Episode 04

Wow. I am right. Every episode at least one fight, at least one quarrel and this episode seriously did not disappoint for those who likes a good quarrel scene.

Where was I last time?

Well things went back to normal. In the Kam household which I shall call Hung household. I mean this series is dominated by 2 women and one is Hung and the other Hor Ma and so only apt I call each household after them.

Well it was the day after the dinner. Hung was having breakfast with everyone and she started by saying in her usual soft tone "I have something to say" in such a sweet "I am so pitiful" way. Ka immediately said "Well before you do say anything I would like to say I have to go. Got things to do" and Cho Ba immediately chastised Ka "You're always like this. Every time Ah Hung has something to say you always have something else to do. You know, Yuen and Chung calls Hung mother but only you, you don't even call her Auntie Hung! What kind of attitude is that?" and of course HUng said "No no it is ok" but Ka said "Cho Ba, it is not that I meant to be rude but I really have some shares to look into. So I have to go now!" and he said it in a very good natured way and immediately he left. When he left, Hung said "Well I have to apologise. What was said last night, it was all true. I cheated on your mother, I lied to her and I did have an affair with your father" and Grandma immediately said "How can you say so? That fatty could not compare to you! You don't owe anyone any apology" and Cho Ba said "Boys remember when you were little? Yuen? Remember when you almost got kicked out of school and who was the one who took care of the matter for you? Who had to stop work to take care of you?" and Yuen said "Of course Cho Ba. It was mother (Ah Hung). I remember, she was the one who took care of us, I remember that" but Chung stood up and said he had to go so Cho Ba scolded him but he apologised and left and Hung said "Sum, I won't object you mixing with Hor Ma. I just hope you won't lie to me again" and Sum said to Hung "Mother, I am sorry." and so the matter settled.

Hor Ma was in the shop when she called Ka and he was driving and she was asking him what was bothering Chung and Ka said "Mother, I asked him and he said he is ok" and Hor Ma said "But he was exceptionally quiet during the dinner. Are you sure you asked him correctly?" and Ka said "I swear I asked him and he said nothing was bothering him" and Hor Ma insisted "Ka remember why I sent you to live with them?" and Ka said "Hor ma of course I remember, to take care of the younger ones. BUt Hor Ma, I was 16 and twice removed in age with Chung. Chung wouldn't confide in me" and Hor Ma said "And we hardly see each other once or twice a year" and Ka said "And I hardly see him too Hor Ma. When I was sent to live with them. Hor Ma, a 16 year old boy can't fight that vile woman alone, I was alone..." and Hor Ma felt a tinge of guilt and Ka said "Hor Ma why not you ask Chung yourself? Call him!" and I am not sure how but Hor Ma found out Chung was leaving country. So Hor Ma and Hou rushed to the airport and saw Grandma, Cho Ba, Hung and Chung together so they hid themselves and Hor Ma called Chung and Chung was quite happy to see Hor Ma calling him and he walked away and Hor Ma said "Chung boy, why are you leaving so soon?" and Chung said he had things to do and Hor Ma gently said "Tell Hor Ma is something bothering you?" and Chung denied it and Hor Ma said "Chung boy, you do know that if you have any problem you can tell Hor Ma? You can call me?" and Chung said "Yes I know" and he suddenly said he had to go and he switched off the phone. Then the entire family said let's have a meal first whilst Hor Ma and Hou looked on sadly.

Meanwhile problem brewing at Hor Ma's household.

Auntie Sa was having a conversation with grandpa and suddenly she said about giving a son away and taking a daughter and loudly said "Well father Ah Hor gave away Chung when she could have kept him instead she kept the adopted one" and Yuet heard it and was upset and asked Auntie Sa what she meant and Auntie Sa said "Well you're adopted!" and went on and on about Yuet's status. Yuet being a hot tempered one won't take it lying down but Hor Ma came home and diffused the situation. During dinner, again Auntie Sa brought up the issue and said "Yuet, you know you're adopted. So now you must work hard, bring home the money and repay Ah Hor's kindness" and of course Yuet was offended, so was Hing but there was nothing much to say and when Yuet quietly said to Hing "Obviously she is a person who steps on people when people are happy! (it is actually a chinese saying and sounds very much like what Auntie Sa accused Hing of saying)" and Auntie Sa immediately said "What did you say? Did you just say I earn money by prostituting myself? (It does sound alike the 2 sayings) You insolent child, how rude are you, how ungrateful!" and Yuet said "No no I didn't, I just said .." and Auntie Sa immediately said "I heard what I said! Father!! You promised you won't tell her that I worked as club singer for 2 days! You promised!" and grandpa said "Sa, I didn't! You're always the one who you yourself exposed your own secrets! I didn't tell her or anyone you worked in a nightclub and Hor had to drag you home!" and so Hor Ma again came to diffused the situation and spoke with Yuet and Hing and said "I know Auntie Sa sometimes says things that are difficult to ignore but Yuet, she is your elder and more importantly your family and so bear you must. Remember I took you home when you were 18 months? I raised you, you're my child. She is your family. Let her win, just let he say what she wants and bear with it" and Yuet promised Hor Ma she will let it be.

