The Love that last for Ten Generations – Third Generation ~ Tying of Hair of Love (十世緣之第三世結髮雙隨)

In here, you all will be reading thru a Long Story of 10 Series. This Long Story is written base on the Spiritual Reading & Prediction, meaning that ALL the Characters in the Story are “True”. In-order not to reveal the True Identity of the Real People involved, the Names of the Characters will be changed.

Here it goes, starting from the Third Generation of the Continuous Love…

In the Celestial Realm (天界), in the Working Court of Lord Yue Lao (月老星君), Lord Qing Xuan (青玄老人) was there enjoying the Celestial Tea that Lord Yue Lao had offered to him. Just as both of them were about to sip in the fragrance Tea, the young assistant of Lord Yue Lao, known as Hong Ling Zi (紅靈子) ran into the Court, claiming excitingly that 3 Gusts of Energies (三股元神) had flew to the Main Gate of Yue Lao’s Court.

After making some predictions from the Finger Formation (掐指), Lord Yue Lao & Lord Qing Xuan knew of what had happened and so, Lord Yue Lao proceed with the checking on the Relationship Record Book (姻緣簿) and within moment, Lord Yue Lao summoned Hong Ling Zi to his side to advise on him of bringing the 3 Gust of Energies to the Eastern Heavenly Gate (東天門) to release them out for Re-incarnation.

Upon getting the order, Hong Ling Zi went to the spot of where the Energies stationed and with a grab, he captured the 3 Energies and ran towards the Eastern Gate, 1st by releasing the Black Gust of Energy into Han Mansion, followed by the Gold Energy into Liu Mansion and last, the Green Energy into Li Mansion.

On the other hand, in the Mortal Realm, Han Dynasty Emperor Liu Che (漢武帝劉徹) just got on his Throne (BC140 – BC87). During this Era, the Mortal Realm was enjoying Peace & Prosperity.

One Day, while Emperor Liu Che was having his Morning Meeting Session with his Officers, Duke Liu Yi (劉毅列侯 – Lie Hou is an Official Term used to address High Rank Officers in Han Dynasty) was being summoned to the front for Rewarding of Tons of Gold & Silver. With Gratitude, Duke Liu Yi kowtowed with respect and was released from the Morning Meeting Session early for returning home for his Son’s 40 Days of Born Celebration.

Upon reaching home, Madam Liu was there to usher in Duke Liu Yi with their son, Liu Jun (劉鈞). Just as he stepped into the House, Duke Li arrived at the doorway to delivery his Greeting to Duke Liu.

Duke Li Ning (李寧列侯), an Officer in the Han Empire and also the Old Good Friend of Duke Liu. Due to his Wife would be giving birth in no time, he had to apply leave from the Emperor to stay at home to accompany his Wife. Today, due to it was the 40 Days Celebration of the New Born Boy of Duke Liu Yi, Duke Li had to come over to Liu’s Mansion to send the Greeting to Duke Liu.

Realising that it was Duke Li, Duke Liu immediately ushered him into the Main Hall for the Offering of Tea. Upon having their Tea, Duke Li sent his Greeting to Duke Liu and Duke Liu returned his Greeting to him too, cos Madam Li would be giving birth in a week’s time. With the to & fro greetings, both of them laughed happily and wishes each other that may 1 Day, they could be much closer with the arrival of the Children.

In the Noon, more Guests arrived at the Mansion of Duke Liu and the Celebration started in no time. Just as All the Guests were there to send their Greeting to Duke Liu, Duke Han (韓正天列侯) arrived at the Mansion of Duke Liu. As Duke Han walked into the Celebration Hall, he gave everyone a nasty stare and upon arriving at the seat of Duke Liu, Duke Han started to wish Duke Liu with some untruthful wishes. Upon hearing, Duke Li was about to talk back, but after Duke Liu hinted Duke Li not too, Duke Li had to suppress his anger.

Knowing that Duke Han was here to seek trouble, Duke Liu carefully and politely ushered him to a Seat and then Offered him with a cup of Wine for thanking him for taking the trouble of travelling to his House for joining in the Celebration.

After sipping a mouthful of Wine, Duke Han spited out the Wine and left the House, saying that the Wine had turned sour.

Upon seeing that, the other Guests were being provoked, but due to Duke Han was the pampered Officer of the Dowager, everyone had to tolerate and Duke Liu had to keep quiet.

Within a week, Madam Li gave birth to a Little Girl, on the Day of the 40 Days Celebration, Duke Liu was being invited to the Celebration. Upon looking at the Girl, Duke Liu was deeply attracted by the appearance of the Girl and so, with the exchanging of Vow, Duke Liu wanted Duke Li to marry his Daughter to Liu Jun as Wife after both of them had grown up and Duke Li agreed on that.

Time Flies.

With a Blink, Liu Jun was already 14 years old.

One Day, after returning from the School, Liu Jun was about to go to look for his father in the Imperial Officer Resting Lounge, Liu Jun’s future Wife – Li Jing Er (李晶兒), was also on her way there. Upon seeing her, Liu Jun started to get nervous and shy. When both of them met up, Liu Jun bow to Li Jing Er and with blushed-face, Li Jing Er had to return her respect to Liu Jun.

Just as both of them were about to enter into the Resting Lounge, Han Ba Hu (韓霸虎) – son of Duke Han, was there to stop them from entering. Due to Duke Liu & Duke Li had advise on the 2 of them of not to provoke Han family, Liu Jun & Li Jing Er tried not to engage into any Conflict with him and so, both of them turned away trying to enter into the Resting Lounge by another path.

Just at the moment, Han Ba Hu tried to stop them again, this time round, Li Jun got provoked and so, he shouted at Han Ba Hu, asking him to get out of the way. Knowing that Liu Jun had got provoked, Han Ba Hu didn’t intend to stop and soon, both of them got into fighting.

Upon seeing that, Li Jing Er was shocked and immediately, she ran into the resting lounge to look for her father & Duke Liu for assistance. Knowing that the Son had got into fighting with Han Ba Hu, Duke Liu had to dash out to cease the fighting before any regrets occurring.

Approaching the fighting ground, Duke Han was already there ordering his assistants to catch hold of Liu Jun. By seeing that, Duke Liu went forward to ask for releasing of his Son. Duke Han pretended that he didn’t hear anything and just before Duke Han was about to set off, Duke Liu kneeled down to plead for forgiven. Knowing that Duke Liu had put down his pride, Duke Han finally decided to release Liu Jun, but with some in-returns - Duke Liu had to give up his Position as an Assistant Premier.

Deep inside the heart, Duke Liu knew that Duke Han had been eyeing for his Position & Wealth for a long time. Besides that, Duke Liu was also getting old and in-order to take good care of his Son, Duke Liu had already had the thought of retiring. And so, immediately without hesitation, Duke Liu agreed with Duke Han’s request. Upon hearing that, Duke Han was delighted and happily, he laughed loudly and left the spot after releasing Liu Jun.

Looking at his father’s state, Liu Jun was totally heart-broken. At the moment, in his mind, he only thought of revenge and wanting Duke Han & Han Ba Hu to die. With the assistance of Duke Li, all of them returned to Liu’s Mansion.

On the Night, Liu Jun couldn’t get into any sleep, cos the scene of how his father was being degraded and laughed at made his blood boil. From then, he promised that he would train hard to master his Martial Art and one day, he would take revenge for his father.

On BC125, 16th Day of Lunar 5 Month, Duke Liu Yi resigned from his Position as an Assistant Premier of Han Empire and his Position was being took over by Duke Han. On the following Day, Duke Li Ning also sent in his Resignation and was being granted by Emperor Liu Che.

