I’m heading towards the upper-town area, up in the mountain, Master Hsin invited me to his home. I didn’t expect this, I’m a little nervous, it’s just so personal. But it’s an honour at the same time and I can’t refuse the invitation … I just hope Shan isn’t invited too. What is this all about?
I ride up the hill and arrive on a plateau, there are a few houses here so everything’s rather levelled. I turn into this street and at the end of it I see the croissant in which Master Hsin’s house is. It’s somewhat isolated and quiet compared to the rest of the neighbourhood. It’s the only house with Chinese architecture and trees you don’t see too often around here. I don’t even have to look at the address. It’s like a block of China was inserted here. I park my bike in the driveway and head towards the long path past the fort-like walls decorated with red and gold colors and ornaments of dragons. It’s all quite impressive, must be a lot of money to be made in teaching Kung Fu, but then his classes are always full, you can’t hold that against him.
Once passed the gate there’s this garden and everything’s perfect, like trimmed just before I showed up. There are writings on the walls and above the two entrance doors, but I can’t tell what any of it means but I can fully appreciate the decorative value they have.
As I arrive there I hear someone unlocking the doors and then sliding them open, I’m expected, I don’t even have to knock. There, before me, stands this sweet looking old lady, I believe it’s his wife. She bows and doesn’t speak a word and signals me to make my way in. As I step inside I see the same care as been given to recreate a Chinese style and culture everywhere, I figure they must be homesick because it’s quite disorienting.
The lady points towards the inner-courtyard and it’s huge, and more impressive than the garden on my way in. On my way there I cross paths with Master Hsin’s daughter, Lien-Hua. I’ve met her before as she often comes by class to practice or to give classes herself. She’s wearing a stunning Cheongsam, a Mandarin gown in similar style to the one Mee Lien was wearing the other night but hers is far classier, or the occasion makes it look that way. She must be going out but she’s courteous enough to welcome me and guide me to her father.
‘Brandon! Hi! My father’s in the garden, he’s expecting you so just go ahead.’
I nod and make my way and the first thing that hits me is the perfume that is so relaxing. I can understand someone wanting to spend a lot of time here. I see Master Hsin a few feet away and his back is turned to me, I think he’s observing some birds that I can hear, or maybe he’s admiring the beautiful blossoms in the trees before him.
‘Welcome to my home Brandon.’
He turns around and we bow to each other. He turns slightly and I can tell he’s inviting me to walk along with him.
‘You wanted to speak with me this week and I could not give you time, not from lack of generosity but by simple lack of time. I don’t usually invite students here, but you have been a student of mine for many years now and we share, I like to think, a special friendship.’
Master Hsin, it sounds silly, was my first friend when I moved in with Uncle Leo. Being new to the place, I was rather lonely and I would spend all my free time at the dojo. I don’t know what Uncle Leo told Master Hsin when he brought me to him but he seemed to take special care of me right from the start. He knew me quite well now.
‘I remember the day your uncle presented me to you the first time you came by. You seemed troubled and full of thoughts for such a young boy, and that is why I invited you here today, I recognized the same look on your face this week. If I can help, lend an ear, I am here for you as always.’
I’m a little surprised, I expected something else entirely, I thought he’d tell me that he’d stop teaching or something like that. I told you he knew me well.
-’Master Hsin, I’ve been having nightmares lately. I’ve done something I’m not proud of and I can’t shake it off. It haunts me, I can’t forgive myself.
-Go on …
-I sought revenge. But I went further … I’m afraid I started something, like a rock falling in water, sending ripples which get bigger and bigger.
-Hmmm. I am not too proud to hear this …’
He looks up at the sky, it’s not a particularly sunny day, it’s cloudy but some light still shines through. He squints and takes in a deep breath.
-‘… but then it must have something to do with this Shan Tsai I presume.’
My silence gave away the answer but there was no lying to Master Hsin either.
-‘There is more. The nightmares, they reach back to something else, something that’s further back.
-Something before you were brought to me?’
I stop dead in my tracks and keep from talking. Maybe Uncle Leo told him more than I thought. I look at him, confused and hesitant.
-’Your uncle, he told me there were things that troubled you greatly as a child, things that led you to behave violently at school, with your friends. That is why he had brought you to me. I never asked to know, though it was clear your uncle was aware what all this was about. You do not have to tell me anything, but if these things still trouble you, I am not the one that can help you make peace with them.’
I hesitate for a moment, telling him everything, but I’m full of shame already by just thinking about it, about everything. From the corner of my eye I can tell he’s studying me, probably expecting me to talk but these things, these elements of my past, of who I am … I can’t utter those words …
-’Enough about all this. What do you say if we go talk of things more upbeat around a healthy amount of food?’
