Chapter 3  

”I’m glad to be a part of the Ling legacy!” screamed Sam Ling, 42, who was with his wife, Jane, 41.

”So overjoyed I married not only the greatest man in the world but into a family with a great heritage… What a legacy!” Jane responded, then kissed Sam on the lips.

Staring at each other in love, Sam reminded her, ”It took generations of hard work, discipline, and competence to be the respected Ling family of today.”

”I’m so proud to be a part of it! At least, by marriage. By marrying the love of my life.”

”You can say that again, my dear.”

Sam called Ling’s attention. ”Honey, do you know this year would make it twenty years of being happily married? It should be, if my memory serves me right.” He was tasking his brain, pushing his index finger on the side of his forehead.

”Are you asking?!” Jane smiled. ”That was one of, if not the most memorable events of my life! I can remember how great the event was. Family members from your side and mine, and people who attended… I still could remember the words of the priest on the marital vow: ‘In sickness and in health, till death do us part’ and how super excited we were reciting the vow. It’s like it happened yesterday.”

”How time flies… That twenty years have gone by?” Sam cuddled Jane while in bed.

”Honey, I’m still that pretty damsel you wedded twenty years ago. It’s just that Mother Nature has trapped me with this older body!”

”Regardless, I can see you becoming prettier with each passing day. Nature has done its part to make you a grown woman and appreciate better what a good character is… I’m so glad… I’m so proud to have our daughter Ling with us. She’s my treasure!’’

”No! Jane disagreed. ”Our treasure. You and I had her together. Did you do it alone?”

Sam laughed. ”I agree. Our treasure indeed.”

”My hubby, are you aware you stole me away from the dating market? You married my femininity, youthfulness and innocence.” Jane joked.

”Remember, I won the key to commitment. I decide the kind of woman I want. Coming from a traditional family and seeing how things worked, I chose to commit to you. Yes, you had what I needed in a woman, as you rightly mentioned. And you know I had what you desired. Don’t forget the fact that I could have exercised other options. Have you forgotten Ming, Kim, Seoul, and the rest?! Haaaaaa!”

 ”Got you!” Sam pointed at Jane, laughing while she rested her head on his chest.

They played together for some minutes. Sam and Jane headed to the living room. Lin was seated, waiting for them.

”Hey Dad, hey Mom!” Lin greeted, glancing at the happy faces of her parents.

”How are you doing?” Sam asked, taking his seat. Jane was already seated by time he sat down.

”I’m good. I see both of you are excited. What happened?”

”Never mind, dear,” Jane chuckled.

”Since Mom wouldn’t answer my question, over to you, Dad!”

Sam appeared to seek approval from Jane who showed indifference.

”Oh, well, we talked briefly”

Ling suspected something isn’t right. ”Dad, are you sure? You haven’t been this happy!” 

”Don’t you believe me?” Sam responded, laughing

”Let’s begin what is to be discussed… a healthy family.” Sam continued: ”A healthy family starts with a man who has taken his time to build his mental, physical, spiritual, and to an extent, financial capacities before bringing a woman who believes in his vision. From a traditional family background, a man is made while a woman is born. It has been the legacy of the Ling family to uphold traditional marriage values. Your mom, an exceptional traditional woman, brought to the table of our marriage her youthfulness, fertility, and most important, her purity.

Ling interjected. ”Dad, do you mean Mom was PURE before you met her?”

”What do you mean by ‘pure’?” Sam asked, looking confused. 

Jane appeared furious. She wasn’t prepared to answer such question

”You just mentioned the word ‘pure’, that’s why I asked. Did you meet her as you said?”

Jane put up a front, pretending she forgot to attend to something outside the home.

”Hey honey, Lin, Ms. Cooper and I were scheduled to get some things for her son. But I forgot that this was the time. Will be back in a jiffy!”

”But you know this is discussion time,” Sam reminded, looking disappointed over Jane’s sudden action.

”Mom, just stay around for a few minutes. I’m enjoying the conversation. I’d like to hear more from you,” Ling urged, begging her to stay.

Jane looked at the clock on the wall, attempting to leave. ”I’m a little late. Matter of fact, I’m five minutes behind schedule! I have to go now. I promise to make it up to you next time. Honey, Ling, accept my sincere apologies! I have to go!” She left them to continue with the discussion.

Despite being displeased over Jane, nodding his head in complete disappointment, Sam continued the conversation. ”As you can see, your mom isn’t around. But the conversation has to continue. This is our tradition.”

”Sure! It’s surprising how you left suddenly when the discussion was about getting fascinating. Don’t you smell a rat, Dad?”

