[POV Hu Qiang]
"Papa... Papa…Papa wake up, it's Saturday. We are going to meet Mamma.
Wake up… fast.. Papa…"
I am woken up from my sleep by my insistent son.
I should have known my consequences after I told him we are going to spend the weekend with Bai Chang; as for the rest of the week, we didn't disturb or meet her.
I looked towards the table Clock on the side table.
"It is 6:00 a.m. in the morning, why are you calling me so early?"
"What early? We are already too late. We are going to meet mother today we need to prepare for it. We need to go to the farmers market to buy fresh groceries, you know right that mama doesn't like to eat the food she doesn't trust if it's cooked in front of her eyes only then she eats it.
Plus Mamma has been on soups and light diet for the past three months now. Uncle Lee told me now she should slowly start eating solid food so let's make a scrumptious meal for her so she eats more.
I only saw her eating veggies and chicken stock and mostly soups without meat pieces also Mamma's library is filled with various books on all kind of professions. Currently, Mamma is doing fashion designing so we can go visit the Guanzhou fabric market to collect good materials. She is already working on the next winter clothing line and also Jade Emporium to match her jewellery designs."
"Wait- wait when did you make an itinerary?"
'I am surprised to know that he made such detailed plans already. I doubt my life. My own son is competing with me for Bai Chang's affection and he is better prepared to impress his mother than I am.'
"Son, come here…"
He walks towards me and climbed up the bed but still sat on one corner of it.
"Come here," I dragged him to me and make himself on my lap.
"Okay now tell papa why you have an itinerary?"
"Because I want Mamma to enjoy her time with us and doesn't feel it is wastage of her time."
"And why do you feel that?"
"Because I saw Mamma had a lot of work to do when we go to her place but she stops doing them once we are there."
"How are you so sure?"
"Because Mamma only works on her fashion line if we are there while 'Jiffy' does most of the technical and software-related work, all data are kept on standby. While we are not by her side only then she opens them."
"Are you spying on your mum?" I asked sternly.
"No, I observed it. She doesn't avoid doing so with me but she does avoid any of those works if you are around."
"So you mean to say that your mum is not sharing her work with me."
"She says that it is a hotcake, once it cools down, she would let you have a piece of it."
"Are you quoting your mother or these are your personal observations?"
"Some are my partial observations and some are quotes."
"Okay buddy, now listen very carefully I need your help to impress your mother otherwise you can say bye-bye to her as she won't be staying with us for much longer."
I paused and looked towards my son who is seriously contemplating the necessity and gravity of the situation; after some time finally, he speaks-
"What do you want me to do?"
"Nothing too obvious just mention me in front of your mother once in a while."
"What do I get in return?"
"If I can get your mother and make her fall in love with me then you get to keep your mother for forever."
"What do you need my help with?"
"Because there are some things that she is not aware of our relationship so only you can become our connecting bridge."
"Okay but I get to spend more time with Mamma"
"Fine but give your papa some chance, to be with her."
"Okay, now hurry up, get out of the bed and let's go to the farmers market to get some fresh ingredients."
"You can get it yourself why did you have to wake me up?"
"Because if it was possible to do it by myself I would have already done it."
'That truly shut me up. It seems my son thinks I am incapable of even gaining attention from his mother.
I realise that he has not forgiven me for all these years for what happened to Bai Chang. If she wouldn't have woken up, I would have lost our son too.'
I quickly left my bed and washed my face and then took a car to the farmers market.
We reached the farmers market by 7 a.m.
There are still fresh vegetables and meats being sold. I looked towards Xiao Wei, he doesn't look too happy though.
"What happened?"
"Other exotic varieties are all sold out."
"I am sorry we will buy what we can get and then make her some simple dishes. How does that sound?"
"Okay but cook something good."
"Aye-Aye master."
I picked him up as he is too small and would get lost in the market. I spotted some fresh Salmon and went to the shop.
"Ayi, how much for this Salmon."
"It is 220 Yuan"
"Okay pack it"
"Are you shopping here with your son? Where is his mother?"
"She is resting at home."
"So it's father and son shopping, for the lady."
"Yes Ayi"
Here.. Here take these prawns too, they are absolutely fresh. Are you cooking for your wife?"
I blushed and nodded slightly.
The shop lady seems thrilled and claps her hands and then starts cleaning the fish and prawns while all the time she told me where to find all the good stuff in the market.
We shopped through the market but for some weird reason, everyone liked Xiao Wei and even gave us discounts and more fresh products.