Chapter 17: Apple trees don't bear mangoes.

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Dad and I were on our way to my grandfather’s house. I was totally surprised when he told me that morning.


“We’re going to see your grandfather. Go and get ready.”


“All of us?”


“No, just you and I,” he answered bluntly.


“Oh,” was the only comprehensible word that came out.


Dad and I had never been a you and I as in ‘just-the-two-of-us-you-and-I’, well not until now. This is definitely out of the ordinary. Usually, the we connotes the four of us in the family; or Maxine, Dad and I; or Mom, Dad and I ― but never just Dad and I.


Growing up, I got used to Dad’s… aloofness. Maxine and I became accustomed even at a young age that we should not expect to see much of our parents around, especially our father. That’s why I never get to experience any father-and-son bonding. Not in this lifetime.


So here I am in the car with my father. And it’s really just the two of us. Well, plus the chauffer, who has being steering along EDSA for the past forty minutes; but neither one of us has uttered a word since we got in. If it wasn’t for the sound coming from the car speakers, it would be an awkward silence for the both of us. I doubt if you can consider this as a form of bonding in any way.


After another fifteen minutes, we were finally in front of our grandparents’ house.


“If your grandfather offers you to take over the company, don’t accept it,” he spoke the moment we got off the car.


“Huh?” I was surprised with what he'd just said.


“Decline instantly once he opens up the topic.”


He was walking a few steps ahead of me. I had to walk more rapidly to keep up with him. “Dad, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”


“He said he wanted to pass it on to you as early as possible so you’ll be familiar as to how the business works. I told him you’re too young to handle such a big responsibility, but he simply won’t listen.” He faced me and dusted off my shoulders, “Don’t accept it, do you hear me? Do as I told you, son, it’s for the best,” he said just before he knocked on the door to my grandfather’s study room.




Quote
Translations:
Nin hao = Formal greeting of How are you to seniors or superiors
Jing li = Director
Kuo shao = Son of a wealthy family
Zhu xi = Chairman
Ni hao = Casual greeting of How are you to familiar persons
Ye ye = Paternal grandfather
Sun zi = Grandson
Zui jin gong zuo shun li ma? = How are things getting along with your work recently?
Er zi = Son
Hao jiu bu jian, zui jin zen me yang? = Long time no see, how are you doing?
Shi = yes
Nai nai = Paternal grandmother
Sun nu = Granddaughter
Mei mei = Younger sister
Chi le ma? = Have you had your meal?
Wan ju xiong = Teddy bear
Bu shi = No
Wo hai mei nu peng you = I don’t have a girlfriend yet
Ta shi ge piao liang de gu niang = She is a good-looking girl
Zhu shou = Stop it
Dui bu qi = I’m sorry
Ge ge = Older brother
Wo de ma = Oh my (Mamma mia in literal translation)
Na jiu gou le = That’s enough already
Hun zhang = B*stard
Ni na me shuo shi shen me yi si? = What do you mean by saying that?
Bei shuo le = Cut it out
Nu er = Daughter


Quote
Color Label:
Luisito Sanciongco
Aurora Sanciongco


It was his male secretary who greeted us. He bowed his head and held it for a second or two before he finally spoke. “Nin hao, jing li, kuo shao. Zhu xi is waiting for you inside.”


I hate it when people address me as kuo shao. It makes me feel that I’m completely defined by my social status and not as an individual.


We walked inside the office. My grandfather was sitting on a recliner with a pipe on the corner of his mouth.


I approach him and greeted, “Ni hao, Ye ye.” I took his right hand and pressed it against my forehead, “Mano po.”


Our family is of Filipino, Chinese and Spanish descent, that’s why ‘kissing’ an elder’s hand still applies as part of our tradition.


“God bless you, sun zi,” he replied with a smile.


Dad came up to him and did the same thing with his right hand. “Smoking is bad for your health, Pa pa. How many times do we have to tell you?”


“Nonsense,” he waved him off. “Zui jin gong zuo shun li ma, er zi?”


Dad and his siblings were all born in China but were raised in the US while my grandparents were both born and raised in Beijing. That's why even though 98% of Chinese-Filipinos speak Lan-nang, the Philippine-localized variant of Hokkien, Ye ye would still insist that we speak in Mandarin. He said Lan-nang is just a lingua franca and that Mandarin is still the universal Chinese vernacular.


“Everything is doing well, but I still have to settle the accounts with the Jones and Harrison Corporation.”


“That’s good to hear. Let’s go to the veranda,” he said and I helped him out of his chair.


I hadn’t seen my grandfather for months and a lot has changed since then, from his hair down to his gait. I noticed that his pacing became slower and his hair is almost entirely gray now. But he still hasn’t quit smoking. Tsk, tsk.


“Hao jiu bu jian, zui jin zen me yang?” he asked when we were settled in the veranda.


“I’m doing great, Ye ye. How about you? I hope you and Nai nai are in good condition.”


“Shi, shi. By the way, where is sun nu? Why didn’t you bring her with you?”


“Mei mei has soccer and karate practice, Ye ye.”


He nodded. “I see. Chi le ma? Your Nai nai cooked char siu and zhaliang.”





“Nai nai,” I greeted her in delight.


“Wan ju xiong,” she chirped.


I groaned, “Nai nai, I’m too old to be wan ju xiong now.”


She pinched my cheek. “You will always remain as a little boy for me.”


Dad then came up to Nai nai and hugged her. “Did you miss me, Ma ma?” he teased.


