Tea Leaves and Opal Necklaces

Barren Lands

Match Twenty-Six: Barren Lands:

"Sir, may I tell them the rest?" Biao asked. The older doctor nodded.

"You may do so," he said. The medic student sighed and pushed his black-framed glasses up.

"Yes," Biao said. "We ran the test on both of you. Wang-qiánbèi, you have a low sperm count."

"What?" Yao asked.

"Your count is 14 million," the med student said. "Just below the normal range."

"But... how did this happen?" the older man asked. The doctor walked over to the med student. He looked like a pine tree compared to the short dark haired Biao. This old doctor could be his uncle or grandfather.

"There are many factors that cause this," he said. "Smoking, drinking, drugs, being overweight, radiation, antibodies, certain medications, your job, exposure to heavy metal, tumors, chromosome defects, industrial chemicals, infection, defects to tubules, particular surgeries, overheating your testicles, hormone imbalances, celiac disease, varicocele, certain medications, problems with ejaculation, undescended testicles, or emotional stress." Yao froze at the words "emotional stress". He began to see himself in that kitchen again. Ju held his hand.

"I've studies all of Yao's health records and the tests that he did prior to this one. I already ruled out most of these factors myself," Biao said. "How has work been?"

"Good," Ju said.

"Any stresses lately?" the doctor asked. Yao pressed his lips together.

"I don't really know..." he mumbled. He could smell the smoke again. The man started to tremble.

"Can it be reserved?" Ju asked.

"Oh yes," the old doctor said. "There are plenty of treatment options. Surgery, medicines for infections, treatments for sexual intercourse problems, treatments and medication for your hormones, and even assisted reproductive technology."

"And if none of those work?" Yao asked. Biao lowered his brown eyes.

"You might have to consider the option of a sperm donor," he said in a quiet voice. The male patient's stomach dropped.

"Oh," Yao murmured. "I see." Ju squeezed his hand.

"Thank you for telling us," she said. Her husband couldn't look up at anyone. He squeezed Ju's hand back.

It didn't take long for the dads and moms of the clan to hear about Yao being sterile. Hen-to and Fei gave him sympathetic looks.

"You can still have a child," Fei said. "It took Cai and I several times before we had Kee. My wife had two miscarriages. After she got checked out at the doctor, she got pregnant and the baby lived." Yao pressed his lips together and nodded.

"What do you plan to do?" Hen-to asked.

"I don't know," Yao admitted. He rubbed his forehead. It was embarrassing enough that he was firing blanks, but he had something else on his mind. Yao couldn't stop seeing flames in his mind. He could hear the screams of children begging to be let out. Their little hands pounded on the heavy doors. It didn't help that they were all locked in the kitchen. Yao huddled over on the ground.

"Yao?" Hen-to asked. "You okay?" Yao turned his head.

"I don't feel so good," he mumbled. "Can I leave for the day?"

"Of course," Fei said. "We'll let Ju know you had to leave the meeting early."

"Thank you," he said. Yao dragged himself to his feet and walked out the door. Hen-to and Fei watched with a sense of unease.