in pleasant surprise. "There's also a piece of paper in the box!" As he spoke, his hands trembled slightly as he picked up the paper, which had writing on it:

*Here are 20 gold bars, presented to the Chinese Overseas Association to add a brick and tile toward the purchase of P-26 fighter planes!*

*The money is completely clean!*

*Signed by: Patriotic youth, Communist Party member Fan Wenbin.*

"Communist Party member Fan Wenbin?"

Liu Yunyi held the slip of paper. "Does anyone know this youth named Fan Wenbin?"

Everyone shook their heads. No one had ever heard the name Fan Wenbin, nor was there any such name among the patriotic overseas Chinese members.

Liu Yunyi handed the note to Qin Youfu. Looking at the gold bars in the box, he beamed with joy, "This is wonderful, this is wonderful."

Shu Qin hurried to her uncle's side and looked at the handwriting on the note. She suddenly felt it looked somewhat familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had seen it.

The members took turns looking at the handwriting on the note, and the gloom on their faces was instantly swept away. With these twenty gold bars, the shortfall in funds for purchasing the fighter planes would be largely resolved.

Everyone was discussing how this patriotic Communist Party member, Fan Wenbin, came and went like a dragon seeing its head but not its tail, donating such a massive amount of gold without ever showing his face. This silent, selfless patriotism was deeply touching.

Just at that moment, a voice rang out from the front gate: "Excuse me, which one of you is Uncle Liu Yunyi?"

Everyone turned back to look and saw two Chinese boys of about twelve or thirteen standing at the main entrance. The two of them were carrying a small wooden crate on a wooden pole, looking at the crowd with eager eyes.

Liu Yunyi's lips trembled slightly with excitement. Suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, he said, "I, I am Liu Yunyi. Children, what do you need me for?"

One of the boys said, "Just a moment ago, an older brother asked us to deliver this crate to you, and said that the things you need are right in here."

Liu Yunyi and the others hurriedly stepped forward to take the box carried by the two boys. It was quite heavy.

Shu Qin stepped forward and took one of the boys by the hand: "Little brother, what did the older brother who asked you to deliver this box look like? Can you still remember?"

"That older brother was wearing a big hat, so we couldn't see his face clearly. He gave us ten dollars and asked us to deliver this stuff to you." With that, the two boys turned and ran out.

Shu Qin knew that even if she went outside, it would be impossible to find the older brother the two boys spoke of. If he had wanted to show his face, he would have appeared long ago.

Liu Yunyi and the others placed the box on the table and opened it.

Gold!

It was gold again inside the box, and much more than the batch the first boy had brought.

There was also a note placed on top of the gold.

Liu Yunyi was so moved he was almost in tears. With this gold, the remaining shortfall of funds for the P-26 fighter planes could be completely resolved, and they would even be able to purchase some spare parts for the post-maintenance of the warplanes.

With trembling hands, he picked up the note and read aloud with a slightly agitated voice:

*"Here are 20 catties of gold, presented to the Chinese Overseas Association to add a brick and tile toward the purchase of P-26 fighter planes!*

*The money is completely clean!*

*Signed: Donated by patriotic youth, Communist Party member Fan Wenbin."*

It was Fan Wenbin again.

Everyone was once again pleasantly surprised. This Fan Wenbin turned out to be a Communist Party member, making him all the more worthy of their admiration.

Shu Qin took the note from Liu Yunyi's hand. The handwriting was identical to the previous one, written by the very same person. She found it familiar, yet she still couldn't place where she had seen it.

Just as everyone was filled with astonishment and delight, wildly guessing who this Communist Party member Fan Wenbin might be, another crisp voice rang out at the entrance.

It was in English.

"Excuse me, which one of you is Uncle Liu Yunyi?"

Everyone turned their heads in a hurry.

Standing at the entrance was an American little girl of seven or eight years old, with striking blue eyes and golden hair, looking utterly adorable. She was holding an envelope in her hand.