The governor of Fujian Mr Cen and the CEO of Fujian Provincial Bank Mr Xu and the general manager of the bank Mr Chou, these three people understood the importance of education. The provincial bank, having moved to Yongan with several hundred employees, all their children urgently needed to go to school. The existing Yongan school facility was too small, and could not accept so many new kids. So our bank along with the help of the department of education built a new elementary school with the money allotted to the employees' benefits and called it Fuli* Elementary. Fuli's teachers' qualifications and curriculum met provincial standards. On January 8, I received a letter inviting me to the serve on the board of regents for the school. Along with me, there were six other members. Besides this elementary school, we also formed an adult training school. The adult school was accredited by the department of education. Graduates received a diploma from the department of education equivalent to a trade school diploma. On August 25, the governor asked me to be the vice chancellor of the adult school and Mr Chou to be the chancellor. I was responsible for establishing all the curriculum. The screening for students was very strict. If you were not qualified, you would not be admitted. To help more people, we established a correspondence program at the adult school. The curriculum of the correspondence program was all written by specialists. I was responsible for two classes ... Besides these, we set up several training programs. One of the programs was in administration. Another for publishing financial and commercial research. Another for auditing. At any rate, you can see how the government and the bank valued education.
The bank bylaws stated that females could not to be hired. In this day and age, that was not right. In order to compensate, we formed a factory called Fujian Provincial Women's Model Factory in Yongan and this factory hired all female employees. And in Nanping, we formed another factory that hired all female employees. In that area, raw material supplies were scarce, everything was expensive. The factory products did not sell well and inventory sat in warehouses. There was not enough money to continue production. The factories were at the brink of closing. The bank wanted to help out. The two factories and the department of trusts worked together. In November, I was assigned to CEO of the Fujian Provincial Bank Women's Model Factory. Nanping is quite far from Yongan so the bank asked Mr Zou to take care of the business in Nanping. After cooperating with the Trust, and the workers worked hard, and our technology improved, and increased our marketing, business improved.
Yongan is a mountain city, the cultivation and rice paddies were limited, so the crops produce was insufficient for the consumption of the people. Originally, the population was 2,000. But at this time during the war, it became the temporary capital, and many organizations and companies relocated here, and the population increased tenfold, to 20,000. Food was even more lacking. So there was an urgent crisis of rice supply. Fortunately, a city Ninghua located upstream had extra food and could transport it to Yongan via the river. But the problem was the river was very shallow and could only support a small wooden boat and trucks on land. This increased the cost of transport and thus the price of rice. Often, there was food shortage and even though you had money, you could not buy it. My bank's employees and families numbering to several hundred and the food supply was a hard problem to solve. Plus, any one who had access along the process, like cooks, stole for their families. This gave me a big headache. Finally, I consulted some specialists who suggested we use a rationing method where each person had 14 oz per day: 4 oz morning, 5 oz lunch, 5 oz dinner. We ordered several hundred porcelain containers and rice cookers from Yongcuen company. Every morning, they distributed 4 oz in the morning, 5 oz at noon, and 5 oz at evening. After every meal, the cooker steamed and distributed, those who had larger appetites sat with those who ate less. We did this for several months, everyone became used to it and it was no longer inconvenient. We saved a lot of rice and the total consumption was greatly decreased from before. We had no more reports of illegal or unethical behavior. The whole bank staff were pleased. A Fuzhou poet who wrote a sarcastic couplet teasing me calling me a nine-headed bird. In the Ming dynasty, there was a man called Zhang Junzhen, a famous prime minister, a good servant, and was from Hubei. At that time, people called Hubei countrymen nine-headed birds indicating they are shrewd and hard to kill: in heaven, nine-headed bird; on earth, Hubei people.**
Fujian Provincial Bank headquarters were located in Maoping, managing branch offices, not conducting outside business. They were financed by Yongan branch office. Every month, the headquarter employees salaries were withdrawn from Yongan branch office. And every month, the Yongan cashiers counted the cash and gave to the headquarter recipients. The security officers and recipient transported the money to Maoping. The recipient counted the cash from the envelop and distributed to the employees. The employees counted their cash again and gave a receipt, signing and sealing it. The receipts were collected and then his job was done. Some of the employees gave their envelopes to their families, some people pocketed it. In this situation there were some problems: 1) cash meant it was easy for people to buy things that weren't needed and the earnings would be wasted, 2) relatives and friends, seeing you had money, would like to borrow from you, and if you refused, or someone borrowed and didn't repay, it caused a lot of ill will, 3) it could be misplaced, lost, or stolen. In conclusion, cash paid salary, beside the manpower to count, there were these other bad points. I needed to change this bad situation. So I established a credit union where each employee had an account. In this way, with checking accounts, when you needed money, you wrote a check. At that time, there were a lot of employees who because the headquarters didn't do outside business, didn't know how to write checks. Now that everyone had a savings and checking account, the employees had a good chance to practice. Every month, on payday, each department wrote a chart with names and salaries and wrote checks to deposit into each employees account. Each employee would check their balance and write a receipt, signed and sealed. The city of Yongan's market was depressed. Most of the employees couldn't buy things for their daily living on the Yongan streets. So the employee credit union used their collected savings to go to different places and brought it back to Yongan, and the employees would write checks for individual purchases and the bank would deduct the amount and saved a lot of unnecessary cash transactions. But there were a few employees unaccustomed to the new way of buying supplies, every month on payday, they would immediately write a check and withdraw all their funds. I told the manager, let them do it. After a while, they'll figure out they don't have to do that. After many months, they learned to trust the checking account. And after a half a year, they realized the convenience of this new system and most people were happy about it.
