Post by Lanie on Jun 6, 2005 18:17:02 GMT -5
Chapter 7
The next morning, Kiu Wai comes over to Chiu Wai’s room to look for him. However, Chiu Wai is not there. Kiu Wai walks over to the koi pond in the garden and sees Wah Chiu Wai saying good-bye to Wah Sin. They both look like they’re enjoying each other’s company. They both turn to Kiu Wai’s direction as they see him coming over.
Kiu Wai, looking very tired and unhappy: Good morning Wah Sin.
Chiu Wai: Brother, how was your honeymoon night last night?
Kiu Wai: Let’s not talk about it. Are you planning to leave now?
Chiu Wai: Yes, I am saying my good-bye to Wah Sin right now. Do you want to escort me out of this town?
Kiu Wai: That’s why I am here.
Wah Sin: I escort him with you, brother-in-law.
Kiu Wai: Sure, let’s go.
Kiu Wai just wants to leave this mansion for good, but it’s not realistic. He wants to avoid seeing Mei Chun, especially how she treated him last night. All he wants now is some fresh air and little bit of room to breathe to himself. And maybe……he can see the girl with the bright eyes. Seeing her is just a wishful thinking for Kiu Wai, because now he is a married man.
Half way escorting Chiu Wai out of town, Chiu Wai pulls Kiu Wai to the side and asks if Kiu Wai can just stop there so that he and Wah Sin can have some last moments together. Kiu Wai gets the message and tells Wah Sin to escort Chiu Wai some more on her own. Wah Sin is very shy when she hears this, but at the same time, very glad that she has some more time with Chiu Wai.
Kiu Wai is walking alone looking down on the street and smiling to himself, just reminiscing the moment when he sees that girl on her bicycle looking back at him with the sweetest smile he’s never seen before. Oh, how he wishes he can be in that moment again. While Kiu Wai is in his thoughts, a man pulling a vegetable cart is passing by. At the same time, Mei Ling is also passing Kiu Wai, but in the opposite direction of him, separated by the vegetable cart. They both pass by each other without realizing the other parties.
After a couple of feet and before they go on any further, they suddenly stop. They slowly turn around and look at each other at the same time. Once again, this magical moment appear in front of their eyes as their smiles shine on their faces. This time, they both have the courage to connect. Kiu Wai and Mei Ling slowly walk to each other with their shy smiles and face each other in the middle of the street.
Kiu Wai, with excitement: I can’t believe I see you again.
Mei Ling, shyly asks: Are you the one I collided into couple days ago?
Kiu Wai: Yes, that’s me. And you’re the girl?
Mei Ling: I am so sorry about that incident. Oh wait, did you come there to look for me?
Kiu Wai with a surprise look on his face: For You? You’re…….Yung Mei Ling?
Mei Ling: You’re Miu Kiu Wai?
They both are stunned at this moment. Their smiles drop and they just stare into each other’s surprised gazes for the next minute, not knowing how to react.
Mei Ling: I can’t talk to you in the streets here. I don’t want people to misunderstand us.
Kiu Wai: Mei Ling, I need to talk to you, just for a little bit.
Mei Ling: Let’s go over to the river over here to talk. It’s more quiet.
On the way to the river, Kiu Wai and Mei Ling only exchange eye contacts without saying much to each other. Although, they’re in silence, Kiu Wai can feel his emotion for Mei Ling. She is the type of girl that he would like to get married to. They stop at the bank of the river.
Mei Ling: Congratulations on your marriage Mr.Miu. I am very happy that you found yourself a very beautiful bride.
Kiu Wai: Please Mei Ling don’t say that. I feel very terrible inside. I came to your house the other day to apologize to you. You probably don’t know this, but I ran after to look for you when you came to my village that early morning.
Mei Ling, with a surprise look: You did? I didn’t see you.
Kiu Wai: I guess fate is playing tricks on us. Why couldn’t we meet back then or even when I was at your house? Things would be different now. After seeing you now, I wish for more than anything that I would be the lucky guy to marry you.
Mei Ling: Kiu Wai, you don’t know me well yet, why would you think that someone would be lucky to marry me?
Kiu Wai slips out: Because I’ve been thinking of you ever since that day we accidentally met.
