Chau remembers the last birthday he had with his mother . He was young and hot-headed , all brawn and no brains . He was also determined to join the revolutionists and fight for capitalism in China . His mother was not amused by his antics .
“ It is not safe , foolish boy ,” she berated him . “ I forbid you to go .” “ It is my duty to fight for the betterment of Shanghai , and you are in no place to stop me .”
She was enraged . “ How dare you do this to your mother ? Your duty is to your home . Your duty is one from son to mother . You will not go cavorting with the men .”
“ It ’ s a sacred duty .” Chau replied . That was what it said on the posters anyways . To be honest , he had not knew much about capitalism nor its supporters . He had merely read about it on a fluttering poster on his way home and had gone on his merry way to join them . It had seemed like a good idea then , to have a cause to fight for and bring glory to his mother by fighting for Shanghai . Who could ’ ve known that she would be so opposed to the idea ? It was too late to back down anyhow . He thought she ’ d see reason when he returned , bringing along with him a new Shanghai .
They fought tooth and nail until Chau had left for the army in the middle of the night . Army life was not as exciting as he thought it ’ d be thought it ’ d be . Less heroic battles and more training with sweaty men . The only event that was anywhere near glorious was the soldiers gathering together and toasting to a better future . Chau truly felt like he belonged in Shanghai then . All the men beside him were his loyal brothers for the night . Everyone was shouting and cheering , and at that moment , he swore he was invincible .
Then , news came that his mother has died . He was no longer in the army then , and he rushed home the second the message reached his ears . The rest was history . He fervently regretted his actions , especially the abandonment of his mother , but there was nothing to be done . The funeral was a quiet affair , and he began living this half-life ever since .
Chau sometimes wonder what could have been , had he not succumbed to teenage foolishness . He often thought about his place in this world . He fought for the revolutionaries because he thought it might get him the right to tell his children how their gallant father bravely fought against the big , bad communists and was the reason why they live in a new and improved Shanghai . He wanted to be in the winning team . It would have been wonderful tell the children he took part in writing the new tales of old Shanghai . Yet those were mere pipe dreams that were never meant to be . All he was was a failure to his mother . To Shanghai .
Then again , he supposed he had written a new tale for old Shanghai . He singlehandedly broke his mother ’ s heart and had never even had the chance to mend it . He ripped through what meant unconditional love and left nothing but foolishness in its place . The old Shanghai where his loving mother and all her love was was no longer there . He had new tales of emptiness and bitterness to share . The “ new ” Shanghai was exactly the same as the old Shanghai , except that there was no longer a place for him in the “ new ” Shanghai .
At that moment , the waiter walked up to him . “ Sir , is the tea not to your satisfaction ?” he enquired . “ You haven ’ t touched it yet .”
Chau didn ’ t want tea anymore . He didn ’ t want to stay in this teahouse for a second longer . He threw a couple of coins on the table and left hurriedly .
The sun was not so blinding anymore , but the sky was still the bright hue it was then . Chau retrieved his cart and got the meat buns ready for selling . Chau scoffed . A new tal