13" Ten Ping (Limited Edition)

Ten Ping's Story: Pursuing Dreams in Hong Kong

It was August 20th, 1964, and the sun was burning hot. Numerous passengers were starting to board the green train bound for Hong Kong.

"Don't take off these clothes before you arrive home," Grandma urged as she tugged at my collar.

My outfit was bulging ever so slightly as Grandma had sewn a temporary pocket on the inside of my undershirt with my visa in it. There was a removable string sewn on to seal the pocket’s opening, so as to keep my visa safe.

“Remember, your visa is hiding in the inner pocket I sewed for you. There might be some people who would want to steal that visa and impersonate you when you reach Hong Kong. Make sure you never lose it. In fact, you should always keep all your clothes on, just in case others try to steal them.” Grandma gazed at me intently until I nodded, and then she let me go. That was the last time I talked to Grandma for a very long while.

I boarded the long-distance train and recalled seeing my grandmother at the Shanghai railway station, with a liter of reluctance in my heart. I turned around, waved goodbye to my dear grandma and my dearest Shanghai, and entered the carriage. At just 15 years old, I boarded the train by myself to go see my parents in Hong Kong.

For the next 72 hours, I held onto my clothes tightly. The train was extremely crowded, with every seat essentially taken. I was sitting in the middle seat of a wooden bench, in between two adults. There was no air conditioning. To say the inside was hot would be an understatement. Everyone was sweating, and some men even took their clothes off. I was the only one who held onto my clothes tightly, despite sweat pouring profusely from my back. Of course, the sweat and the heat and the poor conditions of the toilet caused the inside of the train to smell no better than a pig’s pen. I did not dare leave my seat either and tried to limit my bathroom visits to only when everybody had fallen asleep. This was to make sure no one would try and take my seat as well.

On the third evening, the long-distance train stopped at the Guangzhou Hotel. We all left the train to sleep in a hostel that had 10 passengers per room. The train passengers hurriedly took a shower and cooked food but I did not dare to, remembering the advice of my grandmother. I kept a firm grip on my clothes.

“One more day, just one more day and I will be out of this furnace, reach my new home in Hong Kong, and finally see my parents again.” I encouraged myself and counted down the time slowly to the moment when I would no longer be in this situation.

Due to my family’s poor financial conditions, my parents made the decision, when I was seven years old, to take my young brother to Hong Kong so as to earn a living, and hopefully create a good life for the next generation.

I remembered what my mother had requested of me prior to her departure. "Ten Ping, after I leave, you will be responsible for taking care of your sister," my mother said as she stared at me and stroked every inch of my hair with her warm hands. I kept her request close to my heart.

I had a restless night while the rest of the passengers snored loudly in the room. We boarded the train early the next morning and traveled for another 8 hours before we reached Hong Kong.

The train rumbled on for what felt like a painfully long time. However, it was finally starting to approach the station. It hissed as it slowed down.

After it had finally stopped, I timidly stepped out of the train and moved towards the immigration section. I removed the string at the top of the pocket my grandma had sewn on the inside of my undershirt, which was keeping my visa safe, and handed over the visa to the immigration officer. The officer took it with a smile, stamped it, and let me through.

On the other side was my mother who had been away for eight years. She was looking for me in the crowd.

After a long time, I finally passed through the crowd and saw her with a red can in her hand. I ran over and hugged her tightly. "Hungry?" she asked with a gentle smile, wrapping her arms around me.

 "This is Coke, drink it up." She released her arms and held out the red can. Then almost immediately, she drew back.

“Gosh, you smell funny.”

“I know, Mom, I haven’t showered in a few days,” I laughed a little, embarrassed.

She opened her eyes in shock, and seemingly wanted to say something but held back immediately.

“Well, let’s get you cleaned up a little,” Mom smiled.

I took 3 showers that night and thus began my adventures in Hong Kong.