Kiu Wai stops and realizes what he just said. Mei Ling looks straight into his eyes because she is shocked to hear that he has been thinking about her also.
Mei Ling: It doesn’t matter anymore. We barely knew each other. There are no emotions involved yet, only the proposal that was not meant to be. It’s just fate playing tricks on me. We just have to forget and move on.
Kiu Wai, looking very sad: Please forgive me Mei Ling. I hate myself for not being a good leader to my people, and especially turning you down that night. I wish we can go back in time then I can run out to the fields to see you.
Mei Ling: I admire you for your sacrifice Kiu Wai. I saw you on your horse, but only saw your back. At that moment, I really felt for you, how you had to go through that stretch of the road to save others. That is very admirable.
Kiu Wai: You actually admire me? No one has admired me before.
Kiu Wai is very touched when he hears this. He feels even more guilty that she is such and understanding girl, everything that he has hoped for in a bride. He could’ve been so happy and lucky with this heaven match made by Miss Lam.
Mei Ling: Yes, I admire you. That’s why I am following your footsteps. I don’t want to go to big school in Shanghai anymore. I just want to be a small town teacher teaching the children here. They need me more. I did a lot of thinking to myself after you left my house that day. There is no use to be on a journey where I am all by myself. No matter how great the destination will be, the journey is meaningless. You sacrifice for your people, I will sacrifice my future to be a teacher here.
Kiu Wai: Mei Ling, you really impress me. You are such a strong girl with a great sense of caring for others. I actually envy the lucky man who will have this chance of marrying you.
Mei Ling: You’re too much Kiu Wai.
Mei Ling pauses for a moment and continues with a serious look this time: You should go home back to your wife now.
Kiu Wai: And you?
Mei Ling: Back to my simple life as a teacher. This is probably the last time I see you. I wish you lots of luck in your marriage and life.
Kiu Wai, disheartened hearing this: Mei Ling, I feel very sad things turn out this way. I wish you will marry a person who brings you all the happiness you deserve.
Mei Ling with a brave smile: Don’t worry for me. I’ll be fine.
Kiu Wai and Mei Ling walk back to the main street. They stop at the intersection. Mei Ling is about to turn right to go home and Kiu Wai is going to turn left to go back to the Ton’s.
Mei Ling: This is it. My path is over there.
Kiu Wai, pointing to the left: Mine is over here.
Mei Ling, with tearful eyes and a bright smile: Have a great life Kiu Wai.
Kiu Wai, with full of sadness: I wish the same for you too.
Mei Ling and Kiu Wai take their own separate paths, putting their mishap behind them. They both now have their own missions to fulfill. Little do they know that this decision that they make will bring them pain and years of separation. Will their paths converge again?
Chapter 8
The following year is the most peaceful year for the Ton Family. As Kiu Wai learns how operate the family business, he also tries his best to be a caring husband to Mei Chun. Kiu Wai has convinced himself that his remaining life should be devoted to just one person because of that promise to Mrs.Ton. He has learned to accept her flaws and unpredictable temperament, and to care for her regardless of her imperfections.
Over the past 12 months, Mei Chun has softens a little bit and has grown to love Kiu Wai. She has been able to see his patience towards her and especially his loyalty to her family. As her love for Kiu Wai grows, so is her desire to have a baby with him.
Of course, this peaceful time only lasts for a short period of time. A painful chapter for Kiu Wai begins on one unexpected day………..
Mei Chun’s servants run up to Kiu Wai and Mrs.Ton and inform them: Young Mistress is very upset. She is throwing things in her room. Please come and calm her down.
Mrs.Ton and Kiu Wai worriedly run to Mei Chun’s room. Mei Chun is crying and throwing vases and jewelries on the floor.
Kiu Wai, coming over to Mei Chun to stop her: Please stop. What is wrong?
Mrs.Ton: Daughter, please don’t scare me. Sit down and talk alright?
Mei Chun is still crying hysterically as Kiu Wai wraps his arms around her and sits her down on the bed.
Mei Chun is screaming: It’s another false alarm! I’m not pregnant!
Kiu Wai, comforting his wife: It’s alright. We’re still young.
Mei Chun: We’ve been trying for a year already. What is wrong?