After the Resignation, Duke Liu Yi & Duke Li Ning decided to move back to their Hometown and so, after some simple packing, both families made their way back to the Hometown on the 6th Day of Lunar 6 Month.

Just as they were about to set off, a big troop of Armies surrounded them under the Order of Duke Han. In the Order, Duke Liu Yi & Duke Li Ning were found guilty of accepting Bribes from the Commoners & Promoting of the Teaching of Confucianism (in this Period, Confucianism is not allowed to be promoted and can lead to Distorting of the Peacefulness of the Country) and so, both of them were being captured and put into the Heavenly Jail (天牢).

Seeing that, the 2 Madams were shocked and frightened and with the assistance of the Old Servants at home, the 2 families had to return back to their Hometown first before any further issues occurred.

With sadness and fear, the 2 families had to set off while some of the young servants stayed back to do following-up on the outcome of the capturing.

On BC125, 12th Day of Lunar 10 Month, Duke Liu Yi & Duke Li Ning were being executed with the Order given by Emperor Liu Che. On that Day, Snow was strong and the Sky turned extremely dark. According to the Elders, they believed that Duke Liu Yi & Duke Li Ning were innocent and were wrongly excused by the Evil Officer.

Upon receiving the news, Madam Li’s heart attack relapsed and pass-on. Li Jing Er break-down terribly and Liu Jun made his vow in front of the Heaven that he would take revenge for his father and father-in-law.

After preparing a Simple Funeral for Madam Li, Madam Li was being buried within 49 Days. From then, Liu Jun started his Martial Art training under a retired Military Teacher of the Imperial Camp.

BC129, at the age of 18 years old, Liu Jun had somehow mastered his Martial Art and so, he decided to return back to the Imperial City to seek revenge for his Father & Duke Li. On the Day of his departure, Li Jing Er made a toast to Liu Jun and told him that, no matter what, she would wait for his return and if he didn’t return safely, Li Jing Er would follow him wherever he went.

Upon hearing that, Liu Jun was touched and both of them hug together sadly & cried aloud.

After Zi hour (子時), Liu Jun set off.

2 weeks later, Liu Jun arrived at the Imperial City. Knowing that Duke Han was now an Important Officer in the Imperial Court, there were sure to have a lot of Guards around him protecting him and so, Liu Jun observed carefully on the daily activities of Duke Han and would wait for the best suitable timing to take action.

After waited for a month, Liu Jun had found a good suitable timing to assassinate Duke Han. Just as Liu Jun was running towards Duke Han, Han Ba Hu appeared in front of Liu Jun. Liu Jun was shocked but with his determination, Liu Jun had to be firm and with a blow, he knocked towards Han Ba Hu. Without any preparation, Han Ba Hu was being knocked down onto the floor.

Just as Han Ba Hu was about to stand up, Liu Jun used his sword to poke into the Heart of Han Ba Hu and on the spot, Han Ba Hu was killed.

After Han Ba Hu was killed, Liu Jun turned to Duke Han. Due to his reckless action, the Guards were already being notified, within seconds, Liu Jun was being surrounded by the Guards. Without fear, Liu Jun tried his very best to fight back.

During the fighting, both of his arms were badly cut by the swords and spears, but Liu Jun didn’t give up. Just as Liu Jun was about to approach Duke Han, an arrow shot into Liu Jun’s heart from the back.

Even though Liu Jun had got an arrow shot, he didn’t collapsed. In his mind, he only thought of taking revenge for his father & Duke Li and also, to take good care of Li Jing Er.

When the blood started to flow out slowly from the front of his chest, then Liu Jun knew that everything was already too late.

Revenge failed.

Taking care of his Mother was not possible anymore.

Loving of Li Jing Er could not be fulfilled in this life time.

Staring at the blood dripping, Liu Jun cried and shouted out loudly – Why was Heaven so unfair to him…

Just at the moment of blaming of Heaven, Duke Han ordered the Guards to kill Liu Jun on the spot and chop him into mince-meat to feed the dogs.

BC129, 7th Day of Lunar 5 Month, Liu Jun left the World with Hatred & Sorrows.

On the Night of Liu Jun’s passing-on, Li Jing Er had a dream seeing Liu Jun standing in front of her with a sorrowful smile. After waking up, Li Jing Er started to have fever and on the following day, Li Jing Er started to vomit blood whenever she had her medicine.

3 weeks later, the news of Liu Jun’s passing-on arrived at the Hometown, upon receiving the news, Liu Jun’s Mother fainted and Li Jing Er was shocked and totally upset on the passing-on of Liu Jun.Returning to her bedroom, Li Jing Er took out the Handkerchief that Liu Jun gave her and write a Poem on it, the Poem went like this:

緣緣緣生緣已滅。(translated as Fate has appear but Fate is also gone by now)

情情情真情難踐。(translated as We had encountered True love, but it does not last long)祈願來世兩相遇。(translated as Since its now gone, we can only hope that we meet in the next life)在行白髮鴛鴦戀。(translated as When we meet in the next life, hope that we can be husband & wife and enjoy our love for long and last)

After writing the Poem, Li Jing Er hung herself in the Bedroom, leaving the Poem on her Bed with a stalk of her Hair and the Hair that Liu Jun had left for her before he set off for the revenge.

When the maid of Li Jing Er took up the 2 Stalks of Hair, she found out that they were being tied tightly together that no matter how hard they tried to pull them apart, the Hair were not able to be separated.

With a gust of Wind, the Lover returned back to the Tunnel of Re-incarnation.A Poem was being written to Praise on the True Love of them:

結髮夫妻情。(translated as With Fate, a couple become Husband & Wife)

難分與難捨。(translated as With Love, both of them are not able to separate)

一朝為夫妻。(translated as Once the Love is strengthen, no one is able to regret)

百世永相隨。(translated as No matter where the other party goes, the other one will followed)

To be continued… …

The Love that last for Ten Generations – Second Generation ~ Bones of Dignity (十世緣之第二世挖骨明志)

In here, you all will be reading thru a Long Story of 10 Series. This Long Story is written base on the Spiritual Reading & Prediction, meaning that ALL the Characters in the Story are “True”. In-order not to reveal the True Identity of the Real People involved, the Names of the Characters will be changed.

Here it goes, starting from the Second Generation of the Continuous Love…

Entering into the Re-incarnation Tunnel, Heavenly Marshal Jin (瑤池天將金天君) & Fairy Qing Xuan (青玄玄女) were being re-incarnated into Shang Dynasty.

In the period of their born, Shang Dynasty (商朝) was in a chaotic situation where King Zhou (紂王) was having war with Emperor Zhou Wu Ji Fa (周武王姬發).

After exiting from the Re-incarnation Tunnel, Heavenly Marshal Jin was being born into a Military Family, whom his Father was a General-Incharge of the Western Camp at King Zhou’s Boundary (紂王伐周西營統領). Upon being born into the Family, he was given the name of Jiang Huan (姜還), meaning Returning Peace.

3 years after Jiang Huan was born, Fairy Qing Xuan was also being born into the same Boundary, but somewhere further from the Hometown of Jiang Huan. Fairy Qing Xuan was born into a poorer family whom her Father was a Clay-pottery Seller. With her new Re-incarnation, Fairy Qing Xuan was named as Lv He (呂荷), the reason for the parent of giving her this name was that, hoping that she could be as Pretty as a Lotus Flower (荷花).

