Redeeming The Golden Ticket To Life

[POV Madame Hu]

We really got to know a lot after coming here. This time Qiang went overboard with his decisiveness. He forgot that the person he is dealing with will no longer silently tolerate him as she used to earlier. She is not a doll to play around with anymore.

"Dear we are so sorry that we came unannounced to your doorstep," I apologized. I am not so sure of what she is thinking about us anymore. After waking up from the coma she has learned to hide her thoughts. I do agree with that old man Hu, but I do miss that transparent thought of her's.

"I am sorry I made you all worried." She too apologised.

Well, I have a feeling that it was her way of punishing Qiang. She wanted us to step forward instead of her to address the issue. It reflects that she still didn't accept Qiang as her husband. 

She had been quick to accept Xiao Wei but Qiang, he is a whole nother story to her.

"Mother, father, Zhang Wei; come with me. I have something to show you all. Please follow me," she said. Then she started to lead the way out to somewhere.

"What about me?" Qiang asked.

'Idiot…'

I sighed…

'She clearly ignored him in front of all of us. She is clearly mad about his behaviour. She also banned him. Seriously, can't he take a hint?'

I left him unanswered and followed my daughter. And so did others.

While Qiang, he simply looked sullen and walked behind the crowd all alone.

We followed Bai Chang to her outhouse. I was aware that this place works as her working studio.

As we walk in, we come face to face with complete pieces of work hanging on the mannequin. I lost my words to explain the very beauty of all the dresses. But caught my eye was the theme that was recurring throughout the dresses.

I couldn't help myself and finally ask, "Bai Chang, are these dresses themed around national treasure?"

"Yes, mother. If you like something from here, let me know, I will alter it to your size," she replied.

"Really!"

"Yes, for sure. You have an upcoming event next month, right? It is an annual conference of traditional and western medical practices and to build a middle ground among them."

"You know about that?" I am surprised by her level of awareness that she has.

"I already designed a perfect dress for you, would you like to de-tour and have a look at it?" she proposed.

'Let's face it, women and new dresses go hand in hand. They are the best buddies.' I was so excited.

Cough… Cough…

The old-man beside me coughed to attract everyone's attention.

"Don't worry father, I have a commemorative traditional dress prepared for you too. After all, you have to attend the 'Diplomatic Silver Jubilee Celebration, this coming week, right? I have the perfect outfit for you."

"Ohh... You didn't have to trouble yourself. You should rest more."

All the while his face had a satisfactory smile playing on them.

This old-man. Now I know, from where Qiang got all his nasty habits.

"Thank you, my lovely baby," I walked towards her and patted her head, "but next time, take rest. Do not overexert yourself. You are more precious than anything in this world". 

"Come with me." 

She leads us a little more deep inside the outhouse.

We walk in the rack after rack, there are pieces of fabrics, threads and rolls after rolls of different types of laces and many more. Our eyes are assaulted with a plethora of colours in the room.

"Watch your steps here, they can be a little tricky, as I haven't tidied this place for a while now," she warned us.

"Don't worry, we are fine. But why did you not hire some staff to look after this place, this is so huge?" I asked her.

"Mother, call me paranoid, but I don't like unrelated people lurking around in my office. This place has restricted entry. In a while, you will know why?" She didn't explain it anymore.

I look towards the old-man. He was also looking towards me. Our eyes met, and the message was clear. She doesn't trust people anymore.

We both shook our head in defeat.

'It is sad to see but we are happy that she is cultivating her skills for caution. This time we don't have to worry about enemies luring her in their traps. Like they did last time.'

She walked us through the studio and then took us to her office.

This palace is filled with papers and 'Demuse Dolls'. There were also small sample dresses lying around here and there. 

She offered us seats to sit down. While Zhang Wei stood by the door and Qiang was standing beside him.

We sat down and looked around the place. There were literally hundreds of design sketches lying around the office in various stacks.

"You have a very productive office here," the old-man complimented her from his heart.

It's true after all, she stacked them up and got it working in under a year.

"But dear don't overwork yourself for that idiot son and his company. You know what? I will write down the stakes and official papers for The Hu Corporation Fashion House to you," the old-man suggested.

"Not a bad idea. It is her hard work. So she should get her due credit." I concurred.

"Mother, Father; Thank you. For your thoughtfulness. But let us keep it under Hu Corporations Umbrella. An abrupt shift could confuse the customers and affect market stability," she replied.

We thought a little over and found it valid.

"But that's unfair to you. That shameless son of mine is of no use here. How about we simply change the ownership?" The old-man proposed.

"But father, what will the stakeholders say? Let me give more profit to the subsidiary first. We can discuss these matters on a later date." she said as she tried to dodge the bullet of ownership.

"Sure. Sure. As you wish, my child."

She walked to a password protected cupboard and brought out two dark velvet clothes covers that covered the pieces.

"Would you like to unwrap it yourself? Here yours... and this here is yours." She handed us our respective covers.

I atleast couldn't wait to open and see my daughter's creation for me.

I hurriedly unzipped the cover and took out the dress.

"You know, no one is fighting over the dress with you. Be gentle," the old-man complained.

I conveniently ignored his ramblings.

As I look towards the dress. My breath got caught.

As my eyes roved over the dress I couldn't stop myself from exclaiming, "It's beautiful…"

I simply held onto the dress. 

It is a white cheongsam. It was knee-length. With light watermark style print of yin and yang and an overlay of evergreen bamboo shoots running throughout the dress. It also had the signs of Fire (Huo), Water (Shui), Wood (Mu), Earth (Tu) and Metal (Jin), stitched into it. 

There were lots of emotions weaved into that one single fabric.

I feel cold on my cheeks, as I touch them, I find them wet. I looked towards Bai Chang, "Thank you, it is a beautiful dress and an emotion."

I cried while looking at a dress. It is beyond description for me.

"Old-man, don't just stare at me, open yours to see what you got?" I pushed the spotlight towards that irritating old man and quickly wiped my tears away.

"Hmm… I am nervous after seeing your reaction."

"Don't dilly dally," I pushed him to open.

Finally, the old-man unzipped his cover wrap.

Inside lay a very traditional Hanfu. It was maroon in colour with deep shades of red mixed into it. So the colour looked important and of dignity without actually overshadowing the host. They were made of a blend of silk and some other fabric threads mixed into it. There were white cuffs and they had a detailed five-clawed dragon stitched on it. 

The entire Hanfu was of solid colour and the buttons were black in colour. The buttons had a white tiger designed on it, While the collar had a slight gold stitch.

The old man squinted his eyes in delight. Knowing him for all these years. He definitely liked it a lot. He must be really happy to finally have a custom piece to flaunt before his other diplomatic friends.

"They are the most appropriate outfit." 

He turned towards Bai Chang and shamelessly asked her, "They are exclusive pieces right? So they have not been put to sale yet? Or under production right?"

"Father, you can rest assured they are one of their kind, they are made exclusively for you to wear to that particular event," she politely replied to the old-man.

"Really! Great. Great. Now I will flaunt my own exclusive clothing, that they can't find anywhere in the market."

The old-man laughed gleefully like a seven-year-old child.

I shake my head at him.

As I take another look towards my daughter, the silent flower in my garden has finally bloomed after so many years, today...