Mrs.Ton: Calm down. It’s not your fault. It just takes time. I will call for a doctor to come to check. Everything will be fine.
Kiu Wai: Don’t worry Mei Chun. The doctor will be here and he will check to make sure that everything is fine.
Mei Chun is still crying on Kiu Wai’s shoulders as Mrs.Ton calls for a family doctor.
Doctor: Mrs.Ton, Mei Chun’s pulse seems to be normal to me. She is still young, it probably takes some time.
Mrs.Ton: Doctor, if she’s normal, then why can’t she get pregnant?
Doctor: I am sorry Mrs.Ton. I don’t have the answer to this question.
Mrs.Ton: Can you check Kiu Wai’s pulse to see if he’s the one who has the problem?
Doctor: Sure. Mr.Ton, why don’t you sit down and let me check your pulse.
Kiu Wai sits down at the table as the doctor spends a minute checking his pulse.
Doctor: Looks like you’re fine.
Kiu Wai: Thank you doctor.
Doctor: Mrs.Ton, I suggest Mr.Ton and his wife should get a more thorough check up. Since I am not an expert in this area, I recommend them to get advice from the experts. There is a clinic that specializes in this area in Guangzhou. They have more modern technologies to detect any problem in the reproductive system.
Mrs.Ton: Great! Please give us more information on this clinic and I will have them go there as soon as possible.
Doctor: Yes Mrs.Ton. I hope they will have the answers for your daughter and son-in-law.
After the doctor leaves, Mrs.Ton advises Mei Chun and Kiu Wai to pack immediately and leave for Guangzhou the following day. Mrs.Ton is also asking Miss Yin and Mr.Koo to escort them on this trip. Because this answer is so important to Mrs.Ton and the future of the Ton clan, Mrs.Ton wants to accompany Mei Chun and Kiu Wai. Since she has done so much for this family already, she wants to see everything will go through according to her and Miss Yin’s plan.
Three days later at a train station in Guangzhou:
Mei Chun: That was a very exhausting trip.
Kiu Wai: Well, we’re here already, let’s make this trip the most of it.
Mrs.Ton: Miss Yin, where is our assistant? Is he here yet?
Miss Yin: He should be here. His men told me that he would be waiting for us here.
Mrs.Ton: We’re paying him a large amount of money to assist us with our stay here. He better be worth this amount.
Miss Yin: Don’t worry Mrs.Ton, I’ve worked with him before. He’s very reliable. Oh, there he is.
Approaching them is a young man in his late 20’s, wearing a hat, and an expensive brown suit with a tie. He has one hand in his jacket pocket and the other holding a cigarette to his mouth. He walks with confidence while puffing his cigarette.
Miss Yin: Mrs.Ton, here is the man who will be helping us, Mr.Yam Tat Wah.
Tat Wah: Mrs.Ton, nice to meet you. So this is your daughter and son-in-law?
Mrs.Ton: I was afraid you wouldn’t show up. Yes, this is my family, Kiu Wai and Mei Chun.
Tat Wah takes his hand out from his pocket to shake Kiu Wai’s: Nice to meet you Mr.Ton. Please let me know if you need anything in this city. I know this city by heart.
Kiu Wai: Thank you Mr.Yam. I wouldn’t want to bother you.
Tat Wah: Don’t worry about it. I am just doing what I am being paid to do, which is to make your stay here safe and comfortable.
Kiu Wai: Sounds like you have a lot of connection here.
Tat Wah: I know quite a few people.
Mrs.Ton: Please take us to the clinic first Mr.Yam. We have an appointment there this afternoon. I don’t want to be late for that.
Tat Wah: Alright, follow me out of this train station.
As the group follows Tat Wah, Mei Ling is getting off the train with her mother. Mei Ling and her mother turn to the opposite direction from Kiu Wai, so she misses him by a few seconds.
Chapter 9
Mei Ling grabs her mother’s hand and both are running out of the station through an exit at a further end.
Mei Ling: Mother, hurry up. We don’t want them to spot us here. It looks like there are less people at the exit down there.
ML’s mom: I am trying Mei Ling.
Mei Ling: This is my first time leaving home, being in this big city. I really have to find our way around here.
