Xiao Li's Tales – Part 1
Yau Xiao Li and her husband Yau Gang waited in the baggage claim area of Portland International Airport, having flown down from Seattle, where they had passed through immigration. Xiao Li and Gang had only recently arrived in the United States from their native Hong Kong. For both, it was their first trip away from the Oriental City-State in more than thirty years, when each had been students abroad. Xiao Li and studied at the University of Washington, whereas her husband had worked in Seoul, South Korea. They had met in Hong Kong International Airport while awaiting the tram, and discovered that not only had they come from the same neighborhood, but that they had a mutual attraction. Though Gang was three years older, they both had likes and dislikes that were similar, and while riding the crowded and noisy tram not only did they continue with their conversation, but they made plans to meet again.
Eighteen months later, they were married. Their daughter Yau Xia was born a year later, and two years after that came their son, Yau Jian. It was their son whom they awaited in the baggage claim area. Xiao Li and Gang were relocating to Regal Bay, to live with their son and daughter-in-law until they could establish their own home. Though neither had work waiting, for both were now retired after many years working for the Government of Hong Kong in one capacity or another, Gang was eager to find a new life in the growing city his son had bragged about for many years. Xiao Li, on the other hand, knew what awaited her, for it was because of their grandchildren, and her daughter-in-law's return to work after their birth, that the Yau's were coming to America. Xiao Li would be taking care of the young infants, just fifteen months apart, while Vania returned to her job in the City Services Department.
"Father! Mother!" Xiao Li turned around to find her daughter-in-law, Vania, approaching them, her long arms held wide. The younger woman, a Japanese-American girl their son had met at UCLA, embraced Gang first, and then her. "So good to see you again!"
"As it is with you," Gang replied. He was still getting used to the idea of his son marrying a Japanese girl, let alone an American-born Japanese girl. Gang was an old-school traditionalist, and might have approved of his only son marrying a Chinese-American girl. Vania, the daughter of a retired U.S. Navy officer father and Japanese school teacher mother, met none of his desired qualifications. However, in true Chinese fashion, Gang never showed his disapproval in public. For Xiao Li, it was quite the opposite, as she always delighted in Vania's positive energy and excitement.
"Where is Jian?" Gang demanded as he began to load their luggage onto a cart. "He was to meet us."
"Jian sends his apologies, Father," Vania said. "He was called to a faculty conference this morning and was unable to make the drive up. He is truly saddened he could not be here."
"I was expecting my son," Gang reiterated as he loaded the last of his and his wife's luggage. Xiao Li admired her husband for a moment, watching him toss the baggage onto the luggage cart. He seemed a bit different in America for some reason than he had back in Hong Kong. He was 61, nearing 62 that month, and looked it. Yet he moved different in that moment, stronger and more fluid, Xiao Li thought. That all went away a moment later when he started grumbling under his breath, spitting out a long string of obscenities in their native tongue while rubbing his lower back. He looked his age again in Xiao Li's eyes.
"It's fine, Vania," Xiao Li smiled and patted her daughter-in-law's arm. "He is a gruff after long flights," she added of her husband. "This is really mild, as he slept most of the way across the ocean. We visited Italy some years ago and he was in a rage nearly the entire stay in Venice. Really, he will be fine."
"So, we have to ride in your car all the way?" Gang asked as he followed Vania and Xiao Li out into the sunshine and across to the parking garage, pushing the cart along.
"I rented a mini-van," Vania explained. "It will provide plenty of room for you to stretch out in back, Father, should you like."
"A mini-van!" Gang grumbled. Yet, when he saw the actual size of Vania's rental, he was impressed. It was easily twice the size of a standard van in Hong Kong. They loaded up the luggage in back, and with Vania driving and Xiao Li accompanying her in the front, Gang was indeed able to stretch out his legs, and by the time they were on Interstate 5 headed south, Gang was snoring.
"He really hates to travel," Xiao Li told Vania. They shared a gentle laugh, and then settled into catching up with each other. They stopped for gas and lunch an hour later, leaving Gang sleeping as they went inside the Subway, Xiao Li's favorite American restaurant. They brought Gang back a foot long Chicken Teriyaki sandwich and a bottle of Coke for when he woke up, and hit the road, cutting over to the coast and Highway 101 for the remaining two and a half hours of their trip. Although living in Hong Kong nearly all of her life, as they drove along the coastal highway Xiao Li still marveled at the beauty of the Pacific Ocean on her right, and the splendor of deep green forests and tall mountains to her left. The sun was bright and she needed her sunglasses most of the time.
Gang woke up long enough to grumble about being hungry, and then ate the sandwich Xiao Li handed him in silence. He was back asleep soon after. They stopped one more time for a bathroom break at a scenic overlook, where Gang wandered off up a trail into the forest. It took then nearly an hour to find him and get him back into the van to continue their journey.