ASSISTED OTHER RELATIVES （对其他亲戚的帮助）
作者：宗亲会
原创作者：聂崇钢
来源：信息来源
2011-04-02 22:47
文章摘要
IN MEMORY OF
MS RENEE KWANG-MING NIEH
Clyde Tsung-Kong Nieh
作者：聂崇钢 翻译：瞿泽方
October 2, 2000
FOREWORD 前言
I wrote this article to commemorate my Aunt Renee Nieh. I felt that knowing the historical background of her time would provide a better appreciation of her personality and her character. Thus, I included some historical notes. I realize that inevitably there will be errors and controversy associated with the inclusion.
我写这篇文章以纪念我的姑母聂光明。我觉得知道一些她生活的时代的历史背景有助于更好地理解她的人格与品性。因此我在文章中加入了一些历史资料。我意识到文章中不可避免地存在错误以及不同的看法。
In order to stay objective, I wrote this article as a third person watching the time and life of Ms Renee Nieh, and the people around her. When I referred to Aunt Renee and other relatives by their names, I was not being disrespectful. It was only a way of presenting the material.
为了保持客观，我以第三人的身份来写这篇文章，并以此来观察那个时代、聂光明女士的生活以及她周围的人们。当我提及聂光明和其他亲戚的姓名时，这并不算是失礼，这仅仅是表述事实的一种方法。
- Due to a lack of information and reference material, I might not have the events and dates exactly correct in this article. I hope that readers will at least get some rough idea of the time sequence of the events.
由于缺少信息和参考材料，这篇文章里的一些事件和发生的日期可能不太准确。我希望读者至少可以对事情发生的时间顺序获得一个粗略的印象。
- I consulted Reference 3 extensively. I express my deep appreciation to the authors of that book, both for writing a scholarly work in memory of my great grandmother, and also for providing a valuable reference for me in the preparation of this article.
我广泛地引用了《参考资料3》的内容。我要向这本书的作者表达我深深的谢意，不仅因为他写了这样一本学术著作来纪念我的曾祖母，而且也为我准备这篇文章提供了有价值的参考资料。
The romanization of the Chinese names was based on my own sense of the sounds of the characters. It may not conform to any recognized system of romanization.
文章中中文姓名的拼法是我根据自己对发音的感觉来拼写的，与公认的罗马拼音法不一定完全一致。
- Several romanizations of names were based on Reference 3.
有些人名的拼法我取自《参考资料3》。
- Some events presented in this article were written based on my memory only. I did not alter the description either to glorify or to belittle anyone. I welcome any suggestion concerning additions, deletions or corrections to the article in order to reflect more accurately the life and deeds of Ms. Renee Nieh.
这篇文章中有些事件的陈述是仅仅根据我的记忆来写的。我没有因为褒贬任何人而改变对事情的描述。为了更确切地反映聂光明女士的生活和事迹，我欢迎任何关于对文章内容增添、删节或纠正的建议。
- I like to thank Leon Nieh, Luther Nieh, Michael Nie, Diana Kuai, and Sidney Nieh for their input. I am particularly in debt to Carol Nieh for taking time to proofread and to correct my draft. I extend my thanks to all other friends and relatives who provided input and comments to me relating to this article.
我要感谢聂光序、聂崇錄、聂崇训、蒯小新以及聂崇锦所提供的内容。我特别要感谢佳绿（Carol）对文章草稿的核对与校正。我还要感谢就这篇文章向我提供内容与意见的所有其他朋友和亲戚。
- I am solely responsible for any mistakes and errors contained herein.
文章中所存在的任何错误之处由我个人负责。
Ms RENEE KWANG-MING NIEH
Ms. Renee Kwang-Ming Nieh was the oldest sister who grew up to adulthood of Mr. Tony Kwang-Kai Nieh. Renee had two older brothers, Kwang-Jun and Richard, two younger brothers, Tony, and Leon, and one younger sister, Diana. Renee was born in 1912 and passed away in 1991, just after her eightieth birthday, according to the Chinese way of reckoning age. She never married but lived a full and generous life.
聂光明女士是聂光垲先生成年之后尚健在的最年长的姐姐。聂光明有两个哥哥，聂光均和聂光坻（Richard），两个弟弟，聂光垲（Tony）和聂光序（Leon），以及一个妹妹聂光锡（Diana）。聂光明出生于1912年，逝世于1991年，就在她过了按中国习俗算法的八十岁生日不久。她从没有结过婚，但是她生活充实，为人慷慨。
Renee’s Chinese name, Kwang-Ming, means bright light. Her close relatives called her “Foo”, which means good fortune in Chinese. Both these names faithfully reflected her characteristics and personality. She was gregarious and vivacious. She brought hope and happiness to people around her. She would lend a helping hand whenever she could. She did it not for name recognition or any material reward. That was just how she lived her life. Friends and relatives could always count on Renee for advice and assistance. It was a great fortune for anyone to know Renee.
Renee的中文名字是光明，意思是bright light。关系密切的亲戚都称她为“福”，这在中文里是“幸运”的意思。这两个名字都如实地反映了她的性格与人品。她喜爱社交，为人慷慨。她给周围的人带来希望与快乐。她帮助别人并不是为了出名或求得回报。这就是她为人处事的方式。朋友和亲戚们在需要建议和帮助时总能够想到聂光明。每一个人认识聂光明就是一种幸运。
Renee stood up for the truth against all odds. She lived life to the fullest. She blazed new trails, expanded her horizons, looked at issues with fresh viewpoints, and faced challenges with courage. That was how she thrived even though she lived in a turbulent period in Chinese history. While her family and society as a whole went through difficult periods and suffered unspeakable tragedies, she adapted, evolved and triumphed.
