In a remote office in Honduras' bustling capital, Xiong sits at his desk, staring at an old letter in his hand. This letter not only carries his father's last wishes, but also the most important mission in his life.
Honduras, once the Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the three armed forces, is now embarking on a journey that spans half the world. This is not only an exploration of the family's roots, but also a journey to fulfill his father's last wish and connect with the long-lost family relationship.
Decades ago, Xiong's father set out from a small village in China on a long journey to Honduras. He struggled all his life in a foreign country, but he always cherished the dream of returning to his homeland. Now, this dream has become a burden on Xiong Bohong's shoulders.
The Chinese figure of the Minister of Defense of Honduras
In 1996, Xiong Bohong's appointment as Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Honduras evoked an enthusiastic response in the local Chinese community.
At the time, he was 49 years old and at the peak of his career. Despite being in a high position, Xiong Bohong has always maintained a deep concern for his family and country.
During his tenure, Xiong Bohong not only demonstrated outstanding leadership in the field of national defense, but also showed far-reaching vision in strategic planning. He led a series of important defense reforms that greatly enhanced Honduras' military power and international standing.
In his office, the flag of Honduras and the five-star red flag of China are hung, symbolizing his respect and integration of the cultures of the two countries. Xiong Bohong's rigor and professionalism in his work have won wide respect from his colleagues.
Whenever there was a major decision that needed to be made, he was always thoughtful and sought to make the choice that would be in the best interest of the country and its people.
Xiong Bohong has also been actively involved in a number of exchange programs between Honduras and China. He is well aware of his unique role as a Chinese American in the relations between the two countries, so he spares no effort to promote cooperation between the two countries in the military, economic and cultural fields.
His efforts effectively promoted friendly relations between Honduras and China, and also laid a solid foundation for the development of the Chinese community in Honduras.
During his tenure, Xiong Bohong also visited China several times.
During these visits, he had in-depth exchanges with senior Chinese officials and discussed cooperation between the two countries in the areas of defense and security.
These visits not only deepened his personal ties with China, but also marked a new chapter in Honduras' relations with China.
After his tenure, Xiong Bohong did not forget his deep thoughts about his hometown. He began planning a trip back to China, hoping to find his family roots.
An unwavering commitment to our homeland
As the president of the local Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Xiong Bohong often attends various activities of the chamber. At these events, he not only shared his experience working at the Ministry of National Defense, but also often mentioned his Chinese roots and desire to find his roots.
These sharing strengthened his connection with the local Chinese community and sparked interest in his family's history.
At an annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, Xiong Bohong gave a detailed introduction to his initial ideas for the root-seeking plan. He mentioned that although he has been busy with work for many years, he always wants to find and relive his family's history.
Hearing this, many members of the Chamber of Commerce expressed strong support and put forward suggestions to help. Some members of the Chamber of Commerce, whose families had similar experiences, were so they empathized with Xiong Bohong's plan.
At the chamber of commerce, Xiong met a veteran member who had done business in several parts of China and had an in-depth knowledge of China's geography and culture. He provided Xiong Bohong with information about the characteristics and history of different regions of China, which was very helpful for Xiong Bohong's journey to find his roots.
At a gathering at the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Xiong discussed the areas he planned to visit in China, hoping to find some clues.
At the meeting, several members who had returned to China to visit relatives shared their experiences and offered many practical advice, such as how to conduct genealogical inquiries in China and how to contact local cultural and historical research institutions.
An unexpected discovery on the road to your roots
With the assistance of the Chamber of Commerce, Xiong Bohong began his journey to find his roots. One day, at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, he heard an exciting news.
Zhang Ming, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, happened to meet a man from Taijiang surnamed Xiong in a small village in China. After the exchange, Zhang Ming learned that the man's grandfather had gone to Honduras to work and had lost contact with him since.
This news immediately aroused Xiong Bohong's great interest. At the next chamber of commerce meeting, Xiong Bohong had an in-depth conversation with Zhang Ming.
Zhang Ming described in detail how he met the man. He recounted that on a business trip, he stopped in a small town in Taijiang and met this man surnamed Xiong by chance. While chatting in the teahouse, the two mentioned their respective family backgrounds.
The man mentioned that his grandfather had gone to Honduras as a young man and had not been heard from since. He also mentioned that he had been trying to find clues about his grandfather, but he had never been able to find a clue.
