Episode 03

Very excited to recap this episode. But before I begin, a rundown on the statistics thus far. From the way the series goes, I suppose we can all expect

1. at least one major quarrel per episode
2. 2 or more smaller quarrels per episode
3. at least a shove/slap/knock on some person per episode
4. importantly no hate for the father. I will elaborate more on this later.

And the children's name is

Ka(Moses)
Hou(Raymond)
Yuet(Tavia)
Yuen(Chris Lai)
Heng(Fala)
Chung(don't know the actor, what was he in?)
Chau (nickname given to Lydia's Sum)

loosely translated as A family reunited together to usher in the full moon festival. I think. It is a saying I suppose.

Mother is Hor Ma. Father is Cho Ba. Adulteress is Ah Hung. Wayne is not sure. I haven't checked the cast list and has no intention to. Wanna learn the names as I go. Lee Heung Kam is Grandma. The other monotone guy is grandpa. I am still a bit lost as to who are those 2 nosy relatives living with Hung & gang.

Anyway, recap...

So the mooncake reunion dinner-gate continues.

Thus far grandma says no way to the dinner. Why? Well remember last recap I say Cho Ba had a younger brother who committed suicide and grandma blamed Hor Ma?

Wellin 1995 (the series always flashback to 1995 and 1996) this younger brother was a good kid until he met some China bargirl who taught him how to smoke, drink and gamble. He had many times asked Hor Ma to pay off his debt and one time when grandma was hopitalised (relationship between Hor Ma and grandma was already strained because Hor Ma must have scolded the grandma for taking the children to play instead perhaps of studying and grandma fell sick because of that)this younger brother asked Hor Ma for money. Hor Ma refused to give him and the brother said he would really have to jump off the building but Hor Ma said he said that many times so she refused him. Next day he did jumped. Hor Ma was filled with regret and explained why he killed himself and all hell broke loose. Cho Ba blamed her, grandma gave her the big slap, blaming her "How wicked you are! Just because you don't like me, just because you don't like the way I spend time with my grandchildren, you refuse my son! My good son! You evil woman!!" and of course all Hor Ma can do was cry.

So back to present day again Grandma said no to the dinner as she didn't want Hor Ma to get her way. Of course Cho Ba and even Hung said since they promised her in exchange for the shop's name they would allow the dinner to go on.

Then came another problem.

Wayne Lai, the worker who left en massed with other workers many years ago was sacked by Hung who found out he was brokering a deal with other mooncake company. Wayne was of course angry and said "Remember back then you were the one who told me to take the opportunity! Look now what you're saying! Look! You promised me the manager post but now dozens of shops later you rather appoint that useless bugger (one of the nosy relative) as manager rather than me. I need this job tp pay for my sister's education overseas! You can't do this!" and Hung simply dismissed him and coolly told him to get lost. She also sent a message to every mooncake maker never to employ him ever again, thus killing his career.

Hor Ma was in the store when she saw a dejected looking Wayne outside her shop. She went to him, concerned with his welfare and asked what was happening. And so Wayne told him and instead of hating him, Hor Ma employed him but gave him a good salary with benefits. Wayne went in and saw Hou and Yuet, both giving him that angry look. Hor ma announced her decision and Hou was first to object.

"Hor ma, don't you remember what he did? Remember what he said when he left? I remember. He said 'let that fatty try to make the mooncakes this year, see how she can deal with the orders, I don't care if that fatty dies!'. Hor Ma how can now you re-employ him?" and Wayne looked ashamed but Hor Ma coolly said "That was the past. Hou is this how you speak to your elders? Let it be, moreover his sister need the money to study, you remember her don't you?" and Wayne excitedly showed them the results and Yuet said "Well very good results" and Hou then said "Ok Hor Ma, if this is what you want" and Wayne quickly and happily said "I can start work now!" and off he went.

Stop for a moment. Let me guess, the little sister is Kate Tsui? Anyway now I know why Wayne was jumping jobs for the best salary. For his sister. Totally forgivable.

Ka, YUen and Chung came back and met up with Hou. Ka was busy with his stockbroking, Yuen busy with his lovelife and Chung was very very quiet. Hou had a hard time chatting with them but managed to give the message about the dinner. Meanwhile Ka went back to shop and visited Hor Ma and was playful and popular with the ladies and his mom and himself were very affectionate as he said "My mother has been with me through a few bancruptcy scares, loss of money and sharemarket crash! She is my pillar of strength!".