聂光明坚持真理，反对各种不平等现象。她将生活过得极为充实。她勇闯新的道路，开扩自己的视野，以新的观点看各种出版物，并怀着勇气面对挑战。所以尽管她生活在中国历史上的一个焦躁动荡的时期，而她的生活却极富生机。当她的家族和社会作为一个整体正步入困难时期并经历难以言喻的惨境时，她适应了时代，谋求着发展，并获得了成功。
She was filial to her parents and respectful to her elders. In fact, we will see how she dedicated her life to honor the last request of her beloved mother. Following the Chinese tradition, she venerated her elders beyond their existence in this world. She did that not out of superstition, but with a genuine concern for their well being in the world beyond, just as she did for her friends and relatives who were alive.
她孝顺父母，尊敬长辈。事实上我们将会看到，为了承兑她心爱的母亲临终前的请求，她是如何贡献她的一生的。遵照中国的传统，她崇敬已经去世的先辈。她这样做并不是出于迷信，而是怀着真诚的关注，希望他们在另一个世界能生活得好些，就好象她对周围在世的朋友和亲戚所做的那样。
While she did not have children of her own, she was the favorite aunt of all her nephews and nieces, and a beloved grand aunt to their children, an even younger generation. She had a natural knack with children because she genuinely loved them and cared for them with an open heart. Renee devoted time to be with them. She advised them on how to live, what to do, and helped them to realize their full potential, but she did not preach. She spoke her mind with consideration for their feelings. Children responded to her sincerity in kind.
虽然她自己没有孩子，但是对于她所有的侄子、侄女来说，她是他们慈爱的姑母，而对于他们的下一代子女来说，她则是他们可亲的姑婆。她天生善于和孩子们交往，因为她真诚地爱孩子，敞开心扉关心孩子。她劝告他们应该如何生活，应该做些什么，帮助他们充分认识自己的潜能，然而她并不空洞说教。她述说自己的想法时总顾及孩子们的感受，而孩子们也对她的真挚的关爱作出回报。
To her relatives and her friends, she personified loyalty and amiability. You could always discuss your problems openly with her. Using her perceptive mind, experience in the society and a positive attitude, Renee usually came up with solutions or alternatives that were both practical and refreshing. That was one of her great attraction to the young and old alike.
对于她的亲戚和朋友来说，她体现为忠诚与友善。你总能够放心地与她讨论你所遇到的问题。聂光明利用她有条理的思路、社会经验以及积极的处世态度，通常能够找出解决办法或者提出有见地而又可行的选择方案。这就是她对于年青和年长的人同样具有巨大吸引力的一个地方。
EARLY LIFE IN CHINA
早年在中国的生活
The Niehs were natives of the village of Hengshan, in Hunan Province; however, Renee and her siblings were born and raised in Shanghai, Jiangsu Province. Renee was born into a well-to-do family who had made their fortune in industry in Shanghai. She was used to luxury in her early years, but she retained her empathy for the poor and the weak.
聂家的祖籍在湖南省衡山县的农村，然而聂光明和她的兄弟姐妹都出生在江苏省的上海，并在上海长大。聂光明出生在一个因投资上海工业而致富的上等家庭。虽然她早年过着优裕的生活，但是她却保持着对贫苦与无助的人的同情。
Mr. Nie Qiwei, Renee’s father, and his brother revitalized the Heng Feng Cotton Mill in the early 1900’s. The Nieh family had previously owned this factory jointly with another family. Upon the retirement of the head of that family, he sold his family’s ownership of the cotton mill to the Nieh family. Later on, due to a difference in management style with his brother, Qiwei divested his interest in the factory and became a banker.
聂光明的父亲聂其炜先生与他的哥哥在二十世纪初一起使恒丰纱厂重新获得活力。聂家早先是与另一个家庭合资拥有这个工厂的。在那个家庭的家长引退（去世）之后，他们把自己拥有的恒丰纱厂股份卖给了聂家。后来，聂其炜与他的哥哥在管理方式上发生了分歧，于是他抽出了他在恒丰的股权，并成了一位银行家。
Qiwei worked at first as a vice president of a semi-official bank. He was forced out of that position when he refused to comply with a request for four million dollars from the President of China, Yuan Shi-Kai (Reference 1). The demand did not comply with the rules of the bank, and to yield would have compromised Qiwei's principles and his adherence to the law. His courageous refusal preserved the financial integrity of the bank but dashed his prospects in the institution. In China where compliance with the wishes of the higher authority usually takes precedence over compliance with the law, Qiwei’s action was exceptional and is an example for his descendents. Afterward, Qiwei assisted a friend and worked as a vice president of a private bank.
聂其炜起先担任一家半官方银行的副总裁。由于他拒绝遵从民国大总统袁世凯要他拨款四百万元的请求，他被迫离开了这个职位（见《参考资料1》）。袁世凯的要求并不符合银行的条例，而屈从权势则将违背他坚持法律的为人原则。他充满勇气的拒绝维护了银行的经济利益，然而却使自己在银行界的前途变得黯淡。在中国，对上级权威愿望的遵从通常优先于对法律的遵从，因而聂其炜的做法既是一个例外，也是给后代的榜样。后来，聂其炜协助一位朋友，担任了一家私人银行的协理。
China was undergoing a turbulent period throughout the time Renee lived there. People of her generation in general suffered tremendously because of numerous civil wars, foreign invasions, and also from natural disasters such as famines, and floods. The country suffered horrible defeats in wars against world powers. Foreign armies at one time even overran the capital, Beijing. Internally, corruption was rampant. Civil service positions were up for sale.
