The Chronicles of Chow King Leong & His Family

Page 3

Following Wing Him’s departure, Chow King made plans to immigrate to America. The same year, in the next village of Haw, an elderly, wealthy, gentleman, already in his nineties, was anxious to see his youngest child, Lau Yung, a girl of fourteen, be married and settled. The Lau family owned tracts of timberland in the adjacent province of Kwangsi, supplying essential material for the family’s coffin industry. They operated strings of pawnshops throughout the two provinces, providing loans to the more unfortunate or more than likely, the spend thrift. All in all, as Chow King would comment, “Not too savory the kind of business to deal with.” But the Lau family also cultivated large fields, engaged in fish hatcheries and maintained duck ponds. The sundry activities furnished managerial jobs to all the male members of the Lau family. But by the time Lau Yung left for the United States, much of the fortune had been squandered away by the Casanovas and Don Juans of the Lau family.
Lau Yung was pampered, but not spoiled. Her oldest sister, born of her father’s first wife could easily be her grandmother. Very early in life, her feet were bound as custom demanded. The custom of binding the feet gave women a mark of gentility; to some extent, a symbol of wealth; the climax of culture. The smaller the feet, the more desirable was the woman; and the fact that she could not walk on her own feet did not matter. These women were usually betrothed to men of great means; men who could provide servants who would then carry the women on their backs.
Chow King was from a poor peasant family.

Chow King came to the US on board the SS City of Rio de Janeiro arriving on November 17, 1897. A few years later, this ship became the worst shipping disaster in the history of SF Bay, and is Natioinal Register # 88002394 Click to view larger

But Lau Yung’s father could see the potential in this young farmer from Low Chow. Possibly, word had gotten to him of this dedicated person – with limited education and even less means, but endowed with honesty, patience and compassion. Thus a very young and wealthy Lau Yung of Haw village was wedded to the very poor but diligent and dependable Chow King of Low Chow village.
Soon after the wedding, Chow King, now renamed Leong Moon, left for the United States. With little to go on, and uncertain as to the future in an alien land, he did not press Lau Yung to accompany him. Instead, he had hopes of making his fortune early and then returning to claim her. Lau Yung elected to remain with her family in Haw village continuing to enjoy all the niceties of a leisurely life. Chow King made several return trips to China. Each time Lau Yung was compelled to make a hasty visit to Low Chow, accompanied by an entourage of servants, carrying not only her personal necessities, but even sacks of rice and other edibles for her meals. Once, envying the caravan of servants and provisions, her husband’s oldest sister jokingly teased, “Why not bring along a stove also?” In the Shun Tak culture, it was understood that once the wife partakes of her husband’s food, she must then remain in his household. Lau Yung made sure that she brought plenty of food with her on these few and far between appearances. For thirteen years, she put off her wifely duty, declining to take her place with her husband in his newly embraced country.

Page First 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Last Next