4. Remembering my Older Brother
≪ 3. Grandpa's Dreams | Table of Contents | 4.1. 80 Memory Lane: A Life of Three Blessings ≫May Day 2017 has come. When I was checking the calendar, I noticed that the corresponding date on the lunar calendar was the sixth day of the fourth month. I suddenly realised that the day after tomorrow would have been my older brother Liu Xiehe’s 89th birthday.
It’s said that the eighth day of the fourth month was Shakyamuni’s birthday; my grandfather, being a Buddhist, was always elated on this day, and he would burn incense for the Buddha alongside celebrating my brother’s birthday. Nowadays, most people choose to determine their birthdays using the Gregorian calendar, so I usually send my brother well wishes according to the lunar calendar instead.
My brother passed away peacefully on February 6, 2016. Never again will we have an opportunity to celebrate his life through a birthday; his birthday has instead become a day of his remembrance and honour.
My brother dedicated his life to furthering our country’s medical field and practises. He was a renowned psychiatrist, and I’ve introduced his experiences and achievements in 《雪地征鸿》 in a chapter called “Thirty Achievements of Dust and Dirt Chinese: 三十功名尘与土, pinyin: sān shí gōng míng chén yú tǔ. ”, and I’ve supplemented this in “The Great Reward Chinese: 崇高的奖赏, pinyin: chóng gāo de jiǎng shǎng. ” in 《野草闲云》. In them, I described his title of “2013 National Exceptional Lawmaker Chinese: 2013年度全国法治人物, pinyin: 2013 nián dù quán guó fǎ zhì rén wù, lit. “2013 entire nation law person”. ” alongside the attendance of the award ceremony in Beijing.
Below, I’ve included a copy of “80 Memory Lane” (including a photo of our birthday celebration), authored by my brother; two pieces from the media; and Yunze's Chinese: 运泽. This is our glorious translator! poetry, which will comprise a written memorial for my brother.
(Written by Liu Zhonghe on month 4, day 8, year 2017 of the lunar calendar)