在聂光明成长的时代，中国一直处于一个骚乱的时期。由于连年不断的内战，外国的入侵，以及饥荒与洪水之类的天灾，她那一时代的人们普遍遭受着痛苦。整个国家由于在抵抗八国联军的战争中失败而遭重创。外国军队甚至还一度占领了首都北京。在内部，贪污腐败盛行。官职可以花钱买到。
Revolutionary movements against the Qing dynasty had been started and failed in many cities. In 1911, the revolution inspired by Dr. Sun Yat-Sen finally succeeded in Hangkou. The Qing dynasty collapsed in the year of Renee’s birth. Later, the President of China, Yuan Shi-Kai, tried to reinstate the imperial system and failed, all within three months. Thereafter, various warlords governed different provinces of China. The power struggle between the warlords and between political parties of different philosophy caused great suffering to the citizen. The central government was bankrupted and ineffective. The country continued to slide into chaos and disarray.
推翻清王朝的革命运动在许多城市爆发而又屡遭失败。1911年，孙逸仙先生倡导的革命最终在汉口（武昌）取得了胜利。清王朝就在聂光明出生的那一年崩溃了。几年后，中华民国总统袁世凯曾试图恢复帝制，但是不到三个月就失败了。在此之后，各个军阀控制了中国不同的省份。军阀内战以及不同政治信仰的党派之间的权力斗争给老百姓带来了巨大的苦难。中央政府名存实亡。整个国家不断滑入黑暗与混乱。
At the same time, China had become a quasi-colony of many foreign countries. The area occupied by each foreign country was known as a Concession. This situation continued even after the collapse of the Qing dynasty. Foreigners in China abused their power and killed randomly innocent citizens. Their occupation of China was an insult to the national pride. The Chinese citizen felt strongly against the ineptness of the government. The students and the workers manifested in street parades their dissatisfaction to the injustice, particularly in Beijing and Shanghai. Beijing was the academic center of the country. Shanghai had become the most important commercial port and industrial center in central China. The police and the foreign occupiers killed some flower of Chinese youth in various national tragedies and days of infamy. The foreigners even controlled Chinese national institutions, such as the customs service and the justice system concerning foreigners who committed crimes in China.
与此同时，中国变成了列强的半殖民地。外国列强所占领的土地称作租界。这种状况在清王朝被推翻后还继续下去。外国人在中国滥用权利，随意杀害无辜的老百姓。这种被占领状态成了民族尊严的耻辱。中国老百姓强烈地痛恨政府的无能。以北京和上海为首的学生和工人到街头示威来表达他们对不平等条约的不满。北京是中国学府的中心。上海已成为中国中部最重要的商业口岸和工业中心。警察和外国占领者在一些惨案和暴行中杀害了一些优秀的中国青年。外国人甚至控制了中国的国家机关，例如海关和管辖外国人在中国犯罪行为的司法系统。
Chinese had little right when confronted by any foreigner or even other Chinese who were protected by foreign interest. The typical Chinese lost any vestige of self-respect and had little control over his fate in his own country when confronted by foreign interest. The Chinese commerce and industry were devastated by the excessive and abusive foreign domination. The factory outputs were considered to be of lower quality. The native crafts, medicine and religions were debased and relegated to inconsequence. Poverty was the rule. People struggled from dawn to dusk just to eke out a minimal subsistence. They were victimized by the oppressive lack of daily necessities, such as food, clean water, education and medicines. They were then despised for the wretched conditions of their subsistence.
中国人在与外国人，甚至与受到外国利益保护的其他中国人发生冲突时，几乎毫无权利可言。中国人普遍失去了自尊，当与外国利益发生冲突时，尽管是在自己的国家里也几乎无法掌握自己的命运。中国的商业和工业由于完全掌握在外国人手里而受到破坏。工厂的产品被认为质量低下。民族手工艺、中医药和本土的宗教信仰受到贬低与排斥。到处都是贫穷。人们从早到晚地拼命干活仅能够勉强温饱。他们极度地缺乏每天的生活必需品，例如食物、清洁的水、教育和医药。他们又因为经受着恶劣的生存环境而被人瞧不起。
Renee was luckier than most of her contemporaries. Besides enjoying material well being in her youth, she also enjoyed good companionship. Her father had eleven brothers and sisters. She had four brothers and a sister that lived to adulthood. She socialized with numerous uncles, aunts, and cousins in the extended family. She was accustomed to being surrounded by large numbers of people of culture refinement. Good manners were ingrained in her from childhood. She developed skills in human interactions in the family environment. Private tutors educated her at home for her primary education. She attended the famous McTyre Girls’ School in Shanghai for her secondary education.
聂光明比她大多数同时代的人要幸运些。除了在年轻时过着优裕的物质生活外，她也有许多关系密切的亲友。她的父亲有十一个兄弟姐妹。他有四个长大成人的兄弟和一个妹妹。她与大家庭的许多叔伯、姑婶以及堂兄弟姐妹们广泛交往。她习惯于身边聚集着许多有文化品位的人。她从小就受到了良好的教养。家庭环境的熏陶使她擅于与人相互交往。她的小学教育是由私人教师在家里完成的。然后她进了上海有名的中西女中接受中学教育。
The fortune of the Nieh family deteriorated, like the living condition of the general population in China. The decline was due to the unstable central and local governments, outdated factories, management style and education institutes, numerous commercial upheavals and unequal foreign treaties. Heng Feng Cotton Mill suffered economic losses due to management problems, obsolete equipment and labor troubles. The factory was under severe financial burdens and shortage of capital. The interest payments to the bank eroded the company earning. The company lost its luster as a premier industry of the country. Renee enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle in her youth. Dividends distributed by the Heng Feng Cotton Mill supplemented the family income, but income declined with the deterioration of the family fortune.
