Chapter 186: 186
Just when we thought that Uncle Quan would only be another dead end, Mr . Zhang pounded the table with his fist suddenly!
"I know the officials in your village!" He said at once, "Leave this to me . I'll organize an activity . I'm sure we'll succeed this time . " He patted himself on the chest, looking absolutely confident . Then Aunt Fen, his supportive and sensible wife, added immediately, "Xiaojun (Nie Xiaojun) called me yesterday . He's coming to visit us with his family . He's the director of a hospital now . I'm sure I can get him to get a few of his men to organize a charity clinic event at the village for the old people there . Husband, arrange for some caterers to prepare food . The checkups would need the participants to have their stomachs empty before the event, so they'll be hungry and thirsty . I'll foot any medical bills if anyone needs immediate treatment . Let's make them all happy!"
Her husband nodded and Aunt Fen looked at us, "The few of you will join in as volunteers to help out . We'll also have the officials prepare some liquor and wine . We'll have some nursing staff with them to make sure they'll have just enough for you people to wring some stories out of them . I'm sure you'll find something, just as how it is written: in vino veritas!"
Overwhelmed by Mr . Zhang's generosity, I said at once, "Wait, we should be the ones to foot the bill!" "Spare yourselves," Mr . Zhang added dryly, "You've been working so much for charity yourselves that you've barely made enough money to line your pockets! Let me handle the bills!" Then he said to his wife, "We'll speak to the village officials tomorrow right away, Wife!" With that, they promptly left .
We received word from Mr . Zhang later that the event shall be held in three days . Uncle Quan then told us that he would be coming too . When we got there on the third day, we were astounded to find a huge fanfare at the event . Mr . Zhang must have pulled every string he had to make sure that this event go well! There was a long banner announcing the event and a live band, a marching band display, and even a dance performance! In one corner were many chairs for waiting participants and a long screen divided the waiting space and the treatment area where instruments such as stethoscopes, sphygmomanometers, and test tubes were waiting to be used . Specially-made caps for the event were worn over the doctors' caps and the physicians present all wore armbands that denoted them as volunteer doctors . Several ambulances were even on standby in case of urgent need . Further behind was a great tent, where many tables fully-laden with epicurean delights sprawling under its shade . A few men, all chefs clad in white, were busy over bubbling pots of boiling soup and simmering woks of food! To another corner, we looked and we saw the army of volunteers, all with their armbands worn at the ready, waiting for any participants to appear . It was a great event that could even dwarf a lavish marriage ceremony! We immediately ran over and looked for Aunt Fen, and received from her our caps and armbands and we got ourselves ready as we joined the ranks of volunteers .
For the first time since everything began, I began to realize something: why did everything seem to have something to do with Yahong Bridge? Even Mr . Zhang and Uncle Quan were natives from around that area! This was just too good to be a coincidence!
The Li Family Village was hardly a large and vast one, so there were only so many elders there that the performers, volunteers, and medical staff numbered higher than them! One by one, the volunteers helped the old people to the waiting section before they were looked at by the doctors and nurses . Most of them came with their families, and once each one had completed their examination and training, we led them to the tent where food was waiting for them . Before long, the food tent became crowded with people and noises .
As it turned out, even the village officials had been recruited into our cause by Mr . Zhang . The chiefs of the village intentionally assigned the more talkative elders together into a corner for the benefit of our endeavor, and that particular table soon became the rowdiest and most boisterous racket of haggard old men! As they laughed and joked, I quietly slipped into a position just behind them .
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A rosy-cheeked elder blared vehemently, "One of the little girls here was asking for a tale from me . So, here's one! I was a little boy in the Children's Corps that supplied intelligence to the Eighth Route Army . The commander of the detachment from the Army stationed here was a man called Li Yunchang . He commanded me to deliver some frozen bean curd . Unbeknownst to me, the intelligence was hidden in the bean curd . But on our way back, I fell into a hole and got my shoes damaged! The leader of my corps had to carry me all the way back to base, so my feet were hardly cold . But he instead was so tired that he collapsed when we got back . . . Hahahaha . . . "
I went over to him with a glass of liquor . "Oh! What an interesting story! Is that leader of yours here today? I must treat him to a toast!" "He's gone . Just a few years back," the old man shook his head, "He's a year older than I am, born back in 1932 . He'd be 87 by now if he were still around!" Then I realized my chance!
Uncle Quan was also at this table . He offered a cigarette to this old man and asked, "How many siblings and cousins of his generation were in his family altogether, Uncle?" "He?" The old man yelped an off-handed reply and began to think, "Eight of them, I think!" "Eight?! So many? I thought they were fewer than that!" Uncle Quan quipped with feigned curiosity . "Most of them are no longer here! They are working elsewhere! You're too young to know any of this!" The old man responded loudly, pointing a finger at Uncle Quan, "The second of all of them is abroad . He once worked as a factory manager before he retired to his own family near there . The fourth is also elsewhere; working construction before he became some municipal leader . He too has his own family out there . The fifth was a soldier and was promoted to a high position . He did not return too . The sixth is also out there somewhere . He was a university graduate before he began working . . . Wait . . . what about the seventh . . . " He paused as his voice faltered; the old man began raking his mind for any recollections about his cousins . Then a voice spoke suddenly just beside him, another old man of similar age, "My third brother is the seventh . He was also a factory manager . But his factory went bankrupt not long later, and he joined another factory . He's retired now; spending most of his days fishing . He has even grandsons of his own now . I'm the only one left here . I'm the fourth among my brothers, but the eighth among all my siblings and cousins put together!"
