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Beiping, Hebei Provience, Third ROC November, 1937
The sunrises over Tienanmen Square, as the light shines upon the portrait of Sun Yat-sen overlooking the square, as the portrait lies on the center of the Gate of Tienanmen. The urbanized capitol of Beiping, beyond the gates of the Imperial Forbidden City, is the tall housing collectives towering over what was once filled with traditional Chinese architecture buildings on the streets, the traditional architecture mostly gone in favor of those large housing collective blocks to have the mass population of the great capitol squeeze in, though they are not large massive towers like in New York, these towers are often at the most 6-12 story tall, around the city. Though between the towers rely the parks and the traditional temples and landmarks standing in the city, to give it still a feeling of openness and the idea that you have peace within the mass housing complex of Beiping, the wide avenues and street cars fill up the roadways of bicycles and old soviet automobiles help give the image as well. The city beyond the housing towers, palaces, and temples; near the famed Forbidden Palace, is buildings such as the “Beiping Political University”, and the parliamentary building built in a ornate marble Soviet-Art Deco style, with infront a bronze statue of Sun Yat-sen with two flags by him, on one side is the national flag and the otherside; is the Xinhai Revolutionary flag, used in the 1911 revolt.
At 9:30, on this clear sunny Sunday, bells rung; to direct people that a speech by the preisdent within the Forbidden Palace, over the great Gate of Tienanmen was to occur. The massive speech occurred on the gate's large open 'balcony', as the great President Shi Xiaobo, chanting over the great gate to the thousands upon thousands who came from around the near provinces and even those who traveled across to the southern provinces such as Guangdong.
“Comrades, the great unification is far from over!”, As Shi Xiaobo chants to the masses; “Onward to unify China from the comrades in Inner Mongolia, Manchuria, Tibet and Xinjiang; ready for unification, held back by the greedy warlords of the imperialist! China Proper [The Geographic Region], has united under the people, but others remain in shackles in slavery!”
The people, scream of support of the words of President Shi Xiaobo, who has gotten the nickname of, “The Great President”. People chant in support of a unified China under the, “People, Party, and Culture”, as mandated by fliers across major cities to support nationalism and increase propaganda awareness for the government.
“Onward to victory! Those without freedom are restricted to become slaves of the Westerners, who will one day return and attempt to colonize us more!”, as he continues to shout over to the masses watching over him.
His speech, continued till noon at when at 12:00, his speech is over, people begin returning back to their normal routine, and returning to their homes and ready to get ready for Monday, and begin their work week. As those who return to their towers, portraits of President Shi Xiaobo and Sun Yat-sen lie on propaganda billboards and government buildings. With other billboards advertising state-funded plays to promote nationalism and promote state propaganda of the party and government. Such as the ones in the Great People's Theater Hall, near the Forbidden City, showing plays such as, “Dawn of the Red Flower”, and “Revolutionary Star of China”. Though around the streets in imported Soviet police cars, and small 'hidden' spots is the Jinyiwei, which is the secret police to keep the masses inline across the controlled regions. Though life in the capitol may seem, decent compared to other places. It's not all dandy in China as it seems.
Chengdu, Sichuan Provience, Third ROC, November 1937
Meanwhile, across the landscaping in Sichuan Provience, is the city of Chengdu; around 270 kilometers from Chongking. Chengdu was once a proud city until the depression; the city has been hit hard, people live in poorly made housing, old crumbling 1-2 story homes, with old gates, and temples overlooking the old city; though landmarks like the old Summer Palace of Chengdu, remain in decent condition; the housing and non-landmark buildings show their age, with broken windows, dirt roads with many cart and buggies. This is life in Chengdu. The city's massive population of around 300,000 people; live in tight knitted communities trying to ride out the depression, hoping that eventually life can become better. Though, the elite of the city live in the heart of the city, known as Jinli, which is preserved Ming-Qing Dynasty era streets with brick roads, often restricted from the poor majority population of the city to live in. The gates of Chengdu, remain a symbol of hope that like China, Chengdu can ride out the problems of the world. Life in Chengdu is worse now, than it was before, during the Qing many say. The city is a shadow of its former glory. Though, this is not a one case, many cities across China have this similar fate due to the depression. Often Chengdu, like many major cities see major power outages, and often it's hard to even get fresh food, with food having to be imported from other areas of China who themselves, have barely any to spare. It's tough if you don't live in the important cities like Beiping, Shanghai, Canton, Chang'an, and a few other select cities.
“Mom, I couldn't find food for tonight”, a young man is heard saying in his old home in the outskirts of the heart of Chengdu.
With his mother replying simply, “We'll just, have to result to the fruit trees to feed you, your father, your sister and myself, you're father will be working late; to attempt to gather more pay.” [Payment in these areas of China is extremely poor for the hard labor people put out.]
“I will go pick some of the fruits, it's better than nothing. Though I do miss the taste of meat. When are we going to milk the cow?”, the boy continues to discuss with his mother.
“She will be milked tomorrow, and supply us with at the least, milk. We will have to get clean water from the market near the Jinli Markets.”, his mother replies, “Now go get some fruits, I think we are all starving...” She sighs depressingly, tired of living like this, but she failed to apply for the permits for her family, to be able to move from Chengdu, like many others failed to do.
As her boy gathers fruit, they drink the last of the milk they had, as they wait tomorrow for fresh milk and water. With the little money they have, they continue to survive, the best they could... Chengdu still remains one of the economically stronger than a lot of other minor cities... The night arises, with the factories emitting their smoke across the outskirts, making goods for the army, government, and the peasants.