At the age of 13, Jiang Huan was started to go under-training his Father in Military Art. Besides that, Jiang Huan also got his Literature Talents from his 2 Brothers whom under-study a famous Teacher in Shang Dynasty. By the age of 16, Jiang Huan was able to assist his Father in making Military Planning and Training of new recruits.

One day, while Jiang Huan was doing his Study in the Military Camp, a Soldier brought in an injured Boy of age of about 15 years old. After examining the Injuries of the Boy, Jiang Huan quickly summoned for the Military Medical Aid Army to his Tentage for the healing of the Boy.

With Days of patience care, the Boy regained his conscious and was grateful that he was being well taken care of. After expressing his thanks to Jiang Huan, both of them exchanged names and the Boy introduced himself as Yao Xian (姚賢).

From then, Yao Xian stayed at the Military Camp to assist Jiang Huan and with a few months of observation on Yao Xian, Jiang Huan decided to coach & train him on Military Strategies & Art.

Time flies, Jiang Huan was already 21 years old. Due to New Year was arriving, one day, Jiang Huan was being released by his Father to return home to accompany his Mother for the Annual Celebration. Just as Jiang Huan was about to leave the Camp Compound, Yao Xian also requested of along with Jiang Huan and Jiang Huan’s father agreed but General Jiang wanted Yao Xian to be back in the Camp before 15th Day of Lunar 12 Month, both of them agreed and left the Camp without further delaying (In Shang Dynasty, the Lunar New Year was being fixed on 1st Day of Lunar 12 Month (商朝農曆年為臘月初一) and not 1st Day of Lunar 1 Month, this was only being finalized in Han Dynasty).

On the way back to the Hometown, both of them pass-by a Busy Street which was a well-known Market Street in Shang Dynasty. Just as both of them were about to leave after purchasing some items, Yao Xian saw a Girl standing by the Road-side calling out of the selling of Clay Utensils. With the attractive appearance & sweet voice that the Girl had, Yao Xian was deeply attracted to the Girl. With lust, Yao Xian ran towards the Girl alone, leaving Jiang Huan going round the Street Market to search for him.

Upon arriving at the Girl’s humble stall, Yao Xian took out a Coin to buy a Clay Jar from her, just at the moment of handling the Coin onto the Girl’s hand, Yao Xian made a tickle on the palm of the Girl. Feeling that Yao Xian was there to take her advantage, the Girl shouted loudly for assistance.

Soon, a group of Crowd gathered around Yao Xian & the Girl, just as the Crowd was about to capture Yao Xian, he ran off with a dash, leaving the Girl crying at the Street-side.

At this moment, Jiang Huan accidentally pass-by the Crowd and was wondering what had happen and so, he made his way in from the Crowd to the front. Just by the time that Jiang Huan reached the front, the Girl lifted her head up looking at the Crowd and at that split moment, the Girl’s eyes caught the attention of Jiang Huan. Immediately Jiang Huan was stunned by the Innocent & Beauty of the Girl.

From the conversation of the Crowd, Jiang Huan realised that the Girl was being bullied by Yao Xian and so, in-order to repay back on the wrong doing of Yao Xian, Jiang Huan took out a string of Coins to purchase all the Clay Pottery from the Girl.

After purchasing, Jiang Huan reluctantly left the Street-side, just as Jiang Huan was about to leave, the Girl stood up and call upon Jiang Huan to express her thanks. Looking at the Girl whom now was able smiled, Jiang Huan picked up his courage to mumble out his name and by returning the respect, the Girl introduced herself as Lv He to him. Immediately after telling Jiang Huan the name, Lv He shyly left the spot, leaving Jiang Huan standing still on the Street-side staring into the space.

Seeing the Crowd started to disperse off, Yao Xian made a whisper to Jiang Huan to signal him over to the backlane. Upon hearing the whisper, Jiang Huan return to his “Proper mode” and ran towards Yao Xian questioning him for his nasty doing.

Yao Xian denied that he had bullied the Girl, instead, Yao Xian push the blame to Lv He for seducing him. Knowing that Yao Xian was lying to him, Jiang Huan didn’t take any action, just that some verbal warning was given to Yao Xian.

With an eye blink, New Year was about to end and so, Jiang Huan had to rush Yao Xian to return back to the Camp before his Father carried out any actions on him. Knowing that General Jiang was a strict person, Yao Xian had to return to the Camp first while Jiang Huan still stayed at home to assist Old Madam Jiang in preparing for the migrating to the Camp Compound.

While on the way back to the Camp, Yao Xian’s nasty attitude arise again. This time round, he went to the nearby Wine Inn (酒家) to consume a great amount of Wine and by the time he returned his conscious from the drunk, it was already 16th Day of Lunar 12 Month. Knowing that he had committed a Military Crime, Yao Xian did not dare to return back to General Jiang’s Camp site, instead, he went to General Hua’s East Camp site to seek refuge under General Hua (華將軍, the enemy of General Jiang due to jealousy).

Upon reaching General Hua’s Camp Compound, Yao Xian pretended that he was being wrongly accused and was beaten up by his own Camp-mates, after listening to Yao Xian’s sorrows, General Hua decided to take Yao Xian in as Private Assistant. The main Purpose of this was to provoke General Jiang by proving that in General Hua’s Camp site, all recruits were be treated fairly.

Soon, this news was being spread to General Jiang’s Camp site and after knowing that Yao Xian had take refuge under General Hua, General Jiang was provoked and he sent 2 Commanders over to capture Yao Xian back.

Just as the Commanders approached the Compound of General Hua’s Camp site, the 2 Commanders were being shot to death by Arrows. After the Commanders were died, General Hua sent a Report to King Zhou, accusing that General Jiang had surrendered to Emperor Zhou Wu.

Upon getting the Report, King Zhou was annoyed and without making any form of following –up, King Zhou immediately issued an Edict for executing of General Jiang.

Within 2 Hours (一個時辰之內), General Jiang was being captured and beheaded at the Penalty Court (刑法場) outside the West Camp Boundary.

Knowing that General Jiang was being killed, Yao Xian was delighted and with his negative thoughts, Yao Xian reported to General Hua that Jiang Huan might return back to take revenge, in-order to prevent Jiang Huan from entering into the Camp site, a fake order must be issued to Jiang Huan for not returning.

After considering, General Hua agreed on that idea and ordered Yao Xian to handle the whole issue for him. Upon receiving the order, Yao Xian grinned evilly and ran off to the West Camp to write a letter by imitating the handwriting of General Jiang. After the letter was completed, Yao Xian sent a new recruit back to the Hometown of Jiang Huan to pass him the letter.

Upon receiving the letter, Jiang Huan went to the address that the letter had stated to meet up with his “Father”, just as Jiang Huan was about to step onto the Journey to the Eastern Mountain (東山), Lv He’s uncle arrived at the door-step to request to meet up with Jiang Huan. Knowing that the elder were the relative of Lv He, Jiang Huan respectfully ushered him into the side hall to offer tea to him and found out what was the main purpose of his visiting.

After telling the truth that Lv He’s parent was being killed by a group of Soldiers from the Eastern Camp, Lv He was now lonely and unprotected. Lv He’s Uncle main purpose of visiting Jiang Huan was to beg Jiang Huan to take Lv He in as a Maid to serve the Family and also to return the Gratitude to Jiang Huan for assisting her at that time while she was being bullied on the Street-side.

Upon knowing that, Jiang Huan was somehow delighted but due to Conservative Era, Jiang Huan had to report to his Mother on this issue and after reporting to Old Madam Jiang, Lv He was being accepted.

