A Love Letter from Lhasa 35

Chapter 34: Gesang and Annie Return to Lhasa

01
The plane landed at Lhasa Airport and slowly approached the jet bridge. In the arrival hall, Zaxi, Meido, and Zhang Yang watched the customs exit.

Huaimin leaned on a cane, Annie pushed the luggage. The couple walked out slowly. Zaxi and the others immediately went forward. Zhang Yang helped with the luggage cart, Meido walked beside Huaimin, Zaxi and Annie followed, father and daughter chatting.

"A few days ago I planned with Zhang Yang. If you couldn’t return to Lhasa, we’d go to Alishan to see you."

"Daddy, returning is Gesang’s own decision. CEO Hall came all the way from California to Shanghai to tell him to rest and recuperate."

"The two matters you mentioned by email, I’ve already scheduled a meeting with Lama Sonam. Regarding the scroll donation to Xiaozhao Temple, once Sonam sees Huaimin and promises to heal him, I will agree."

"Daddy, you misunderstood. Gesang considered the Tsangyang family’s heirloom. The scroll deserves a proper home. Whether to donate it to Xiaozhao Temple, we respect your decision. Gesang never meant to make it a condition to pressure the temple."

"This isn’t pressuring the temple. Lama Sonam is skilled in Tibetan medicine. Since he foresaw Gesang’s calamity, he surely knows how to heal him. I use the scroll as leverage to ensure he does his best. Although reluctant to donate a long-sought family heirloom, compared to your family’s happiness, the scroll isn’t the most important," Annie said, looking at Gesang’s weak figure.

"But if Gesang knew this, he would surely disagree," Annie thought.

"I’ve already informed Lama Sonam. As long as you don’t tell him, Gesang won’t know. Let it be a benevolent concealment. In the past twenty-plus years, I’ve failed as a husband and father. Doing this for you and Huaimin is my atonement, Annie," Zaxi held Annie’s hand, and she felt the warmth and solidity, recalling childhood walks along the river with her parents.

02
The group returned to "Alishan Cloud Sea Café" on the small hill. Zhang Yang and Meido settled Gesang and Annie. Staff only hung the sign and opened after the boss returned.

The café was quiet despite being in a busy area, with a clear view, front and back patios for open-air seating, surrounded by greenery and artistic ambiance. Two pastry chefs, two servers, Zaxi and Zhang Yang brewed coffee, Meido handled cashier.

Gesang didn’t want to stay in the guestroom. Annie helped him to the grand chair and showed him the menu.

"All coffee and tea come from Alishan. Ours is unique in Lhasa. Dad says officials and VIPs often visit."

Gesang: "If we hadn’t gone to Shanghai, I would have opened such a shop after retirement."

Annie encouraged: "Then fight the illness and stay safe with me and little Jiazo."

Zhang Yang brought coffee and a tray of pastries, filling half the table: milk pudding cake, green tea cake, coffee jelly, coffee yokan, green tea jelly, green tea yokan.

Zhang Yang proudly said: "Gesang, taste them! Except milk pudding cake, Annie taught us through online tutorials."

Gesang laughed: "Seeing the café full of energy, I feel half better!"

Zhang Yang: "Try them. If not to your liking, say so—Annie is the head chef."

Gesang tried everything, nodding in satisfaction: "If we can get longan honey, add it to the coffee jelly and yokan to enhance flavor and reduce brown sugar."

Zhang Yang: "We have honey, but longan honey may be hard to find. Maybe Xishuangbanna has it; I’ll check online."

03
Zhang Yang’s van had been replaced by an imported Ford truck; Zaxi bought a domestic SUV.

Zaxi drove Gesang and Annie to Xiaozhao Temple to meet the supervising lama, Gongga Sonam Rinpoche.

Sonam led them to the Tibetan medicine institute, through two corridors, to the rear rooms.

Zaxi and Annie sat on cushions. A novice monk brought a small bucket of butter tea and attended to guests.

Gesang sat on a wooden chair, extending his wrist for Sonam to check his pulse.