Anyway Auntie Sa asked grandpa for $40,000-00 for an undisclosed reason. When grandpa refused she kicked up a fuss, in such a successful way that grandpa had to beg her to accept the money! So grandpa went to bank to take out his entire savings but Yuet was at the bank and she asked grandpa why he is doing what he is doing and when grandpa can't give an answer she called Hor Ma. At home Auntie Sa was looking smug and Grandpa begged her to take the money and immediately Yuet who was there asked "Auntie Sa why you need so much money? That is grandpa's money, and it is his entire savings. Why do you need it for?" and Auntie Sa ignored her and Hor Ma and children came home and they asked her why and Auntie Sa put up a fuss and said "Hor, is this how you raised your children? To be so rude?" and Hor asked "It is a reasonable question" and Grandpa said "Sa explain!" and Auntie Sa said "Why should I? I don't need to explain anything".

Pause here.

Oh my god, I so hate AUntie Sa! So arrogant!!

Anyway Grandpa answered "Well she needed the money to hire a lawyer in Portugal. Her husband said he had no money left but she knew he had some and so she needed a lawyer so she needed the money to hire one" and Hor Ma said "Father the money is yours. You can't give all away. Let me put up half and you put up half" but Auntie sa stood up and said "No no no I don't want the money anymore!" and she walked away and Hor stopped her and quietly said "Take the money" and so the matter rests. Auntie Sa passed Yuet and quietly said to her with malice "You insolent rude ungrateful adopted child! You nosy thing! Why did Hor ever bring home a nosy girl like you?" and Yuet was very angry but kept quiet.

Much later Yuet went to Auntie Sa's room and brought her ginseng tea and tried to apologise but Auntie Sa was rude. Yuet just brushed it off and went away. Somewhere in this episode I can't remember when Yuet did confront Auntie Sa and again pleaded with Auntie Sa "Auntie Sa, Hor Ma worked very hard for the money. Every piece of mooncake, every cookie, she worked hard for the money, please don't throw them all away" and of course Auntie Sa was very annoyed and I think called her adopted child again.

Meanwhile Hou was pressuring Hing to find a work in office but Hou being timid refused to and was happy with baking cookies eventhough Hou knew that wasn't what she wanted. He found her a job and even took her and bought her office clothes with Yuet as well and when he thought she was attending the interview he SMS-ed her and asked her how it was but in actual fact Hing wasn't at the interview but was walking along the street but she lied that she was waiting and nervous. However her cover was exposed when she passed by his car and he saw her and whilst she tried to run Hou rushed up to her and scolded her "Why did you lie to me?" and Hing kept apologising. But Hou did not give up. He pressured her and at the shop Sum dropped by and said she found Hing a job at an advertising company that was looking for a clerk and she just had to attend an interview. Hing immediately said no but at home Hou kept persuading her but Hor Ma said "If she doesn't want to why force her? It is not like we need someone to bring home the food?" but Hou said "But Sum introduced the job. It is an opportunity and it is close to Yuet's office so you have someone to keep company with" and Hor Ma said "Hing, maybe you should give it a try. After all Sum introduced you and if you don't turn up it will look badly on her" and Hing finally said "Ok" and Hou very happily said "Great! I will take you there myself!!".

At the interview Hou was in there as an interpreter. The interviewer asked Hing about her interest and she couldn't think of any and then he asked "No what I meant is what is you interest? What do you do?" and Hing thought for a while and then gave a long answer translated by Hou where in gist she signed "My interest? The truth is I dislike baking cookies, I want to work in an office environment. Because of my disability I always felt myself as inadequate. But my mother, my sister, my grandfather they never gave up on me. My family showered me with love and sheltered me. My brother especially. I remember one time in school he was punished for something I did and my teacher couldn't understand my signing. My brother has always encouraged me, loved me, pushed me to better myself and to seek out new opportunities. The truth is I really want this job. I want to try, and I know if I try I could do well" and Hou was almost in tears as he heard his sister's confession of her innermost feelings how her condition actually affected her.