On the Day of Lv He’s arrival, the whole Family was shocked by the beauty of her. By looking at Jiang Huan’s shy expression, Old Madam Jiang knew that her Son had actually fall in love with Lv He and so, without hesitation, Old Madam Jiang call-upon her son to one-side to ask him on whether he would like to marry Lv He as a Mistress (due to Lv He’s background, she could only be the 2nd Wife instead of the first even though Jiang Huan had yet to Officially get married 先娶妾後娶妻).

With delights, Jiang Huan nodded his head and on the very Day, Jiang Huan & Lv He got married under the arrangement of Old Madam Jiang.

Just as the Ceremony ended, a new recruit arrived at the door step to rush Jiang Huan to set off his Journey to the Eastern Mountain. Reluctantly, Jiang Huan had to go for the appointment, before Jiang Huan set-off, he asked Lv He to wait for his return and Lv He shyly nodded her head and then, sent off her husband to the door way.

By the time Jiang Huan reached the Peak of Eastern Mountain, it was already Midnight. Due to it was a Moon-less night, the whole place was dark and eerie. Just as Jiang Huan was about to light a torch to brighten the place, Yao Xian arrived at the Peak with a group of Soldiers. On the hand of the Soldiers, all of them were carrying Bows & Arrows and each Arrow was ready to be released out. Looking at the scene, Jiang Huan was shocked and frightened and immediately, he shouted out to question on Yao Xian of what had happened.

Just as Jiang Huan was about to walk towards Yao Xian, Yao Xian sent out a signal for the releasing of Arrows, hundreds of Arrows were being shot onto the body of Jiang Huan. Pitifully, Jiang Huan was being killed innocently.

After Jiang Huan’s death, Yao Xian did not plan to give up. Soon after burying Jiang Huan’s body, Yao Xian brought a troop of Soldiers back to Jiang Huan’s Home to ransack his Home for Wealthy belongings. Just as Yao Xian arrived at the House, he saw Lv He was there waiting for Jiang Huan’s returning.

With lust, Yao Xian wanted to bully Lv He on the spot, but due to there were too many Soldiers following him, he suppressed his lust and approached Lv He telling her a lie that Jiang Huan was waiting at a Hut specially built for the 2 of them on the Peak of Eastern Mountain.

Upon hearing that, Lv He was amazed & delighted, hoping that she could set off now to the Peak of Eastern Mountain to meet up with Jiang Huan. Knowing that Lv He had fall into his trap, Yao Xian order a Sedan-chair to send Lv He up to the Peak of Eastern Mountain. After Lv He left the house, Yao Xian ordered the other Soldiers to kill all the Members of Jiang Family without mercy. Over a night, 50 plus Members of Jiang Family were being killed.

On the way up to the Peak of Eastern Mountain, Lv He dozed off on the Sedan-chair, just as she entered into the sleeping-state, Jiang Huan appeared in her dream with ugly & bloody face. Lv He was scared and wanted to shout out, just at the moment, Lv He woke up.

As the Sedan-chair slowly approaching the Peak, Cold & Strong wind started to blow. Just at the moment of reaching the Peak, a Strong Gust of Typhoon appeared in front of Lv He & Yao Xian. In the Typhoon, Lv He could clearly see her husband face, eyes staring hard at Yao Xian and mouth mumbling that he had died tragically.

Lv He couldn’t believed her eyes and just as Lv He was about to run towards the Typhoon to take a closer look, Yao Xian hugged her tightly from the back and started to tear off her clothing and skirt.

Lv He was shocked and started to fight back. Just as she was fighting back, Lv He got hold of Yao Xian’s small dagger from his pouch. Immediately, she took it out and pointed at Yao Xian, warning him for not coming near.

With nasty lust, Yao Xian neglected the warning and continued walking towards Lv He. Lv He was upset and with a strong cut, she cut open her Arm, allowing the Blood to flow out from her arm. While the Blood was flowing out, she dug her bone out and threw them onto the floor, showing her dignity for protecting her pureness for her husband and also to request her husband Jiang Huan to appear and assist her in getting rid of the rascal.

Just as the bone dropped onto the ground, the Typhoon got stronger and with a loud bang sound, Yao Xian was being sucked into the Typhoon and thrown onto the Cliff-wall of the Mountain. Yao Xian was killed.

After Yao Xian was killed, the Typhoon stopped and the sky slowly turned pale. By the time the Sky turn white, Lv He was found die on the Peak of Eastern Mountain.

On the moment of Lv He’s died, 2 bright rays shined upon her and a pile of soil besides her. The 2 rays led the Spirits of Jiang Huan & Lv He into the Re-incarnation Tunnel for the 3rd re-incarnation of them.

Jiang Huan & Lv He, not able to get together in their Second Generation, but the Love that they got was Truly Sincere & Faithful.

A Poem was being left on the Peak for Praising the Dignity of Love for the 2 of them:

真情不怕紅火煉。(translated as True Love doesnt afraid of True Testing)

明志尋夫挖骨情。(translated as With Dignity, carving of Bones to show the Innocent & Pureness)

英年早逝天註定。(translated as Dying Young was already pre-designated)

十世情緣堅如金。(translated as Overcoming ALL the Testing, the Love will be more Firm & True)

To be continued… …

The Love that last for Ten Generations – First Generation ~ Celestial Love (十世緣之第一世仙侶情緣)

In here, you all will be reading thru a Long Story of 10 Series (十世緣). This Long Story is written base on the Spiritual Reading & Prediction, meaning that ALL the Characters in the Story are “True”. In-order not to reveal the True Identity of the Real People involved, the Names of the Characters will be changed. These stories are extracted from Master Jave Wu Multiply blog. http://javewu.multiply.com/

Here it goes, starting from the First Generation of the Continuous Love…

On the Day of Pan Gu opened the Heaven & Earth (盤古開天地), a gust of Green Energy (青氣) was being released out from the Gap of the Crack. After being emitted out, the Green Energy floated to the Celestial Realm (仙界) and settled in the Celestial Mountain known as Mountain Qing Xuan (青玄山). This is a Mountain that Mother Empress of Western Paradise (瑤池金母) used to perform her Cultivation.

After Thousand of Years, this Green Energy was able to transform itself into Being-form and with the assistance of the Lord Qing Xuan (青玄老人owner of Mountain Qing Xuan), the Green Energy manifested itself into a Lady-form.

Upon returning her Gratitude to Lord Qing Xuan, the Green Energy decided to seek Training under Lord Qing Xuan and with his approval, Green Energy was being accepted and given a Name of Fairy Qing Xuan (青玄玄女).

On the Day of Mother Empress of Western Paradise Manifestation Anniversary (瑤池金母華誕), Lord Qing Xuan & Fairy Qing Xuan were being invited to join in the Celestial Party. Upon arriving at the Party, Lord Qing Xuan & Fairy Qing Xuan were being welcomed by the Heavenly Guardian of Celestial Pond (瑤池天將), this Heavenly Guardian was known as Heavenly Marshal Jin (金天君).

With first glance, Marshal Jin was deeply attracted by Fairy Qing Xuan and so, while Lord Qing Xuan & Fairy Qing Xuan entered into the Party without putting on a Flower to indicate that they were Important Guests, Marshal Jin also didn’t realised about it.

Inside the Party Compound, beautiful flowers could be seen, such as Golden Peony (金牡丹), Rainbow Lotus (七色蓮), Crystal Plum-blossom (水晶梅), etc. Besides that, Celestial Music (天音) could be heard and Immortal Cranes (仙鶴) were there to spread Fragrance Petals onto every Immortals & Deities.