Yongan is an isolated mountain. There were no places of entertainment. In the suburbs, there were two tourist attractions: 1) Warm Water Home, a hot spring about 30 miles away from the river, around it were scenic mountains and forest; many people went there on weekends and holidays. I still remember last year when I arrived in Yongan from Canding and passing by a little city named Lian Village where there also is a hot spring. The amazing thing about this hot spring was that it had fish, this special fish only lived in hot springs, if removed would not survive. I wrote a poem about this hot water fish. 2) Hundred Foot Cliff, there was a stream that passed by this cliff and a bridge over the stream. The stream was so clear they named it Jade Crystal. And there was a cave near the cliff, on the cave walls was carved Cen Lichuan's poem which I wrote a reply to.
One of the lines of Bai Juyu's Guitar Song says that Xunyang is such a wild place, there's no music here, and I think Yongan is the same as Xunyang without music. Except a long time ago Saoxin Opera played here, there was no music or performing arts. Unexpectedly, this summer a chorus from a Huanan Women's College toured and they came to Yongan. Our bank helped this chorus stage their performance, there were solos and choral pieces, all kinds of musical performance. There were more than twenty members. Myself and Mr Chou, after the performance we joined them for a group performance. All the chorus members were dressed very prettily whereas Mr Chou and I wore Sen Yashen's plain robe Zongshan garb: jacket with four pocket and no tie. For this group picture, I wrote a poem, and the last line reads: Among the plum flowers, two pine trees. This photo I have kept in my home in Taipei. One day, when Mr and Mrs Cen came to visit and we recalled the chorus, I showed them this picture and Mrs Cen was one of the members of the chorus, of course she was very interested to see how she looked in this photo. She asked me to lend her the photo so she could make a copy so she could show her kids what she did and looked like in college.
Yongan has a lot of malaria and mosquitos. Almost everyone suffered from malaria. I've come to Yongan almost ten months and was usually very careful to avoid mosquitos but on August 1, I got malaria: fever, then chills, suffering a lot. It flares up every other day, Every Other Day Malaria. Everybody in our bank didn't pay much attention because everyone gets it. Some people suffer all year round. I went to the doctors and recovered fine but it affected me later on in that I suffered from anemia. In 1971, I had a health check up in Taibei Hospital that said everything was normal except for anemia which they suspected was caused by malaria.
Yongan is a mountain city. Even though Yongan had become the temporary capital of Fujian, there weren't many military bases here far from the front line. Usually enemy Japanese airplanes did not bother us, but on August 9, four Japanese planes flew to Yongan and bombed our bank. I had already gone through the perpetual bombing in Nancang and the heavy bombing in Ji'an so I didn't take this bombing very seriously. But the people in Yongan had never been bombed before so they were extremely upset. This time, when they started the sirens, Mr Chu and I already ride automobiles to the suburban safe shelter place. When the long ok sirens sounded, we came out to look at the damage. Some of our buildings were damaged and my office desk was destroyed. Part of my poem draft was burned, another part was dusted and scattered. Fortunately, one hibiscus in the yard was preserved. For this matter, I wrote a poem: https://xoxoirene.blogspot.com/2012/08/loners.html
[transcribed 2022 12 27]
Since last November when I left Ganzhou and came to Fujian, time has flown. How fleet, it's already been almost a year. This year, all my dealings with bank business was very smooth and personnel-wise we all have very nice relationships, trusting each other, forgiving each other, and we all felt quite pleased. However, the CEO Mr Xu is going to travel far away. I received a letter from him summarized below: I'm going to leave soon and I have hundreds of emotions all coming up. As I look back, when you came to Fujian, I gratefully obtained your friendly assistance. The bank business has been going along well, and I'm so grateful for that. Even though I'm leaving Fujian, I remain concerned with the provincial bank's business. Ten-thousand times I beg you, brother, continue your help to the incoming general manager Mr Chou. But Mr Chou has asked for time off. During his vacation, I hope you will bravely go forward to accomplish the matters of our bank's goals. If you have difficulties or need help, please ask for help from the provincial government department head, Mr Yan. I am reluctant to leave and cannot fully express my feelings. I have specially written this letter to tell you some of them. I wish you good health.
