Went back to Yunlin County, Bei Gang Town, Kou Hu Township (雲林縣 北港鎮 口湖鄉) to visit my uncle (二伯), who is my dad's second elder brother. I grew up in that place when I was young, and he took great care of me.

My 二伯 is a fisherman who rears eel, which are eventually exported to Japan. He is 70 this year. When he saw my mum and me, he teared and said that he might not see me when I return to Taiwan next time. Currently, his liver is infected with cancerous cells. Things look really bad this time round. Haiz..

In fact, I've just learnt of a reason why I'm borned. Back then in about 1984, my 二伯 was already in his late thirties, yet unmarried. My maternal grandma wanted my Mum to have another baby so that I can be given to him, so that the incense fire can be passed on, so that one day when he passes away, there'll be someone to burn incense to him. In Chinese term, 一代香火，永遠留傳。Eventually I was borned, but my 二伯 didn't want to take me, coz he's a fisherman and I looked too 'tender and cute' to be a fisherman's son. If he had taken me, then I will probably be out in the sea now...

二伯 escaped death many times. About a few years back, my dad was driving him and 2 other relatives when a speeding car knocked into them from the side at about 90km/hr. My dad had a stroke ever since, and his right leg and hand had no strength since. 二伯 turned into a vegetable and the doctors said that it was hopeless, but a year later, he recoverd. There are other serious incidents which 二伯 was admitted to the hospital and the doctors gave negative remarks, but he stood strong and recovered. But this time round, I'm not so sure. The discussion on inheritance and type of cremation/burial are in progress.

As 二伯 didn't take me with him, he found a wife who was divorced and gave birth to a son. However, he was often ill treated by his wife's son, who was the result of the wive's previous husband. He kicked and punched him mercilessly. I was still very young then. If I had knew earlier, I'll probably call the police to arrest him for physical assault. As a result of such physical attacks, 二伯's internal organs aren't in good condition now.

二伯 took great care of my mum and my brother and I since I was young. Even when my dad had left us when I was about 3, and that was when I left 北港 for Taipei, 二伯 took 4-5hours ride on a coach to Taipei to look for us and brought us money. Even when my dad had forsaken us, 二伯 still loved and cared for us. His love was so great that his wife is jealous even until today. She shrugged her shoulders when we visited 二伯 today.

We'll be bringing him to the hospital on Tuesday for a check-up. I don't know what's going to happen, but 60 years old definitely sounds too young to leave. He has to wait for me to grow up and build my career, to build my dad and him a bungalow with a big garden so that both of them can retire together, to tend the flowers, to have tea appreciaton, to chew peanuts, to relax and enjoy after toiling all their lives...