Sweet Melody on an Afternoon Tea

Er Ge called me that night and we chatted for a bit. He asked if I was ready to come home as everyone misses me and I promise to do so soon.

Perhaps Ta Ge is right, everyone seem to be pretty lenient with me perhaps the fact that I am just turning 23 soon and it's prime that I get moving in life where as Er Ge and Ta Ge seems much more mature with the 2 years apart from each other. Er Ge and Yi Ren is about the same age. The last 2 years staying away from home while earning my credits at performing arts school and playing my role in the orchestra team has been challenging yet it help me to build  the connection that I needed as I venture into media consulting and event planning at the same time and building up the business in the last 2 years is quite an achievement itself.

Back to the game of chess with Er Ge

"Yi Ren seem to ask me a lot about you"

"Ohh what about?" I ask curiously

"If you'd be quitting your current job and moving back in with the family... your plans. I guess he is just concern"

"Mnn" I didn't offer any further comments

As the morning came, my grandma was all over me asking me to wake up to follow her to the temple, it was a weekly thing our family had been doing this, donating rice for the temple for the monks and grandma would pass over the donations from grandpa apparently it's been a passed down practice to always give thanks and gratitude for our family's well being.

"Zhen, Ah Ma wants to bring you to get some of your bad luck warded off" Ah Ma pull me towards the back chamber where the head monk resides 

"Ah Ma we are in 21st century every day is lucky day"

"Choi! Choi! Choi! Don't simply say like that young man 21 century or 19 century all our ancestors live a decent humble and healthy live thanks to all the blessings we receive, forgive my grandson young people don't understand the ways of life" my grandma bow to the head monk which smiled

"Amitabha"  He said. "Your grandson brings light and laughter to the house but a little cheeky it's fine." He stop and look at me

"He had probably started going through some hardship I see, more ways of life will be revealed before his eyes, he will grow up as he walks down his path but not to worry he will always be surrounded by people who will protect him and love him like all of you. Hmm he is turning 23 soon? He may have some cross roads in the coming years with regards to matters of the heart and career  but it will be his decisions that will be key. He will do well as long as he to learn the way of life and find the balance."

He look up at grandma and said "he has a good soul he will be a good blessing to everyone around him."

At that I smiled cheekily to grandma with the "see I told you so I am a blessing to all so you all better treat me well" I look at grandma and stuck my tougue out and that made her pull my ears again

"owh!owh!owh!" I whispered quietly as grandma drop her stare to ask me to stop fooling around and i shut my mouth immediately.

Once we are back in the car the nagging starts

"Ah Zhen! You 23 years old already okay, how can you act like a 15 years old kid? Ah Ma around can take care of you, what If.."...at that I straight away tug at my grandma's shoulder leaning into her "ah ma don't say anything, Ah Ma is always my Ah Ma my princess in my heart, cannot simply think nonsense what if I want you to always be with me and see me get married and have kids"

"You Ahh such a sweet talker, I ask you go dating with our neighbour daughter you run away now you said wait for you to get married so when? are you dating anyone?"

"Ahhh grandma now 21st century we can date online no need go out! We all do video call virtual dating ah!"

"What!!? Ah Zhen! What Virtua dating! Vitual dating! I don't care as long as you are going out with some one, you better bring them back to see us, our tradition runs deep so don't forget that."

These conversations are super stressful at times though it can be hilarious. I once showed my grandma a 360 video feature with my brothers over at the other side of the phone and because she had to tilt the phone she was ranting about how stupid the phone is setup.

"Ah Zhen! This phone ah you throw away you see I can't even see your Ta Ge or Er Ge's face only their legs!"'I think the phone camera had manufacturing default, they are not like us very stringent on quality control" and that made all of us burst. "Ah Ma it's 360' feature you need to turn it this way see now you can see Ge's face right?" It is usually a major entertainment for us when my brothers and I educate my grandparents and parents on technology  usage but then again I'm sure we will be the same as them 30 years from now where our children will probably teach us on the use of hologram once it's commercialised and future technological advancements.

Back at home i walk into the living room setting my eyes on the grand piano. It's been sitting there last 3 years according to Soong Jie and Ma and grandma misses the sound of it as I used to entertain them with my pieces. The living room smells fragrant again, hmm today Soong Jie had my favourite red roses by the side of the table - I trail my fingers on the piano top and open it. It's been so long since I last played here.

"Zhen you want tea?" Ah Ma asked me to get you some egg tarts. "Oh no no I'm full, see my tummy is bulging ever since dinner yesterday. I'm good with tea, Soong Jie I don't want my usual Yongchuan tea today, got earl grey? The one Ah Kong likes to drink."

"Hmm ok" Soong Jie answered looking surprise.

My grandpa although staunched in his traditions has a good taste bud for variety of teas thanks to his trade business partners. When we were younger I remember we had visitors from different parts of the world stopping by for business we tend to exchange tea leaves produce as a token of appreciation. And my grandpa trade partners mostly British decent, an avid tea drinker used to share with us stories on the Boston Tea party and then on our end grandpa speaks about his olden days on Nanjing Treaty how our world was further exposed to other countries and how that sets precedents to some of the events we see today.

Soong Jie excused herself and I look at the piano keys in front of me. It's been a while .... I sat fine on the familiar piano chair, closes my eyes as I placed my fingers and played the familiar tune that I used to like a lot, Canon D by Pachelbel. Such a lovely song. As the melody travels across the entire mansion I feel the younger days laughter coming through.

Ma back early today "shhh let him finish" she told Soong Jie.

I was just lost in Pachelbel's creation. As I finish the last note - there was a clap of hands Ah Ma and Ma was enjoying the afternoon tea listening to my music.

"Zhen come sit next to me, Ma want to speak to you" I sat next to my mum as she took my hands...You've grown so much but still my little boy. You must have gone through a lot look at the lines here on your eyes

"What? I have lines? thought the eye cream you gave me work?" I teased back

She smiled and continue "Zhen, Your Pa needs more help. Why don't you help him out in this thing that he is working on that grandpa has assign  him to. They've invested in some shares in the entertainment line and you like music why don't you help your Pa to take on some of the work and figure out what ideas that can help then to expand the business more.

My dad would have have asked my mother to speak to me. "Otherwise you can join your Ta Ge in managing some of the reits business as the property business is also growing and they have to deal with tenants and corporates to manage the land banks or help your Er Ge with funding investments- he's probably closest to some of the entertainment business investors. You can start from there following him to some functions and events get to know some of the key people around. Try it out you will need to build these connections sooner or later.

And so the years of avoidance came to an end.

If I had to choose a field, I thought if it's best to work with Er Ge, it would also mean to build the connections within these key areas as it would help if I were to continue to progress in my own music passion and integrate my existing work into what my family has.