Just as Fairy Qing Xuan was about to step onto the Platform of where Mother Empress was sitting, she was being stopped by another Heavenly Marshal, known as Heavenly Guardian of Jade Platform (瑤台天將) or Heavenly Marshal Xian (冼天君).

Due to this was the first time that Fairy Qing Xuan participating in the Celestial Party, she was frightened by the reaction of Heavenly Marshal Xian and immediately, she dashed off from the Platform and ran towards the Phoenix Pavilion (鳳凰亭) that situated besides the Main Entrance of the Celestial Pond.

Just as Fairy Qing Xuan entered into the Pavilion, Heavenly Marshal Jin was there to usher in the Heavenly Lords. While realising that Fairy Qing Xuan was being frightened, Heavenly Marshal Jin went forward to offer his assistance and upon reaching the Pavilion, Fairy Qing Xuan was shocked to see another Heavenly Marshal, so just as in time when Heavenly Marshal Jin opened his mouth to say something, Fairy Qing Xuan’s tears roll off from her eyes.

Seeing that Fairy Qing Xuan was crying, Heavenly Marshal Jin was totally in a shocked state of don’t know what to do, and so, he went forward to use his Sleeve to wipe off Fairy Qing Xuan’s tears. Just as in time, Lord Qing Xuan entered into the Pavilion, knowing that this was a Fate that both of them had, Lord Qing Xuan had to shake his head and walked out of the Pavilion again.

Slowly, Fairy Qing Xuan returned to her calm state and realising that Heavenly Marshal Jin had assist her in wiping the tears, she felt grateful and this time round, looking up at Heavenly Marshal Jin’s face, Fairy Qing Xuan suddenly had the feeling of a rush in her Mind and immediately, her face blushed with Rosy-pink.

With the Blushed face that Fairy Qing Xuan and the innocently reaction that Fairy Qing Xuan got, Heavenly Marshal Jin was extremely deeply fall in love with Fairy Qing Xuan. Just as Heavenly Marshal Jin was about to talk to her, Heavenly Marshal Xian arrived.

Suspecting that Fairy Qing Xuan had sneaked into the Celestial Party, Heavenly Marshal Xian released out his Spiritual Rope and wanting to capture Fairy Qing Xuan for locking up. Upon seeing that Heavenly Marshal Xian wanted to capture Fairy Qing Xuan for no reason, Heavenly Marshal Jin stepped out to speak-up for her. Due to both of the Heavenly Marshals had already had some Internal Conflict among each other, this time round, Heavenly Marshal Xian took this opportunity to fight with Heavenly Marshal Jin. Soon, the fighting got into a serious state and just as Heavenly Marshal Xian was about to poke his Spear onto Heavenly Marshal Jin’s arm, Mother Empress arrived at the Pavilion.

Upon arriving, Mother Empress started to question on the cause of the Fighting, just as Heavenly Marshal Jin was about to speak-up, Heavenly Marshal Xian cut into the conversation and accused that Heavenly Marshal Jin had fall in love with Fairy Qing Xuan.

Looking at Fairy Qing Xuan & Heavenly Marshal Jin, Mother Empress kept quiet for awhile and summoned Lord Qing Xuan to the Pavilion. Just as Lord Qing Xuan was about to enter into the Pavilion, Lord Yue Lao (月佬星君) arrived at the Pavilion too.

Why so co-incidence that Lord Yue Lao also arrived at the Pavilion? Cos after Lord Qing Xuan saw that Heavenly Marshal Jin had somehow fall in love with Fairy Qing Xuan, he already knew that both of them would have to be punished by re-incarnate into the Mortal Realm and so, in-order for Mother Empress to lessen the punishment, Lord Qing Xuan had beg Lord Yue Lao to come forward to say some good words for them.

As Mother Empress was about to question Lord Qing Xuan, Lord Yue Lao had asked permission for speaking and knowing that there were some hidden secrets, Mother Empress allowed Lord Yue Lao to speak up.

Looking at the Heavenly Marshal Jin & Fairy Qing Xuan, Lord Yue Lao recited out a 4 sentences Poem to Mother Empress:

情結十世情。(translated as this Relationship will last for Ten Generations or Lives)
恩愛顯分明。(translated as this Love is very Straight Forward and once it starts, there are no ending)
是親亦是師。(translated as only when certain issue happen)
了結返天庭。(translated as both of them will end the relationship and return back to Heaven)

Upon hearing to the Poem, Mother Empress had somehow understand the situation and so, immediately, Mother Empress released her Edict of sending Heavenly Marshal Jin & Fairy Qing Xuan to get their Re-incarnation to the Mortal Realm. Only when they had fulfilled the Ten Generations Love, then they were be able to resume their Immortal Title.

Knowing that this was fated, Heavenly Marshal Jin was delighted but Fairy Qing Xuan felt sad, cos she had to depart with her Master Lord Qing Xuan. Looking at Fairy Qing Xuan, Lord Qing Xuan smiled at her and nodded to her, telling her to take care and everything would be fine.

Within moments, both of them were being brought to the Entrance of the Heavenly Gate and with a push from the 2 Heavenly Gate Generals, Heavenly Marshal Jin & Fairy Qing Xuan were being pushed into the Tunnel of In-carnation, from there, both of them were being brought to a Dimension where they didn’t even know where they were.
After sentencing the 2 of them, Mother Empress turned to Heavenly Marshal Xian and angrily question on him of why he engaged into a Fight due to Jealousy & Conflicts. Hearing the questioning, Heavenly Marshal Xian was shocked and immediately kowtowed to beg for forgiven, but everything was too late.

Just as Heavenly Marshal Xian was pleading for forgiveness, Mother Empress had sentenced Heavenly Marshal Xian to get his Re-incarnation into the Mortal Realm too. Upon hearing that, Heavenly Marshal Xian was totally disappointed, cos he knew that, being an Immortal was his Eternal Wish, he didn’t want to return to the Mortal Realm for suffering. And so, just as he was being pushed into the Re-incarnation Tunnel, he made a Vow to seek revenge on Heavenly Marshal Jin & Fairy Qing Xuan.

At the Pavilion, Mother Empress looked at Lord Qing Xuan & Lord Yue Lao and recited out a 4 Sentences Poem to them too:

十世情緣多艱難。(translated as Ten Generations will come with lots of Testing)
百般試驗情得嘗。(translated as Only by going thru ALL these Testing will make the Love firm)
不經一番寒入骨。(translated as With the Hardest & Cruel Testing)
那得真情顯芬芳。(translated as The Real Love will be there for the 2 of them)

Upon hearing the Poem, Lord Qing Xuan & Lord Yue Lao agreed on it and all of them proceed with the Celebration.

To be continued… …

Way of life

If a man is crossing a river and an empty boat collides with his own, even though he might be a bad tempered man, he will not become very angry. But if he sees a man in a boat, he will shout at him to steer clear and if the shout is not heard, he will shout again, and yet again, and begin cursing. And all because there is somebody in the boat. Yet if the boat was empty, he would not be shouting and will not be angry.

If you can empty your own boat, crossing the river of the world, no one will oppose you and no one will seek to harm you.

