The Chengdu Concubine
OUTLINE
John's father convinces his Communist concubine to leave the Mainland with him.
All about WangMother
WangMother could be a descendent from Khazar refugees at the turn of the first millennium
WangMother is a vibrant Sichuan Opera performer.
Evacuation from Chengdu to Taiwan on 10 December 1949
WangMother met with Chiang Fang-liang ( born Faina Ipat'evna Vakhreva, Jewish bride of Chang Kai-sheck's son) during the siege of the Chengdu Central Military Academy.
WM=WangMother
WF=WangFather
On 1 October 1949, Mao Zedong has proclaimed the PRC in Beijing. In a state of complete disarray, the remaining KMT troops have retreated to Sichuan. Chengdu is the last city to hold. An airlift to Taiwan is being secretly organized for senior officers and their families. WF, an officer close to the Chiang family developed an affair with WM, a very young Sichuan Opera performer. When offered the possibility to flee the mainland with her lover, she is confronted between her duty as a CCP covert agent to either kill him or marry him and leave her family and beliefs behind.
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Main Hall, Opera House, Chengdu, China, December 1949
The main hall of the Chengdu Opera House is dimly lit. A single spot illuminates the turquoise costume of the last standing character. WM has just poisoned her old husband in order to acquire his wealth. He is lying at her feet. The loud click of the shutting spot precedes the slow fade of the incandescent 5000W bulb. Vibrant applauds echo in the pitched black room. WM is frozen centre stage. -Should I do it tonight? What if I fail? What if I freeze? What if he kills me instead? Two Neon Tubes intermittently light up as soldiers open the side doors of the wooden building letting the cold winter air in. WM has left the stage. WF walks towards the backstage against the exiting crowd, mostly KMT officers, officials and industrialists.
Backstage, Opera House
WF knocks repeatedly on a locked door. Amongst stage gear and costumes, the performer who a moment ago was lying dead on the stage walks by WF and warns him.
-Be careful. Genuine Sichuan girl. They're a fierce bread.
Changing Room, Opera House
Knocks resonate in the carefully decorated changing room. WM removes her wig, staring in the opaque mirror. A long dagger shoved in its scabbard, lies on the desk in front of her. -If I open, I'll have to kill him. If I don't. I'll be blamed for not helping the revolution. Knocks persist. WM walks to the door and opens it. WF grabs WM before she could say anything and kisses he passionately. He's a tall 30 years old NRA officer. Northern Han stock. WM is barely 20, darker than he is. Black lines around her green eyes accentuate their size. Her fine nose rests above vibrant red painted lips. The embracing couple falls on the wooden bed. This is WM's room.
-Not now, you'll have to come later. Everybody is still here.
-Forget about everyone. I just see you. I don't hear anything else. I don't see anyone else. I don't think of them, I don't think of war, I don't think. I'm just here, with you and only you.
-Who were you with? Next to you, I saw many guards, and the row in front was empty?
-Chiang Ching-kuo. The General's son. He was very impressed by you. But I was not to bring him here. He's a vicious man. He has many mistresses. Maybe he would want to have you too.
-I don't like old men. You should have brought him. I would have entertained him. Maybe you would have become captain. I know how to treat old men... Like you...