Floating Life: A Dutch Countryside Chronicle

Author: Qiu Yanming
Publisher:
Publishing Date: Not available
Features: Yanming is an old friend. In late 1976, I returned to Taiwan from Europe and was then working at Lion Art. Soon after, I got to know Yanming. She studied editorial work and, after graduation, joined a newspaper as an assistant for the literary supplement. Shortly after, United Literature was established, and Yanming became an editor, playing a crucial role in its early planning and execution. Yanming was small in stature and often frail, always seen coughing and looking exhausted. Yet when she worked, she didn’t stop for days, with astonishing perseverance. As we grew closer, I often received her calls at midnight, finding her still at the newspaper, arranging an article or planning a new theme. Her dedication to work was truly awe-inspiring. During one of our encounters, my only advice to Yanming was, "Rest." Or if I called her office around 1 or 2 a.m. to test if she was there (since everyone else had already left), I would immediately order, "Go home and sleep." Despite the heavy workload and endless tasks, perhaps it was a part of Yanming’s nature—a kind of "obsession"—that made her unable to let go of everything. While she had friends who respected and cherished her, there were also those who misunderstood and judged her. During one of Yanming’s serious illnesses and hospital stays, she was exhausted after surgery, and I felt pity. I urged her to resign and go abroad to truly rest and recuperate for a while. In 1988, when I visited her in Brussels, Yanming had become confident and happy, studying painting and music like a carefree immortal. Coincidentally, her old friend’s nephew, Tang Xiao, came from the Netherlands to visit her, and the three of us traveled together for several days. When we parted, I jokingly told Yanming, "If you don’t marry this man, you might as well not marry at all in your life." Shortly after, they got married, which was one of the happiest moments for me. Yanming was kind-hearted, so despite the ups and downs, she eventually found someone who cherished her "obsession." Others said Yanming was lucky, but I simply replied, "Yanming is kind-hearted." After their marriage, they settled in the Netherlands. When I visited Europe, I detoured to their small town and stayed for several days. We didn’t talk much, but their life was peaceful, quiet, and content—something Yanming in Taiwan could hardly imagine. In the small town of Coekel, while Tang Xiao was at work, Yanming and I wandered through the forest, picking wild mushrooms. Yanming rented farmland and excitedly took me to harvest various vegetables and spices, asking, "What’s for dinner tonight?" while eagerly exploring the surroundings. I knew that for her, even a single scallion or a handful of cilantro on that land was another form of "obsession," and I thought to myself, "If she’s this devoted to growing food, she won’t be good at it." True enough, when we got home, she washed a bunch of tender green scallions like a queen washing her hair, admiringly arranging them on a wooden cutting board and meticulously chopping them into fine scallion bits with a small knife. I jokingly said, "You’re not growing vegetables; you’re growing literature." She then pulled out her notebook, where she had meticulously recorded the entire farmland’s crops in the fine, ant-like script unique to Yanming, accompanied by sketches. I knew that this deep connection to the land and nature would be a source of happiness Yanming would share with others in the years to come. The next day, we passed a strange garden where garlic grew over a meter tall, thick and robust, with scallions as thick as dough sticks. I exclaimed, "Scallions!" The owner came out to investigate, and we told him they were delicious, perfect for stir-frying or pickling meat. He seemed skeptical but picked some up and tossed them to us, roots and all. That night, we enjoyed a hearty dinner. Thinking back on these moments, many years have passed, and Yanming’s "literature" is finally about to be published. Just after the turn of the millennium, she and Tang Xiao returned to Taiwan and gave me the manuscript, asking me to write the preface. I thought that by now, Yanming must also have a carefree and elegant demeanor while tilling the land. I believe Yanming’s book will bring her friends healthy and joyful life experiences.