随着中国普通公众生活条件的恶化，聂家的家境也在走下坡路。引起衰落的原因包括不稳定的中央及地方政府，过时的工厂管理和教育设施，大量的商业兼并以及外国的不平等条约。恒丰纱厂也由于管理上的问题，陈旧的设备和劳资纠纷而遭受经济损失。工厂背着沉重的财政负担并且资金短缺。付给银行的利息消耗了工厂的利润。恒丰渐渐失去了它作为中国第一批工业企业的光辉。聂光明在青年时期过着优裕的生活。虽然恒丰纱厂的股息补充了家庭收入，但是随着家境的衰落，家庭的收入逐步减少。
Unlike the typical woman of her generation, Renee did not get married upon maturity. When she graduated from high school, she went to work for various companies. She manifested her independent spirit early in life.
聂光明不象她那个时代的典型妇女年纪很轻就结婚。她高中毕业后先后到几个公司就职。她很早就表现出了独立的精神。
Around 1934, Renee accompanied her beloved mother, née Liu, to visit a temple in Hangzhou. Liu’s father, Mr. Liu Zi, had been a second grade viscount and financial commissioner of the Shanxi Province, during the Qing dynasty. Renee’s mother suffered a massive stroke in the course of the journey. Since she had also suffered a stroke six years earlier, this time she realized that her condition was terminal. On her deathbed, she requested that Renee take care of her two younger brothers and one younger sister: Tony, Leon and Diana.
聂光明的母亲娘家姓刘，大约在1934年，聂光明陪伴她心爱的母亲访问了杭州灵隐寺。聂光明的外公刘Zi，在清朝被封为二等子爵，曾任山西布政司。在旅途中聂光明母亲的心血管疾病严重地发作了。因为六年前她也曾发作过同样的病，所以这一次她意识到自己的生命之旅即将走到尽头了。在临终前，她请求聂光明以后照顾她的两个年轻的弟弟和一个妹妹：聂光垲、聂光序和聂光锡。
In those days, the mother normally took care of the family and the father was only responsible for earning a living. Hence, in the absence of their mother, the younger siblings would need someone to nurture them. Renee dedicated her life to the best of her ability to discharge this commitment. In fact, she took care of not only her younger siblings, but other family members as well.
在那个时代，通常由母亲来照顾家庭的成员，而父亲仅负责挣钱养家。因此在失去母亲之后，年轻的弟妹就需要有人来关爱他们。聂光明在自己的整个一生中尽了自己最大的努力来实践她的诺言。事实上，她不仅照顾自己年轻的弟妹，而且也照顾家庭的其他成员。
From 1937 onward, the Japanese Imperial Army invaded Manchuria and China. The Japanese occupation started from the north and expanded quickly to the central and southern parts of China. The occupation lasted until the second half of 1945, the end of World War II. The living conditions of Chinese all over the country went from bad to worse. The villagers could hardly afford enough food for their family. The national government moved its capital from Nanjing to Chunking temporarily. Large numbers of Chinese, among them, two of Renee’s brothers, escaped from the occupied zone. They suffered great tribulations along the way. They were under constant air attacks and were shot at by the Japanese and also by bandits along the way. The Japanese and their conspirators occupied and ruled over 70% of the population centers of China, including Shanghai.
从1937年之前，日本军队侵略了满洲和中国。日军的占领区从中国的北方开始迅速地扩展到中部和南部。日军的占领一直延续到1945年下半年第二次世界大战结束。全中国老百姓的生活条件越来越恶化。农民无法提供足够的食物。中国政府临时把首都从南京搬到了重庆。聂光明的两个哥哥随同大量的难民一起逃离了敌占区。他们沿途受尽了苦难。他们沿途常遇到空袭，并常遭遇日军的射击和盗匪的攻击。日军及其傀儡占领并统治了中国百分之七十以上的人口，其中也包括上海。
The remainder of Qiwei’s branch of the family - Renee’s father and her other siblings - stayed behind in Shanghai. During the war Qiwei lost a major portion of his fortune to the combined depredations of Japanese invaders and native robbers.
聂其炜这一房的其他人：聂光明的父亲和她的弟妹，留在了上海。战争期间，由于日本侵略军和本国盗匪的双重掠夺，聂其炜损失了他的大部分财产。
Qiwei’s mother, Mrs. Nie Zeng Jifen, was the youngest daughter of the famous Qing dynasty governor general, Zeng Guo-fan. Zeng was the general who had conquered the Taiping revolutionary movement, and restored the Qing emperor to the throne in the nineteenth century. Mrs. Nie Zeng Jifen was a dedicated Christian. She comforted the family members, advising them not to be preoccupied with material loss due to the wars and tribulations. She told them that the important thing was that they had survived the disasters with their lives and health (Reference 2). Material goods were replaceable. She was more concerned about the health and well being of even the servants than the family fortune.
聂其炜的母亲曾纪芬是赫赫有名的清朝两江总督曾国藩的小女儿。曾国藩率湘军消灭了太平天国革命运动，在十九世纪保住了清王朝的统治。曾纪芬是个虔诚信奉基督教的人。她安慰家庭成员，劝告他们对于战争和灾难造成的物质损失不必耿耿于怀。她告诉大家，经过灾祸而能保存生命与健康是最重要的，物质的损失是能弥补的（见《参考资料2》）。她甚至把仆人们的健康与安全看得远重于家庭财产。
Renee’s grandfather, Mr. Nie Qigui, was the governor of Anhui, Jiangsu and Jejiang Provinces at various periods during the Qing dynasty. When Qigui’s mother passed away, he was inconsolable. He passed away in the same year, 1911 at the age of fifty-six (Reference 3). Mrs. Nie Zeng Jifen became the matriarch of the clan, and was responsible for handing down the family values and virtues. She donated money regularly for the care and education of orphans. Under her guidance, the family donated land and other resources to establish a middle school in memory of her husband. She prepared and distributed, for free, herbal medicines to the needy, based on formulas the family had preserved over the years. Some ancestors of the Niehs had been herbal doctors. When she passed away in 1942, it was a great loss to the Nieh family, as well as to society in general. Fortunately for the family, Renee inherited and manifested a lot of her grandmother’s virtues and was ready to continue the guardianship of the family.
