On February 15, 2021, the fourth day of the Chinese New Year (Xinchou), which is our golden wedding anniversary, we took photos to commemorate it and compose a "qijue" poem
The Fifty Mandarin Ducks and in Seventies,
With the Golden Boy and Jade Maiden as their predecessors.
Wind rain burn marks mark a happy and joyful golden wedding.
Wang Jian's Rhyme and Poetry:
Amidst the ups and downs of fifty springs, kindness, love, and genuine affection are deep.
Two golden wedding photos, still showing the heart of a golden boy and a jade girl.
Wang Jian was our disciple who entered Nanjing Institute of Chemical Technology (later Nanjing University of Technology) in 1977 after resuming the college entrance examination and became the head of the pharmaceutical and chemical industry system in Xuzhou City.
Golden Wedding Photo 1
Golden Wedding Photo 2
On January 22, 2023, the first day of the Chinese New Year, I sent the following message in the "Overseas Family" chat group:
On the morning of the first day of the Chinese New Year, Grandpa had something to say.
This year marks your 20th anniversary of going abroad, coinciding with the 80th birthday of your grandparents. The relaxation of epidemic prevention measures has created conditions for a big gathering in our family. Southerners pay special attention to their eightieth birthday. Nantong people say they want to eat noodles, that is, eat longevity noodles to celebrate their birthday. If they can't do it, their sons are not filial. So I suggest respecting this custom, and arranging the date of your return and return around the sixth day of the sixth lunar month (July 23, the Gregorian calendar) and the sixth day of the first lunar month (February 15, the Gregorian calendar) in 2024. On July 23, 2023, which happens to be the summer vacation, it is estimated that the children will be on vacation. The event will be held in Xuzhou, Zhang Haijun's family of three invited. On February 15, 2024, children in the United States and Australia are going to school, so it may be considered to arrange a more compact schedule and minimize their time in China. Returning to Nantong on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year is during the winter vacation, and everyone from the big family can attend. This matter still has one year left, let's talk about it later. End。
Zhang Meilan considered that it would be very difficult to return from the United States due to the Russia Ukraine war. On May 28, 2023, she said in the "Trans Ocean Family" family group:
Meng Lei and Liang Liang: We are delighted to see that Angie and Andrew are very healthy and happy. There is nothing more important than the safety, health, and happiness of the children, including Song Wuyang. Therefore, I request that you do not come back this year, as the journey is difficult and unsafe; Now people in China are worried about whether there will be a second infection of the virus. We are still in good health and do not need your care and attention; We are happy to see that everything is going smoothly with you. There are plenty of opportunities for our reunion, and everything should be based on the actual situation. Children's health and academic performance are the most important!
Meng Lei replied, "We have all bought the tickets
Song Li said he can come back in July, but Xu Li and Song Wuyang can return to China together during the Spring Festival.
This makes me very happy, "I replied," You've been abroad for 20 years. Let's get together, great!
There are no obstacles for Song Li to return to home country. He will take off from Melbourne on July 15, 2023, and then transfer to Guanyin in Xuzhou at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport. He will arrive in Guangzhou on July 16 and catch lunch in Xuzhou at noon on the same day.
The Russo Ukrainian War resulted in Russia banning American flights from crossing its border, greatly reducing American flights between China and the United States. Although Chinese flights can pass through Russian airspace, the principle of reciprocity has forced Chinese airlines to reduce their flights to the United States. Meng Lei took a flight to Taiwan with her two children, flying from Chicago to Taipei and waiting for a layover waiting for flying to mainland China. It took a long time, and we felt sorry for mother and her two children, due to the lack of normal sleep and the time difference, they must have been very tired.
Song Liangliang's words in WeChat on June 23rd:
They will fly to Xi'an tomorrow, and I won't be able to work from home. I'll have to leave in another three weeks. Then we will return to Xuzhou together on August 9th.
After the conversation, I understood that Meng Lei will work in Xi'an for three weeks and then come to Xuzhou at the same time as Liang Liang.
On July 22, 2023, Meng Lei and two children departed from Xi'an, and Song Liangliang flew from Taipei to Shanghai, and then took the high-speed rail to Xuzhou East Station. The arrangement is very tight.