Hing got the job. She woke up early and the entire family went to send her onto the minibus with Yuet. Her first day at work was nothing much. She just sat there and when suddenly I suppose the manager or supervisor (a young man-I predict she will marry him) asked her to pick up the phone, she panicked. When the manager looked at her, she made gestures that she is mute and the manager was apologetic but Hing felt inadequate. During lunch she met up with Yuet and told Yuet she didn't have much to do, like she was of no help and Yuet encouragingly said "Well of course, it is your first day at work. You have many days ahead to have lots and lots of work to do. Look Hing, if you're not given anything to do, well, ask for work! It is like finding a boyfriend. If they don't come to you, you seek them out!" and so Hing went back and asked the manager what she could do (she wrote on a notepad-nice handwriting by the way) and the manager who is a nice guy apologetically said nothing. Suddenly there was an important document that must be sent somewhere by 5.30pm and Hing volunteered herself. She went on a taxi but it was especially jammed that day and the taxi driver said if she wants fast better to go through the subways. So she ran her way into the subway, asked for directions, came out onto some busy street and realised she was lost and it was already like 5.15pm. She knew she couldn't fail in her first assignment and immediately she called someone who could help her; her brother. Hou received her message and told Hor Ma who was teaching a class she was lost somewhere and pause here...

I was thinking how on earth can Hou communicate with a mute person and mind you very ingenious.

Hou called Hing and said to her "Now I will ask you a few questions and if it is yes tap once and if no tap twice" and so he asked her to look for landmarks and after some time they knew she was somewhere not far from where she should be. So they directed her to the subways and she ran and ran and ran and then suddenly she fell down! TENSION! All was worried but she tapped and so she was fine and she continued with the directions and ran and ran and all the aunties helped and finally she reached her destination. She was late, really late, I think by 15 minutes. Anyway she was sweating and looking far worse and the manager lady came out and said "I was very angry when the document wasn't here at 5.30pm. I called your office to complain when they told me of your condition and then I found out the streets are especially jammed today. Considering all that factors I am amazed you reached here so soon. A job well done. Please go back to your office and convey my apologies for my outburts and thank you" and Hing was very pleased with herself and messaged Hou and everybody was happy she did ok!

Phew! Very tense moment there. One thing I must say; Fala Chen can really run. Not bouncing, not skipping but all out run.

Back at Hor Ma household, problems brewing.

Hing came home with Yuet and Yuet saw a newly delivered massage chair and Auntie Sa proudly said "This has all the new great functions!" and she walked into her room and lo and behold, another massage chair. Yuet was naturally angry and quite rudely asked "Did you use the money to buy these chairs? Oh my god, $50,000-00 for the chairs?" and Auntie Sa proudly said "And with discounts as well" and Hing was also quite angry looking at the bills but Yuet, the one with the voice was so angry she basically shouted "HOW COULD YOU?! GRANDPA'S MONEY, HOR MA'S MONEY SO THAT YOU CAN BUY THESE?" and Auntie Sa angrily said "es yes! I bought these with the money. Or shall I say balance sum because I took the rest to gamble them all off!!" and Yuet this time was so angry and screamed "HOW DARE YOU! YOU! YOU ... BITCH!" and Auntie sa angrily retorted "What did you say? You wanted to say it didn't you? You did say I prostituted myself for money! Didn't you! Say it! SAY IT!" and Yuet was like "I didn't say that, how many times must I repeat myself... well you know what? YOU DID PROSTITUTE YOURSELF! Satisfied? You bitch! You prostituted yourself for money!" and she repeated that several times and Yuet and Hing angrily left the room and Auntie Sa was so angry she rushed out of the room and with Yuet's back facing her as Yuet was angrily walking away Auntie Sa rushed towards Yuet and basically KNOCKED Yuet's head! Yuet of course was in pain but she managed to fight back and Hing was helpless and Hor Ma, grandpa and gang came back finding Yuet holding onto Auntie Sa's hair and Auntie Sa's pulling Yuet's head in a deadlock! All out bitch fight!! YEAHHHHH!

Pause here.

Very real fight I tell you. Ouch ouch ouch!

Anyway Hor Ma shouted at them to stop and immediately asked "WHAT IS GOING ON?" and before Yuet can explain Auntie Sa angrily said "Sis! Your daughter, this insolent rude adopted child! How do you raise them? She called me a prostitute, no less than 7 times! 7 times! Hing heard it! Ask her!" and Yuet immediately explained "Hor Ma you kno what she did with the money? She gambled them off and the balance bought these high tech massage chair worth $50,000-00!!!" and Auntie Sa immediately said "I didn't say that! I bought those chairs for father and I used my own money! (she took out a letter) LOOK! I did pay $40,000-00 to engage a lawyer in Portugal! Look!" and Yuet was quite surprised, perhaps realised she was provoked and duped and she immediately said "She did say what she said! I swear it!!" and Hor Ma who was very upset turned to Yuet and quietly but in a stern tone said "Remember what I said about respecting elders Yuet? You must apologise to Auntie Sa" and Auntie Sa looking smug but Yuet, stubborn, hot tempered and close to tears turned to Hor Ma and tearfully asked "Why should I apologise? I didn't do anything wrong! I spoke the truth! Why should I apologise to her?!" and grandpa angrily said to Yuet "YUET!! STOP MAKING A FUSS AND CAUSING FIGHTS IN THIS FAMILY!!! STOP!!!" and Yuet now red eyed was quite stunned by what grandpa said and ...

you have to wait for the next episode to see what was said and how to settle the matter!

