His Life Without Her (17)

Grandpa switched off the TV and sat quietly opposite me. He looked at me without much facial expression.

"Mark, I did what I did because you were just starting your career while your girlfriend is busy with her studies. If your girlfriend had been willing, I would have allowed you to get married first. But seeing the situation, it was the perfect opportunity for both of you to grow and mature. It's better that way than getting married young first then leave her alone at home while pursuing your career. As for Agnes, she has sure done a real damage in your relationship. I regret having hurt your girlfriend by her. However, she is already banished to the middle east." Grandpa's voice was calm but it made me all the more annoyed and angry.

"I can't believe you can do this to your own blood, grandpa!" I turned my head away from him.

He sighed. "Mark, all these things are spices of life. When you grow old, these things are worth remembering and cherishing. You can only learn to cherish the things that made you swea. I know you understand what I mean. As for your girlfriend, don't worry, Mr. Wang will surely win this election. Your girlfriend has been an all out help during the campaign. If she'll ask a favor from them later, I'm sure Mr. Wang doesn't mind granting her a good post. Trust me, Mark. I'll let her appear under your nose."

"Are you saying you are conniving with Mr. Wang, grandpa?" I asked surprised.

"I told you I had been assigned at the urban north before. Of course, I know him. We know each other. Does that come as a surprise to you?" Grandpa said matter-of-factly.

He continued. "Your girlfriend surely knows what she is doing. But I'm not sure what's going on in her heart. Her choices of activities tell me that she doesn't want to be tied down yet. She is free spirited. How would you handle her now that she can handle herself well. That's quite hard, Mark!" Grandpa sounded helpless.

"Are you saying you have been spying on her all this time, Grandpa?" I looked at grandpa curiously.

"I'm not an almighty one. I just gather my information in the air." Grandpa said as he sipped his tea.

"So what are my chances of meeting her? Can you guarantee? You aren't a schemer in the first place, are you?" I raised him an eyebrow.

"Don't talk to me like that. You should be grateful that I am your grandpa! I don't need to explain to you everything. I say, just be assertive and be vigilant. One wrong move and your woman will be snatched from you forever." Grandpa's tone had some sense of warning.

" You always act absurd. Why don't you arrange circumstances for my brother so he can get a wife if you really are that almighty?" I said under my breath.

Grandpa looked at me like he was about to say something but he shut his mouth and pursed his lips.

"Mark, you must be tired and exhausted. Have you had enough sleep over there? How are the Laws?" Grandma diverted the topic having sensed that my grandpa refused to talk anymore.

"Oh, right Grammie, Mrs Law sent a jar of rice wine and some fruits for you. I asjed aunty Lina to put it in the kitchen. You should check it."

"Jar of rice wine? Are you sure they gave the whole jar?" Grandma's face was so surprised.

"Come Grammie, let's see if it's not a jar then what is it called?" I pulled grandma up from the sofa then we headed to then kitchen leaving grandpa slumped on the sofa. His eyes closed.

"Mark, don't you know that these things are valuable today? Jars like these are centuries old. They are passed as heirloom. Why on earth did they give this to you?" Grandma was all the more surprised.

"I don't know. Mrs. Law just gave it to me saying I'll bring it home for my elders. I don't even know the value of that. But I guarantee that the thing inside is so good. You can try." I told grandma with a childish grin.

"Could it be that they are passing a message though this?" Grandma whispered.

"I just felt they are so nice to me, Grammie. I almost believed that they are my family already. But what does a jar of wine mean?" I asked as I lifted the jar from the bag.

"Two things: First, it means they want you to remember them. Second, they might have seen you liking the wine and they don't want to be bothered by you so they want you to make it for yourself." Grandma said seriously.

"Ha ha ha! That's almost like it Grammie! " I laughed hard having heard grandma's explanation.

"What's so funny there? " Grandpa's slippers sounded being dragged towards us.

"Daddy, come here! See what they gave to us? Isn't this a treasure? " Grandma called grandpa.

"A jar? Wow!!!!" Grandpa's eyes got so wide. "Are you sure you did not steal that Mark?" He looked at me like I did something immoral.

"Me? Stealing? Are you asking me that?" It was my turn to make my eyes wide in disbelief.

"Why would they give this whole thing to you? I don't see any reason at all." Grandpa touched the jar.

"You can return to them if you don't want it, Grandpa! I'm not forcing you to believe they gave it to me." I said a bit dismayed by grandpa's accusation.

" It's not that. You don't know how valuable this thing is for a family. Don't you know that only well off families have this kind of jar? These things are passed from generation to generation of rich families. So why does this precious thing suddenly end up in your hands, Mark? You should explain how this ended up to you!" Grandpa demanded.