Anyway Hung found out and was pissed since she took that gesture of employing Wayne as a hit back at her. So she slyly influenced the grandma and said several damaging stuff to grandma and so grandma kicked up a fuss and insisted no dinner! Ka, grandpa, Hor Ma, Wayne, Yuet and Hing were all there happily discussing about the dinner plans when suddenly Ka received a call from uncle who said dinner is off. Grandpa was naturally upset plus Auntie Sa said the most inappropriate things at that time that made Grandpa stricken with sadness. Ka angrily said "What is that woman up to this time?" and Hou said "That woman is doing small tricks again! Well Yuen and Chung are both big now, surely they can just turn up if they want to" and Ka said "Don't worry grandpa I will talk to her!" and Grandpa tearfully said "Why is it so difficult to have just one dinner with all my grandchildren there? No, next year, year after, no more dinners, no more Chinese New Year reunion dinner, no more such dinners!" and Hor Ma said "Father don't say that" and Grandpa said "No, I am not saying this in anger, I am saying what it is. It feels like begging, I feel like I am a beggar begging for a dinner, no more! No more!" and Hor Ma quietly said "Don't worry father. I promised you a dinner with all your grandchildren and you will have your dinner with all your grandchildren and you won't have to beg for it".

Cho Ba was at home when he received a call and Hor Ma wanted to speak with Hung who insisted on taking the call as well. It has been 12 years since they last spoke and Hor Ma opened the conversation by asking quite nicely "Why is that you now are saying no to the dinner? Why are you stopping all the children from this dinner?" and Hung smilingly said "You think I can do that? Of course not. It's just that well .. Yuen wants to have dinner with his girlfriend and Chung doesn't feel up for the dinner" and Hor Ma laughed bitterly and said "Seriously Hung, the excuses you can give, is it because of Nin Chi Yung (Wayne!)?" and Hung said "Well why did you employ him?" and Hor Ma said "Well I needed help. I have a bad back and since he comes cheap at $7000 per month why not? The usual masters take $20,000 so why won't I take advantage of him?" and Hung said "You knew I sent messages to fellow businesses not to employ him. Let me advise you, this man can't be depended on. You're just putting yourself in harm's way and may I remind you about how the other fellow businesses would feel" and Hor Ma said "Now do I not know that? I am just a small shop and I just need help. Let me assure you this traitor is here only temporarily and when I am better I will personally kick him out, you can be rest assured of that. In fact I hate him more than you do. Even now behind my back he calls me fatty. Why would I show concern for someone who calls me fatty behind my back? Now can the dinner proceed?" and Hung smiled and said to the relatives "Prepare the mooncake to give to the other side and Ah Yuen, Ah Chung, both are you are going for the dinner" and then smilingly she said to Hor Ma "Satisfied?" and Hor Ma sarcastically said "Yes of course" and Hor Ma turned to her father and shouted in triumph "See! Dinner is on! Now prepare the menu father like you just did!" and the father happily smiled. And Wayne quietly said to Hor Ma "Hor Ma, I didn't call you fatty".

Dinner gate solved? You bet NOT!

So the dinner day Cho Ba left with the 2 children with mooncakes and when Cho Ba said "Oh this is Ah Hor favourite!" and Hung showed an intense jealousy over that remark. And then Lydia (I will call her Sum from now on) said "Well mother, I need to go. Can't keep my friends waiting!" when secretly she is heading for the dinner.

At the dinner everybody had a great reunion and Ka presented a video of their younger days when it was such a happy family, cycling, playing, etc that makes me wonder what a pity this family is torn apart. Anyway Nin Chi Yung was there and Hor Ma explained "He has no family here so I invited him" and everybody had a great time.

HUng called her daughter whilst having buffet with 2 nosy relatives and grandma in some posh restaurant and unfortunately at that moment she heard I think it was Ka who shouted "It was Cho Ba's hands!!" as they played some guess the person game and Hung was furious. Sum quickly called her mother back and said "Mother you don't need to pick me up. My friends and I are having agreat time" and Hung hung up. Then slyly she prodded the grandma over something, I think it was that the dinner seems to go on for such a long time and so grandma being jealous wanted to go to the restaurant and pick up the grandchildren.

Hung called Cho Ba and asked "Finished with the dinner?" and CHo Ba said "Soon!" but she told grandma "Cho said they will take a much longer time" and grandma insisted on going to the restaurant and again Hung called Cho Ba who immediately panicked and said to Sum and Nin Chi Yung "You 2 better leave now! Mother is here!!" and so they tried to leave, opened the door and the and lo and behold, catastrophe and major fight!

