The Fifth Son's Serious Illness

Guangyi and Lezhong went to Xuhui Middle School in Luzhou, Taipei County. From Laomei they took the highway bus to Tamsui, then the ferry across the Tamsui River to Bali on the other bank, then a coach to school—a very long journey.

Every Saturday afternoon the two boys came home; every Sunday afternoon they went back to school.

At such a young age they kept up that exhausting commute for three years for the sake of their futures. When they sat the senior high entrance exams, the fifth son got into the night division of Taipei Municipal Jianguo Senior High; Lezhong got into the high school attached to National Taiwan Normal University. Nine years as classmates in the same class, and from then on their paths parted.

Guangyi passed the university entrance exam and entered the law department at Soochow University. In his first year he fell gravely ill.

One day, during the break after lunch, he went to the sports ground to play ball. For no reason he could name, sudden stomach pain left him unable to stand. Classmates quickly called a car and took him to National Taiwan University Hospital casualty; then they notified my second daughter Chunfang, who was working in Taipei.

Chunfang was frantic when she got the call. She immediately rang her eldest sister, married in Banqiao, and her eldest brother and sister-in-law at a newspaper office. The eldest sister came at once; the brother and sister-in-law were too busy and could only come after work. I was working at the Catholic church in Laomei. When my daughter called, I hurriedly handed my duties to a friend. My husband was on duty too and could not get to Taipei, so I went alone to NTU Hospital casualty.

When the two daughters saw their mother, their eyes were red. The eldest daughter told me, “Mama, younger brother has acute appendicitis. They are preparing to operate now.” I was desperately worried and thought, “How can this happen?” I could only pray and ask God to bless the operation and see him safely through.

We waited in casualty. One hour, two hours passed—still no word.

The sisters asked around. Someone told them, “You should go to the operating theatre to ask—not stay in casualty.” That reminder made us realise at once, and we hurried to the theatre to enquire.

The doctor told us, “The patient has a perforated stomach, not appendicitis. We could not find the family. In an emergency we operated straight away. He is in the recovery room now. When the anaesthetic wears off he will go to a ward; then you may see him.”

We were stunned by the doctor’s words—frightened and anxious. Later the doctor explained, “He is still young and growing. In time his stomach can recover like anyone else’s. If you look after him well for a while after discharge, a young person mends quickly. Do not worry.” The head nurse also comforted us again and again with counselling until I could slowly set my mind at ease.

During the fifth son’s ten days in hospital, the news shook Mingde Village. Many elders came one after another to NTU Hospital to visit. Every uncle and elder brother made the long trip from Laomei on the highway bus, then the train to Taipei, then a city bus to the hospital, carrying milk powder, fruit, and tonic foods. The care and love everyone showed the fifth son left us as parents unable to find words enough to thank each good neighbour and friend.

On the tenth day, after the stitches were removed, we brought him home to convalesce. The term was nearly at exam time; the fifth son could not sit the papers and would make them up next term when he was well.

The boy studied hard. When the new term opened he took the make-up exams and passed without failing a subject. From there he finished university peacefully and on course.

After graduation, because of the stomach operation he did not have to do military service. He devoted himself to books and prepared for several civil-service examinations. He stayed at his eldest brother’s home, close to National Chengchi University, and went to the university library every day.

The Chengchi library was open to the public; anyone could read freely until they wanted to stop. In that fine setting he studied hard alongside candidates from many schools. When tired they went to a nearby junior high to play basketball, day after day.

When the exams came, they sat together. Every year a few passed; those who did not kept reading until they did.

Some classmates from poorer homes, to save money, often climbed the thousand-odd stone steps up to Zhinan Temple together for free vegetarian meals. After they passed, they would come at once to fulfil their vows.

The fifth son studied hard into his third year and passed one higher examination and two special examinations at once. Two years of training later he entered the judiciary and has gone on smoothly and safely to this day.