ad, and then went back to his "medical research," which entailed knocking on our door at 2 o’clock in the morning demanding to borrow our wok to mix his ginseng concoction. I giggled at the thought while I passed the mad scientist's lair into the wonderful aura of Szechwan style food. Mrs. Wing, for as long as I can remember, has always been trying to fatten me & je je up by making us elaborate ten course banquets with delicious bean-curd based dishes, fish oozing with the wonderful spices tickling our tongues and noses with anticipation of the culinary anomalies to come and deserts with sweet rice and fortified coconut. I shivered with glee at the thought. "Wan an, Mrs. Wong, your cooking smells very good," I smiled, hoping for something to take."Ai, Mei Ling, nee how, you want some biscuits? I bake them just for you and Jing yee.""No no, it’s okay," I said in the usual Chinese manner of total refusal unless of course the other party absolutely insists. "Ai yah, Mei Ling, I have too many anyway!" she shoved the cookie tray into my chest and gently pushed me ahead."Shea shea ne" I answered with a huge smile on my face for I had gotten what I wanted.I finally reached our flat, the largest one on the floor, and in the building. I wiped my shoes on the carpet and took them off, leaving them outside the door. Mamma is very superstitious, she and many other Chinese believe that if the shoes are inside the house and left at the door, this "vicious act" would bring bad luck to the family. We also keep a bat gua, which resembles an octagon with a mirror in the center, nailed to the top of the front door to keep bad spirits away from us.When you turn the knob on our door and push it open, you walk straight into an atmosphere of peace and unity. Mamma is also very devoted to Feng Shui, which is the practice of the proper placement of objects in their surroundings so that "chi" can flow, allowing prosperity and knowledge reign supreme....
