A long ago story

Many many ... years ago today, a young Chinese lady gave birth to her second child, a baby girl.  "Is it a boy or a girl?", the young Chinese man asked anxiuosly when he came near the delivery bed in a private clinic in Foch Avenue (the present Market Square), Kuala_Lumpur .  "aiya...Another girl", she said apologetically, full of trepidation, as the Chinese woman next to her had just been shouted at by her Chinese husband for giving birth to another girl!  Expecting the worst, she was awaiting her turn...but instead, almost immediately, the young Chinese man scooped up the baby girl in delight and smiled broadly.  The young Chinese lady was relieved and for the first time the young Chinese lady realized that the young Chinese man was actually a "good person".

The next day the doctor declared that the young Chinese lady and her baby girl could be discharged.  It was post Second World War, life was difficult. The young man pleaded with the doctor to let them go home first and he will make full payment later. "You and your wife can go home, leave the baby here, bring the money then you can take her home", the heartless doctor shouted. The young Chinese man left the clinic.  The bewildered, tearful young Chinese lady sat with her baby girl near the clinic door for several hours not knowing what to do.  At last the young man came back with some money he borrowed from relatives and friends in Brickfields and they all went home to Brickfileds in a trishaw. 

(Actually these 2 events were related by the young Chinese lady to the baby girl some years down the line when the baby girl became an adult and it became a long ago story that she will never forget). 

Dining out with the family