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Name¡G |
Shih, Yun-Ying |
Origin of ancestors¡G |
TongShan County ,
JiangSu Province |
Occupation¡G |
Recycling |
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¡§Due to the war, we reunited after 45 years of separation. Although the existing life is tough, and kids and grandkids are all in China, my husband doesn't want to go back, because he's already used to everything here, and I'm of course with him.¡¨ |
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¡§Until the earth is old and ocean is dry, my love will never end.¡¨ Such dialog only seen in the novel or movies is happening in the real life? Grandpa Chen, Ming-Shuen and grandma Shih, Yun-Ying is such couple! |
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Grandma is already 81 years old this year. She lives in the same village with grandpa Chen when young. Their marriage was special, with no freedom to chose their spouse nor through matchmaker's introduction; they were already husband and wife in their mothers' pregnancy. (Before giving birth, both parents make arrangement to have their babies marry each other if one is a boy and one is a girl.) They have a son and lived the happiest days in their lives. |
But good things never last long, the war of resistance against Japanese aggression extended to JiangSu . Conscription was conducted in Tongshan county, which regulated one man has to be conscribed if there's two or more men in one household. Grandpa Chen was forced to leave his wife and 8-month old son. He was only 18 years old in 1942, since then, they were separated for 45 years.
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In 50's, communists in China promoted some political movements, such as ¡§three oppositions five oppositions¡¨ and ¡§the great advancement¡¨, which caused recession. Since grandma was categorized as ¡§five black categories¡¨ ¡§(landlord, rich person, revolution person, bad person, and right-wing person), she could not survive in her hometown. She was force to take her son to northeast 3000 km away from home, and lived in that cold desert. |
¡§I almost had no money. We begged for surviving; if not for the kid, I didn't want to live.¡¨ Memory of 50 years ago makes grandma agitated into tears, and said ¡§I went to a coal mine in the northeast, cooked and washed clothes for others for a living and raised kids. There's no electricity and gas at home. She needed to pick branches to burn and lived this kind of life for 35 years.¡¨
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| Miracle had come finally. In the early 1984, grandpa Chen had a fellow villager search for grandma's whereabouts. They eventually got in touch after twists and turns. In 1987, grandpa Chen was among the first group allowed for China visiting after deregulation by Taiwan government. Meanwhile, grandma Chen also rushed home in JiangSu from northeast. The poor couple was finally reunited after 45 years. In 1991, grandpa Chen visited China the second time and brought grandma to Taiwan , which was the real reunion, and they were both almost 70 years old.
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Grandpa is not very healthy with mile paralysis causing moving difficulty, diabetes, and poor eyesight. Grandma has to take care of grandpa Chen for eating, taking medicines and shots. The veterans subsidy is only 13000 something (US400 something) per month, not enough after deducting medical expenses. Therefore, grandma has to recycle newspapers, boxes, bottles to earn some income. Like such they have lived another ten years in Taiwan . |
Grandpa Chen's kids and grandkids are all in China . We also asked grandma if she considers taking grandpa Chen back for the rest of their lives? |
Grandma Shih replies, ¡§Due to the war, we reunited after 45 years of separation. Although the existing life is tough, and kids and grandkids are all in China, my husband doesn't want to go back, because he's already used to everything here, and I'm of course with him.¡¨ |
Recalling grandpa Chen and grandma Shih's 80 years of life, with 45 years of separation, they still love each other. Even though life still tough, they choose to face it together and support each other. |
During the whole interview, their hands were always holding together. Their endless love touched us deeply. |
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