Gladys Aylward: The Adventure of a Lifetime by Janet Benge & Geoff Benge

Author:Janet Benge & Geoff Benge [Benge, Janet & Benge, Geoff]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biography, Non-Fiction, History, Childrens
ISBN: 9781576580196
Google: _51R3wRu1eUC
Amazon: 1576580199
Barnesnoble: 1576580199
Goodreads: 1235403
Publisher: Y W A M Pub
Published: 1998-05-01T11:41:04+00:00

Chapter 10

Ai-weh-deh

Running the Inn of Eight Happinesses kept Yang very busy when Gladys was away on her foot-inspection trips. It was a great relief to them both when Mrs. Smith in Tsechow sent Lu Yung-cheng, a new convert, to help with the work at the inn. Mrs. Smith even paid Lu’s monthly salary so that he was not a financial burden on Gladys. Lu Yung-cheng was a good worker, and Gladys enjoyed having the extra pair of hands around to help with the work. She enjoyed Lu’s company, too, and was relieved to have someone around who could make sure Yang’s stories in the evenings came out the way they were recorded in the Bible.

Several days after returning from a foot-inspection trip to some of the villages west of Yangcheng, Gladys stood in the kitchen stirring a pot of soup. Lu Yung-cheng was also in the kitchen preparing vegetables. They were busy talking about how things were going around the inn, when they heard a commotion in the courtyard. Suddenly, a messenger from the mandarin burst into the house. He waved a piece of red paper and began talking. He spoke so fast that no one could understand what he was saying, so Gladys had him slow down and repeat himself. It seemed there was a riot going on at the prison, and the prisoners were killing each other. As a result, the mandarin had summoned Gladys to the prison.

Gladys shook her head. “That’s crazy. I’ve never been near the prison in my life. There’s nothing I could do there. You must have the wrong house.”

“But he has an official summons,” said Lu, pointing at the red paper the messenger was holding.

The messenger waved the paper at Gladys. Lu Yung-cheng reached out, took the paper, and looked at it. “It definitely says the mandarin has sent for you,” he confirmed.

Gladys couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She was the official foot inspector. What could foot inspection possibly have to do with a prison riot?

“You go,” she urged Lu Yung-cheng. “There must be a mistake. You can straighten it out. The prison is a place for men, not for a woman.”

Lu shook his head. “You have to go. You have been summoned. If you don’t go, you’ll end up in prison for disobeying an official summons.”

Gladys sighed. She was still weary from all her traveling, and the last thing she wanted to do was go near the prison. Still, she reached for her jacket and hurriedly followed the messenger to the eastern wall of town where the prison was located. As she got closer to the prison, bloodcurdling screams and cries for help grew louder and louder. The messenger led Gladys through the crowd that had gathered outside the prison and into the prison office located on the outer wall of the prison. Inside, standing with six soldiers, was the governor of the prison. A look of relief came over his face when he saw Gladys.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” he began, as he bowed to her.

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