聂光明的祖父聂缉椝在晚清曾先后担任安徽、江苏和浙江巡抚。当聂缉椝的母亲于1911年逝世时，他伤心过度，于同年去世，享年五十六岁（见《参考文献3》）。曾纪芬于是成了一家之长，负责把财产和门风传给后代。她定期捐钱帮助孤儿的生活与教育。在她的倡导下，聂家捐出了一块土地和其它的资源，建立了一所中学来纪念她的丈夫（聂中丞公）。她配制草药，免费分发给穷人，这也是聂家保持多年的传统，聂家就曾有先辈是中医师。当曾纪芬于1942年逝世时，这不仅对聂家，对社会公众也是一个巨大的损失。幸运的是，聂光明继承了她祖母的许多美德，开始关爱家庭的各个成员。
STARTED HER OWN COMPANY, KWANG-TA TRADING COMPANY
创办自己的公司，光达贸易商行
Renee was not satisfied with leading a passive life in luxury. In her private life, she enjoyed music, dancing and sports. Renee also worked hard and excelled in her professional assignments. Her performance and her skill at work were recognized immediately by her superiors, among them Mr. Herbert Gallop. Her career advanced with assignments of increasing responsibilities. Soon, in conjunction with her brother, Richard, Renee started a trading company. That company was named Kwang-Ta Trading Company. It imported paper and machinery to China.
聂光明不满足于过现成的舒适生活。她平时喜爱音乐、舞蹈和体育运动。同时聂光明也努力工作，并因表现出色而获得优厚的报酬。她的表现和工作技能立即受到上司们的赏识，其中一位名叫 Herbert Gallop。随着责任的加重，她的事业也在向前发展。不久之后，聂光明联合他的哥哥聂光坻一起创办了一家贸易公司。这家公司称作“光达贸易商行”，它进口纸张和机械设备。
Renee treated her employees with her innate kindness and generosity. In return, they worked hard for the company and were dedicated to her with undying loyalty. Tony worked at the Hong Kong branch of the company for a few years in the later part of the 1930’s. He brought his wife, Janet, and his children back to Shanghai after the Japanese invaded Hong Kong in December 1941 [Hereafter, Tony’s family is referred to as the family and his children are referred to as the children]. For a period of time, Leon also worked at the headquarter of the company, which was located in Shanghai.
聂光明以她天生的仁慈和慷慨来对待她的雇员。他们反过来也努力为公司工作，并始终如一地对聂光明忠诚。在三十年代的最后几年聂光垲曾在光达的香港分行工作。1941年12月日军侵略香港之后，他把妻子陈梦珍和孩子们带回了上海[从此之后聂光明就把聂光垲的家庭看作是自己的家庭，把他的孩子看作是自己的孩子]。曾有一段时期，聂光序也在光达贸易商行设在上海的总部工作。
Clyde was too young to know much about the company, but one thing has stayed vividly in his mind. Once, Kwang-Ta Company imported an electrical shooting gallery to Shanghai. The player had to stand on a rubber mate to insulate himself against electrical shocks. He would aim a simulated rifle to shoot at moving objects parading at the game station, which was located about fifteen feet away from the player. The object would lay down flat if it were shot electrically. A technician, named Mr. Jian, would supervise the kids to ensure their safety. This machine was a novelty, and the children waited in line for a chance to play.
聂崇钢当时年纪太小，因而对公司的事所知不多，但是有一件事在他的记忆中留下了深刻的印象。有一次光达进口到上海一台电动的打靶游戏机。游戏者必须站在一块橡皮垫子上以防止触电。他站在离游戏机大约15英尺的地方，用一把模拟的来福枪瞄准一个左右移动的目标射击。如果枪中射出的电光击中目标，目标就会倒下。有一个名叫Jian的技术员负责看管孩子们以确保他们的安全。这台游戏机当时很新奇，孩子们都排成队等候玩一次的机会。
When the Japanese first invaded Shanghai, they and the native bandits destroyed the Nieh family mansion, located in Hongkou, Shanghai. Later on, Renee’s father, the wife of Renee’s oldest brother and their son, Tony’s family, Leon and his wife (Jian Chen), and Renee all lived together in a four-story house located on Lafayette Street. The house was situated in the French concession of Shanghai. Renee’s oldest brother was killed in an air raid during the war against the Japanese and did not return to Shanghai after the war. Renee’s other brother, Richard, and his family lived separately in Shanghai. Her sister, Diana, married Mr. Vincent Shi-Jing Kuai, an electrical engineer who had graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University with a BS degree in electrical engineering. Their family also lived separately in Shanghai.
