The following morning at the appointed hour, the General revisited Ahuey's house to discover that Ahuey was already sitting in the living room, fully dressed in her best clothes with her father by her side. Despite Ahuey's makeup, she was unable to hide the tear marks on her face and her panda eyes caused by a whole night of crying.
"Come on, we have to go, we don't have time to lose," said the General coldly.
"I will not take your money, as I do not wish to sell my dear daughter. But, please take care of her," said Ahuey's father to the General using his broken Japanese as he offered to return the General's bag of gold. The General simply ignored the poor old man as he pushed past him.
Afterwards, General Yamata held Ahuey's trembling hand as he led her towards Dadaocheng (or Twatutia in Hokkien), the old city centre of Taipei (or Taihoku, as the Japanese called it) at the time.
"As a Japanese General's wife, you will first have to look more Japanese. Come, I will buy you some kimonos," said the General, in a gentler tone than before.
After the General has finished speaking, they entered a tailor's shop, in which he ordered some custom-made kimonos for the beautiful girl. In less than an hour's time, the two walked out of the kimono shop, with Ahuey having had a total makeover. Now wearing a white, luxurious Japanese kimono, Ahuey had her hair clamped up in a Japanese-style bun with some makeup put on her face. Nevertheless, she did not look the least happier. Her gaze was cast on the ground and her mind was thinking of Ahuat and her dear father.
At that moment, as if he were summoned by Ahuey, Ahuat strolled out from a small alleyway, just in time to perceive Ahuey and General Yamata walking out of the kimono shop.
"Wait, is that Ahuey? What is she doing with a Japanese man?" wondered Ahuat. "No, it cannot be. My eyes must be fooling me!"
"Come on, we have to go, we don't have time to lose," said the General coldly.
"I will not take your money, as I do not wish to sell my dear daughter. But, please take care of her," said Ahuey's father to the General using his broken Japanese as he offered to return the General's bag of gold. The General simply ignored the poor old man as he pushed past him.
Afterwards, General Yamata held Ahuey's trembling hand as he led her towards Dadaocheng (or Twatutia in Hokkien), the old city centre of Taipei (or Taihoku, as the Japanese called it) at the time.
"As a Japanese General's wife, you will first have to look more Japanese. Come, I will buy you some kimonos," said the General, in a gentler tone than before.
After the General has finished speaking, they entered a tailor's shop, in which he ordered some custom-made kimonos for the beautiful girl. In less than an hour's time, the two walked out of the kimono shop, with Ahuey having had a total makeover. Now wearing a white, luxurious Japanese kimono, Ahuey had her hair clamped up in a Japanese-style bun with some makeup put on her face. Nevertheless, she did not look the least happier. Her gaze was cast on the ground and her mind was thinking of Ahuat and her dear father.
At that moment, as if he were summoned by Ahuey, Ahuat strolled out from a small alleyway, just in time to perceive Ahuey and General Yamata walking out of the kimono shop.
"Wait, is that Ahuey? What is she doing with a Japanese man?" wondered Ahuat. "No, it cannot be. My eyes must be fooling me!"
That evening, General Yamata and Ahuey boarded the ship which set sail for Tokyo. Overhead, the sky was half crystalline, half misty, and the atmosphere was chill and vibrant with rich tension. Just above the horizon and ringed all about with a crimson glare, the blood red sun was slowly sinking in the far distance.
In her new kimono, Ahuey felt like another person. In less than 24 hours' time, her life has changed drastically. Forced to embark on a new journey to a land wholly unknown to her, she was leaving her beloved home behind. As the dazzling lights of the Keelung port grew fainter and fainter in the darkening sky, Ahuey's heart felt heavier than ever. Quietly, a mist, as thick as velvet, has gradually stolen in around them and engulfed the surroundings, as if concealing a terrible secret, too dark to be revealed.
A tear trickled down Ahuey's cheeks as she thought about her father, Ahuat and her home. What encounters are awaiting her in the Land of the Rising Sun?
~To be Continued~
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