"When I was twenty-two, I nearly joined a gang in New York. The moment your grandfather caught wind of it, he dragged me back to China. Officially, it was a 'family roots tour,' but his real plan was to find me a wife, hoping marriage would settle me down. Back then, my knowledge of China was limited to the Chinese food we ate and the image of second-class citizens. It was just after the Cold War, and a trip to China was something I could brag about to my friends for quite some time—after all, most people still viewed China through a narrow ideological lens. Before I left, I imagined the people in my hometown looking like those in the old black-and-white photos of our ancestors on the family shrine—men with long braids and women with bound feet.
""But what I saw when I got there were bustling streets filled with bicycles and people who looked just like me, wearing stylish clothes and brimming with energy. The whole city seemed to be on the rise, filled with hope. It was the first time I truly understood the meaning of 'Reform and Opening-up.' Even so, the China I saw then was nowhere near what it is now. We took the train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou, and then another day-long journey to Ye Family Village. In the village, there were always people shyly following us around, and they were incredibly kind. They would often place a boiled egg or a few pieces of fruit in our hands. I'd never experienced such warmth back in America. This trip to China made me see my roots in a whole new light, and I began to reassess my own race. Gradually, I started to embrace my heritage."
""The first girl I was set up with was the clan leader's daughter. The moment I laid eyes on her, I knew she wasn't for me. She clearly put a lot of effort into our meeting, dressing herself up in bright, eye-catching colors. It wasn't her flamboyant outfit that turned me off; it was the way she treated the children who were watching us out of curiosity—harsh and unfriendly. No matter how much of a troublemaker I was, I would never act like that. People say that those who are unkind to children are not good people, and those who don't respect others don't deserve respect themselves. I turned down the match on the spot, and your grandfather was furious. Later, I found out she was determined to marry me and go to America. Being the clan leader's daughter, she was considered a 'good match,' and my rejection humiliated your grandfather. He warned me not to be so stubborn."
"It was that same day that I met your mother. The moment I saw her, I was completely smitten. I forgot all about the unpleasant blind date. She had such delicate features, fair skin, her hair tied up in a neat little bun, and her slender hands were gently washing starfruit in the river. At that moment, I felt my heart skip a beat—so this is what they call love at first sight. And do you know what she did when she saw me? She gave me a gentle nod, then picked up her things and started walking away. I couldn't help myself—I followed her at a distance, right up to this very courtyard. When she turned back and saw me tailing her like a puppy, she blushed and ran inside. I just stood there, unable to move. After a while, two boys came out of the house and handed me two large starfruits."
"That was the moment I knew, I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this girl. There are three rules for winning a girl's heart: be bold, be careful, and be persistent. I had a reputation as a ladies' man back in Chinatown, so I thought it would be a piece of cake. The next morning, I rummaged through my luggage, grabbed all the chocolates I'd bought in Hong Kong, and brought them to her house for those two boys. But unlike other kids, they didn't take them right away. They glanced at each other and then hid their hands behind their backs, waiting for her approval. What well-mannered children!"
"She looked surprised to see me and wouldn't accept the chocolates, after much insistence on my part, she took two pieces, handed them to the boys, thanked me and went back inside. I followed her in and heard a faint cough coming from the back room. That's when I realized there was a sick woman lying in bed. She helped her out—a frail woman in her forties—who struggled to come out and greet me. I left the chocolates on the table, and though they accepted them hesitantly, they still brought out the best they had to offer. It turned out they'd heard of me—we were actually distant relatives. The woman asked about the matchmaking, and I looked straight at her and said, 'I've already found someone I like.'"
"Then I remembered the medicine I'd bought in Hong Kong. I thought it might be useful, so I ran back to get it. They were grateful, and seeing how happy it made them, I decided to keep up the 'family friend' approach and asked the little boys a few questions while they showed me around the village."
"'What does your sister like?'
'Sister? We don't have a sister. Shufang is our sister-in-law.'"
