Apr 16 2008
Uncle Harry
I don’t remember what I was looking for on the Internal - where and what else? - but found Uncle Zanzeng, Harry (1923 Shanghai - ). It was his picture that caught my eye, an elegant elder with silver hair and long silver beard to his chest, 孔子翻身? Don’t know why I didn’t ask Jiujiu first, but I called the author from the newspaper - the link to the article isn’t working any more, unfortunately. The operator listened to my plead then told me to call back tomorrow. I did, several times the next day, but no one picked it up. The day after I tried again, bingo, she picked up on the first ring. “Why didn’t you call yesterday?” She sounded bit annoyed. “Didn’t I tell you to call yesterday?”
“I did, but no one answered.” 向毛主席保证!
“What time did you call?”
“Around 11:30.”
“Oh, don’t you know that’s lunch break?”
Oh lord, I forgot. Sorrryyyyiii, I should have known better. I called the number she gave me. The reporter picked up immediately. Without much asay, he gave me Uncle Zanzeng’s phone.
After rounds of air kisses and huggies, we understand how we related and where does he belong on the family tree: he’s Popo’s brother’s son. Popo only had a younger brother Zizun (1904 Shanghai - 1980 Tianjin). Their mom died of postpartum fever 产后热 in Shanghai right after giving birth. Their maternal grandmother in Tianjin worried about future step mother scenario, asked to raise the pair. To my surprise, the Lius consented. Apparently they had no qualm of giving up a son, or it showed the Lius and Zhous had deep bond. In fact, Huizhi’s being the GM of the Industrial and Commerce Bank in Shanghai had everything to do with the Zhous - that’s another story.
The Lius had major ranking among their kids, hence Popo was the 7th in girls and Uncle Harry’s dad was 8th in boys.
Excitedly, I called jiujiu right after I hang up with Uncle Harry, “guess what, I just found another long lost uncle.”
“Who’s you talking about?” Jiujiu likes history and family stuff, and knows a lot.
“Uncle Zanzeng .. do you know him??”
A pause. “Oh, him ..”
“What do you mean by ‘oh him’?” I was expecting some enthusiasm or a pad on the shoulder, 
“Of course I knew him, Bajiu’s - 八舅 son.”
“?? ?? Oh?? We just went to Tianjin few months ago, how come we didn’t visit him?” .. It turned out, Jiujiu doesn’t like his cousin Zanzeng, thought he’s way too greedy by not sharing the parents’ house with his sister - another story, another time.