妻子的空位(The Irreplaceable Void)

我的妻子因為意外事故離開我身邊已經四年了，我想，妻子留下不會做任何家事的我和孩子，她的心有何等難過呢？我也因為無法兼顧父母雙親的角色而感到挫折。有一天我為了出差，清晨趕出門，無法將孩子打點好就得離開家，正巧前一天有剩下的飯，我熱了蒸蛋，向還沒有睡醒的孩子交代一聲，就出門去了。

4 years ago, an accident took my beloved away and very often I wonder, how does my wife, who is now in the heavenly realm, feel right now? She must be feeling extremely sad for leaving a husband who is incapable to taking care of the house and the kid. 'cos that is the exact feeling that I have, as I feel that I have failed to provide for the physical and emotional needs of my child, and failed to be the dad and mum for my child. There was one particular day, when I had an emergency at work. Hence, I had to leave home whilst my child was still sleeping. So thinking that there was still rice leftovers, I hastily cooked an egg and left after informing my sleepy child.

為了照顧好孩子飲食三餐的事，我也無力把自己的工作做好。有一天晚上回到家，我只是很簡短地和孩子打個招呼，就因為身體疲累，不想吃晚餐，脫掉西裝之後就直接往床上躺下。就在那個時候，砰的一聲，紅色的湯汁跟泡麵瞬時弄髒了床單和被單，原來有碗泡麵在棉被裡！這小子真是的，說時遲那時快，我即時拿起一個衣架，跑出去，往正玩著玩具的兒子的屁股就打，因為我實在是太生氣了，所以不停地打他。但就在這個時候，他邊啜泣邊說了一段話，使我停了下來。

With the double roles, I am often exhausted at work as well as when I am home. So after a long day, I came home, totally drained of all energy. So with just a brief hug and kiss for my child, I went straight into the room, skipping dinner. However, when I jumped into my bed with intention of just having a well-deserved sleep, all i heard and felt was broken porcelain and warm liquid! I flipped open my blanket, and there lies the source of the 'problem'... a broken bowl with instant noodles and a mess on the bedsheet and blanket! Boy, was I mad! I was so furious that I took a clothes hanger, charged straight at my child who was happily playing with his toy, and give him a good spanking! He merely cried but not asking for mercy, except a short explanation:

兒子告訴我說：「飯鍋裡的飯早上已經吃完了，晚餐在幼稚園吃了，但是到了晚上，爸爸還不回來，我就在櫥櫃的抽屜裡找到了泡麵。可是我想到爸爸說不能亂動瓦斯爐，所以我就打開洗澡的水龍頭，用熱水泡了泡麵，一個自己吃，另一個想留給爸爸吃。因為怕泡麵涼掉，所以我就把它放在棉被裡，等你回來。可是因為我正在玩向朋友借來的玩具，所以忘了跟爸爸講。」

"Dad, I was hungry and there wasn't anymore leftover rice. But you were not back yet, hence I wanted to cook some instant noodles. But I remembered you reminding me not to touch or use the gas stove without any adults around, hence I turned on the shower and used the hot water from the bathroom to cook the noodles. One is for you and the other is for me. However, I was afraid that the noodles will turn cold, so I hid it under the blanket to keep it warm till you return. But I forgot to remind you 'cos I was playing with my toys...I am sorry Dad..."

我不想讓兒子看到我在流淚，所以衝到洗手間，將水龍頭打開，大聲地哭。過了一陣子之後，我打起精神來，一面哄著兒子，一面也在他屁股上擦藥，讓他上床睡覺。當我清理好泡麵弄髒的床單和棉被後，打開兒子的房門一看，發現他仍舊發出哭泣聲，手裡還拿著媽媽的照片。我把頭靠在房門站了許久，看著這一幕。

At that moment, tears were starting to run down my cheeks...but I didn't want my son to see his dad crying so I dashed into the bathroom and cried with the shower head on to mask my cries. After that episode, I went towards my son to give him a tight hug and applied medication on him, while coaxing him to sleep. Then, it was time to clear up the mess on the bed. When everything was done and well past midnight, I passed my son's room, and saw that he was still crying, not from the pain on his little buttock, but from looking at the photograph of his beloved mummy.

自從在一年前發生這件事之後，我為了扮演好媽媽的角色，更加用心地去照顧他。現在兒子快七歲了，不久後就要從幼稚園畢業，進入國小讀書。慶幸的是，兒子在這段時間毫無陰影，很開朗地成長。

A year has passed since the episode, I have tried, in this period, to focus on giving him both the love of his dad and mum, and to attend to most of his needs. And soon, he is turning seven, and will be graduating from kindergarten. Fortunately, the incident did not leave a lasting impression on his childhood memories and he is still happily growing up.

就在不久前，我再一次打孩子，因為幼稚園來電話說，兒子沒有去學校，我心裡覺得很不安，所以早退回家，在整個社區裡大聲地喊他的名字，卻是遍尋不著。後來在文具店的門?f，看見他站在電玩的前面，於是我很生氣，又開始一直打他。兒子並沒有說出任何的解釋，只說了聲對不起。後來我才知道，原來剛好是幼稚園要邀請媽媽去 看才藝表演的日子。

However, not so long ago, I hit my boy again, with much regret. This time, his kindergarten teacher called, informing me of my son's absence from school. I took off early from work and went home, expecting him to explain. But he wasn't to be found, so I went around our house, calling out his name and eventually found him outside a stationery shop, happily playing computer games. I was fuming, brought him home and whack the hell out of him. He did not retaliate, except to say, 'I am sorry, Dad'. But after much probing, I realized that it was a 'Talent Show' organized by his school and the invite is for every student's mummy. And that was the reason for his absence as he has no mummy.....

發生這些事的幾天後，兒子回家說，他在幼稚園裡學了寫字，從此他經常關在自己的房間裡不出來，很認真地寫字。我看到兒子這個樣子，想到妻子在天國也一定會因為看到他這樣而微笑，我就無法忍住淚水。

Few days after the caning, my son came home to tell me, the kindergarten has recently taught him how to read and write. Since then, he has kept to himself and stayed in his room to practise his writing, which I am sure, would make my wife proud, if she was still around. 'cos he makes me proud too!

時間很快，又過了一年，到了冬天，街頭上都在播放著聖誕節的歌曲，我的兒子卻又闖了一個禍。我正要下班的時候，接到一通社區郵局的電話，說我兒子把一綑沒有寫地址的信，惡作劇地放在郵筒裡。每年到了年底，正是郵局最忙碌的時候，所以這對他們造成很大的困擾。雖然我已決定不再打孩子，但在急忙趕回家後，叫了兒子來，我又忍不住痛打他一頓。兒子這一次只是說他做錯了，卻沒有講出任何理由。我把他推到一個角落，不管了，自個兒跑到郵局領回那一綑惡作劇的信。我把信丟到他眼前說：「你為什麼要這樣惡作劇？」兒子哭著回答說：「這些信是我要寄給媽媽的。」

Time passes by very quickly, and soon another year has passed. It's winter, and its Christmas time. Everywhere the christmas spirit is in every passer-by...Christmas carols and frantic shoppers....but alas, my son got into another trouble. When I was about to knock off from the day's work, the post office called. Due to the peak season, the post master was also on an edgy mood. He called to tell me that my son has attempted to post several letters with no addressee. Although I did make a promise never to hit my son again, I couldn't help but to hit him as I feel that this child of mine is really beyond control. Once again, as before, he apologized, ' I'm sorry, Dad' and no additional reason to explain. I pushed him towards a corner, went to the post office to collect the letters with no addressee and came home, and angrily questioned my son on his prank, during this time of the year. His answer, amidst his sobbing, was : The letters were for Mummy.