”Smell a rat? I don’t! Ling stop it! Your mom is great!”

”I know. But the question was, did you meet her when she was pure? But you appeared disappointed when Mom suddenly left the house.”

”Hey Ling, let’s proceed with the discussion. It doesn’t matter if I was disappointed or not!”

”I’m sorry for any inconveniences caused,” Lin attempted to scoff Sam

”Apology accepted.” Sam overlooked Lin’s reaction. ”Life happens. Again, women are born; men are made. A man has his will but a woman will always have her way. Lin, the only compensation for a man is when there’s a will, there lies a way. That’s how the mindset of a man who operates a traditional family operates. That’s just me!”

”Noted, Dad,” Lin was penning down Sam’s words. But called his attention to what he least anticipated.

”Dad, I agree with all you have said. But I don’t think they are tenable in our world today.”

”Why?” asked Sam.”The modern marriage seems not to appreciate those values. It appears bad women or women who aren’t concerned or raised in traditional families get the best of men. The exact opposite appears to be the fate of good or traditional women when it comes to getting men.”

”Wow! What an observation. Lin, what do you mean by the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ women?”

”I would say, based on something I read from a a writer who I can’t remember wrote, ‘Good women are bad women not caught and bad women are good women turn wild.”

”This gets more interesting,” Sam gives Lin a round of applause. ”Can you see why modern marriage would also be nose-diving?”

”I get you, Dad. But Dad, being a traditionally married man, and someone who had been raised the traditional family way, which I’m proud of today, who do you see as ‘good’ and ‘bad’ women?”

”Very good question. My father once said, ‘A good woman is someone who was raised feminine and traditionally equipped to be a man’s wife when she’s of age. On the other hand, a bad woman is simply one who isn’t feminine and behavourally ill-equipped to be a man’s wife.’”

‘’Exciting! I have to write this down!” Lin wrote in her journal.

”Yes, my dear. I’m always glad to discuss this with you.”

”Happy to hear. I would have wished Mom was with us in this discussion. I wanted to ask her a question, at least.”

”Dear, feel free to ask me now,” Sam assured.

”Okay Dad. Here’s the question…”

”Go ahead,” Sam couldn’t wait for Lin’s question.

”In all sincerity, is Mom the ideal traditional woman for you?”

Sam was stunned. He looked at her, then around the living room. He sighed.

”It’s quite a question, I must say. But why would you ask such a thing?”

”How mom excused herself from the discussion makes me wonder…”

Sam could hardly defend Lin’s claim. He had to be on Jane’s side. ‘’You know, your mom, um, um, she’s always the up and doing type. Realistically, there’s no ideal traditional woman. It’s a case of women who are raised in such environment to continually pursue such prowess. Sometimes, she’s bound to forget to do things as at when due. On her behalf, I wholeheartedly apologize. She will make it up to us in the next family discussion. That, I can assure!”

”Alright, Dad,” Lin said then chuckled. ”I believe your words and actions. Of course… that of Mom, indeed.”

”Whatever! Great!” Sam looked at his watch. ”She should be in by now.”

A knock was heard from the front door.

“I think she’s the one at the door!” Sam sensed. 

”How did the discussion go?” Jane asked with a curious look as she walked in.

”It went well,”’ Sam answered. “How did it go with you and Ms. Cooper?”

”It went fine,” Jane replied, looking over at her daughter.

”Dad and I had a good time talking. Sadly, you were gone.” Lin turned her eyes away from Jane.

”Oh, dear, I promise to make it up to you in our next family discussion meeting. Don’t blame me. I’m a little forgetful. I thought you ought to know by now! But I apologize. I’m so sorry. Your dad understands.”

Though disappointed at Jane, Sam chose to take sides with her. ”Lin, she’s your mom. Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.” Sam eyed her for a second time, checked his watch, and looked at her again.

When thinking about Lin going to college, Sam’s excitement took away his disappointment with Jane. 

‘’To me,’’ Sam said in confidence, holding Lin by the waist, ‘’going to college is a great milestone for my daughter.”

”Correction, our daughter. She’s our pride. Remember, we’re her parents!”

”Okay! Correction noted.”

A family picture was taken. Sam and Jane held Lin by her waist on opposite sides and Lin’s hand being spread across her parent’s shoulders. 

”Within the next few months, I’ll be a student at the Amber Community College!” Lin said

”I can’t wait for this to happen! So proud of you…” Jane said, hugging her.

”You have said it all,” Sam said. ”It’s just an awesome time to see my daughter… Oh. Sorry… our daughter growing up to be the woman she ought to be.”

”Yes!” Lin exclaimed. 

They hugged each other.