Timely, perhaps…with the reactions we received on our recent Nine Reasons You Should Ride A Chinese Motorcycle blog, I received a nice email from Sergeant Zuo, the man who led our ride across China a few short years ago.
大舅：
最近可好？我买了宗申RX3S，是老版的，排气量380cc，RX3已经8年9.6万公里了。我们国家的机动车有强制报废的规定，所以我还是再换一台摩托车吧，谁让我喜欢呢。RX3我就再怎么喜欢还得卖掉，因为我们小区车棚里我只能申请一个车位，所以还是给RX3找个喜欢她的人吧。
我们这里的疫情是好是坏，你们那里的疫情好点了吗？一定保护好自己。
有一个知道我和你是好朋友的朋友说过：“真正的中美友谊在民间。”我非常喜欢这句话，送给你。
随信寄去几张我的RX3S的照片。（我发给你的信和照片你怎么使用都行）。非常想念你，我的朋友！代我向你的爱人，家人问好，特别是你的几个孙子。
——— 左振义 2021.10.16 中国•兰州
What, you don’t read Chinese? Okay, here you go:
Uncle:
How are you doing recently? I bought the Zongshen RX3S, which is an old version with a displacement of 380cc. The RX3 has been 96,000 kilometers in 8 years. Our country’s motor vehicles have mandatory scrapping regulations, so I’d better replace them with a motorcycle. Who makes me like it. No matter how much I like RX3, I have to sell it, because I can only apply for one parking space in our carport, so let’s find someone who likes RX3.
Is the epidemic situation here for good or bad? Is the epidemic situation there any better? Be sure to protect yourself.
A friend who knows that you and I are good friends once said: “The real Sino-US friendship is among the people.” I like this sentence very much and I give it to you.
Enclosed are some photos of my RX3S. (You can use the letter and photos I sent you anyway). Miss you very much, my friend! Say hello to your wife and family, especially your grandchildren.
——— Zuo Zhenyi 2021.10.16 China•Lanzhou
Here are a couple of additional photos that Zuo sent to us:
So there you have it. That “uncle” business…I used to be a secret agent, you know, the Man from U.N.C.L.E., and…nah, just kidding. The Chinese named me Big Uncle and they called Gresh Little Uncle when we rode across China with them. The Chinese words are Da Jiu and Ar Jiu (Big Uncle and Little Uncle) and the “jiu” parts sounds a lot like Joe, so it was kind of a natural fit.
Don’t miss anything…get the latest as soon as it’s published!
Want to ride with us as we crossed China? Hey, it’s all right here!