When Zhang Ming heard this, he immediately thought of Xiong Bohong and felt that there might be some kind of connection between them.
After Xiong Bohong heard this, he immediately asked Zhang Ming to provide the man's contact information. Zhang Ming found the man's contact information from his mobile phone and immediately transferred it to Xiong Bohong. Xiong Bohong got in touch with the man that night, and the two agreed on a time for further communication.
Through several telephone conversations, Xiong Bohong gradually deepened his understanding with the man. The man, surnamed Xiong, said that his grandfather did go to Honduras when he was young and never returned. When Xiong Bohong heard this, he was shocked because it was very similar to his father's story.
In further exchanges, the two found more similarities. Xiong Bohong described his father's experience, while Li Qiang shared stories about his grandfather that circulated in the family. The more they talked, the more they felt that there was a strong connection between the two stories.
Xiong Bohong decided to invite a man surnamed Xiong to Honduras, hoping to have in-depth face-to-face exchanges. The other party accepted the invitation and soon arrived in Honduras. The two met at Xiong Bohong's home, where the man surnamed Xiong brought some old photos and letters left by his grandfather.
Together, they pored over the photographs and letters, gradually piecing together a more complete story. The people and backgrounds in the photographs are strikingly consistent with the story of Xiong Bohong's father. After some discussion, the two finally determined that the father of the man surnamed Xiong was Xiong Bohong's half-brother.
A heartwarming moment for family reunion
After learning that he still had relatives in China, Xiong began to correspond with his brother. The elder brother lives in a small village in China, while Xiong Bohong is in Honduras. Despite the distance between the two places, letters served as a bridge of communication.
Every time he received a letter from his brother, Xiong Bohong always opened it with excitement. The letter not only contains a description of the hometown, but also some specialties of the hometown. These delicacies, like warm stories, made Xiong Bohong feel the taste of his hometown. From sauced meats and dried fruits to traditional pastries, everything carries a strong sense of nostalgia.
In 2013, Xiong Bohong finally decided to return to his hometown in person. He began to prepare for the trip, packing his luggage and planning his route. On the eve of his parting, he held a small farewell party at the Chamber of Commerce.
The members of the Chamber of Commerce knew the importance of Xiong Bohong's trip, and they blessed him one after another, hoping that he could find the answers he was looking for in his hometown.
Xiong Bohong's journey is full of anticipation and excitement. After a long flight and transfer, he finally arrived in China. At the airport, he traveled to the nearest city, then took a long-distance bus to his brother's village.
When Xiong Bohong's car drove into the village, he saw his brother standing at the entrance of the village waiting. My brother is over eighty years old, but he is still in good spirits. When the two met, they didn't say much, just hugged each other tightly.
This embrace spans decades and binds two long-separated brothers together.
The surrounding villagers witnessed this touching scene and gathered around to express their welcome to Xiong Bohong.
They were both surprised and happy to have a "loved one" who had come from afar. The villagers brought home-made food and drinks, adding to the festive atmosphere of this special reunion.
Accompanied by his brother, Xiong Bohong walked into this familiar village that he had never set foot in before. They walked through familiar fields and streams, and his brother introduced him to each landmark and the story behind it. Walking on the country road, Xiong Bohong felt a sense of belonging that he had not felt for a long time.
In the evening, the people of the village held a welcome dinner for Xiong Bohong. Villagers sat around enthusiastically sharing food and stories.
The elder brother told Xiong Bohong the story of their father's youth and his experience of leaving his hometown for Honduras. These stories gave Xiong Bohong a deeper understanding of his family and roots.
Over the next few days, Xiong Bohong visited the attractions around the village and learned about the local customs. He visited the burial place of his ancestors and felt a deep connection with his family. Xiong Bohong also helped the village children repair the school's facilities, which made the villagers full of gratitude to him.
During this journey, Xiong Bohong found the family roots he had been looking for. His relationship with his brother has become closer, and he has a deeper understanding of his identity and background.
When he left his village and returned to Honduras, he was filled with memories and deep family affection.
This journey is not only Xiong Bohong's personal journey to find his roots, but also a historical journey that crosses borders and connects the two families.
Xiong Bohong's story spread in the village and became a heart-warming topic. For Xiong Bohong himself, this trip back to his hometown was one of the most precious experiences of his life.
- Honduras:Springboard into Central America[J].China Foreign Trade,2006(9):72-74