After I received his letter, I wrote a reply: I received your letter. I am really grateful. I remember several years ago I heard among my friends and relatives who said Governor Cen's administration in Fujian was so outstanding and I also learned the economic improvements was actually led by you. Also, we've had Mr Yan and Mr Bao's cooperative efforts. At this great era of fighting the Japanese and establishing our nation, their accomplishments are a role model for all of China. Everyone has been impressed by their accomplishments. Most people would like to join them, the workers in Fujian to fulfill their personal goals. Since last winter, I had the opportunity of coming to Fujian to serve. I got you as a good leader and I am forever grateful. After all these months working with you, with your vision and broadmindedness, we have opportunity to serve the province and provincial government. During the vacation of Mr Han, I will follow your instructions to implement the bank's business. I also will follow the instructions of Mr Yan. I will take care of everything. Hope you have a happy trip. Etc. Until this August, I got a letter from the board and it says: Assistant Manager Qu has served almost a year faithful, diligent, meticulous, outstanding accomplishment. From this month forward, we are giving him a raise. From this you can tell the Fujian Provincial Bank how everyone is treating each other.
[transcribed 2022 12 28]
1941 (national year 30) September 21, lunar year August 1, there was a total solar eclipse and people could look with the naked eye in Congan. This is the best chance inside China to see the total eclipse. After this time, in China if you want to see a total eclipse it will be several hundred years from now. So all the related facilities assigned those scholars in astronomy, physics, meteorology, and technological people, and experts set up all kinds of instruments. It was led by the military commander who called representatives from Fujian, Zhejiang, Anhui, Zhangxi. I represented Fujian. September 19, I left Yongan arriving in Nanping at noontime and had lunch and stayed in Nanping's dormitory. The next day, the 20th, we arrived at Congan and were entertained by the branch office in Congan. On the 21st was the eclipse. We were ready to watch, unfortunately that morning it was cloudy and raining. We could not see the sun. But at the minute of the eclipse, all of a sudden, the sky grew dark, as if the sunset, like evening dusk. All the birds flitted back to their nests. The time was 11:30 AM. Several minutes later, we saw the sunlight, like a sunrise in the morning. The start and end times were just like the experts calculated, only several seconds difference, so we appreciated the amazing developments in technology.
After we watched the eclipse, that afternoon, we had free time and everybody tried to find their friends. The Governor Cen Gongcha, because he was leaving Fujian soon, called me meet him. The Governor talked a lot about the Three People's Principles and his vision about developing China. I also shared my ideas for business. Both of us thought what Confucius said, "Fu er hou jiao" (after prosperity, then teach) should be modified to prosperity and teaching at the same time. I also quoted several statistics to support why I think this way. The Governor agreed with my way of thinking. This meeting became the basis of later days when we received the Bank of Taiwan after Taiwan's was returned to China. This is why Governor Cen*** had a very favorable impression of me. Besides the governor, Mr Yang, who represented Jiangxi, came to watch the eclipse. He and I also had a very good meeting, talking a long time about how Jiangxi was after I left. This was the last time I saw Mr Yang. After this, I was sent to Shanghai. After WWII, I was sent to Taiwan. Mr Yang continued to work in Jiangxi. After the war, he followed Shong Sihui to Dongbei (Manchuria) to receive the area back from Japan. When they were in Dongbei, Mr Yang sent me a telegram to join him in Dongbei but I was already waiting in Shanghai at Governor Cen's request so I couldn't go. Mr Yang became the mayor of Harbin and when the Communists occupied Dongbei, he wasn't able to escape. In 1949, I received a telegram from him sent from Haisenwei. I was planning to receive him in Taibei, unfortunately, there was no reply. A long time later, I heard he was arrested by the Communists and killed.
[transcribed 2023 01 01]
After we watched the solar eclipse, I traveled to our top tourist spot called Wuyi Mountain, the most famous place in southeast China. The mountain scenery was very grand. The Congan branch bank colleagues entertained me so well. They had special bamboo boats to navigate the Nine Bends stream, with peculiar looking hills on both banks. The most prominent are Big King Peak, Jade Lady Peak, Iron Ban Zhang, Rainbow Bridge Ban, Heaven Yo Peak, Saibu Ai. I wrote nine poems to describe each of the scenes. There was a legend that says inside Wuji Mountain, a person Huei On lived. One evening, he was studying late, and a fairy in the form of a beautiful woman who came to serve him. Later on, this fairy died, and even until now there is still is her grave. I wrote a poem about this.
One of the specialties of Fujian Provincial Bank was majority of the employees were highly educated. Also, many of them were Christians. Because I had my personal devotions every morning and evening, I also say grace before my meals, all my colleagues knew I am a Christian. This autumn, all my Christian colleagues formed a fellowship, we have worship service, bible study, prayer meeting, and there were short message meetings. I tried my best to attend all these meetings. Sometimes I would prepare bible study. When it was Christmas time, the fellowship brothers and sisters came to my place. We celebrated Christmas with lots of snacks and candies. We invited all the kids to come for caroling and storytelling and performances. The kids were very interested and glad about it. Every time they met me, they would ask when are we having another celebration like that. From this, both they and I spent my fortieth year in this joyful atmosphere.
*fuli means benefit
**my mom recalls not liking this saying as a kid, why scold people for being upright. Also, Shanghai people were stereotyped as tricky and snobbish; superficial caring about fashion.
***He later became Governor of Taiwan to receive Taiwan back from Japan.
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