They were almost halfway into the container when they hit a wall of similar boxes, stacked from floor to ceiling and wall to wall.
“What’s the rest of this?” Jasic asked Chen.
“Tuoxie,” Chen said.
He shrugged and looked to PingLi.
“Flip-flops.”
“Flip-flops?”
There must be tens of thousands of them, Jasic thought.
Chen nodded.
“We have no money in China, but we sold land to my brothers. Very little money, but some. These in China are very inexpensive.”
“Well, they’re worth a fortune here,” Jasic said. “Everyone is getting tired of work boots.”
Chen nodded.
“We make lucky guess.”
There were enough lavalavas already made for all the women, including Rachel and Jessica and all the Chinese, including using small ones as halter tops. The men were content to remain in the coveralls for now. But everyone was happy to get out of socks and work boots in the sub-tropical climate. The flip-flops were a big hit.
There were some long, hollow bamboo staves in the pile of things the Chens had piled up next to their container. Chen told Jasic they used them as water pipes for the double-bellows pump. GangHai now took one these and stuck it into the ground in the middle of the compound. PingLi unfolded a rice paper lantern and hung it from the top, then put a tiny candle in it. It cast more light than Jasic expected, and, as it got dark, made a pool of light in the middle of their compound.
They all sat there on the ground, in tailor seat, and chatted until the candle sputtered and went out.
Finally, Arcadia was home.
They walked to their houses in the starlight.
Saturday was officially a day off, but everyone was busy.
Many of those on the kitchen staff were working today at the hospital. The male Chens were digging up the center of the compound, here, there, and everywhere. The female Chens came along behind them, planting cuttings. All of this was being done under the guidance of Chen and GangHai as they laid out their garden.
Certain plants needed so much room, others would be the source of more cuttings until they had a little field of them. Some needed more water than others. Those were placed at the edges, where the overflow from the house wings could be directed to them.
The female Americans were making more lavalavas. A number of the young men were pressed into service on the scissors, cutting the size rectangles they needed. The three little sewing machines ran non-stop, the sewers spelling each other.
When the batteries ran out, they changed them for one of the multiple spares, and then Sally Reynolds took the first round of batteries and the chargers down to the hospital to recharge them.
At lunch on Saturday, GangHai sat with his parents on the ground in front of their house as they ate their MREs.
“Grandfather, I need to talk to you about something of some importance.”
Across the compound, Betsy Reynolds was having a similar conversation with Bob Jasic and Maureen Griffith.
That afternoon, the elders themselves met. Everything was agreed.
That night, everyone wore their lavalavas and flip-flops to dinner. They were a big hit.
“Where did you get those clothes? They’re perfect for Arcadia,” was the constant question.
The best answer was not, ‘We brought them from Earth.’
The best answer was, ‘The Uptown Market.’
That night after dinner, with everyone gathered in the compound by the containers – the center being planted now –Chen LiQiang made an announcement.
“Tonight, Chen GangHai will take Betsy Reynolds as his wife.”
There were cheers and applause from everyone.
Chen LiQiang, Chen JuHua, Bob Jasic, and Maureen Griffith sat together in a row. Chen GangHai set a little metal pitcher on the ground in front of them. It stood several inches off the ground on three legs. GangHai lit a single briquette of charcoal beneath it, in the center of the three legs. He poured water into it from a water bottle, then put a teaspoon of tea leaves in the water.
As the tea heated, Chen addressed the group.
“This is very old. Jing cha. Tea ceremony. This is how wedding is done in China. We have been one group. We work together. Everyone is better off, in one group. Now we will be more than one group. We will be one family. Chen-Jasic family.”
At that point, Matt Jasic and Peggy Reynolds escorted Betsy Reynolds from her house out to where the groom stood in front of the elders, his parents and the Bob Jasic-Maureen Griffith management team from the Carolina group.
Betsy was wearing a red lavalava and halter top, the traditional bride’s color.
Together bride and groom stood before the elders.
“In America, it is required that the bride and groom both consent to the marriage,” Bob Jasic said. “Do you both enter this marriage willingly?”
“I do,” GangHai said.
“I do,” Betsy Reynolds said.
Jasic nodded.
GangHai then picked up the teapot and Reynolds picked up a teacup from the four set on a tray next to the pot and its little fire. GangHai poured into the teacup, and Reynolds presented it to Chen in both hands.
“Please drink the tea, Chen Zufu.”
Chen took the tea cup and took a sip.
Reynolds picked up another cup, and GangHai poured again. Reynolds presented the cup to Chen JuHua in both hands.
“Please drink the tea, Chen Zumu.”
JuHua took the tea cup and took a sip.
Now GangHai set the pot down and Reynolds picked it up. GangHai picked up the third cup, and Reynolds poured. GangHai held the cup out to Jasic in both hands.
“Please drink the tea, Jasic Zufu.”
Jasic took the tea cup and took a sip.
GangHai picked up the last cup, and Reynolds poured again. GangHai held the
