Bookmark

While sorting through her grandfather's belongings, Dong Zhuo found an old book published during the Republican era. A ginkgo leaf had been tucked inside as a bookmark.

"The country lies in ruins, and the people live in misery. I long to serve my country, but I am powerless to turn the tide."

Someone had written these words on the ginkgo leaf in vigorous strokes, filled with despair and sorrow.

Moved, Dong Zhuo picked up her pen and wrote on the back of the leaf:

"The country is at peace, and the people live in safety. Our heroic predecessors may now rest with a smile."

She put the leaf back in the book and thought no more of it.

A few days later, when she opened the book again and saw the ginkgo leaf, she was astonished to find three characters beside her words, written in vigorous strokes. Two question marks made the writer's surprise, no less than her own, unmistakable.

"Who are you??"

Theme: Facing adversity without surrender is a resilience inherent in the blood of every Chinese person, whether in ancient times or today.