Time: October the 20th, 2004                  Place: Baoshengtang

Members: 10 in total, teachers included.

Director Wun: Children, we are pleased to have the chance to visit teacher Chen's (a retired teacher from our school) home. Teacher Chen's mother is already at her seventies, so remember to ask your questions in Taiwanese when you interview her. Now, Teacher Hsu will briefly introduce the environment here.

Teacher Hsu: Children, teacher Chen’s house is a herbal store and during the “no sky” period, it was the first herbal store opened. Grandma Chen has seen what the “no sky” market area was like when she was little, so everyone please take advantage of this opportunity to ask questions. Now, say hello to Grandma Chen.

Together: Hello, Grandma Chen.

Jhu-Jyun: Grandma Chen, I represent our team, Sin-Sing Wu-Ja to give you this present to thank you for your accepting our interview.

Grandma Chen (as Chen in the following): You're so polite. Thanks for your chatting with me, an old lady.

Syuan-Ting: Grandma, how long has this store been open?

Chen: It's already been more than on hundred years. The store is now run by the fourth generation. Our store's name Baoshengtang, and it is the oldest herbal store in Lukang.

TOP

Jhu-Jyun: Your house looks so deep. How deep is its length?

Chen: I've never really measured it, but I think it's about 40 or 50 meters.

Together: Wow, it's so deep!

Chen: That's right. The house was even deeper before the deconstruction of the road. After the modification of downtown area, we moved our shop front inside. The shop front now was originally a place to keep hogs.

Yi-sin: Have you ever seen what the “no sky” market area was like?

Chen: Yes. In the past, every house had eaves and they connected with each other so people couldn't see the roof. Girls could only see what's outside from the windows upstairs. If they wanted to chat with others, they had to move from upstairs to upstairs and could not go in public. This is so called “girls unseen”.

Together: Oh.

Ya-Ru: What does the second floor of this building look like? Could we take a look?

Chen: Sure. Let me show you the upstairs.

(The group went to the second floor.)

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Yi-Chuan: How could you know these things? How much do you know about the “no sky” market area in Lukang?

Chen: I'm educated so I know basic Japanese conversation and Chinese. I have been interviewed in lots of TV and radio programs.

Cun-Yi: Wow, many people have interviewed you? What kind of questions did they ask?

Chen: A lot. Like the bombed pillar at the entrance, or what the “no sky” market area was like. (taking out a photo called“Lukang in the Past”) These are pictures of the “no sky” market area.

Together: Wow, it true that there were eaves. Have you actually seen that?

Chen: They still existed when I was ten but then they were dismantled.

Geng-Wei: This house has been bombed? Where?

Chen: At the entrance. Come, I'll take you downstairs and show it to you.

(The group went downstairs and Grandma Chen pointed at the mark on the pillar.) The bomb exploded at the entrance and the whole were destroyed.

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Together: Oh, that's scary.

(The group reentered the house.)

Chen: You came to visit me, but I don't have anything special but these Sian-Jha (kind of Chinese herb) cookies  for you. They are good for your health.

Teacher Chen: Children, it's time to go back to school. Say goodbye to Grandma Chen.

Together: Thank you, Grandma Chen. See you.

(end of the interview)