Ye George walked over to the old photographs on the wall. Time had faded some of them, but the smile of that beautiful woman was still etched deeply in his heart. She looked so gentle, so content. Ye Mingzhe moved to his side. It was the first time he'd ever seen his mother looking so young. But what caught his attention even more was the dignified man standing next to her. That man must have made her very happy—Ye Mingzhe had never seen his mother smile so radiantly. He couldn't help but glance at his father, and was surprised to see no sign of emotion on his face. Ye George only continued recounting his story.
"A widow's doorstep is never without gossip, my repeated visits soon became the talk of the village. I found out at the family banquet. The clan leader wanted to use the banquet as an opportunity to pair me up with his daughter again.Your grandfather was determined to find me a wife and had already prepared an eight-tael gold pig chain as a betrothal gift, he showed to the entire family at the banquet.The entire village attended, and when I saw Jiawei and Jiacheng, I gave them the last of my chewing gum. The clan leader's daughter saw this and made some nasty remarks, accusing your mother of trying to seduce men shortly after her husband's death, saying she lacked virtue and decency."
"Your mother kept her head down and said nothing. Jiawei and Jiacheng were already in tears, her mother-in-law was so angry she began to cough uncontrollably. No one dared speak up because of the clan leader's status. I couldn't take it anymore. I grabbed the gold chain and put it around your mother's neck, shouting that I'd rather marry a widow than that girl. The entire clan was stunned. Your mother immediately took off the chain and ran home in tears, and the place erupted in chaos. I didn't care. I made it clear: I'd either marry your mother or no one at all, and stormed off."
"I thought your grandfather was going to beat me senseless, to my surprise, he didn't say a word for two days. On the third morning, he dressed up neatly, gathered a large group of people, loaded up with gifts, and called me to join them. I swear, when I saw those burly men with their shoulder poles, I thought I was done for. But I held my head high and marched along as if I weren't afraid of anything. The further we went, the more confused I became. Why were they beating drums and gongs? It wasn't until we arrived at this very gate that I realized—they were here to propose."
"Everyone knew what was going on—except for me and your mother. As it turned out, your grandfather had already observed your mother many times and even visited her mother-in-law. He thought that with such a gentle woman by my side, she might be able to keep his unruly son in check. you know? That was the one and only time your grandfather ever praised me."
"'My son may be rebellious, but he's got a good heart and he's trustworthy. If he says he'll marry Shufang, he means it—he'll treat her right for the rest of his life. And as her father-in-law, I promise I'll never let her suffer.'"
"Your mother had married her childhood sweetheart, Ye Jiaming, at twenty. They'd only been happily married for a short while when a typhoon capsized his fishing boat and took the family's breadwinner away. But she didn't leave—she continued teaching at the local school, caring for her mother-in-law, and helping to raise her two brothers-in-law. Her mother-in-law had wanted her to remarry, she refused, decide to stay and support the family. Her mother-in-law couldn't bear to see the clan leader's daughter bullying her poor daughter-in-law. She wanted your mother to start afresh in America. Most importantly, she thought I was a good man and asked Shufang to seriously consider it, telling her to give us an answer the next day."
"That night, Shufang asked Jiawei to bring me to the bamboo grove behind the village. I was ready to be rejected. Instead, she agreed to the marriage and explained her reasons. A teacher's salary was not enough to support her two young brothers-in-law and a sickly mother-in-law. She wanted to go to America to earn money and send it back to them. She promised she'd be a good wife, but she made it clear—though she'd stay by my side, her heart would always remain here."
Ye George gazed at the old photograph, and suddenly, it dawned on Ye Mingzhe what it truly meant to never grow tired of looking at someone.
"Not even a bit jealous?"
"I've looked at it for over thirty years. Any jealousy I might have had has long faded away."
"To love someone who'll always have someone else in their heart… Can you really do it?"
"Son, I've learned what really matters."
Ye George turned to him, his eyes deep and resolute.
"It's having her by my side."