ML’s mom: Mei Ling, I feel so bad for making you run away with me like this.
Mei Ling: Don’t say it anymore mother. We’re together in this ordeal, I won’t let anything happen to you.
ML’s mom: Thank you Mei Ling. You are a wonderful daughter.
Mei Ling and her mother start walking fast on the streets looking for a cheap hotel to spend the night. Suddenly, two men come chasing after them. Mei Ling and her mother start running as fast as they can to escape. Unfortunately, they run into a small street and hit a dead end. Mei Ling is terrified, not knowing what to do. As the men come closer, her mother run out and cover Mei Ling with her arms.
ML’s mom: Please take me, don’t take my daughter. I am the one who owes you money.
Mei Ling: No mother. We’re in this together now. Please Misters, please let us go this time. I will do whatever I can to pay you the amount my mother owes you.
Both men start to laugh. They ignore their pleads and run toward Mei Ling and her mother. Mei Ling fights back by biting on one of the guy’s arm. As he screams, the other one runs over and pull her away. He pulls her arms behind her back so she cannot struggle. The guy with the bitten arm captures Mei Ling’s mother and they tie both of them up.
Mei Ling and her mother are pushed into a little cabin where no one can hear their screams. Their feet and hands are tied up as they’re sitting on top of hay and straws.
1st guy: Scream all you want, no one is going to hear.
Mei Ling: What do you want? Let us go.
2nd guy: We have to wait for the Big Brother. We work for him. We’re just following orders. He will decide what he will do with you. It’s not up to us.
ML’s mom: Please sir, tell him that I am the one who’s responsible for this mess. I was the gambler. My daughter is innocent. Let her go.
1st guy: Wait and tell that to him when you see him.
2nd guy turns to the 1st: Hey, we’ve got to go to inform him that we got them.
After both guys left the cabin, Mei Ling’s mother starts crying.
Mei Ling tries comforting her mother: Mother, don’t worry, we’ll be fine.
ML’s mom: It’s all my fault. Why did I have to come back into yours and your dad’s life for after 20 years? You should’ve just let me drown myself that day. Mei Ling, you have to believe me, that was just that one time I was in the casino. I was so desperate at that time when I was on my own. I wanted to come home with something so that you all will accept me back. Little did I know that it causes so many problems for all of you. I should have never came back.
Mei Ling: Mother, please don’t say that. You are my mother after all. You would have not been in that casino if it weren’t for your wish to bring us a lot of money.
ML’s mom: Please forgive me Mei Ling. I love our family very much. I regret for leaving all of you that day 20 years ago.
Mei Ling: I forgive you Mother. I am praying we will get through this together and come home to father.
ML’s mom: I thought by coming here for a year, we could escape from these people, and they eventually would forget about the debt, but they still follow us here.
Mei Ling: I didn’t see this coming either. We can’t let father know that we’re in this situation. He will worry and get sick.
ML’s mom: We have to find a way out of this.
Mei Ling: Don’t worry mother. I will try my best to talk to them.
Mrs.Ton goes to the hotel to rest after Kiu Wai and Mei Chun were done with their check up. The doctors tell them that they will know the result the next day. Tat Wah takes Kiu Wai and Mei Chun for a walk in the downtown. He then takes them on a scenic drive of Guanzhou. After two hours of sightseeing, Kiu Wai and Mei Chun are dropped off at the hotel.
The two guys who caught Mei Ling and her mother earlier are standing in front of the hotel waiting for Tat Wah. Upon seeing Tat Wah getting down from the car, they signal him.
Tat Wah: Have a good evening Mr. and Mrs.Ton. I will see you again tomorrow.
Kiu Wai: Thank you Mr.Yam
Tat Wah: Please call me Tat Wah.
Kiu Wai: Thank you Tat Wah.
Kiu Wai and Mei Chun enter the hotel and wave Tat Wah good-bye.
Tat Wah comes over to the two men: What’s going on?
1st guy: We’ve got her. She has a cute daughter with her too. What do you want to do with them?
Tat Wah: I’ll think about it. I have an important task the next few days. I will handle both of them once I’m done.
2nd guy: Alright Big Brother, we will wait for your instructions.