Uncle Quan thrust a finger to another old man, a quiet old man sitting beside the man who addressed himself as the eighth of his cousins and siblings . "What about him?" "Me?" That old man answered himself, "I'm the eldest among my brothers, but the third among all my cousins!" With another phony exclamation, Uncle Quan cried, "I see why I've not heard that you have so many cousins before!" "We only refer to ourselves according to our seniority among cousins when we're together . In most times, we refer to our own brothers and siblings . "
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I was, however, shocked beyond words . This must be Master Six's family! And this old man must be Master Six's brother! But instead of being accompanied by his own son, he was here with his youngest brother! The youngest brother stood up and walked to Mr . Zhang and Nie Xiaojun, "Well, I have you both to thank for your help with my child! I haven't yet properly thanked you both!" "Come, let me drink to your health!" Mr . Zhang and Nie Xiaojun scrambled to their feet, fumbling with their glasses of liquor . I see . . . So, they knew each other all along and have always remained in touch . . .
When the meals ended, we saw the participants off, and Aunt Fen began distributing souvenirs to every member of the staff, volunteers, and performers who had helped to make the event a success! We helped along by collecting the volunteers' badges and armbands and gave everyone a keepsake mug . We met up just beside Mr . Zhang's car when our work was done and Uncle Quan cried, "You could've told me that it is the sixth brother of that family you're looking for! He's a childhood friend of mine!"
And how do you think we're supposed to know that he's your childhood friend?! I almost blurted .
Suddenly, Master Six's youngest brother, the old man who was the eighth of his generation, came to us and invited us to his house for tea . With the grizzled-haired senior refusing to take no for an answer, we relented . He began to tell us more about him . His son was still in the city, completing a course at the university . To be precise, it was the same city where Mr . Nie (Xiaojun) was working in . There was once when he got sick and Uncle Quan helped by making a call to Mr . Zhang who in turn asked for Mr . Nie's help . Mr . Nie rushed to the young man personally with an ambulance to bring him to the local hospital . For him, this was home to his sworn-brother Zhang Baoguo, and hence in extension, it was his as well . One could imagine his anxiety and concern when he knew about somebody from the village being sick as he viewed the young man like his own son . He had even helped to foot the medical bills for the bed-trodden and finally got to meet his father when he came to visit his son at the hospital . When he got wind that Mr . Nie would be coming to help in the charity clinic event today, he came personally with his brother to join the event, not only for his aged brother's benefit but also as a support to Mr . Zhang and Mr . Nie's event .
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Mr . Zhang reached for the old man's hand . "I have a favor to ask of you, Brother . In fact, it is the very purpose of this event today!" "Just tell me, Brother!" The old man exclaimed, "We've been so close, there shouldn't be any secrets!" Mr . Zhang motioned for me, and I, taking the cue, trotted forward and offered him a cigarette . "Actually, we need to speak to your sixth brother . But we can't seem to find him . . . " The old man fell silent, staring at me before he finally spoke . "Truth be told, I have never been able to contact him . It has been years . But none of us have been able to call him . I know it's strange, especially to you all, but he seems to know everything that is happening in the family . Whenever we needed him, he would appear unbidden out of nowhere!" "We are sure that by seeking you out, we might be able to reach him," Aunt Fen quipped, "But we know that by doing this, we might also anger him . Hence we need your help to placate him if he's indeed enraged!"
"Of course, I'll do it!" He cried again, "When I was still a young boy, it was he who was always there for me . He doted and pampered me so much that he would let me have anything that was his! Well . . . if all else fails, there's still insurance—my eldest brother! Let's have him here! He has the final say usually in family matters!" He was about to get up, but Mr . Zhang tugged at his arm . "Wait . He's older than me . By right, I should be the one paying him a visit . Let me go with you!"
As we adjourned, Uncle Quan and Aunt Fen were busy making calls, although we had hardly any mind into what they were saying . We weaved across two dirt-track streets and finally reached the home belonging to Master Six's eldest brother, the third among all their cousins . He was also a warm person who poured us tea when he received us . Uncle Quan first engaged him into some small talk while Mr . Nie began asking him about his health . He was old, but still very much spry . However, he was hardly a chatty person .
Finally, Master Six's youngest brother admitted the purpose of our visit . But before he could answer, a man walked in . It was somebody from Uncle Quan's workplace . He gave a key to Aunt Fen, who nodded quietly, and the man left . "Well, I'm afraid this brother of mine is eccentric, to say the least . I'd hope that his behavior would not be an embarrassment," said the eldest brother . "I've been to his home several times, but no more . He moves regularly . But worse, each time I visited him, he had a different wife! As his elder brother, I must say I could not be more appalled and displeased whenever I met him! In the end, I no longer visited him . I don't even know where he is living now . We can't even reach him by phone call . It's either a number not in service or an engaged line . Sometimes the operator would just say he was not available! But somehow, he managed to call us! But we have never once been able to call him!"Please download our sponsor's game to support us!