EP 77 - SLAM!

Su Ling dumped her car in the parking lot and made her way into her restaurant.

It wasn't actually hers but that's what her father kept saying.

Inscribed on the top of the building was her restaurant's logo :

WINTERBLOSSOM GARDEN.

WE SERVE THE FINEST FOOD.

She walked in and was almost pushed off her feet by scurrying waiters , hurrying to attend to people orders. It was busy like always. Everyday after school , Su ling would stop at the restaurant. It was small but was a pretty big deal and brought in a lot of money. It was this restaurant that had gotten them money in their time , at least before her father became a big shot. As her mother always said "Food is the quickest way to a man's heart. " The walls were painted in a serene creamy white and tastely art hung from the walls. Although her father now owned a company , her mother always refused to sell out the little diner that had set them on the pathway to fame. Baa was also a bit sentimental about it and hoped to pass it on to his children.

But Su ling definitely didn't want it.

And that was what she wanted to talk to her father about.

She stepped into the kitchens. Her mother sat at a dainty table at the back where she was making egg rolls. She began by placing generous spoonfuls of meat-and-cabbage filling on squares of thin white dough. Then she delicately folded up each piece of dough checking to make sure the filling was totally sealed inside. Su ling watched her steadily produce a tray of the uncooked creations. Ma never asked her about school. It was already assumed that she did well ; because everyone had to be perfect!

"Are you hungry?" Ying Hua asked in English. Although her parents had agreed to speak in their native tongue around her , Ma often broke this rule when her father wasn't in the room.

"No. Where is Baa?" Su ling asked .

Spontaneously, her father came into the Kitchen glancing at his watch. Her mother understood this gesture. She rang a little bell to notify the customers that they were about to close for the day.

Batches of customers began to leave in bits and soon the restaurant was empty.

Father and daughter rested on chairs while Su ling's mother starting packing up in order for them to leave.

There was an weird silence between the two .

Su Ling wanted to begin a conversation but her father seemed disinterested in everything. She then decided to take out her headphones from her school bag when a paper slipped out from inside one of her textbooks.

She reached for it but unfortunately her father reached it before her. He read through it and began frowning.

"What is this Su ling?" He said sternly.

"It is my report card. It came in today." She said softly. Luo Hua had always instilled fear as well as discipline in his children.

"This is nothing short of disgraceful. A { B- in Biology , C+ in Physics, English A- , Math D and G.Sciences , an F}! " He yelled.

"I tried my best..."

"What institution is going to take you in on these grades, Su ling? At your age , your older brother did better than this! He always got all A's and here you are...

That's when Su ling lost it.

"Big Brother isn't here is he?! Because you drove him away ! He did his best and it wasn't enough for you! Now you want to do the same to me!. nothing and no one is ever good enough for you.I don't want to be a surgeon anymore, been a surgeon has always been your idea and am sorry to bust your bubbles Baa I'm going to be a Nature Photographer!"

"Wô de mā ya!"

Ying Hua dropped a plate and it crashed on the floor. Her mouth was agape as she stares at her daughter in shock at her apparent boldness.

"Băobăo..." Her mother called using her pet name. " You have to reconsider..."

"I'm sorry Ma , but I've made up my mind."

" It is those no good friends of hers ." Luo Hua muttered vexed and slammed his fist on the table. 'No daughter of mine that bears my name is going to become some non-entity! You are becoming a Neuro surgeon and that is final!"

Su ling stood up angry. " Go ahead Baa, lets see how you are going to force me to do it. You don't get to decide my life anymore. I'm sick of this and up till now I have lived for you, to make you happy and proud of me not withstanding how it makes me sad deep inside, I can't do this anymore Baa, I am sorry. If you like Neuro surgeons so much why don't you become one? "

Ying held her daughter. "Su Ling what has gotten into you?"

Su ling smiled and grabbed her bag, holding her keys firmly.

"What do you think you're doing?" Her father stood to his full height glaring at her.

"Something I should've done a long time ago."

Slam!

She walked out.