Tat Wah: In the meantime, feed them. I don’t want them to die.
The next morning, Kiu Wai comes over to Chiu Wai’s room to look for him. However, Chiu Wai is not there. Kiu Wai walks over to the koi pond in the garden and sees Wah Chiu Wai saying good-bye to Wah Sin. They both look like they’re enjoying each other’s company. They both turn to Kiu Wai’s direction as they see him coming over.
Kiu Wai, looking very tired and unhappy: Good morning Wah Sin.
Chiu Wai: Brother, how was your honeymoon night last night?
Kiu Wai: Let’s not talk about it. Are you planning to leave now?
Chiu Wai: Yes, I am saying my good-bye to Wah Sin right now. Do you want to escort me out of this town?
Kiu Wai: That’s why I am here.
Wah Sin: I escort him with you, brother-in-law.
Kiu Wai: Sure, let’s go.
Kiu Wai just wants to leave this mansion for good, but it’s not realistic. He wants to avoid seeing Mei Chun, especially how she treated him last night. All he wants now is some fresh air and little bit of room to breathe to himself. And maybe……he can see the girl with the bright eyes. Seeing her is just a wishful thinking for Kiu Wai, because now he is a married man.
Half way escorting Chiu Wai out of town, Chiu Wai pulls Kiu Wai to the side and asks if Kiu Wai can just stop there so that he and Wah Sin can have some last moments together. Kiu Wai gets the message and tells Wah Sin to escort Chiu Wai some more on her own. Wah Sin is very shy when she hears this, but at the same time, very glad that she has some more time with Chiu Wai.
Kiu Wai is walking alone looking down on the street and smiling to himself, just reminiscing the moment when he sees that girl on her bicycle looking back at him with the sweetest smile he’s never seen before. Oh, how he wishes he can be in that moment again. While Kiu Wai is in his thoughts, a man pulling a vegetable cart is passing by. At the same time, Mei Ling is also passing Kiu Wai, but in the opposite direction of him, separated by the vegetable cart. They both pass by each other without realizing the other parties.
After a couple of feet and before they go on any further, they suddenly stop. They slowly turn around and look at each other at the same time. Once again, this magical moment appear in front of their eyes as their smiles shine on their faces. This time, they both have the courage to connect. Kiu Wai and Mei Ling slowly walk to each other with their shy smiles and face each other in the middle of the street.
Kiu Wai, with excitement: I can’t believe I see you again.
Mei Ling, shyly asks: Are you the one I collided into couple days ago?
Kiu Wai: Yes, that’s me. And you’re the girl?
Mei Ling: I am so sorry about that incident. Oh wait, did you come there to look for me?
Kiu Wai with a surprise look on his face: For You? You’re…….Yung Mei Ling?
Mei Ling: You’re Miu Kiu Wai?
They both are stunned at this moment. Their smiles drop and they just stare into each other’s surprised gazes for the next minute, not knowing how to react.
Mei Ling: I can’t talk to you in the streets here. I don’t want people to misunderstand us.
Kiu Wai: Mei Ling, I need to talk to you, just for a little bit.
Mei Ling: Let’s go over to the river over here to talk. It’s more quiet.
On the way to the river, Kiu Wai and Mei Ling only exchange eye contacts without saying much to each other. Although, they’re in silence, Kiu Wai can feel his emotion for Mei Ling. She is the type of girl that he would like to get married to. They stop at the bank of the river.
Mei Ling: Congratulations on your marriage Mr.Miu. I am very happy that you found yourself a very beautiful bride.
Kiu Wai: Please Mei Ling don’t say that. I feel very terrible inside. I came to your house the other day to apologize to you. You probably don’t know this, but I ran after to look for you when you came to my village that early morning.
Mei Ling, with a surprise look: You did? I didn’t see you.
Kiu Wai: I guess fate is playing tricks on us. Why couldn’t we meet back then or even when I was at your house? Things would be different now. After seeing you now, I wish for more than anything that I would be the lucky guy to marry you.
Mei Ling: Kiu Wai, you don’t know me well yet, why would you think that someone would be lucky to marry me?
Kiu Wai slips out: Because I’ve been thinking of you ever since that day we accidentally met.
