My Grandmother's Recipe

2

"Next year, you must register at Peking University! No matter what!" said my mother on the phone.

"Mama, how many times must I tell you that I don't want to enroll again? I want to inherit all the recipes from my grandmother! At least, I want to inherit her small restaurant before I have my own restaurant," said me.

"MEI LING! Only you, my parent's granddaughter, don't go to any university. How dare you! My parents will blame me as a bad mother," said me mom.

"Mom, must I go to any university? it's not really important. Every person has their own way to be successful," said me.

"Okay, try to be successful by yourself! Don't ever ask me to help you if you fail to succeed at the restaurant! If you fail, you must register at Peking University or another university. Understand?" asked my mother.

"Yes," I said.

My mom always asks me to go to university. She doesn't really want to go to my grandmother's restaurant, although my dad said if that restaurant will be mine. But, after my dad passed away, my mom always forced me to study hard and apply to Peking University or the best university in Hong Kong.

I know that my mom doesn't want to feel embarrassed in front of her mom, dad, sister, and brother. All my mom's sisters and brother go to a university. And also all my cousins from my mom's family. They went to a university too. Only my mom's family who doesn't apply to any university, even the low class.

But, I have my own way. I believe that studying at a university and having a nice position in a big company is not the only way to be successful. Look at Bill Gates who didn't finish studying at university. He owns Microsoft now. So, what's wrong with not studying at any university?

"Mei Ling," my grandmother called me from the restaurant.

"Yes, I'll be there now," said me.

I brought a big bowl of fish soup for the customer. I served that to the customer on table two and also with four bowls of rice and four small bowl.

"Please enjoy your meal," said me.

"Lady, you are so beautiful. Who are you? A new staff member here?" asked the woman from table number two.

"A Ling, she is my only granddaughter. Her name is Tan Mei Ling," said my grandmother.

"Dajia hao! Wo de mingzi jiao Mei Ling," I introduced myself in front of the customers.

"Hen gaoxing jian dao ni," said a man from table number two.

"A Ling, is he your son?" asked my grandmother.

"Yes. He is my youngest son. My first son is on duty to Shanghai," said A Ling, my grandmother's friend.

"Dajia hao! Wo de mingzi jiao Hui Jian," said the man.

"Hen gaoxing jian dao ni," said me.

"Mei Ling, do you want to eat with us?" asked A Ling.

"Yes, please eat with us!" said A Ling's husband.

"You can sit next to me," said Hui Jian.

"Sorry, I must serve another dish for another table," said me.

"Mei Ling, don't worry. I can serve another dish for the other customer. You can have lunch with them. I know that you haven't eaten any food for your lunch," said my grandmother.

"Okay," said me.

I sat next to Hui Jian. He gave me the spoon and the rice. I think they ordered four bowls of rice because there is someone who will eat two bowls of rice. Evidently, they wanted to invite me to have lunch with them. Now, I understand that.

"Mei Ling, please take the chicken too," said A Ling's husband.

"Yes," I said.

"Mei Ling, do you go to a university?" asked A Ling.

"No. I want to learn about cooking and I don't go to any university. I have a dream to be a chef and inherit all my grandmother's recipes," said me.

"Wow, it's a nice dream! I didn't know if there is a girl like you who has a big dream to be a chef. I think all girls of this era want to go to a university and have a very nice position in a nice company," said Hui Jian.

"How about you, Hui Jian?" asked me.

"I want to be a graphic designer or a singer. Now, I receive some design order. I didn't go to a university either," said Hui Jian.

"We never forced Hui Jian to go to a university," said A Ling.

"Mei Ling, do you want to order another dish?" asked A Ling's husband

"No, thank you. I can eat my grandmother's dish anytime I want," said me

"We like the sesame chicken here. We like fish soup and the spring roll too," said A Ling

"Next time, you must order my grandmother cha siu bao. She makes it every two days. Today she made it, so you can order it the day after tomorrow. But, we don't put it on the menu because we just sell it in the morning for breakfast or order by phone," said me.

"Do you have any bao left?" asked A Ling.

"If I'm not wrong, there are two bao left. Do you want me to hear that?" asked me.

"No, just give us that bao. How much is that?" asked A Ling.

"Nai nai, give the bao here! They want to buy that," said me.

"This is the bao for you," said my grandmother.

"How much for it?" asked A Ling.

"It's free for you," said my grandmother.

"How can it be free?" asked A Ling.

"Because it was left from the morning," said my grandmother.

"Oh, xie xie Shan Qi!" said A Ling.

"Bu keqi," said my grandmother.

Me and my grandmother's friend's family continued to eat our lunch. We ate and we talked to each other. Hui Jian also asked for my phone number and my email address. I really hope he wants to be my friend forever. I don't want to be alone here and I think he is a nice man since he comes from a nice family.

Dictionary:Dajia hao = hello everyoneWo de mingzi jiao Mei Ling= my name is Mei LingHen gaoxing jian dao ni = Nice to meet youNai nai = grandmotherBu keqi = you're welcome