Next episode which will be on Monday, Yuet declares she is moving out and outside the family heard rumours she was living in with a debt ridden guy and sudddenly Yuet went missing one day and Hor Ma was dead worried but Auntie Sa wasn't and Hor Ma angrily said to Auntie Say "Whilst we are worried for her safety I saw you snigger! How could you! She is your niece and you snigger!".

Drama! Full on drama!

I don't think I can take it anymore. My blood pressure is boiling! So much quarrels, so much fight!

First of, I feel Ka's reaction when Hung wanted to say something was excellent. That's it! That's how you treat her, by IGNORING her. Of course Hung was looking that wounded look. How pretentious. Chung I suspect is a very lonely boy. Much affected by being alone years abroad. Yuen seems to favour Hung since Hung seems to put much effort in raising him.

This episode is about Yuet and Hing.

I enjoyed Hing's story and her closeness to Hou who clearly adores his sisters. The way they conned him into buying them clothes were great to watch and it is nice to at least hear them calling him brother instead of some nicknames.

Auntie Sa is now my most hated character. Hung is of course terrible but Auntie Sa was out of line as she kept saying Yuet is adopted. Adopted sounds ok in English but in Chinese the word used by her sounds terrible, degrading and insulting. Yuet is I suppose a very opionated hot tempered and stubborn girl so it was great to see she wasn't taking it all lying down. Of course her outbursts on calling Auntie Sa a prostitute is out of line, she was being very rude but Auntie Sa did provoked her by not telling the truth. All could have been settled by just some explanation but Auntie Sa who refuses to explain to her own father would of course naturally refused to explain to Yuet whom she considers an outsider lodging with the family. And grandpa's outburst is understandable although I have to wait until Monday to hear what else he said that prompted her to move out. I hate AUntie Sa!!!

Performance wise, I am most impressed with Fala Chen. I thought she was terrible in Steps (that ballroom dancing show?) and seems typecast as the materialistic sister. Here she is the nice obedient one and I thought she looked so pretty and innocent and I am very impressed with her signing though I can't confirm if she was accurate or not. Even her voice overs didn't sound obtrusive. Very impressive performance for this episode. One complain though; that monologue with the interviewers was a bit too emotional, too long and only happens in a drama like this one.

Raymond Lam looks eager as Hou and I have nothing much to say except good job for conveying the good guy Hou. Kinda reminds me of his ultimate good guy role in Survivor Law. Remember how sweet he was? Just as sweet here although a bit too eager and sweet.

Lee Sze Kei is wonderful although I find her Hor Ma in here too compliant when it comes to her sister and just forcing Yuet to take the insults is a bit too much to ask of Yuet.

Susannah Kwan is a revelation. This woman can be bitchy, nice, morose, terrible, etc. In this series she is just terrible. I hope she changes for the better. I so so so so hate her! One explanation can do but she didn't bother. Terrible character, wonderful perfomance. Blood boiling!!!

Moses was ok though he hardly has anything to do. But I like how he diffused his father's criticism in the earlier scene and how he simply sweettalked his way in a good natured way into listening to what Hung has to say. It gives me an impression this guy may be a happy go lucky guy but in actual fact as confessed by him to Hor Ma, he was a helpless 16 year old battling against a very cunning woman. It was lucky he survived to put it simply.

Tavia Yeung was a revelation. She is improving with each performance and whilst she has her downtime here in this episode she delivered where it mattered. She was passionate, she was angry, she was stubborn, she was cute, etc. So much emotions in just one episode. Her confrontation scene with Susannah Kwan and that all out fight scene was the best of the best of all 3 episodes. So much pent up frustration. In a way I do feel Yuet was very rude but hey when your family is threatened what do you do? Tavia's best scene was that scene where she asked Hor Ma why she should apologise. Such disbelief, such anger, such tears. Very very good performance.

Thus far I am really enjoying this series. I dread the love stories so I hope to savour the fights and quarrels before the onslaught of Hou-Sum love story which I hope won't dominate the real story; the family.

Can't wait for Monday BUT oh my god! I must watch He Who Can't Marry!! But I will miss the whole fight-quarrell thing! Maybe I just watch the relevant bits.

Anyway as usual before I end this recap I shall quote from my favourite scene...

Why should I apologise? I didn't do anything wrong! I spoke the truth! Why should I apologise to her?! - Yuet to Hor Ma