當時我的眼眶紅了起來，心裡很激動，但是因為在兒子面前，所以我盡量隱忍住沒有表現出來。我接著問他：「那麼，為什麼一次寄這麼多信呢？」兒子回答說：「以前我要把信投進去的時候，因為個兒太矮，所以沒辦法投入，但是最近我再去郵筒時，已經搆得到了，所以我就把以前沒有寄的，一次全部都投進入了。」

My eyes grew teary, but I tried to control my emotions and continued to ask him: " But why did u post so many letters, at one time?" My son's reply was: " I have been writing to mummy for a long time, but each time I reach out for the post box, it was too high for me, hence I was not able to post the letters. But recently, when I went back to the postbox, I could reach it and I sent it all at once..."

我聽了以後，心中一片茫然，不知道該對孩子說什麼話。過了不久以後，我就跟他說：「媽媽現在在天上，以後你寫完信，把信燒了，就能送到天國去。」等孩子睡著之後，我到外面燒了那些信。我很好奇到底孩子想跟媽媽說些什麼，所以讀了其中的幾封信。

After hearing this, I was lost. Lost at not knowing what to do, what to say...... I told my son, " Son, mummy is in the heavenly kingdom, so in future, if you have anything to tell her, just burn the letter and it will reach mummy. My son, on hearing this, was much pacified and calm, and soon after, he was sleeping soundly. On promising that I will burn the letters on his behalf, I brought the letters outside, but couldnt help opening the letter before they turn to ash.

而當中有一封信攪動了我的心。 And one of the letters broke my heart.... 親愛的媽媽： 我很想念你！媽媽，今天在幼稚園有才藝表演，但是因為我沒有媽媽，所以沒有去參加，我也沒有告訴爸爸，怕爸爸會想念媽媽。爸爸到處去找我，但我為了讓爸爸看到我很開心的樣子，所以故意坐在電動玩具面前，雖然爸爸罵我，但是我到最後也沒有告訴他原因。媽媽，我每天都看到爸爸因為想念媽媽而哭泣，我想爸爸也跟我一樣，很想念媽媽吧！但是，媽，我現在已經記不清楚你的臉。媽媽，請你讓我在夢中，再一次能夠看到你的臉，好嗎？聽說把想念的人的照片放在懷裡睡覺，就會夢到那個人。可是，媽媽，為什麼你沒有出現在我的夢裡呢？」

Dear Mummy, I miss you so much! Today, there was a 'Talent Show' in school, and the school invited all mothers for the show. But you are not around, so I did not want to participate as well. I did not tell Dad about it as I was afraid that Dad would start to cry and miss you all over again. Dad went around looking for me, but in order to hide my sadness, I sat in front of the computer and started playing games at one of the shops. Dad was furious, and he couldnt help it but scolded and hit me, but I did not tell him the real reason. Mummy, everyday I see Dad missing you and whenever he think of you, he is so sad and often hide and cry in his room. I think we both miss you very very much. Too much for our own good I think. But Mummy, I am starting to forget your face. Can you please appear in my dreams so that I can see your face and remember you? I heard that if you fall asleep with the photograph of the person whom you miss, you will see the person in your dreams. But mummy, why havent you appear?

讀完這封信以後，我就開始嚎啕大哭。到底什麼時候，我才能填補妻子的空位呢？ After reading the letter, I cant stop sobbing. 'cos I can never replace the irreplaceable gap left behind by my wife....

給 已經結婚的女同事： 不要加太多班，工作做不完，一定是公司的某些地方出問題了，一定要將問題反應給妳的老闆，一直加班也不見的有用的，請務必要照顧自己的身體，才可以?好疼惜妳的小寶貝。

For the females with children: Don't do so much overtime. If you cannot finish the work, it must be some kind of problems within the company, and it is not your sole problem. Feedback to your boss. Endless overtime may not necessary be the answer to the problem. Take care of your health so that you can treasure and take care of your little precious.

給 已經結婚的男同事： 不要喝太多酒，不要抽太多煙，請問我們的生意，我們的客戶，有比我們的身體重要嗎？ 一定要想一想，有沒有辦法做到客人非我們不行，我們的差異化在哪裡，我們是否真的懂客人的心，這比拼命喝酒，還重要，請務必要照顧自己的身體，才可以好好疼惜妳的小寶貝和你的愛人。

For the married men: Drink less, smoke less, cos nothing can replace your good health, not even business nor clients. Try thinking this way, are you able to work till your clients are totally dependent on you? or your boss is totally dependent on you? In this society, no one is indispensable. Take care of your health, so that you can take care of your little precious and your loved ones.

給 還沒有結婚的男同事和女同事： For those singles out there: Beauty lies in loving yourself first. With confidence and loving yourself, you will see the beauty in other things around you. You will be able to work better and happier. Don't let your health be affected by your work or your boss, so nothing matters more than your well being.

美其實是從愛自己的身體開始--（蔣勳，身體美學）。 無入而不自得-- （孔子）。 妳/你們一定要很自在，工作才能做的好，如果工作讓你/妳們的心情做的很辛苦，代表的是我們的公司不夠聰明，那也是公司什麼地方不對了，要勇敢的說出來，不要讓不聰明的工作與老闆，傷害了妳/你們的身體。

Lee Kuan Yew On Aging

MY CONCERN today is, what is it I can tell you which can add to your knowledge about ageing and what ageing societies can do. You know more about this subject than I do. A lot of it is out in the media, Internet and books. So I thought the best way would be to take a personal standpoint and tell you how I approach this question of ageing.

If I cast my mind back, I can see turning points in my physical and mental health. You know, when you're young, I didn't bother, assumed good health was God-given and would always be there. When I was about -'57 that was - I was about 34, we were competing in elections, and I was really fond of drinking beer and smoking.. And after the election campaign, in Victoria Memorial Hall - we had won the election, the City Council election - I couldn't thank the voters because I had lost my voice.. I'd been smoking furiously. I'd take a packet of 10 to deceive myself, but I'd run through the packet just sitting on the stage, watching the crowd, getting the feeling, the mood before I speak. In other words, there were three speeches a night. Three speeches a night, 30 cigarettes, a lot of beer after that, and the voice was gone.

I remember I had a case in Kuching, Sarawak. So I took the flight and I felt awful. I had to make up my mind whether I was going to be an effective campaigner and a lawyer, in which case I cannot destroy my voice, and I can't go on. So I stopped smoking. It was a tremendous deprivation because I was addicted to it. And I used to wake up dreaming...the nightmare was I resumed smoking..

But I made a choice and said, if I continue this, I will not be able to do my job. I didn't know anything about cancer of the throat or oesophagus or the lungs, etc. But it turned out it had many other deleterious effects.

Strangely enough after that, I became very allergic, hyper-allergic to smoking, so much so that I would plead with my Cabinet ministers not to smoke in the Cabinet room. You want to smoke, please go out, because I am allergic..

Then one day I was at the home of my colleague, Mr Rajaratnam, meeting foreign correspondents including some from the London Times and they took a picture of me and I had a big belly like that (puts his hands in front of his belly), a beer belly. I felt no, no, this will not do. So I started playing more golf, hit hundreds of balls on the practice tee. But this didn't go down. There was only one way it could go down: consume less, burn up more..