Zaxi thought: "I knew Tibetan medicine was good for chronic illness, but Sonam also understands meridian theory. The reputation of the medicine lama is well-earned."

Sonam asked Gesang: "When did the chest tightness start?"

Gesang: "About two years ago."

"When did the nightly cough begin?"

Gesang: "A year and a half ago."

"You should have had a Western medical check then."

"I was busy at work."

Sonam, slightly reproachful: "You neglected your health. The lesion is deep in the lung meridian and has spread. Treatment will be tricky."

Zaxi asked: "Master, can he be cured?"

Sonam: "More than 50% chance, but he must stay disciplined and cooperate fully."

Annie: "Master, you mean…?"

Sonam: "Gesang will stay here for a month. If his condition improves, you can bring him back. Even after discharge, he must return weekly for treatment."

Zaxi and Annie exchanged glances. Annie: "Master, we will follow your instructions."

Zaxi: "Please assign two novices to help Annie carry Gesang’s luggage to my car."

Sonam waved to the novices. Then he stood, palms together, and bowed to Zaxi: "Professor, please come to the meditation room. I have something to discuss."

Annie helped Gesang up: "Little one, stay here and cooperate with treatment. I’ll come back in a month."

Gesang nodded and hugged Annie: "I’ll fight to stay alive with you, never leaving."

Two novices at the door smiled sweetly.

04
Zaxi followed Sonam to the meditation room, sitting cross-legged.

Zaxi: "Gesang wants the Tsangyang Gyatso poem scroll to have a long-term home. I initially disagreed; I spent over twenty years recovering it. But with his illness, I decided to make the scroll the condition for his full treatment."

Sonam: "Professor, Gesang and I share past karma. Since I met him at Sun Moon Lake, I foresaw he would marry your daughter, guiding him to come to Lhasa."

Zaxi understood: "Master, you mean…"

Sonam: "Three years ago, he stayed at the temple researching murals and bonded with me. I intended to take him as a student, but his karmic bond with your daughter remained."

Sonam continued: "When you tell him he can donate the scroll, in gratitude he will receive full treatment from me, without requiring ordination."

Zaxi respectfully: "Please save Gesang. The scroll is secondary; if he recovers, we will be forever grateful."

Sonam: "Amitabha. Saving a life surpasses building a seven-story stupa."

Zaxi: "Master, I also worry if news of the donation leaks, the cultural authorities might pressure the temple."

Sonam firmly: "The temple is national-level. Authorities respect its stewardship of Tibetan artifacts. The scroll, missing for over 300 years, now recovered, will be celebrated. No interference will occur."

Zaxi: "With your assurance, I am relieved."

05
Zaxi and Annie returned to Cloud Sea Café. Zhang Yang and Meido checked on Gesang’s condition.

Zhang Yang: "Gesang didn’t come back?"

Zaxi: "He stays at the Tibetan medicine institute for treatment."

Meido: "What did Lama Sonam say about his condition?"

Annie, somber: "He said there’s over a 50% chance."

Meido encouraged: "Annie, cheer up! Gesang is good-hearted; Buddha will protect him."

Zaxi: "Annie, after Gesang overcomes this, you may stay here with him or return to Alishan for a simple, peaceful life."

Annie: "Daddy, let’s wait until he recovers. I must email Alishan to report safety."

06
A month later, Zaxi and Annie went to Xiaozhao Temple to pick up Gesang. In the medicine institute room, Annie saw him looking much healthier and hugged him.

"Master Sonam, thank you for giving him a new lease on life," Zaxi bowed repeatedly, then presented a wooden box containing the scroll.

Sonam accepted: "Amitabha. I will properly preserve it, honoring Tsangyang Gyatso."

Zaxi: "Master, how is Gesang’s condition?"

Sonam: "He needs follow-up treatment; he shouldn’t travel far within a year."

Annie to Gesang: "Do you hear Master’s instructions, little one?"

Gesang nodded and smiled.

Annie: "We’ll stay in Lhasa until Master heals you."

(The End)