Grandma said "Come on children, dinner is over. Let's go!" and Hung saw Nin Chi Yung and smilingly said "Well well well, who do we have here?" and Cho Ba quickly said "Nin Chi Yung is here only to deliver some liquor. He will go now! Go, what are you waiting for?!" and Nin Chi Yung said his goodbyes but Hor Ma said "Wait Nin Chi Yung, you don't have to go. Yes I employed him on a permanent basis with a salary of $16000 and even bonusses at the end of the year. How can I not. I personally called his little sister and told her to study hard and not worry about money. And I intend to keep my promise" and Hung sarcastically said "Well well well, you do keep your promises don't you, like you said he was just a temporary employee?" and Hor Ma said "Well I do but since you don't keep your promises, why should I keep mind with yours? Remember when you promised me that you will treat me like your own sister? See what happened?" and Hung's face immediately turned darker and she stopped smiling and Grandma butted in and said "Why should I let you have this reunion? Remember how you caused my son, my lovely good son to jump off the building?!" and Hor Ma raised her voice and said "YES! YES I remember which is why I still regret till this day that I did not help him. I visit him every year at his cemetery, I will always feel this intense regret, that until the day I die I will carry this regret into my coffin! But you, what did you do? Ever wondered why everytime he has a problem he never went to either of you? (She looked at Cho Ba and said)You always said you will help but how can you help? You talk big but you have a tight purse! (She looked at grandma) You always said you love your son but have you ever taken the time to teach him towards the right path? All you did was promises but none was carried out!" and grandma and Cho Ba both were so angry and was about to start a fight when Nin Chi Yung stepped into the middle and shouted "STOP IT! Hor Ma, it was never your fault! Never! He always said you were the best person ever, who always helped him and guided him. He was very grateful to you! He didn't kill himself because of the debt, he didn't!" and Cho Ba shouted "What are you saying?" and everybody at once asked "Why did he kill himself then?" and Nin Chi Yung emotionally said "He was very upset with the debt and he took me with him to gamble. He used his birthday as a number and he actually won huge that he could pay off the debt and even had spare change left" and grandma said "YOU'RE LYING!!" and Nin Chi Yung continued "But when he went back that China bargirl ran away with another man. He was very upset. He drank himself silly and I was with him the whole time and he said he was going to kill himself but I didn't believe him. I left and the next day he died! He killed himself because of that woman, not because of the debt!" and Cho Ba grabbed Nin Chi Yung and said "Why didn't you say this earlier? Why have you kept this to yourself?!" and Nin Chi Yung said with regret "I didn't say because I hated Hor Ma then. She was always berating me for being slow and lazy and I resented her so I didn't tell the truth! And you Cho! You always used that incident as an excuse that the marriage fell apart because of what happened! Come on! The marriage fell apart because you were having an affair with that woman! I remember a year before the incident, I saw you two holding each other intimately! You're a hypocrite!!" and Cho Ba wanted to beat Nin Chi Yung and Hung was embarassed and grandma said "Let's leave!!" but Yuen and Chung both quietly said "We would like to stay and finish the dinner" and grandma looked at them and bitterly asked "YOu don't want to keep me company anymore?" and Ka said "Grandma we have been keeping you company for everyday the whole year. Just this once we would like to keep grandpa company" and so without much fuss Cho Ba angrily left and Sum regretfully said "I have to go" and so she left. Hor Ma was very quiet during that confrontation between Nin Chi Yung and Cho Ba and she sat down tears quietly sliding down her cheeks and Nin Chi Yung put his hands on her shoulders and seriously said "Hor Ma, stop blaming yourself. It was never your fault he died. Never" and Hor Ma held him and quietly nodded.

Next episode, Auntie Sa did the unthinkable, cheated grandpa's $40,000-00 for some luxurious stuff and Yuet who tried to stop her got knocked on the head instead! More drama!!

How do I feel about this episode?

Freaking fantastic that's what! Some very realistic dialogue and some really emotional confrontation. I really admire Hor Ma's quiet strength and whilst at first I was disgusted with Wayne's character I in the end liked him. Of course I thought I would be bored with the never ending dinner gate but several scenes stuck in my mind; like when grandpa was berating that he was like a beggar. True! It was like begging. The confrontation on the phone between Hor Ma and Hung, very cold and Hor Ma and Hung both as sarcastic and smiling, and I like the scene where she was saying Nin Chi Yung the traitor and berating him Hung and yet at the same time he was standing next to her and she gently patted his chest as if "Now now, these are all lies, don't take this to heart" and he didn't. The last scene where Nin Chi Yung scolded Cho Ba was simply the best scene of this episode. He said the truth, what everybody didn't say and he said it quite simply how he was holding hands with that woman even before the so called breaking point. He was right to call Cho Ba a hypocrite and for once someone stood up for Hor Ma. I also love the last poignant scene as he held her and told her it wasn't her fault, she should not regret what happened. Nin Chi Yung was personally trained by Hor Ma since he was 13 years old I believe and whilst he said he resented her berating him for being lazy, I believe she did all that because she treated him like a son. She helped him out because of his sister and himself as well and all these while she was being kind to him whilst being harsh. I like the dynamics of this relationship and I hope Wayne doesn't turn up as a villain! I also like Ah Sum who is actually the one from that side who stood up to her mother and went to the dinner, even if she lied about it. She seems to be the only one to have backbone of steel.