Another turning point came when - this was 1976, after the general election - I was feeling tired. I was breathing deeply at the Istana, on the lawns. My daughter, who at that time just graduating as a doctor, said: 'What are you trying to do?' I said: 'I feel an effort to breathe in more oxygen.' She said: 'Don't play golf. Run. Aerobics.' So she gave me a book, quite a famous book and, then, very current in America on how you score aerobic points swimming, running, whatever it is, cycling. I looked at it sceptically. I wasn't very keen on running. I was keen on golf. So I said, 'Let's try'. So in-between golf shots while playing on my own, sometimes nine holes at the Istana, I would try and walk fast between shots.. Then I began to run between shots. And I felt better. After a while, I said: 'Okay, after my golf, I run.' And after a few years, I said: 'Golf takes so long. The running takes 15 minutes. Let's cut out the golf and let's run.

'I think the most important thing in ageing is you got to understand yourself. And the knowledge now is all there. When I was growing up, the knowledge wasn't there. I had to get the knowledge from friends, from doctors. But, perhaps, the most important bit of knowledge that the doctor gave me was one day, when I said: 'Look, I'm feeling slower and sluggish.' So he gave me a medical encyclopaedia and he turned the pages to ageing. I read it up and it was illuminating. A lot of it was difficult jargon but I just skimmed through to get the gist of it.

As you grow, you reach 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and then, thereafter, you are on a gradual slope down physically. Mentally, you carry on and on and on until I don't know what age, but mathematicians will tell you that they know their best output is when they're in their 20s and 30s when your mental energy is powerful and you haven't lost many neurons.. That's what they tell me.

So, as you acquire more knowledge, you then craft a programme for yourself to maximise what you have. It's just common sense. I never planned to live till 85 or 84! I just didn't think about it. I said: 'Well, my mother died when she was 74, she had a stroke. My father died when he was 94.'But I saw him, and he lived a long life, well, maybe it was his DNA. But more than that, he swam every day and he kept himself busy. He was working for the Shell company. He was in charge, he was a superintendent of an oil depot. When he retired, he started becoming a salesman. So people used to tell me: 'Your father is selling watches at BP de Silva.' My father was then living with me. But it kept him busy. He had that routine: He meets people, he sells watches, he buys and sells all kinds of semi-precious stones, he circulates coins. And he keeps going. But at 87, 88, he fell, going down the steps from his room to the dining room, broke his arm, three months incapacitated. Thereafter, he couldn't go back to swimming. Then he became wheelchair-bound.

Then it became a problem because my house was constructed that way. So my brother, who's a doctor and had a flat (one-level) house, took him in. And he lived on till 94. But towards the end, he had gradual loss of mental powers.

So my calculations, I'm somewhere between 74 and 94. And I've reached the halfway point now. But have I? Well, 1996 when I was 73, I was cycling and I felt tightening on the neck. Oh, I must retire today. So I stopped. Next day, I returned to the bicycle. After five minutes it became worse.

So I said, no, no, this is something serious, it's got to do with the blood vessels. Rung up my doctor, who said, 'Come tomorrow'. Went tomorrow, he checked me, and said: 'Come back tomorrow for an angiogram.' I said: 'What's that?' He said: 'We'll pump something in and we'll see whether the coronary arteries are cleared or blocked.' I was going to go home. But an MP who was a cardiologist happened to be around, so he came in and said: 'What are you doing here?' I said: 'I've got this.' He said: 'Don't go home.. You stay here tonight. I've sent patients home and they never came back. Just stay here. They'll put you on the monitor. They'll watch your heart. And if anything, an emergency arises, they will take you straight to the theatre.. You go home. You've got no such monitor. You may never come back.

'So I stayed there. Pumped in the dye, yes it was blocked, the left circumflex, not the critical, lead one. So that's lucky for me. Two weeks later, I was walking around, I felt it's coming back. Yes it has come back, it had occluded. So this time they said: 'We'll put in a stent.

'I'm one of the first few in Singapore to have the stent, so it was a brand new operation. Fortunately, the man who invented the stent was out here selling his stent. He was from San Jose, La Jolla something or the other. So my doctor got hold of him and he supervised the operation. He said put the stent in. My doctor did the operation, he just watched it all and then that's that. That was before all this problem about lining the stent to make sure that it doesn't occlude and create a disturbance.

So at each stage, I learnt something more about myself and I stored that. I said: 'Oh, this is now a danger point.' So alright, cut out fats, change diet, went to see a specialist in Boston, Massachusetts General Hospital. He said: 'Take statins.' I said: 'What's that?' He said: '(They) help to reduce your cholesterol.' My doctors were concerned. They said: 'You don't need it. Your cholesterol levels are okay.' Two years later, more medical evidence came out.. So the doctors said: 'Take statins.

'Had there been no angioplasty, had I not known that something was up and I cycled on, I might have gone at 74 like my mother. So I missed that deadline.

So next deadline: my father's fall at 87.

I'm very careful now because sometimes when I turn around too fast, I feel as if I'm going to get off balance. So my daughter, a neurologist, she took me to the NNI, there's this nerve conduction test, put electrodes here and there. The transmission of the messages between the feet and the brain has slowed down.

So all the exercise, everything, effort put in, I'm fit, I swim, I cycle.. But I can't prevent this losing of conductivity of the nerves and this transmission. So just go slow.

So when I climb up the steps, I have no problem. When I go down the steps, I need to be sure that I've got something I can hang on to, just in case.. So it's a constant process of adjustment.

But I think the most important single lesson I learnt in life was that if you isolate yourself, you're done for. The human being is a social animal - he needs stimuli, he needs to meet people, to catch up with the world..

I don't much like travel but I travel very frequently despite the jet lag, because I get to meet people of great interest to me, who will help me in my work as chairman of our GIC. So I know, I'm on several boards of banks, international advisory boards of banks, of oil companies and so on. And I meet them and I get to understand what's happening in the world, what has changed since I was here one month ago, one year ago. I go to India, I go to China.

And that stimuli brings me to the world of today. I'm not living in the world, when I was active, more active 20, 30 years ago. So I tell my wife. She woke up late today. I said: 'Never mind, you come along by 12 o'clock. I go first.

'If you sit back - because part of the ending part of the encyclopaedia which I read was very depressing - as you get old, you withdraw from everything and then all you will have is your bedroom and the photographs and the furniture that you know, and that's your world. So if you've got to go to hospital, the doctor advises you to bring some photographs so that you'll know you're not lost in a different world, that this is like your bedroom.

I'm determined that I will not, as long as I can, to be reduced, to have my horizons closed on me like that. It is the stimuli, it is the constant interaction with people across the world that keeps me aware and alive to what's going on and what we can do to adjust to this different world.

In other words, you must have an interest in life. If you believe that at 55, you're retiring, you're going to read books, play golf and drink wine, then I think you're done for. So statistically they will show you that all the people who retire and lead sedentary lives, the pensioners die off very quickly.

So we now have a social problem with medical sciences, new procedures, new drugs, many more people are going to live long lives. If the mindset is that when I reach retirement age 62, I'm old, I can't work anymore, I don't have to work, I just sit back, now is the time I'll enjoy life, I think you're making the biggest mistake of your life. After one month, or after two months, even if you go travelling with nothing to do, with no purpose in life, you will just degrade, you'll go to seed.

The human being needs a challenge, and my advice to every person in Singapore and elsewhere: Keep yourself interested, have a challenge. If you're not interested in the world and the world is not interested in you, the biggest punishment a man can receive is total isolation in a dungeon, black and complete withdrawal of all stimuli, that's real torture.. So when I read that people believe, Singaporeans say: 'Oh, 62 I'm retiring.' I say to them: 'You really want to die quickly?' If you want to see sunrise tomorrow or sunset, you must have a reason, you must have the stimuli to keep going'.

Applies to us too, folks.

45 Lessons of Life

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio : "To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else. 20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will > this matter?".
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.