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| Name ¡G |
Hsiao, Lu |
| Origin of Accentors ¡G |
Gian County ,
Jiangshi Province , China |
| Occupation ¡G |
Housewife |
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| ¡§It's strange, when I am in Taiwan , I miss my hometown, but after staying there for a while, I miss Taiwan .¡¨ |
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There's a small hill used for discarded graves originally at JungShuen Street , Wenshan district. Forty years ago, several veterans unafraid of ghost built houses as their shelters. After many years, the city government moved away the graves gradually, and it became the living place of veterans. Although there's no name for the village, it is truly a military dependents' village. |
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Because the honor soldiers here are mostly single, so after deregulation of China visit, some of them married women from China ; seventeen persons did this so far. Most wives were from Jianshi, five persons in total, and grandma Hsiao is one of them. |
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Grandma Hsiao and grandpa Lee, Hong-An were married for three years. Grandpa Lee was born in LeAn Jiangshi with 78 years of age as a veteran. When he followed the troop to Taiwan , he was a 20-year-old young man. He was married in his hometown before coming Taiwan . But he told us that was a marriage ¡§appointed by parents without love¡¨. He's never married again in 55 years after coming Taiwan . He was alone till 75 years old. |
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Grandpa Lee visited hometown many times. His co-worker once introduced grandma Hsiao, and they got married in 2003 and she came to Taiwan for him. |
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(Many old honor soldiers were like grandpa Lee: wanted to fight back China when just arriving Taiwan , so getting married was not allowed. Later, they were unable to get married due to low military pay. It's not easy to find a spouse due to the old age after leaving the army. That's why many people looking for brides from China .) |
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¡§I felt uneasy when just arriving at Taiwan , such as food and weather. I got used to them quickly as I am easygoing and follow my husband. It's my fate coming to Taiwan for marriage.¡¨ Grandma Hsiao said. |
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| Aunt Chen, Fu-Mei is a warmhearted volunteer, and often come here to help veterans. Therefore, she knows every household and everything. Aunt Chen told us, those old veterans devoted their whole life for the nation, and their monthly subsidy is only $13000 something, much less than a middle and low-income household. They are at least 70~80 years old. That's why she is willing to spend time taking care of them.
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| ¡§It is true that some honor soldiers' marriages are not based on love, but for Mr. Lee, his marriage with Ms. Hsiao is his late coming comfort.¡¨ Aunt Chen said, ¡§this Chinese bride is very nice. She took good care of Mr. Lee when he was under surgeries several times. She would do some part-time jobs to earn living income. Never going out or play mah-jong after work or on holidays, instead, she would accompany her husband and makes some small dishes and cleans the house. They love each other, and she really sets a good example for the brides from China .¡¨ |
As grandpa Lee and grandma Hsiao were all from Jiangshi and JiAn is right beside LoAn, we asked grandpa Lee why not live back to their hometown? |
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¡§Before deregulation of China visit, I thought of my hometown everyday. However, after deregulation, things changed. It's strange, when I am in Taiwan , I miss my hometown, but after staying my hometown for a while, I miss Taiwan . I think it's because I only lived in hometown for twenty years, but have lived in Taiwan for almost sixty years¡¨ |
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Grandma Hsiao is his ¡§late-coming comfort¡¨, we wish them could love and stay with each other here till the end. |
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