Kiu Wai stops and realizes what he just said. Mei Ling looks straight into his eyes because she is shocked to hear that he has been thinking about her also.
Mei Ling: It doesn’t matter anymore. We barely knew each other. There are no emotions involved yet, only the proposal that was not meant to be. It’s just fate playing tricks on me. We just have to forget and move on.
Kiu Wai, looking very sad: Please forgive me Mei Ling. I hate myself for not being a good leader to my people, and especially turning you down that night. I wish we can go back in time then I can run out to the fields to see you.
Mei Ling: I admire you for your sacrifice Kiu Wai. I saw you on your horse, but only saw your back. At that moment, I really felt for you, how you had to go through that stretch of the road to save others. That is very admirable.
Kiu Wai: You actually admire me? No one has admired me before.
Kiu Wai is very touched when he hears this. He feels even more guilty that she is such and understanding girl, everything that he has hoped for in a bride. He could’ve been so happy and lucky with this heaven match made by Miss Lam.
Mei Ling: Yes, I admire you. That’s why I am following your footsteps. I don’t want to go to big school in Shanghai anymore. I just want to be a small town teacher teaching the children here. They need me more. I did a lot of thinking to myself after you left my house that day. There is no use to be on a journey where I am all by myself. No matter how great the destination will be, the journey is meaningless. You sacrifice for your people, I will sacrifice my future to be a teacher here.
Kiu Wai: Mei Ling, you really impress me. You are such a strong girl with a great sense of caring for others. I actually envy the lucky man who will have this chance of marrying you.
Mei Ling: You’re too much Kiu Wai.
Mei Ling pauses for a moment and continues with a serious look this time: You should go home back to your wife now.
Kiu Wai: And you?
Mei Ling: Back to my simple life as a teacher. This is probably the last time I see you. I wish you lots of luck in your marriage and life.
Kiu Wai, disheartened hearing this: Mei Ling, I feel very sad things turn out this way. I wish you will marry a person who brings you all the happiness you deserve.
Mei Ling with a brave smile: Don’t worry for me. I’ll be fine.
Kiu Wai and Mei Ling walk back to the main street. They stop at the intersection. Mei Ling is about to turn right to go home and Kiu Wai is going to turn left to go back to the Ton’s.
Mei Ling: This is it. My path is over there.
Kiu Wai, pointing to the left: Mine is over here.
Mei Ling, with tearful eyes and a bright smile: Have a great life Kiu Wai.
Kiu Wai, with full of sadness: I wish the same for you too.
Mei Ling and Kiu Wai take their own separate paths, putting their mishap behind them. They both now have their own missions to fulfill. Little do they know that this decision that they make will bring them pain and years of separation. Will their paths converge again?
Chapter 8
The following year is the most peaceful year for the Ton Family. As Kiu Wai learns how operate the family business, he also tries his best to be a caring husband to Mei Chun. Kiu Wai has convinced himself that his remaining life should be devoted to just one person because of that promise to Mrs.Ton. He has learned to accept her flaws and unpredictable temperament, and to care for her regardless of her imperfections.
Over the past 12 months, Mei Chun has softens a little bit and has grown to love Kiu Wai. She has been able to see his patience towards her and especially his loyalty to her family. As her love for Kiu Wai grows, so is her desire to have a baby with him.
Of course, this peaceful time only lasts for a short period of time. A painful chapter for Kiu Wai begins on one unexpected day………..
Mei Chun’s servants run up to Kiu Wai and Mrs.Ton and inform them: Young Mistress is very upset. She is throwing things in her room. Please come and calm her down.
Mrs.Ton and Kiu Wai worriedly run to Mei Chun’s room. Mei Chun is crying and throwing vases and jewelries on the floor.
Kiu Wai, coming over to Mei Chun to stop her: Please stop. What is wrong?
Mrs.Ton: Daughter, please don’t scare me. Sit down and talk alright?
Mei Chun is still crying hysterically as Kiu Wai wraps his arms around her and sits her down on the bed.
Mei Chun is screaming: It’s another false alarm! I’m not pregnant!
Kiu Wai, comforting his wife: It’s alright. We’re still young.
Mei Chun: We’ve been trying for a year already. What is wrong?