On July 23, 2023, the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, a 16 person celebration event was held at the Tianfu Hotel in Xuzhou to celebrate Zhang Meilan's 80th birthday. Song Li brought a birthday card from Song Wuyang to his grandmother, filled with words of affection that moved me to tears
Dear Grandma：Thank you for taking care of me from a baby to a little kid, I still recall all the memories I have spent with you. Now that everything is returning to normal, I hope to see you again in person soon. Love from Peter
Meilan’s 80 birthday Party
Song Defu's 80th birthday celebration was held in his hometown in Nantong, Tongzhou. Song Li, Xu Li, and Song Wuyang all returned to Xuzhou before the Spring Festival. We, the elderly couple, arrived in Jinyu on the afternoon of the third day of the Lunar New Year on February 12, 2024. We can't recall how many years we haven't celebrated the Spring Festival with our brothers and sisters. We attended the Spring Festival banquet hosted by sister Song Dexiu in the evening; On the fourth day of Spring Festival, my younger brother Song Delong set the table; On the afternoon and dinner of the fifth day of February 14th, the fifth day of the Spring Festival Song Dequn and Song Xianghong, two younger sisters hosted at a restaurant. Song Li and his wife arrived from Xuzhou, and Song Liangliang was picked up by Wu Gang (my niece son-in-law who works in Shanghai) from Pudong Airport and taken directly to Jinyu's hometown. Everyone gathered at Jinyu Chunxu Hotel, and our grandson Song Wuyang was visiting his hometown for the first time since he became an adult. It is estimated that he cannot understand the relationships between so many people.
Song Wuyang bought a special 80th birthday card for his grandfather and wrote words as follows:
Thank you for taking care of me as a kid and thank you for giving me, Angie and Andy the opportunity to live a different life.
Love from Song Wuyang
On February 15th, the sixth day of the Chinese New Year, to celebrate my 80th birthday, my nephew Wei Jianzhong booked the "Captain Big Kitchen Goose" hotel at noon according to my wishes. This hotel has a lobby that can accommodate ten round tables, while our banquet has six tables, making it very spacious. There is a high platform in front, equipped with sound equipment. My younger generation is at the age when they love karaoke. Everyone has been prepared for it, and after singing together on stage, they will call for individual performances. Everyone had a great time playing.
The highlight is the group photo after the meal, with 58 people of four generations. I had already arranged the positions in advance and posted them in the group chat. Everyone quickly occupied their own position and I checked one by one. After that, the photographer pressed the shutter button several times. This big photo cost a lot of money, and everyone's name is written in the corresponding position below. Each family should take one photo. Unfortunately, seven people were absent, including my sister’s granddaughter Wei Yingya, my second daughter-in-law, and my granddaughter and grandson, total number of the big family should be 65.
Four Generations together
In order to make up for Meng Lei and her two children not being able to attend my 80th birthday event in Nantong, and considering that the siblings of Song Angie and Song Andrew have not been to Nantong yet, especially since Angie has become sensible and really wants to get to know her relatives in her hometown, Song Liangliang and Meng Lei have decided to organize a root seeking trip for the children during the summer vacation. This time when returning to China, Meng Lei took her two children on a Hong Kong flight to Xi'an and Song Liangliang flew to Hong Kong on July 13th. The four of them flew from Xianyang and Hong Kong to Xiaoshan, Hangzhou respectively. It was also reported that the flight from Hong Kong to Hangzhou was delayed by three hours, and the flight from Xianyang to Hangzhou was cancelled. On July 14th at 15:33, I got to know in WeChat that the four of them had met, which made my anxious heart fall to the ground. Then the four of them went on a trip to Zhejiang and intentionally found the Pinghu Autumn Moon scenic spot that we took photos during their trip to West Lake in 1985. They also took a photo of the same location and style. In 1985, Song Liangliang was 9 years old and Song Li was 13 years old. Now, Angel is 13 years old and Youyou is 8 years old, which is very similar in age; At that time, Song Defu was 41.5 years old and Zhang Meilan was 42 years old, 6 years younger than Song Liangliang and 3 years younger than Meng Lei. Meng Lei and Liangliang married early but became pregnant later.
1985 SongZhang of four at Pinhuqiuyue Scenic Spot
2024 SongMeng of four at Pinhuqiuyue Scenic Spot
On July 19, 2024, Song Liangliang treated his relatives and friends to a meal at Jinyu Chunxu Hotel, and 11 brothers and sisters of his generation paid for dinner at the "Captain Dazao Goose" Hotel. Those who Loved singing Kala OK enjoyed themselves to the full. On July 20th, we went to Langshan Scenic Area to let two children to see the tail of the Yangtze River.
with two Aunts’ families
Song Liangliang wrote affectionately on the high-speed train back to Xuzhou: We got on the train, and this trip was very successful. It gave the children the opportunity to get to know our big family and let them know where their roots lie. Thank you all, dear family!
Oct. 2, 2024
