Present Generations - Part 1

In the words of my uncle:
Generation "X" does not mean the post-baby boomer generation; it means generation #10 in the village rank hierarchy.  Generation X is my uncle and my mother's generation.

Present Generations

My uncle's generation (letters matching a hand drawn family tree diagram above):
A and B in our village. Revitalized under Communists.
C, D, E, F: In Hong Kong, Guangzhou, or village.
J: a bum. That branch is almost extinct.
K, L: In village. Revitalized under Communists.
M: hanged himself during the land reform.
N, O: Hong Kong.
Q: America
P: A girl, died in childhood of epilepsy.
R, S: In New York. R died of heart attack in January 1990.
T: In New York, with his sons.
U, V: In the village.
W: Died of internal bleeding, on the operating table in New York in the 1960's. His widow and three daughters are very close to our family, living in New York and Baltimore areas. His brother X: my age, my class, died of tuberculosis in his late teens.

Y: one year above me, my class, in Chungching with me. I was at Medical school and he was at Police Academy. Became a prisoner of war when the Communists took over the country. One day all his belongings were sent back to his wife in the village, then not a single word was heard from or about him. Presumed executed by the Communists. His brother Z, half deaf, is in Boston.

U and W were my brother's age, his classmates and playmates. X and Y were my age, my classmates and playmates, both were very talented. In my first grade, I was in first place and X was second in the class. In my sixth grade, I was first and Y was second. In my brother's sixth grade, W was second and my brother was third in their class.

One of the branches from Generation V (V-C) remains in the village.

The Family

The family consists of the offspring from my grandparents. The count before my father died was 42, including my parents and 3 children, 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, and all the in-laws.

VIII: My grandparents:

Sau Jiang Hugh 1871-1907; Gee Lai 1871-1922

My grandfather was an intelligent and smart man. He was one of the few intellectuals in the village. His older brother Sau Pang was away and in the U.S. so he took over the carpenter shop and was also a part-time contractor. He was very sharp in the business. When he built the temple in our adjacent Tow Village, his estimate on the total use of bricks and lumber was so close and accurate that it amazed his customers. When he inherited our house, it was only two thirds complete. He used the leftover materials from the shop and completed the remaining third. He also made a specially designed bed for himself, with a secret compartment underneath the pillows for hideaway of valuables, and shelves at the foot of the bed for books.

My grandfather was also good in kung fu, and belonged to the Kung Fu Club of the village. When the club was disbanded, he received a fork for his share. That fork was used as a laundry pole when we were kids.

My grandfather came to America in his late 20s, for a short stay in Boston. He had to return home because he had no son at the time. After my father was born, there was a twin birth to follow my father, one boy and one girl. Both died in infancy. My grandfather died of tuberculosis at age of 36.

My grandmother was from a Lai family in Hoi Hau District. Being the oldest in the family, she had to look after all her three younger brothers and one sister. Her youngest brother (1-E on diagram below) was only 7 years older than my father.

My grandmother had a very strong personality and determined character. She was known to be upright and strict, and outspoken against anyone who did her wrong. One time a group of men tried to set up an opium den in the temple near our house. No one dared to raise objection although the whole village didn't like it. My grandmother, as soon as she found that out, single-handedly took one broom in her hand, thundered into that den, scolded each and every one of them, and chased them all out.

My grandmother was a wise person. She was highly respected by both men and women in the village, and her advice and counsel were often sought by many. One time the bandits broke into our house at night, because my grandfather returned from America and our family was considered rich. My father was only 2 years old. My grandmother held my father in her arms sitting on the pillows, partly scolding and partly pleading to the bandits. The bandits broke a hole into a trunk but did not touch the valuables hidden in the secret compartment underneath the pillows. When we were kids, we still saw that repaired hole on top of the trunk.

One time she and another lady companion were detained for collecting firewood at a hillside, which was public land but illegally claimed by a powerful local landlord. She scolded them and then fainted. That landlord sent her home in a special carriage, with special escort and an apology. My grandmother was never afraid of anyone who did her wrong.

My grandmother was a neat, tidy and well organized person. She was also very good in sewing. My great grandfather always favored this younger daughter-in-law, not the wife of VIII-B who was messy, untidy and mumbling. After my grandfather died, my grandmother earned a living by sewing. At the time, the clan of VII-E owned a cloth shop and could supply her plenty of work. My parents found a couple of hundred dollars hidden after she died.

My grandmother died at age 51 when my parents were 21 and my brother was 2. She died of ascites after a long illness, with no cachexia, no pain, no jaundice. I speculate that it was cirrhosis secondary to malnutrition and superimposed with parasitic disease.

My granduncle VIII-B died young. I knew nothing about him.

My grand-aunt was a short and stout person with a very kind and soft face. We nicknamed her "Pastry Grand-Aunt", because one kind of Chinese pastry was bloated when made, but flattened after cooking. She visited us on occasions and often stayed with our family. She died during the War. The messy widow of VIII-B died after the War.