Mrs.Ton: Calm down. It’s not your fault. It just takes time. I will call for a doctor to come to check. Everything will be fine.
Kiu Wai: Don’t worry Mei Chun. The doctor will be here and he will check to make sure that everything is fine.
Mei Chun is still crying on Kiu Wai’s shoulders as Mrs.Ton calls for a family doctor.
Doctor: Mrs.Ton, Mei Chun’s pulse seems to be normal to me. She is still young, it probably takes some time.
Mrs.Ton: Doctor, if she’s normal, then why can’t she get pregnant?
Doctor: I am sorry Mrs.Ton. I don’t have the answer to this question.
Mrs.Ton: Can you check Kiu Wai’s pulse to see if he’s the one who has the problem?
Doctor: Sure. Mr.Ton, why don’t you sit down and let me check your pulse.
Kiu Wai sits down at the table as the doctor spends a minute checking his pulse.
Doctor: Looks like you’re fine.
Kiu Wai: Thank you doctor.
Doctor: Mrs.Ton, I suggest Mr.Ton and his wife should get a more thorough check up. Since I am not an expert in this area, I recommend them to get advice from the experts. There is a clinic that specializes in this area in Guangzhou. They have more modern technologies to detect any problem in the reproductive system.
Mrs.Ton: Great! Please give us more information on this clinic and I will have them go there as soon as possible.
Doctor: Yes Mrs.Ton. I hope they will have the answers for your daughter and son-in-law.
After the doctor leaves, Mrs.Ton advises Mei Chun and Kiu Wai to pack immediately and leave for Guangzhou the following day. Mrs.Ton is also asking Miss Yin and Mr.Koo to escort them on this trip. Because this answer is so important to Mrs.Ton and the future of the Ton clan, Mrs.Ton wants to accompany Mei Chun and Kiu Wai. Since she has done so much for this family already, she wants to see everything will go through according to her and Miss Yin’s plan.
Three days later at a train station in Guangzhou:
Mei Chun: That was a very exhausting trip.
Kiu Wai: Well, we’re here already, let’s make this trip the most of it.
Mrs.Ton: Miss Yin, where is our assistant? Is he here yet?
Miss Yin: He should be here. His men told me that he would be waiting for us here.
Mrs.Ton: We’re paying him a large amount of money to assist us with our stay here. He better be worth this amount.
Miss Yin: Don’t worry Mrs.Ton, I’ve worked with him before. He’s very reliable. Oh, there he is.
Approaching them is a young man in his late 20’s, wearing a hat, and an expensive brown suit with a tie. He has one hand in his jacket pocket and the other holding a cigarette to his mouth. He walks with confidence while puffing his cigarette.
Miss Yin: Mrs.Ton, here is the man who will be helping us, Mr.Yam Tat Wah.
Tat Wah: Mrs.Ton, nice to meet you. So this is your daughter and son-in-law?
Mrs.Ton: I was afraid you wouldn’t show up. Yes, this is my family, Kiu Wai and Mei Chun.
Tat Wah takes his hand out from his pocket to shake Kiu Wai’s: Nice to meet you Mr.Ton. Please let me know if you need anything in this city. I know this city by heart.
Kiu Wai: Thank you Mr.Yam. I wouldn’t want to bother you.
Tat Wah: Don’t worry about it. I am just doing what I am being paid to do, which is to make your stay here safe and comfortable.
Kiu Wai: Sounds like you have a lot of connection here.
Tat Wah: I know quite a few people.
Mrs.Ton: Please take us to the clinic first Mr.Yam. We have an appointment there this afternoon. I don’t want to be late for that.
Tat Wah: Alright, follow me out of this train station.
As the group follows Tat Wah, Mei Ling is getting off the train with her mother. Mei Ling and her mother turn to the opposite direction from Kiu Wai, so she misses him by a few seconds.
Chapter 9
Mei Ling grabs her mother’s hand and both are running out of the station through an exit at a further end.
Mei Ling: Mother, hurry up. We don’t want them to spot us here. It looks like there are less people at the exit down there.
ML’s mom: I am trying Mei Ling.
Mei Ling: This is my first time leaving home, being in this big city. I really have to find our way around here.
