A honeymoon for Zheng, at 106
By Zhang Xuanchen |
June 25, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
IT was a joyful reunion for Zheng Jinyuan, a 106-year-old former member of the wartime Flying Tigers, and his 63-year-old Chinese wife Cen Qingxia.
They married more than three years ago, in a whirlwind romance that consisted of just 36 international phone calls before meeting for the first time at their wedding.
Earlier this month, Cen was finally granted a spouse visa, allowing her at last to live with her husband in the United States, yesterday's Guangzhou Daily reported.
When he was 21, Zheng emigrated to the US with his father from Enping City in south China's Guangdong Province. He later joined the ground crew of the Flying Tigers that helped the Chinese defend themselves against the Japanese invaders.
Zheng was based in Yunnan Province in southwest China but after World War II ended, returned to the US.
It never occurred to him then that he would eventually find love back in his home country.
After the death of his first wife in 1970s, Zheng lived alone until four years ago his grandniece told him about Cen, who was looking for another chance at love after her husband had died.
Zheng was already a centenarian, but neither age nor distance seemed to stand in his way. He immediately spoke on the phone to Cen, and the pair soon found they just couldn't stop calling each other.
After 36 calls in just a month, they decided to tie the knot on New Year's Day in 2008. Zheng was then 103 and Cen 60.
They registered their marriage in Liwan District in Enping City. A banquet followed, but the "happily ever after" didn't come without its difficulties.
After returning to the US, Zheng applied for a visa for his wife, but it was declined. Zheng didn't give up and launched an appeal in the following months.
Early this month, the visa was granted. Immediately Zheng flew back to China and the couple left for the US on June 19.
"It is no easy thing to live more than 100 years.
"It is even harder to be a centenarian groom. I will cherish the precious love of my wife and I," Zheng said.
They married more than three years ago, in a whirlwind romance that consisted of just 36 international phone calls before meeting for the first time at their wedding.
Earlier this month, Cen was finally granted a spouse visa, allowing her at last to live with her husband in the United States, yesterday's Guangzhou Daily reported.
When he was 21, Zheng emigrated to the US with his father from Enping City in south China's Guangdong Province. He later joined the ground crew of the Flying Tigers that helped the Chinese defend themselves against the Japanese invaders.
Zheng was based in Yunnan Province in southwest China but after World War II ended, returned to the US.
It never occurred to him then that he would eventually find love back in his home country.
After the death of his first wife in 1970s, Zheng lived alone until four years ago his grandniece told him about Cen, who was looking for another chance at love after her husband had died.
Zheng was already a centenarian, but neither age nor distance seemed to stand in his way. He immediately spoke on the phone to Cen, and the pair soon found they just couldn't stop calling each other.
After 36 calls in just a month, they decided to tie the knot on New Year's Day in 2008. Zheng was then 103 and Cen 60.
They registered their marriage in Liwan District in Enping City. A banquet followed, but the "happily ever after" didn't come without its difficulties.
After returning to the US, Zheng applied for a visa for his wife, but it was declined. Zheng didn't give up and launched an appeal in the following months.
Early this month, the visa was granted. Immediately Zheng flew back to China and the couple left for the US on June 19.
"It is no easy thing to live more than 100 years.
"It is even harder to be a centenarian groom. I will cherish the precious love of my wife and I," Zheng said.
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