Chapter 35: Rebuilding the Memorial Archway

  The funds have been allocated, but after ten years of "**", the Hanbaiyu stone materials needed for the construction of the archway, such as dougong and chuiyan, are difficult to find again. The craftsmen who can carve and build ancient buildings like the archway are even fewer. Just when Lu Sihao was worried about finding materials and craftsmen to rebuild the archway, an old stone mason came unexpectedly and walked into the office of the county government, where Lu Sihao worked.

  Although the years have passed, Lu Sihao still recognized him at a glance. This was one of the stonemasons who presided over the construction of Fenghuang Square back then. Only back then he was a spirited and vigorous young man, but now he has already entered middle age with gray temples.

  Ruth rushed forward and grasped the old stonemason's hands: "Ah, brother, I was worried that I couldn't find anyone to rebuild the archway, didn't expect you to come on your own!"

  Old stonemason said: "Principal Lu, I heard that the county is going to rebuild the 'Phoenix Arch', and all of us old brothers who participated in its construction back then are extremely excited. Today, not only did I come, but also several old brothers from back then who can still walk came; those who cannot walk sent their best apprentices."

  "Thank you, big brother! Thank you, fellow villagers!"

  Old Master Shi said: "Principal Lu is being polite, your parents were loyal and righteous, they rather die than yield, in the place where they ascended to heaven, building a phoenix gate for them was the common wish of all the people of Lei Jiang at that time, what does it have to do with the National Government back then?

  "It's actually a reversal of black and white, good and evil are not distinguished. That's why they would disregard public opinion and do something as stupid as demolishing the Fenghuang Gate. As for you, Principal Lu, you are even more kind-hearted and righteous, if it wasn't for you letting us live in the Lu family compound back then, we might still be wandering on the streets!"

  Ruth said sincerely: "Brother, you're being too polite. I'm just one person, what do I need such a big house for? So many years have passed, brother, don't worry about it anymore!"

  Old stonemason was unhappy: "Principal Lu, this is not right! We are all descendants of Wang Xiang, and we attach great importance to repaying kindness. My brothers and I have discussed it, and this time we will work for free, bringing our own food, to make a small contribution to you and the county!"

  A warm current flowed through Ruzi's heart, he was very clear about what the old stonemasons were doing! He bowed deeply to the old stonemason and said: "I represent the county government, my parents, and myself, thank you fellow villagers! Thank you for your support in rebuilding the Phoenix Archway. Just..."

  Seeing Ruth's hesitant expression, Old Stone Mason asked: "Is there still a problem with Principal Lu?"

  Ruth replied, "Although all the skilled craftsmen have arrived, there is still a key issue. The Hanbaiyu stone used in the original Fenghuang Pai Fang is now very hard to find. I wonder if there's an alternative material?"

  The old stonemason seemed confident and smiled mysteriously: "Please go with Principal Lu to the Phoenix Wharf to take a look!"

  Ruth was full of doubts as she followed the old stonemason to the dock at Fenghuang Square. Several small boats were moored there, and many people were busy on and off the boats, apparently unloading something. As Ruth approached, she saw that what they were unloading were all Han white jade brackets, roof ridges, and carved painting boards. These stones had moss and lichen growing on them, and upon closer inspection, they turned out to be the original components of the Phoenix Pavilion!

  Ruth was overjoyed!

  The old stonemason explained: "At that time, when we learned that the rebels wanted to dismantle the Fenghuang Gate, we kept a watchful eye on it. In order to prevent the gate from being damaged, we took the initiative to contact the rebels and told them that the laborers who were forced to participate in the construction of the gate wanted to personally dismantle this feudal symbol. The rebels were arguing over whether to use explosives or cranes to demolish it, but when they heard that the stonemasons could do it manually, they were overjoyed and readily agreed, promising to give the stonemasons a generous wage. So these old brothers, based on the original construction drawings, dismantled the Fenghuang Gate from top to bottom according to its mortise and tenon structure. To prevent the rebels from becoming suspicious, we transported the dismantled components to the countryside by boat overnight and stored them safely in a temple."

  "How did you get along with the rebels then?" Ruth asked, not without doubt.

  "It's too easy! We'll just bring over some broken stones and tell them that the laboring masses, with their class hatred burning in their bones, smashed the feudal archway to pieces. As a result, those fools didn't even bother to check, but instead praised us highly, saying we had clear-cut class feelings, and gave us double pay!" The old stonemason couldn't help but chuckle at the memory.

  Ruth's heart was stirred with emotion. She didn't say a word, but only tightly grasped the old stonemason's hands.

  Four hands clasped tightly together, like an emotional mortise.

  When Ruth and Yu Xin Yuan arrived at the construction site of the archway, inside the bamboo scaffolding, the thick foundation of the archway had already been exposed, apparently, this would be a magnificent archway. Seeing Ruth coming over, the workers all came forward to greet her.

  "The project is progressing very quickly!" Lu Sihao exclaimed.

  The old stonemason said, "At the time of demolition, each stone was numbered and marked according to its original position, so now it's like building with blocks, making construction very smooth."

  Ruth exclaimed gratefully: "It's hard for fellow villagers to think of everything!"

  Although Yu Xin Yuan is a thorough materialist and does not believe in karma, he truly feels that it was precisely Ruth's magnanimity that saved his own life.

  Lei Jiang's "rectification" work was fully participated by Xin Yu. According to Lu Suxia's family background, he was originally "doomed" - not to mention that the entire "Phoenix Street" was mostly owned by the Lu family, and his three-story mansion alone would have made him a "landlord" or "capitalist". As the first of the "four types of elements", the fate of "landlords" or "capitalists" in subsequent movements can be imagined.

  But after the war of resistance, his family's large industry was not only devastated by the devils, but also, even his ancestral home, due to lack of management, was filled with all kinds of homeless people. When Lu Sihao returned to Leijiang, someone suggested that they could retrieve the Lu family compound through the county government of the Republic of China. However, Lu Sihao refused, citing not wanting to recall painful past events as the reason, and lived alone in a middle school dormitory, wholeheartedly devoting himself to his teaching work.

  Considering Lu Sihao's situation of "destroying his family to save them from disaster", when evaluating his family background, he was not classified as a "capitalist" but rather a "small merchant". Therefore, in the movements since the founding of the country, although he was treated as a "stinky old nine" and a "feudal remnant", and was a "movement participant" every time, he was basically able to pass through, and with the secret protection of the common people of Lei Jiang, except for being denounced by others for having "anti-party" remarks and thrown into prison, Lu Sihao did not suffer any serious consequences in the other movements.