ML’s mom: Mei Ling, I feel so bad for making you run away with me like this.
Mei Ling: Don’t say it anymore mother. We’re together in this ordeal, I won’t let anything happen to you.
ML’s mom: Thank you Mei Ling. You are a wonderful daughter.
Mei Ling and her mother start walking fast on the streets looking for a cheap hotel to spend the night. Suddenly, two men come chasing after them. Mei Ling and her mother start running as fast as they can to escape. Unfortunately, they run into a small street and hit a dead end. Mei Ling is terrified, not knowing what to do. As the men come closer, her mother run out and cover Mei Ling with her arms.
ML’s mom: Please take me, don’t take my daughter. I am the one who owes you money.
Mei Ling: No mother. We’re in this together now. Please Misters, please let us go this time. I will do whatever I can to pay you the amount my mother owes you.
Both men start to laugh. They ignore their pleads and run toward Mei Ling and her mother. Mei Ling fights back by biting on one of the guy’s arm. As he screams, the other one runs over and pull her away. He pulls her arms behind her back so she cannot struggle. The guy with the bitten arm captures Mei Ling’s mother and they tie both of them up.
Mei Ling and her mother are pushed into a little cabin where no one can hear their screams. Their feet and hands are tied up as they’re sitting on top of hay and straws.
1st guy: Scream all you want, no one is going to hear.
Mei Ling: What do you want? Let us go.
2nd guy: We have to wait for the Big Brother. We work for him. We’re just following orders. He will decide what he will do with you. It’s not up to us.
ML’s mom: Please sir, tell him that I am the one who’s responsible for this mess. I was the gambler. My daughter is innocent. Let her go.
1st guy: Wait and tell that to him when you see him.
2nd guy turns to the 1st: Hey, we’ve got to go to inform him that we got them.
After both guys left the cabin, Mei Ling’s mother starts crying.
Mei Ling tries comforting her mother: Mother, don’t worry, we’ll be fine.
ML’s mom: It’s all my fault. Why did I have to come back into yours and your dad’s life for after 20 years? You should’ve just let me drown myself that day. Mei Ling, you have to believe me, that was just that one time I was in the casino. I was so desperate at that time when I was on my own. I wanted to come home with something so that you all will accept me back. Little did I know that it causes so many problems for all of you. I should have never came back.
Mei Ling: Mother, please don’t say that. You are my mother after all. You would have not been in that casino if it weren’t for your wish to bring us a lot of money.
ML’s mom: Please forgive me Mei Ling. I love our family very much. I regret for leaving all of you that day 20 years ago.
Mei Ling: I forgive you Mother. I am praying we will get through this together and come home to father.
ML’s mom: I thought by coming here for a year, we could escape from these people, and they eventually would forget about the debt, but they still follow us here.
Mei Ling: I didn’t see this coming either. We can’t let father know that we’re in this situation. He will worry and get sick.
ML’s mom: We have to find a way out of this.
Mei Ling: Don’t worry mother. I will try my best to talk to them.
Mrs.Ton goes to the hotel to rest after Kiu Wai and Mei Chun were done with their check up. The doctors tell them that they will know the result the next day. Tat Wah takes Kiu Wai and Mei Chun for a walk in the downtown. He then takes them on a scenic drive of Guanzhou. After two hours of sightseeing, Kiu Wai and Mei Chun are dropped off at the hotel.
The two guys who caught Mei Ling and her mother earlier are standing in front of the hotel waiting for Tat Wah. Upon seeing Tat Wah getting down from the car, they signal him.
Tat Wah: Have a good evening Mr. and Mrs.Ton. I will see you again tomorrow.
Kiu Wai: Thank you Mr.Yam
Tat Wah: Please call me Tat Wah.
Kiu Wai: Thank you Tat Wah.
Kiu Wai and Mei Chun enter the hotel and wave Tat Wah good-bye.
Tat Wah comes over to the two men: What’s going on?
1st guy: We’ve got her. She has a cute daughter with her too. What do you want to do with them?
Tat Wah: I’ll think about it. I have an important task the next few days. I will handle both of them once I’m done.
2nd guy: Alright Big Brother, we will wait for your instructions.
Tat Wah: In the meantime, feed them. I don’t want them to die.