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Chapter 852 The Power That Can't Be Reckoned

"Hello." Yu Rongyifang held out her hand to Xue Fang politely, "There are very few young people who are willing to do such a thing."

"I think we should not forget some history." Xue Fang said, "Since I have this ability, I should record it."

Yu Rongyifang asked someone to prepare coffee for the two of them, and then brought some documents, took out a photo from it, and pointed to the woman holding a rose on it.

He smiled: "The stories I know about railways, Chinese workers, and great-grandfathers are all passed down from my great-grandmother.

My great-grandmother was one of the few Chinese brides who could come to America in the 1870s, and my great-grandfather was rich enough to get his wife to come to America. "

She began to tell what she had learned about Huagong.

"My great-grandfather arrived in San Francisco in 1866. When he arrived, there were already many railway workers camped along the railway line. He was taken directly to the camp and started working after signing a contract. There is no problem with writing, so I can become the foreman of a part-time translator."

"This is a good job, at least not like those laborers." Su Chen said, "The old man can also suffer less."

Yu Rongyifang nodded: "Yes, when you leave your hometown and go out, you always hope that everything will go well. My great-grandmother said that my great-grandfather who worked on the railway saved his wages and bought a gold coin, hoping to bring good luck.

As a result, the gold coin that symbolized good luck disappeared somehow, which made him cry a lot and was very sad.

More than 40 years later, in 1910, he finally returned to his roots, returned to China, and finally recited those turbulent years and died in his homeland. "

"To him, that gold coin may not only be a gold coin, but also a hope of returning to his hometown safely and nostalgia for his hometown," Xue Fang said.

Yu Rongyifang said: "It's true. Chinese people pay attention to returning leaves to their roots. My father once told me that every Chinese laborer belongs to an office or community, such as Xiangshan Office, Zhongshan Office or Taishan Office.

These communes send people to worship in the Sierra Mountains between California and Nevada every year. According to the information I have so far, in the winter of 1866, at least hundreds of Chinese laborers died in an avalanche.

At that time, if a Chinese laborer died unfortunately while building a railway, in some places where it was inconvenient to transport the body out, the dead Chinese laborer would be buried on the spot and some marks would be left.

For example, put a glass bottle with a small piece of cloth with the name and village of the deceased written on it, and then report to the community. "

"Chinese people pay attention to returning fallen leaves to their roots, and wanderers returning home. Who will lead these lonely souls who have died in foreign lands to return home?" Xue Fang asked curiously.

"Every ten years people in the community will have a symbolic worship, instead of every year, they will go to those camps to see if they can bring those bones back."

Yu Rongyifang said, "For a period of time, it was not possible to transport the bones or remains of Chinese workers back to China, so those bones or remains would be placed in the Oak Hills Cemetery in San Jose."

"In 1969, an accidental commemorative event made me suddenly feel that the history of the Chinese workers who came to the United States needs a recorder, the stories about the Chinese workers need a narrator, and history needs to justify the names of these unknown Chinese workers."

"So you did a lot of work?" Su Chen asked her.

Yu Rongyifang said: "Yes, I have been to many places and visited many places where Chinese laborers shed their blood and sweat. I have encountered a camp that was covered after an avalanche and scattered some ceramic fragments.

This proves that the Chinese workers at that time ate with Chinese bowls instead of metal plates. "

"It was September when I went to the Jueding Tunnel. I really couldn't imagine how the Chinese laborers from Guangdong, which have a warm climate, would be in the heavy snow from November to March next year.

In the avalanche after avalanche, under the relentless plague, this tunnel was dug through. "

"It's quite remarkable that they did it under these conditions!"

A little pride flashed in Yu Rongyifang's eyes, but it immediately turned into grief: "There is no exact record of how many Chinese tourists died in other places. I believe there should be many people."

"From 1877 to 1878, a section of railway from San Jose to Santa Cruz was built, which was only 50 miles long. In just 50 miles, a terrible tunnel explosion occurred, killing 50 Chinese laborers."

"About the explosion, I checked many news reports at that time. One report said that some Chinese bodies were found in the tunnel. There were also people searching outside the tunnel. Some workers were burned very badly."

Xue Fang carefully recorded every word she said.

Su Chen's mood is not very good either.

Yu Rongyifang went on to say: "24 hours a day, every 8 hours, the risk of explosion, the risk of avalanche, the death rate can be imagined.

At that time, there were news reports that there was an avalanche throughout the night, and the snow that kept rolling down from the mountain covered the entire camp. The Chinese laborers who were not dug out in time could only be buried alive in the snow forever. "

At that time, 90% of the railway workers were Chinese, so how many lives were lost in the flames of the explosion and buried in the endless snow.

How many lonely souls are still wandering in the mountains day and night, unable to find their way home.

Yu Rongyifang's expression suddenly became excited: "It can be said that a large part of the American economy was developed by us Chinese. We should be proud of these unknown Chinese railway workers."

"But in 1969, the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Pacific Railroad, there was an event in Promontory, Utah.

The Chinese-American historian Phillip Choy's introduction to the plaques of Chinese laborers was canceled abruptly.

Afterwards, the organizer actually said that this plaque can be donated and placed elsewhere, so there is no need to introduce it here. "

"That's how Chinese people were treated back then, ignored, scorned throughout history!

The Americans did not put the appearance of Chinese laborers in their textbooks, but just called them "nameless Chinese railway laborers".

Americans often use swarming Chinese (a swarm of Chinese) to describe Chinese laborers, saying that groups of Chinese people swarm down from mountains, moving like a swarm of bees. "

"So, when I heard that you came to visit me, I was very happy." Yu Rongyifang said seriously, "As descendants of Chinese workers, we must face up to this history, otherwise our descendants will not remember the history of our ancestors in the future. Blood and sweat."

Xue Fang asked, "Can I go with you to the cemetery to pay homage to those Chinese laborers?"

"Of course." Yu Rongyifang said, "But I don't have time this afternoon, can we start tomorrow morning?"

Xue Fang glanced at Su Chen, and seeing Su Chen nodded, she said: "Okay, can you talk about that period of history again?"

Yu Rongyifang did not refuse, told her a lot about the history of Huagong, and produced many documents.

After chatting for almost two hours and taking some photos, Xue Fang offered to leave.

But Yu Rongyifang tried her best to persuade the two to stay and have dinner together.

After eating and drinking enough, we agreed on the departure time tomorrow, and then we took our leave.

On the way back, Xue Fang asked, "Are you going tomorrow too?"

"Of course I want to go." Su Chen said, "I have to go and see for myself. If I can, I hope that the 1865 Chinese workers who participated in the construction of the first interstate railway in the United States during the ten years from 1869 to 1.2 Inducted into the Labor Hall of Fame by the Federal Department of Labor."

Many descendants of Chinese laborers have integrated into various classes in the United States, including business elites and some working in the federal government. Although they are not considered big officials, they are also a force that cannot be ignored.

If only he could bring about such a thing...

(End of this chapter)