当日军侵入上海时，日军及本地的盗匪毁坏了聂家坐落在虹口的府宅。后来，聂光明的父亲、聂光明的大嫂及她的儿子、聂光垲一家、聂光序及夫人陈健，都和聂光明一起住在霞飞路上一座四层楼的房子里。这座房子在法租界内。聂光明的大哥抗战期间在一场空袭中遇害，战后再也没有回到上海。聂光明的另一个哥哥聂光坻一家在上海分开另住。她的妹妹聂光锡嫁给了电气工程师蒯世京先生，蒯世京从上海交通大学毕业并取得电气工程学位。
Renee was known for her kindness and patience with children. She would entertain her nephews and nieces whenever possible. In spite of her busy schedule, she took time out to bring the children to visit her friends. One of them was a florist. This Jewish lady operated a store near the family residence. Clyde can still remember the scent of fresh-cut flowers that permeated the store. Sometimes Renee and the kids would shop at a supermarket operated by foreigners. Again, this was a rarity since at that period most Chinese were only accustomed to Chinese food, and could hardly afford imported luxuries. Renee would bring home tasty treats or prepare exotic dishes such as fresh strawberries with cream. To the children, the morsels that she procured from the stores or she prepared herself were always great treats. They also enjoyed listening to Renee tell stories. They passed many happy hours of childhood with her.
大家都知道聂光明对待孩子既仁慈又耐心。她一有可能就招待她的侄子侄女们。尽管她很忙，但是她总抽出时间领着孩子们去拜望她的朋友。其中的一位朋友是一个开花店的犹太妇人。这家花店就离他们家不远，聂崇钢至今记得在这家花店里飘浮着的鲜花的香味。有时候聂光明带着孩子们到外国人开的超市里去买东西。这种机会当然是极难得的，因为当时大多数的中国人还只习惯于中国食品，并且也几乎买不起进口的奢侈品。聂光明也会把可口的食品带回家，或者用有异国风味的玻璃盘盛放着浇奶油的新鲜草莓招待大家。分得一口聂光明从商店买回来的或是她自己做的食品，对于孩子们来说永远是一种巨大的享受。孩子们也喜欢听聂光明讲故事，他们和聂光明在一起度过了许多快乐的时光。
THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
中华人民共和国
After China won the war against Imperial Japan, the Chinese Nationalist government returned to reclaim the Japanese-occupied zones. The lives of the native population hardly improved, even in comparison to wartime conditions. The returning government officials interfered greatly with civilian lives. They confiscated many companies and private properties under the pretence that they had been enemy possessions, but pocketed the proceeds themselves. The Heng Feng Cotton Mill suffered a similar fate. There was little redress against such abuses unless the property owner himself was connected to some other powerful government official or paid a bribe. Corruption was even worse than during the last years of the Qing dynasty.
抗战胜利之后，国民党政府回来接收敌占区。老百姓的生活甚至与抗战时期相比也没有多少改善。飞回来的接收大员严重地影响了平民的生活。他们借着曾属于敌产的名义没受了许多公司和私人财产以中饱私囊。恒丰纱厂也遭遇了类似的命运。业主如果不设法结交有权势的官员或送贿的话，产权就会遭没收而几乎毫无赔偿。腐败现象甚至超过了清朝末年。
The civil war between the Nationalists and the Communists renewed soon after the end of World War II. The country was in the throes of several government-induced hyperinflation cycles. The currency lost its value so rapidly that no one would keep paper money on hand. The government forced the citizen to exchange gold and foreign currency to the paper money under the penalty of death. The personal wealth of the middle class in general and that of the Niehs in particular were practically wiped out in a short period of time. The Nationalists lost the confidence and support of the population. By 1949, the Communists occupied the whole country, except Taiwan Province and established the People’s Republic of China, with the capital located in Beijing. The Nationalists moved the country’s wealth and other national treasures to Taiwan.
国民党与共产党之间的内战在第二次世界大战结束不久又重新爆发。国家几次处在政府造成的过度通货膨胀的阵痛之中。货币迅速贬值以致无人在手边保存纸币。政府以严厉的惩罚来逼迫老百姓把黄金和外币兑换成纸币。普遍的中产阶级，其中尤其是聂家的私人财产，在短时期内就惨遭洗劫。国民党失去了公众的信任和支持。到了1949年，共产党占领了除台湾省外的整个大陆，定都北京建立了中华人民共和国。国民党把国家的财富和珍宝搬到了台湾。
Tony worked for the United Nations as an interpreter during the civil war. He escaped to Hong Kong in the same year to avoid the possibility of persecution by the new government. Janet single-handedly brought her five children to Hong Kong in 1951. Renee stayed in Shanghai until 1953. Private enterprise became impossible in the new China. She then migrated to Japan to revitalize her trading company.
在内战时期聂光垲担任联合国的译员。他于1949年逃到了香港以避免在新政权下可能受到的迫害。陈梦珍于1951年单独一个人把五个孩子带到了香港。聂光明留在上海直到1953年。在新中国已不可能再经营私人企业，于是她搬到了日本重新开办她的贸易商行。
LIFE IN JAPAN
在日本的生活
Renee re-opened a branch office of the Kwang-Ta Trading Company in Japan after she arrived there in 1953. The store was located in the city of Yokohama. Tony maintained contact with Renee through correspondence while she lived in Japan. Tony and Renee were both prolific letter writers. The family learned about Renee’s colorful life in Japan. Occasionally the family would see her through pictures that she enclosed in the letters. She appeared to be an enigma to the children, since she lived in a social environment so different from theirs. She kept a small brown dog as pet. She grew vegetables in her garden. She employed a gentle and faithful Japanese lady as housekeeper.
