Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4567 | Page 78

dance hall since those men would be highly disappointed, realizing their idol being monopolized by another young,
uneducated, ordinary man who absolutely had no social status and whatsoever. The lovers had no choice but to date only
at day time and enjoyed every moments performing on the gaudy stage, feeling their hearts sinking, melting into the music
in the paradise.
“Night in Shanghai, Night in Shanghai,
You are a city that never sleeps.
Bright lights, the car’s sounds,
Peaceful and prosperous song and dance.”
*
*
*
Crackdown:
Men went home with bleary eyes at the breaking of dawn, lying to their wives about how tough their jobs were. Girls
went home on rickshaws, overwhelmed by the amount of money they receive that day. The nightlife was expected to last
forever until 1952.
Lan eventually got married with a guy she met in the dance hall. He is the son of some famous entrepreneur. Lili was the
maid of honor, witnessing their wedding, she began thinking about her unknown, unstable future. She had made a great
deal of money by dancing in the nightclub for 3 years. It might be the time she left the hall forever and settle down. On the
other hand, the jazz band was forced to leave due to the imposition of a political campaign which banned the playing of
foreign music.
Just when everyone was on the threshold of the next stage of their lives, The Communist Party outlawed Jazz music.
Everyone was confused, as the sudden tide of darkness sweeping the men, the taxi dancers, the musicians, all the once gay
and wild Shanghailanders away from Jazz. Things had never expected to get so worse after the takeover of the Communist
Party.
The People’s Liberation Army had broken into every Jazz musicians’ houses and took their instruments away, describing
them as pornographic. Seb’s saxophone was taken. Almost every instrument was forbidden even pianos. After that, Seb and
the others were rehabilitated and interrogated. Watching their beloved jazz being demonized as forbidden and erotic music,
their rage and remorse was impossible to be redeemed. The Communist claimed the city to be taken over by peaceful
manners. Yet, people had no faith in the party. Wild rumours were circulating about the city where mass execution was
said to take place with thousands slaughtered, western texts were describing the take over as “hostile”. People who
promoted capitalism were tortured, wandering on streets and carrying the banner “I am a capitalist” in their hands. Hit by
rotten food and eggs in front of the public, they were teased by the army. They were humiliated by those cruel men. Soon,
foreign firms gradually moved their offices from Shanghai to Hong Kong.
Lili cherished her squad, her lover and her family. Her friends were arrested, so was her lover. The only thing she could do
was to follow her parents. Under such dark bitter reality, a once extravagant paradise was tore apart, the dance hall protest
got raucous and stunned most people when protesters were literally arrested. People dare not to make a fuss, dare not to
stay…
Her sister in arms, she grabbed her bag and set off to the pier with her parents and her brothers before the sun had climbed
up to the sky. Another monotonous, grueling day, no parties, no jazz, no laughter… There were no lights from the
windows of the dance halls illuminating the dark sky. There was no “Tap! Tap!” sound which could once be heard as the
dancing shoes of men and women hitting the dance floor. The midnight of August 14 th was quiet, tranquil, the only sound
was the soft breeze and mourns from stray cats. As she walked along the pavement, the once crowded street, a soft sound
was calling. Stunned, she turned around with her dress fluttering. She gazed into the soft glimmer of his exhausted eyes
passionately. “You came back!” she whispered fondly, their eyes were the only thing glistening under the dull moon
covered by layers of cloud. As they enjoyed their unexpected reunion, little did Lili know that the thing happened in next
minute would haunt her eternally for her dreams were falling apart.
They were running for Seb was a criminal, escaping from the “rehabilitation center”. Yet, things did not go as planned.
Dawn was breaking, soft lights were starting to illuminate the sky.
“Stop right there! ….Stop….”
“There they came! Run!” exclaimed Lili’s father, taking his wife’s trembling hands.
Lili’s brothers were taking care of their younger sister while Seb and Lili held each others’ hands, running as fast as they
could. They all continued to run as if they had not heard the warning from the army. All of a sudden, a gunshot had held
them freaked out. As they looked at Seb, his chest was shot. He collapsed. As he looking into the orange sky, he cried with