MING LAN

Chapter Eleven: Our Life

Chapter Eleven:     Our Life 

     Ming Lan goes to school again after three months, that is before my sons wake up. I sometimes go to work late attending to my eldest son’s nagging. He is going to be three soon. I’m glad that my two sons are healthy, and so is my wife.

     We are back to being together in my bed. My sons are sleeping in their cots with the nannies. My father arranged it that way although Ming Lan does not like it. She is used to sleeping with three of us in the same bed. I persuade her to agree as she can sleep better, fresh for school.

     “Can you sleep well at night?” she asked me.

     “With you by my side, yes.”

     She pokes me, “I mean with our children sleeping in the other room.”

     I hug her, kissing her cheek, “Nannies are doing their work. let them. I need you more by my side. Appa understands that.” I kiss her passionately before I answer her. “After my workout with you, I surely can sleep well. We’ll see if I’m telling the truth.” I fondle her and give her what she deserves. Our bedtime is much better by ourselves of course. No disturbance at all. We have a good sleep too, feeling fresh the next morning.

     Phase 1 housing project is completed after eight months. Three rows of double storey shophouses close to the main road. Six rows of double storey terrace houses on the inner part. Buyers come in and out of the office house, seeing the house plan almost everyday in the sales room. Filling in loan forms in the accountants’ office, getting their house keys and so on.

     I bought the first row of shophouses, facing the main road with eight doors. Ming Lan bought two doors on the second block with her savings, saying it is for her old age back up. She applied for the bank loan to make up for the total cost, not wanting my help at all. ‘I want to see how much property I can own before I retire. All expenses are taken care of. It’s bad to waste money anyway’.

     The owners are given their house keys on a specific date, collecting them from the office house. Complaints are welcome within a month of taking the keys.

     Sometimes he comes back with Ming Lan. He told me that he is teaching Ming Lan slowly about this housing business. He is preparing her to take over, maybe. Well, I am busy enough keeping my business going in order to make more money. She is going to be a very busy wife one day, a mother, teacher and business woman. I am lucky to have capable and loyal assistants at the office.

     By the time Phase 2 is starting, Phase 1 is 95 percent sold out. Phase 2 consists of shophouses forming a U shape around the market building with a broad road for ample parking space. A hawker’s stall eatery next to the market. There are three rows of single terrace houses forming an L shape.

     The Phase 3 would be five bungalows and luxury three storey houses till the end towards the lake. There would be a park by the lake and the river for the civilians there to jog and have a picnic. People can pitch up tents for small functions too. All roads would lead to the lake park.

     I am looking forward to our holiday house by the lake if everything goes smoothly as planned. I am taking good care of my business for my family. My father’s project with his friends seems to be doing well. He is planning to buy the neighbouring lands too, asking for the empty land owners address from the land office.

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