Lessons from Granny

Text by Lena Gidwani Translation by Emma Xu Photo by CFP

Lessons from Granny

Text by Lena Gidwani Translation by Emma Xu Photo by CFP

Today, I must confess.

I'm not the dog and cat lover that I pretend to be.

There, I said it. It's taken me years and years to admit this. I know it's fashionable to be one, and my darling husband would be tremendously disheartened if he read this. But frankly, I just don't see the fascination. Sure, they're cute and adorable, and make great companions, but so are hamsters and flsh, and I'd rather much keep them. Anyway, moving on.

I was in my local traditional Chinese medicine market recently. A peaceful sanctuary in which I have always enjoyed exploring the wonderful visual impression and facets of this age-old market. I was strolling along, when out of the blue I heard the sweet sounds of song, the most exquisite song I've had the pleasure of hearing. Enthralled, I followed the sound, and it brought me to a small, almost insigniflcant shop. An older lady stood there, surrounded by bales of dried produce. She lookedaround 60, maybe even 70. And there she was, just singing away in all her glory. I turned around, thinking that perhaps I was in the way of a hidden camera or heaven forbid, her lover. I was right… just behind me, stood a man, smiling, his hair black, his arms strong. He had a sensual light in his eyes. It was enthralling, watching them look at each other with wide-eyed flxation.

COLUMNIST'S PROFILE Lena Gidwani is a

resident of Guangzhou for 13 years, self

confessed networker, magazine editor and

an avid writer.

Lena Gidwani，網絡工作者、雜志編輯、作家，在廣州居住13年。

To cut a long story short, Granny was admiring her husband, who as it turned out, turned 80 that day. I was astonished.

“80? Wow! He looks so young!” I proclaimed, surprised to hear his age.

Granny had a twinkle in her eyes as she softly whispered, “It's the dried seahorse tonic. He's been drinking it since he was 30! In Guangxi, we always say “常吃海馬，八十公公老來少 (eating seahorses keeps that 80-year-old Granddaddy young)!”

Granny had plenty to share with me. Farmed seahorse tonic, she said, has been a local delicacy for over 2,000 years, and used widely in traditional Chinese medicine to enhance a man's… well, virility. They're also good for lowering cholesterol, treating ailments and so on. Now, let's get one thing clear: seahorses are treasured, and flercely protected in China. They are only legally used for medicinal purposes when farmed locally. Traditional Chinese medicine doctors say that one must take it regularly, and cannot expect to see effects in a short time.

Farmed seahorses. Of course, I should have guessed. I had to smile. Granny sure was a lucky girl. Then again, so was Grandpa.

Now, just for the record, I've never had seahorse, and neither am I inclined to. I'm just not the type. The only ones I've had, and will ever have, are those delicious chocolate ones from Guylian.

Sometimes, all you have to do is listen. Or wander around a local Chinese market. Thanks, Granny. I'll have to remember your tip when my darling husband gets older…

老阿婆教我的事兒

我最近愛去本地的中藥市場——一處世外桃源。我正沿街閑逛，忽然飄來一陣甜美的歌聲。如癡如醉，我循著歌聲，走到一間不起眼的小鋪子。一位老阿婆站在里面，被一捆捆干貨團團圍住。她看起來約莫六七十歲，正儀態萬方地放聲歌唱。想著自己也許擋住了隱藏的鏡頭，或阻隔了她與愛人，我轉過身來。果不其然……就在我身后，站著一位男人，他頭發烏黑，臂膀壯實，嘴角含笑，眼中漾著春光。他倆癡情對望，看著煞是迷人。

長話短說，阿婆很崇拜她的丈夫，那天他剛滿80。我驚得目瞪口呆。

“80？哇！真顯年輕啊！”我夸道。

阿婆的眼睛閃著光，柔聲說道，“他30歲就開始喝干海馬泡的藥酒了！廣西有句俗話,‘常吃海馬，八十公公老來少’。”

阿婆傾囊相授。海馬，她說，是當地流傳了兩千多年的珍饈，也是應用廣泛的中藥材。海馬可以……咳，壯陽，還能降低膽固醇,調理身體。海馬在中國是國家級保護動物，只有以人工養殖的海馬入藥才不犯法。中醫說要長期服用，短期內是見不到明顯藥效的。

海馬？我努力保持微笑。老阿婆真幸運，老爺子也是。

我發誓，我從未養過海馬，也不想一試，還是海馬形的巧克力更適合我。

不過，有一天當我親愛的丈夫老去時，說不定我會記起今日所學……