“You silly boy, why haven’t you visited us lately? Still upset with your father?” Dad simply smiled.“You’ll bring Maxine and Joanne when you come back, okay?”


“I promise, Ma ma.”


“Take your seats. Ye ye will be joining us in a little while.”


We took our seats in the dining table and Ye ye turned up shortly after. Once the four of us had settled in, Nai nai instructed the helpers to serve the food.


“Wan ju xiong, you should eat more. You’re too thin,” Nai Nai said as she stacked my plate with beef with broccoli and bai qie ji.


“Ma ma, Ardie might have indigestion. Let him eat what he can take.”


Nai nai shushed him, “Don’t mind your Ye ye. So, do you have a nu peng you right now?”


“Bu shi, Nai nai. Wo hai mei nu peng you.”


“I forgot to mention, Ma ma,” Dad cut in. “He will be the escort of Rod Mañalac’s daughter on her debut celebration.”


“The owner of that coffee brewery in Batangas?”


Dad nodded, “Shi, Ma ma. Her wife’s family on the other hand owns a winery in Ilocos.”


“I see, so you’re courting her?” Nai nai asked with much glee.


“No, Nai nai, Wendy and I are just friends. We’re not dating or anything.”


“Wendy? Is that her name? If I’m not mistaken, she’s the one Pa pa and I saw on the magazine cover a month ago. Ta shi ge piao liang de gu niang.”


“She and Ardie would make a good couple,” Ye Ye joked.


Jeez, this is so mortifying. I could feel my face burning up with embarrassment.




After eating, we were back again in my grandfather’s study. Dad was right about what Ye ye had in mind.


“Sun zi, I am retiring soon. I want to hand over my position to you.”


“But, Ye ye, I’m only eighteen. What do I know about running a company? I’m not even a Management major.”


“I don’t mind about your age or your experiences. I trust you and that is what matters.”


I looked at Dad, who’s standing behind Ye ye. He shook his head to insinuate his opinion.


“Ye ye… I…―”


“If your father told you not to accept my offer, he’s making a huge mistake. I’m assuring you with a great job, great career… a great life, Ardie.”


“Pa pa, I’m only thinking what’s best for him,” Dad interrupted.


“This is what’s best for him, Stephen.” He paused to inhale from his pipe. “I’m offering him with a guaranteed future and you want him not to accept it? What is wrong with you?”


“He doesn’t need this. Don’t draw his dreams for him.”


“Well, that is not your choice to make now, is it?” They both shifted their gazes at me, waiting for my response. “Gerard, all you need to do is sign the papers on my desk and the company is yours.”


“Ardie, you don’t have to decide now if you don’t want to.”


“You will be the youngest owner of one of the biggest company in the Philippines and in China,” Ye ye continued.


“Pa pa, zhu shou!”


“Why are being tenacious with all of this? Are you trying to prevent me from passing on the company to my grandson because you want me to hand it over to you instead, Stephen?” He walked up to my dad and stared at him.


“This isn’t about me. I’ve allowed you to take control of my entire life but I won’t let you do it to him. This has to end, Pa Pa. He is my son and I will protect him.” He turned his back against Ye ye. “Let’s go, Gerard,” he ordered.


“Dui bu qi, Ye ye,” I apologized. I pressed his hand against my forehead and followed my father.




I got off the car as soon as it was put in to halt in front of driveway. I immediately headed for the front door and went inside.


“Er zi,” Dad called out after me. “Gerard,” he summoned once more but I didn’t look back.


I saw Mom and Maxine in the family room. They immediately stood up to see what the tumult was about. I went up to them and gave them both a peck on the cheek.


“Ge ge, what’s wrong?” Maxine only calls me Ge ge when she's worried or something is wrong.


“I’ll just be in my room,” I excused myself and headed for the stairs before they could question me further.


I was already halfway through when Dad yelled again, much louder this time. “Gerard Tyrone, get back here at once!”


I heatedly turned around and faced him. “What? What is it you want this time?”


“You insolent boy,” he scowled. “How dare you talk back against me? Your mother and I didn’t raise you to be rude.”


“You think what you just did to my grandfather wasn’t disrespectful? That what you did was courteous? Well, I guess you did a good job on that one, Dad.”


“Wo de ma!” Maxine gasped when she realized that Dad was about to hit me in the face, but Mom suddenly stood in between.


“Stephen, na jiu gou le!”


“Hun zhang,” he cursed while defiantly staring at me. “Ni na me shuo shi shen me yi si? You have no right to speak to me that way!”


“He wanted to entrust the company to me. He was assuring my future. Why are you trying to stop that from happening, Dad?”


“Ge ge, Pa pa, bei shuo le,” pleaded Maxine, who looked like she was on the verge of bursting into tears because of the unpleasant sight Dad and I are making.


“I said that’s enough,” Mom yelled. “Arguing in front of us in one, but scaring nu er is another.”


Dad and I knew that Mom rarely raises her voice, unless she’s extremely incensed. I saw Dad shook his head and sighed, which meant he surrendered and the wage war was over.


“If you think I’m playing the role of the villain here, then you are absolutely mistaken. You don’t know your grandfather. The only thing more valuable to him than his ego is his wealth ― nothing else. He doesn’t want to secure your future, he wants to control it. He did that to me before and I’m sure as hell that he will do it again with you. I don’t want to see history repeat itself for you, son. I don’t want you to regret the decisions that you make decades from now.”


I continued to look intently at my father as he heaved another heavy sigh. “If I could turn back time, I would’ve done things differently for this family.” He walked up to me and added, “When you finally have a family of your own, you will understand me, er zi.”


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