Yuen I was very disappointed. He actually asked if he could have dinner with girlfriend instead of grandpa and the youngest son seems quiet, very introvert, probably very affected by it all.

Which makes me wonder why send the youngest there? It should have been Hou who goes and he is grandma's favourite right?

Now what I can't understand which was something Kidd addressed in her comments for Episode 2. That is why there still exists this close relationship between father and Hor Ma's side of the children? Even nicknames. Kidd explained, quite reasonably Hor Ma brought them up well to respect their father.

Now there is this major problem. They weren't THAT young when the family was torn apart. I feel there should be a reluctant respect and a more general disgust at the father's behaviour then and more so now when Nin Chi Yung made the huge revelation. How can Hou have disgust for what Nin Chi Yung did and so little disgust for what his father, the worser of the 2 did? They seem rather cordial or reluctantly cordial with even Hung when they should roll their eyes. I believe Hung exerts very little influence on Ka who is old enough to decide on his own but on Yuen and especially Chung, there may be problems. I would have preferred if it is shown Chung showed a preference for Hung, maybe I am jumping the gun here so I hope to see this conflict. After all for better or for worse Hung did raised Chung so Chung may feel more allegiance for Chung.

But I still can't get over the happy reunion scene between father and children especially when viewing those happy videos. Of course maybe they decided for one day put aside all anger and unhappiness but generally I still feel a more pointed exercise of the Hor Ma's side of the children not calling Cho as Cho Ba but as a simple Ah Ba would clearly show their displeasure and the fact they're no longer close to him for what he did. There must be blame attributed to Cho Ba but the way the series goes I have a feeling Hung will bear the entire blame and that even for this vile manipulative woman, would be quite unfair to her.

As for the performances, not much comments. Har Yu is disgusting as Cho Ba, the henpecked husband. Lee Heung Kam is very frustrating in a good way as the mother in law from hell. Lee Sze Kei is wonderful, the way she suppressed herself and yet when time to unleash her anger she did! Michelle Yim is gorgeous and excellent as the villain, her every gesture, her every smile, her every words, she spoke all of those quietly but in a manipulative way. I like the fact she whispers instead of going mental or shouting or rolling her eyes. A very controlled performance. And I love her fashion in this series.

For the younger ones, Moses was the most disappointing. When his character said "Don't worry grandpa I will speak with that woman" I didn't believe him at all. I wonder is his character that spineless or he did it that way? I find his character like in Heart Of Greed. In fact I believe same glasses!

Of all the younger ones, none really shine since so many people but Raymond Lam managed to shine a bit more with his controlled performance as the good guy Hou. His outbursts etc were very believable and it would do his character more justice if the script actually shows his character shows contempt for Cho Ba. After all he is old enough to see and yet I haven't seen that. I know they're all brought up well but put it this way; I was brought up well as well but my father did something unthinkable to my mother that I never thought he would eventhough later on my sister did say "Now you know your father is such a small minded man" that I was disgusted with his behaviour and he knows and I was raised by him! Practically some sign of displeasure would be great. The entire series right now is enjoyable fueled mainly by the older generations' story, performances and the constant fighting and slapping. If you take all these away, for that quiet moment, the entire story will fall apart simply because the children's behaviour on the father is too submissive. In fact the Cho Ba side should show some spine where they simply walk all over Hung. The only reason Hung got her way is because she exerts some influence on the grandma who exerts a whole lot of influence on the younger ones. I was severely disappointed to see some really bad acting from Chris Lai and that boy who played Chung because when everybody called their mother Fatty their face registered neither disgust nor indifference. They just looked like spectator. At least Sum (that is Linda Chung) showed disgust when the dinner was kept being called off.

No one except outsiders seem to be standing up for Hor Ma, least of all the rather pathetic children. Of course there would be reunion and all. But right now the flaw is the depiction of this family and their treatment for one another.

Before I end this recap I must sing the highest praise for the wonderful Wayne Lai. That big revelation scene was fantastic and his presence lends a lot of credence to this series as he is kinda representing the younger generation of actors (well Har Yu and gang are old) who thus far has been rather either no airtime or bland or simply terrible.

Really great episode despite the flaws. Who doesn't like a good fight scene eh? Can we have one where Hung and Hor Ma just fight it out? Any chance?

Anyway thanks for your comments. Do comment more! I am enjoying spending 1 hours writing these recaps, something I haven't felt for some time. Your active participation will fuel my interest more and your feedback would be nice especially you're watching this series with me in real time. Maybe you have a different take on interpreting the scenes?

Until tomorrow, I leave this recap with my favourite quote from this episode as translated by me;

And you Cho! You always used that incident as an excuse that the marriage fell apart because of what happened! Come on! The marriage fell apart because you were having an affair with that woman! I remember a year before the incident, I saw you two holding each other intimately! You're a hypocrite!!
- Nin Chi Yung to Cho Ba