1940-Childhood

It is a group photo of my mother’s family: her parents, grandmother and brother and she. It was the first birthday of my mother’s brother. She was a little girl then.

My grandfather has eight brothers and married two wives. My mother was the daughter of the first wife and was the first girl in the family which made her become the most beloved one. As my grandfather’s father died when he was quite young, he was taken good care by his eight brothers. However, right before the liberation of China, his brothers decided to move to Hong Kong and Taiwan for business. My grandfather preferred to stay, as he believed that the Communist Party would be established for its people and he should make a contribution to his country as well. My mother chose to stay instead of being taken away by her eight uncles, even though she had to leave her mother and grandmother. That is how they were parted. After the Reform and Opening in China, my mother’s oldest uncle tried to reconnect her, but she refused.