His wife made a spectacular pile of food for three people. There are so many flavours and aromas that I can’t help but eat three times a normal portion. The conversations are pleasant and his wife speaks through him when the little English that she knows is challenged but she is so full of wisdom, I can understand why they are kindred spirits. They speak of their trip, when they originally came over seas to move here and as they do I see Master Hsin looking at some specific objects in nostalgia. We look at pictures from their early days in China, most of them from their early life as a couple and some older ones of Master Hsin outside the temple where he learned all the knowledge he passes on everyday. It’s when you see pictures of ones life it’s then that your mind begins to truly understand and envision the vastness of a person’s existence. They’ve accomplished so much; my life hasn’t even started yet.
Miss Hsin is putting the food away as we bring the plates still quite full of delicious food but my stomach would blow if I’d take just another bite. She nearly pushes us out of the kitchen and tells us to continue on with our conversation. Master Hsin tells me about the origins of Kung Fu and Huiguang and Sengchou and the coming of Bodhidharma and the arrival of Buddhism in China. There are things that he repeats from class, like the three basic principles of Kung Fu: motivation, self discipline and time … and I think for a moment that I lack all of those things.
I couldn’t remember everything he’s telling me if I tried but the legends and accounts are fascinating. If I’m ever rich and famous, China would be an amazing country to visit. Suddenly, Master Hsin stops and I think he’s said pretty much all he’s had to say.
-’So … tell me Brandon. What about Shan Tsai? What do you know of him?
-Shan Tsai? Not too much. His father’s Huo Yuanjia, a big businessman in town, really big. He has a bad temper, he’s arrogant and over confident. The more I learn of him, the more I believe he’s someone to avoid. He’s done some things I don’t agree with. We don’t get along … at all.
-I was visited by Huo Yuanjia the other day. He now owns the building of the dojo.’
My heart skips a beat.
-’He’s put me in an uncomfortable position. He has been very insistent on some particular kids being taught at my school. Naturally they are all Chinese, however what displeases me is that he has made certain remarks about Caucasian, Japanese and African students attending the school …’
He looks out into the courtyard.
-’You see Brandon, you are not the only one that is troubled. I share similar states of mind these days … regrets, remorse.’
He looks back at me, hesitant.
-’You know Paul? He’s a friend of yours I believe.
-Yes … Paul.
-Did you see him lately?
-Last time I saw him was … Thursday I think …’
I don’t like where this is going.
-’His father owns a restaurant in China Town does he not?
-Yes, the Mandarin Café.
-I was forced to cancel Paul’s membership to the school Brandon, through pressure and intimidation.
-What?! Why?
-Many threats including an unpleasant raise in rent, closing of the school or intimidation of certain students.
I can’t hate Master Hsin for what he’s done. I’m angry at the fact that the corruption Huo Yuanjia is responsible for seems to be infiltrating every facet of my life.
-’I am not young any more Brandon, as you have seen from the pictures we showed you. I’ll be handing over the school to my daughter in a few short years and I do not want her to have any troubles. It is too late for that however, whether I comply to Yuanjia’s requests or not, she will have to deal with him … and I cannot abruptly close the school either. I believe the saying goes: “Stuck between a rock and a hard place”?’
He looks down, his stare is empty. He stands up, walks to the windowed walls keeping the cool night air and displaying the courtyard garden in its entirety. His hands hold one another behind his back which is comparable to the idea that his hands are tied in this situation. He pans from right to left, taking the sight of it all before turning his head to look back at me.
-’Brandon, I may do things in the times to come that will seem strange or unfair.’
He turns his head to face the garden again.
-’I may have to expel you too if I’m ever put into a complicated situation. That’s what he wants, it may be but a matter of time.’
The thought comes rushing through my mind and knocks me down. He turns to face me, I’ve never seen him so troubled, it’s disconcerting, like seeing an invincible structure fall. He’s destroyed and defeated far from looking like the young man so full of hope and conviction that I saw in the photos earlier. I can’t think of anything that could bring him comfort other than showing my comprehension of the situation.
-’I uh … I am sorry.
-Brandon, if ever what I mentioned is to occur … I will always be here … available to you, my door here shall not be closed. It is I who is sorry.’
He’s holding it in, keeping his calm, wanting to destroy something but he keeps his composure, staying his fist.
-‘It’s getting late. I’ll be leaving.’
He nods, this subject has brought an abrupt end to any conversation either of us was contemplating. He walks up towards me and I turn to walk out to the door. He arrives to the door as I slide my boots on. I rise up and present a subtle bow, lowering only my head, he replies with the same adding only a very minimalist smile.
‘Drive safely.’
!