厄运降临(A Fallen Misfortune)

onedaymorning,anadministrativeofficialdroppedinfather’sshopandannouncedagovernmentaldecree:“noincensebusinessispermittedsinceitisforfeudalsuperstition.”

justlikealightningbolt,mymotherandfatherwereshockedbecauseourfamilylifehadimmediatelybeendriventoacorner.withoutthisself-supportmeanshowcoulda9-folkfamilywiththemajorityoftheelderlyandlittlekidsmakeitslife?

theyhadnowaytosurvivebutsellingtheirpossessionsgradually.

afterawhile,someofourneighborsfeltpitytooursituationandaskedmyfathertoassisttheminconstructionwork.myfatherwasacraftmannotalabor.withlessphysicalstrength,hewasreallysufferinginthisheavy-dutywork.

cametotheyearendof1950,itshouldbetheholytimeforancestorworshipasperlocalcustom.however,sincenewgovernmentfirmlyforbadesuchpractice,allsuchactivitiesassociatedwereconsideredillegal.eventhough,therewerestillsomecountrymenconstantlycametoourshopandaskedforincensesslinkingly.itreallyscaredmyhonestandtimidfather.

mymotherwasastronganddeterminedperson.sheinsistedinsellingoutallinventory.“itismyideaanddetermination.noneofyourbusiness.”shesaidtomyfatherwhowastremblingandfulloffear.“ifsomeoneconsidersitascrime,putmeintoprison.ok?”shewasinspiringawebyupholdingjustice,“howcouldabusinessbestoppedjustbyonewordwithoutbufferingtimetotreatthoserawmaterialsandproductsonstock?”mother’swordssoundedreasonable,butweallknewitwasanexcusecausedbythecorneredfinancialsituation.assaying“necessityknowsnolaw”,shewasriskingadangerbydesperation.

sureenough,father’sbusinesswasrecoveredinsecretway.customerscametoourshopinfrontdoorandcarriedincenseswithatowelcoveredbasketoutfrombackdoor.

thesalesincomemademyparentsveryhappy,becausetheywouldhaveenoughmoneytocelebratenewyearfeast.

nothinghappeneduntilseptember29.