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墨書 Inktalez
"Learn Chinese Kung Fu? Learn to cook Thai cuisine?" Li Ming tilted his head, repeating with a puzzled expression.
"That's right, Principal Manee said that only by doing this can you play Sun Wukong!" I playfully scratched his nose and said casually.
"Really?" Li Ming's eyes lit up, and he jumped up excitedly. "I want to learn Chinese Kung Fu! I want to play Sun Wukong!"
Seeing my son so cheerful, my feelings of helplessness faded a bit, replaced by a sense of determination. For my son, no matter how difficult it is, I will help him achieve his dream.
"Let's go check out Chinatown first; maybe we can find a suitable Chinese Kung Fu teacher." I took my son's hand and headed toward Chinatown.
Bangkok's Chinatown was bustling with activity, with shops lining both sides of the street. The air was filled with the aromas of various spices and foods, making one feel as if they had stepped into another country.
My son and I navigated through the crowded streets, inquiring about Chinese Kung Fu teachers. However, after asking several martial arts schools, either the teaching philosophy of the instructors did not align with my expectations or the fees were too high; we still hadn't found a suitable one.
Just when I was about to give up, a martial arts school called "Martial Virtue Hall" caught my eye. The facade of this school was unremarkable, even somewhat shabby, but it exuded an ancient and solemn atmosphere that made one curious to explore further.
I led my son into the school and saw an elderly man sitting on a mat with his eyes closed in meditation. The old man was thin but spirited, with white beard cascading down to his chest, and his traditional attire added to his ethereal presence.
"Excuse me, are you the master here?" I approached respectfully and asked.
The old man slowly opened his eyes and scrutinized me with piercing gaze without saying a word.
I felt a bit uneasy under his gaze but mustered the courage to say, "Well, I'm looking for a Chinese Kung Fu teacher for my son. Do you take disciples?"
The old man did not directly answer my question but turned his attention to Li Ming and asked, "Child, why do you want to learn Chinese Kung Fu?"
Li Ming puffed out his chest and said loudly, "I want to become a great hero like Sun Wukong!"
The old man smiled slightly and replied, "Learning martial arts is not about being competitive; it's about strengthening the body and helping the weak."
"I understand, Master!" Li Ming nodded, somewhat confused.
The old man turned to me and said, "I can teach your son Chinese Kung Fu, but..."
"But what?" I asked anxiously.
"But I have one condition." The old man paused before continuing, "You must also learn with me."
"Huh?" I was taken aback, never expecting the old man to make such a request. "But I..."
"What? Are you unwilling?" The old man raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with dissatisfaction.
"It's not that I'm unwilling; it's just that I..." I stammered, trying to explain. "I'm very busy with work and probably won't have the time."
"Make time if you don't have it," the old man said firmly. "For those who practice martial arts, the worst thing is to be half-hearted and give up halfway."
I opened my mouth to argue but found no words. Looking into the old man's unwavering gaze, I ultimately conceded.
"Alright, I agree," I nodded helplessly, inwardly lamenting my situation.
And so, I inexplicably embarked on a path of learning Chinese Kung Fu that seemed irreversible.
"Somchai, can you teach me how to make Thai Cuisine?" I asked in broken Thai while gesturing.
Somchai, who was holding a wrench and repairing a motorcycle, looked up in surprise and replied in even more broken Chinese, "You? Cook?"
I smiled awkwardly and explained, "Principal Manee said that if my son wants to play the role of Sun Wukong in the school play, he must learn to cook a dish of Thai Cuisine."
"Hahahahaha!" Somchai burst into laughter after hearing my explanation. "Your principal is really funny! But cooking Thai Cuisine is not an easy task. Are you sure you want to learn?"
"Of course! For my son, I'm willing to learn anything!" I said firmly.
"That's the spirit! I like a man with determination!" Somchai patted me on the shoulder and readily agreed, "No problem, I'll teach you! However, my Chinese isn't very good, so I can only teach you the simplest dishes. Don't mind that!"
"How could I? I'm already very grateful that you can teach me!" I quickly replied.
Somchai put down the wrench and took me into the kitchen, starting to teach me the basic techniques of making Thai Cuisine.
I clumsily followed Somchai's instructions, chopping vegetables, preparing ingredients, and stir-frying, taking each step carefully to avoid mistakes. Somchai patiently guided me from the side, correcting my errors from time to time and cracking jokes to keep the atmosphere light and enjoyable.
Although the process was a bit chaotic, I was having a great time. This was not only to fulfill Principal Manee's task but also to get closer to Somchai's family and better integrate into life in Thailand.
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