聂光明于1953年抵达日本之后重新开设了光达贸易商行在日本的分工司。商行坐落在横滨市。在聂光明居住在日本期间，聂光垲与她保持着通信联系。聂光垲和聂光明都是勤于写信的人。聂光垲一家由此了解了聂光明在日本的有趣的生活情况。他们偶尔也可以见到聂光明附在信里一起寄来的照片。对孩子们来说，她就像一团谜，因为她生活在一个如此不同的社会环境中。她养了一只棕色的小狗。她在花园里种植蔬菜。她雇了一位温和而忠诚的日本妇人做管家。
Throughout those years, she packed various items carefully and asked her sailor friends to bring them to Tony and the family in Hong Kong. In those packages, the family would find china rice bowls, plates, snack treats, mushrooms that she pickled in oil, and soybeans that she grew in the garden, boiled in salted water and sun-dried. There were also toys, stationery and books for the children. She sent several sets of bamboo fishing rods at one time, and even some records of music written by Steven Foster, which were great favorites of Tony. It was always a happy occasion for the children when the family received a package from Renee. These packages spoke of her generosity and more importantly, her love. The children’s curiosity would not be abated until Tony opened it and revealed the new surprises. The family benefited from Renee’s thoughtfulness, and appreciated her generosity.
在这些年里，聂光明常常精心地打点一些包裹，托她的海员朋友带到香港送给聂光垲一家。在这些包裹中有瓷饭碗、盘子、风味小吃、浸泡在油里的蘑菇、她在花园里种的，用盐水煮并晒干的黄豆。包裹中也有玩具、文具以及儿童读物。她有一次曾送过几套竹制的钓鱼竿，甚至还有一些聂光垲最喜爱的Steven Foster作曲的音乐唱片。对于孩子们来说，收到聂光明的包裹总是一个快乐的时刻。这些包裹不仅说明了她的慷慨，并且更说明了她的爱心。孩子们总是好奇地看着父亲打开包裹，直到看清楚里面令人惊喜的东西。这一家人不仅得益于聂光明对问题的思考，也感激她的慷慨。
VISITED HONG KONG ON THE WAY TO THE USA
去美国的途中访问香港
Around 1958, Renee applied for an immigration visa to America and was accepted. She boarded a fright ship, which carried a few passengers along for the trip. The ship passed through Hong Kong and Guam on the way to the USA. When the ship stopped in Hong Kong, the children brought some roses to Renee at her hotel, which was situated in Kowloon.
大约在1958年，聂光明申请移民美国并获得了批准。她搭乘了一条货轮去美国，不过这次航行只搭载了一些旅客而未载货。这条船在去美国的途中经过香港和关岛。当船在香港停靠时，孩子们带着玫瑰花，来到位于九龙的旅馆去看望聂光明。
The family decided to see Renee off when the ship departed from Hong Kong. A dear and common friend of Renee and Tony, Mr. Y. D. Chow, was a well-known photographer among the acquaintance. He volunteered to take pictures. As an added treat, he used color film, which was still a novelty in Hong Kong at that time. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate. There was no sun on the day of departure. The pictures came out acceptable, but did not have the brilliant colors to which Mr. Chow aspired.
聂光垲一家决定在轮船离开香港时去送聂光明。有一位Y.D.Chao先生，是聂光明和聂光垲共同熟识的朋友，在熟人中称得上是一位著名的摄影师。他志愿为大家拍照。作为一种特别的优待，他使用了彩色胶卷，这在当时的香港仍属于新奇的东西。可惜天公不作美，分手的那天没有太阳。照片的效果还过得去，但是没有周先生所期待的绚丽的色彩。
STARTED A NEW LIFE IN THE USA
开始在美国的新生活
Renee started a new life in San Francisco, CA. When she arrived, living conditions were more difficult for her than ever before. Her personal wealth was greatly diminished due the adversities and frequent moves from place to place. Yet, she maintained her spirit. She started over again through her own efforts, at the bottom of the job market and at a more mature age. She even worked once as a sales clerk, for minimum wage, in a bazaar in San Francisco Chinatown. It was quite a comedown for someone who had once owned and operated her own international trading company. Yet, she had too much confidence in herself to allow the reversed circumstance to define her worth.
聂光明在加州的旧金山开始了新的生活。初到美国时的生活条件是她一生中最困难的。她的个人财产因为灾祸和频繁的搬家而损失大半。然而她保持了她的精神。她在一个并不年轻的年龄，通过自己的努力从最底层的职务又重新开始。有一次她甚至在旧金山唐人街的市场中为了最低的工资担任售货员。对于一个曾经拥有并经营国际贸易公司的人来说，这是一个很容易感到沮丧的时刻。然而聂光明具有无比的信心，她可以在被颠倒的环境中体现自己的价值。
Renee did not let the descent in social status affect her spirit, but worked industriously with her usual enthusiasm and competence. Soon she found a job working for the Security Pacific Bank (This Bank was later purchased by the Bank of America). She worked in the Trust Department. Her supervisor was a gentleman named Carlos Allegra (?). She worked there until her retirement.
聂光明并没有让社会条件的低落影响自己的精神，相反地她以过去一贯的热情与能力奋力地工作。她很快在the Security Pacific Bank找到了工作（这家银行后来被美国银行收购了）。她在信贷部工作，她的上司是一位名叫Carlos Allegra (?)的绅士。她在那里一直工作到退休。
Renee rented an apartment at 625 Bush Street when she first arrived in San Francisco. True to her nature, she befriended a whole new group of people soon. Shortly afterwards, she purchased a house jointly with two friends, Jerry and Hank Roth. The house was located at 554 23rd Avenue, in the Richmond district of San Francisco. She stayed on the middle floor, Hank stayed on the third floor, and Jerry stayed on the first floor. Jerry soon sold his shared ownership of the house to Hank. The first floor was then rented to a Swiss, named Adolf, for many years. This house became the center of social gatherings for Renee’s friends and relatives later on. Renee lived there until the end of her days.
