Chinese Literature

be heard in both Changchiachai and at Hsintukou. The seedlings hung their heads as if complaining about their thirst. Their blades had become dry and curled up.

After breakfast, Uncle Yun-pu walked to the Square Pond in silence, carrying the frame of the water-wheel, his two sons beside him carrying the other parts of the water-wheel. The sun beating on their backs made their flesh burn and itch. Even the ground underfoot was scorching hot.

The sound of water-wheels turning came from all directions. The water in the ponds was being transported to the fields by manpower. Uncle Yun-pu fixed his water-wheel and father and sons got on. The wheel started to move, water went up the track and flowed into the fields.

The peasants were covered with sweat from head to foot. The sun gradually travelled to the middle of the sky and blazed upon the earth like a fierce fire. Little wisps of blue smoke seemed to curl up from the people’s mouths. Their feet felt heavier and heavier. Eventually the water-wheel seemed as heavy as a half-ton rock and it required ever so much effort to press down on the foot pedals. Starting upwards from the ankles, the aching of the muscles spread over the whole body, finally reaching the neck. At times, it felt as if a little knife was cutting and scraping the ankles and the legs. It was especially hard for Shao-pu, whose not yet full-grown young body suffered agonies. Yun-pu toowas he not feeling just as tired? His feeble old legs were tired through and through before the work had proceeded more than a few minutes. But he refused to show any signs of weakness. If Heaven wanted him to suffer, he had to bear it even if it meant giving up his old life. The morale of his sons depended on his courage. Besides, it was the first day they worked the water-wheels, and he couldn’t afford to set them a bad example by groaning and complaining. He had to bear up no matter how much he was suffering. “Step hard, Shao-pu!” He kept on reminding his younger son, while he himself eritted his teeth and stepped hard. When the pain in his legs was too much to bear, he would let the long restrained tears flow, and they would roll down his cheeks mixed with the sweat from his brows.

At long last Aunt Yun-pu arrived with their lunch. The father and sons got off the water-wheel.

“Heaven, why must you always work against us poor people?” Yunpu queried, as he lightly massaged his aching legs.

“Mama,” Shao-pu said to his mother with a woeful face, “my two legs are already useless.”

“Never mind, have a good meal now and come back home early in the afternoon. With a little rest you’ll be all right again.”

Shao-pu said nothing more. He took up a bowl and filled it full of rice.

Uncle Yun-pu and Shao-pu were practically cripples after the hard

138