A package of handmade Chinese noodles delivered for Naiping Hou’s 74th birthday sat untouched on his front porch in early May, raising immediate concerns among family members. Typically, Naiping would have called or sent a photo to say thanks. This year, they got only a brief text message: “Yes, I receive it.”
The message was uncharacteristically curt, according to his son, Wen Hou, who had already been trying to reach his father by phone and text without success. Usually, Naiping would call and thank his family, Wen told the Los Angeles Times.