初到旧金山的时候，聂光明在Bush街625号租了一套公寓。出于她善以待人的天性，她很快地又结交了一个新的社交圈子。不久之后，他和两个朋友，Jerry 和 Hank Roth，合买了一所房子。这所房子坐落在旧金山的Richmond区，第23大街554号。聂光明住了中间一层，Hank住在三楼，Jerry则住在底层。Jerry不久就把属于他自己的这部分房产卖给了Hank。底层的房子接着租给了一个瑞士人，这位名叫阿道夫（Adolf）的瑞士人在那里住了很多年。这所房子后来成为聂光明的朋友和亲戚们的社交聚会的中心。聂光明直到去世一直住在那里。
APPLIED FOR IMMIGRATION VISA FOR TONY’S FAMILY
办理聂光垲一家去美国的移民申请
Living in Hong Kong was a little hard for Tony and the family. He had a reasonable job. But supporting a family of seven on the salary of a clerk alone was tight. In addition, the children were advancing in their schools. Edward and Sidney were both already enrolled in universities by the beginning of 1960. It would be more difficult for Tony when the rest of the children were ready for college.
聂光垲一家在香港的生活发生以一些困难。他有一份不错的工作。但是仅仅靠一个职员的薪金来维持一个七口之家还是挺紧的。此外，孩子们正在求学。聂崇镒和聂崇锦在六十年代初已经进了大学。当其他的孩子再准备考大学时聂光垲将会更感困难。
A neighbor of the family ambushed Sidney one day for some unknown reason, and cracked open his head. Sidney was taken to a hospital for emergency treatment. After that incident, Tony and Renee decided that the family should move to a place where the children would have more opportunities for advancement and would be safer.
有一天一个邻居毫无道理地伏击聂崇锦，并打破了他的头。聂崇锦被送到了医院急救治疗。经过这一事件之后，聂光垲和聂光明决定应该把全家搬到孩子们更有发展机会也更安全的地方。
In 1961, large numbers of Chinese from mainland China escaped to Hong Kong to avoid famine and political upheavals. Drowning or exhaustion killed many escapees before they reached Hong Kong. Their bodies, some of those were bound, floated along the East River to Hong Kong. The scenes of destitution shocked the sensitivities of American citizens. President John F. Kennedy initiated a Parolee Program, allowing Chinese refugees to live in the USA on temporary visas, until they were qualified to apply for permanent residential status.
在1961年，大量的中国人从大陆偷渡到香港以逃避灾荒和政治迫害。很多偷渡者没有到达香港之前就精疲力尽而被淹死。他们的尸体，有些还是被捆绑着的，沿着东河（East River）漂到香港。这种惨像震惊了美国公众。约翰.肯尼迪总统签署了一份法案（Parolee Program），允许中国难民以临时签证居住在美国，直到他们有资格申请永久居住权。
Renee took advantage of that offer and applied for immigration permission for Tony’s family. Her generous friends, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Loomis, and Mr. and Mrs. George Takada sponsored the family. X-ray films of Tony’s wife, Janet, revealed signs of tuberculosis. A kind Swedish doctor agreed to care for Janet as needed. This promise removed one condition that the USA Immigration Service had imposed for approval of immigration. The family finally received the good news of approval, but it faced one additional hardship: paying for transportation. Renee’s housemate, Hank, loaned money to Tony for that purpose.
聂光明利用这个机会为聂光垲一家提出移民申请。她的朋友杰.克鲁米斯（Jack Loomis）夫妇和乔治.塔卡达（George Takada）夫妇慷慨地为他们全家提供了担保。聂光垲的妻子陈梦珍经X光检查发现患有肺结核。一位仁慈的瑞典医生同意根据需要照看陈梦珍。这一允诺消除了美国移民当局批准移民申请的障碍。他们一家终于收到了批准移民的好消息，然而却又遇到了新的困难：要支付一笔搬家的费用。与聂光明合住一所房子的汉克（Hank）先生借了一笔钱给聂光垲搬家。
The immigration of Tony and the family to the USA was a godsend opportunity, but it was consummated only with tremendous effort by Renee and the generous offers of her friends. The willingness of Renee’s friends to help total strangers was a reflection of Renee’s personality and her friendship with them. Those qualities were what induced her friends to help Tony and the family.
聂光垲一家能够移民到美国固然是天赐良机，但最终得以实现全靠聂光明不懈的努力和她的朋友们的慷慨帮助。聂光明的朋友们愿意帮助对他们来说完全陌生的人反映了聂光明的人格力量，也体现了她与这些外国朋友的友谊。这些因素促使她的朋友们帮助了聂光垲一家。
It was quite a task to move a family of seven from Hong Kong to San Francisco. Sidney was already enrolled at Southern Methodist University in Texas at that time. He had arrived in the USA about eight months earlier. The family brought over possessions accumulated over a twelve-year stay in Hong Kong. In fact, Tony and Edward even procured some additional furniture for the trip. Due to the large quantity of luggage, it was impractical for the family to travel by air. The family traveled to San Francisco in a ship called “President Wilson”. The ship took 19 days to cross the Pacific Ocean, and docked at Pier 40 in San Francisco on February 19, 1963. Clyde still remembered how the ship sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge, and wondered if the chimneys would clear the bridge. It was an overcast day, but the family looked forward to a brighter future in the New World. This opportunity was a priceless gift from Renee to her brother Tony and the family.
把一个七口之家从香港搬到旧金山不是一件简单的事。当时聂崇锦已经考取了得克萨斯州的Southern Methodist大学。他比家里人早八个月到达美国。全家人带来了十二年间在香港积攒起来的全部家当。事实上聂光垲和聂崇镒还特意为这次旅行添置了一些家具。由于行李数量太多，乘飞机是不现实的。全家人搭乘一条名叫“威尔逊总统号”的船抵达旧金山。这条船花了十九天横穿太平洋，于1963年2 |
