38. Visit to Homeland

One of our father's biggest accomplishment was when he took our mother to visit his homeland in China which he left behind more than 49 years ago. In 1976, with his savings from his Employee Provident Fund (EPF), father had enough money to take our mother to his ancestral village in Qing Yuan.

They flew by plane to Hong Kong and then took the ferry across to Quangzhou, and then to the Chan Village in Qin Xin. They brought along some gifts such as a bicycle which they bought in Hong Kong, clothings, watches, etc. for his cousins and their families. Back then, life in Qing Yuan was still difficult though they have enough to go by.

I remembered the many occasions when father sent money home through couriers or clansmen who frequently traveled between Taiping and Quangzhou. All these were done on trust and good faith.

While it was a very sentimental journey home for our father, our mother found the weather in Qing Yuan too cold and windy.

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