Excuse me, we want to sign up for the mental abacus class.
The class taught by Marius. Three please.
Four. My neighbour Mrs. Chan is also interested.
So you've already heard Marius is teaching here?
Never underestimate the power of the parents' network.
We know which instructors are the best. News travels fast.
When will the class start?
Let me check the schedule. Wing.
Should we pay a deposit?
Sure.
Kuk Sir, you've found a new mental abacus instructor?
We're not interested unless it's taught by Marius.
Sorry, we're not offering new classes. I'm going now. Bye.
But you said you'd accept a deposit...
That's only half the story. There's a misunderstanding.
Please leave your contact numbers. We'll inform you of any vacancies.
Let me give you the information.
Marius!
Daddy, it's Kuk Sir.
You forgot something.
What did I forget?
My sincerity. You can handle one more class each month.
Like I've already said, I will only teach the class with Yee in it.
We're getting excellent feedback. The kids love you. Don't waste it.
Customers are coming to you. How can you say no to money?
Teaching isn't about money.
You pursue your passion. I'll pursue money. We'll both get what we want. Why not?
It's not about passion either. I'm doing this for my son.
Get in the car. Be careful. Jump. Watch your head.
Fa Sin Chi suffered a setback. Actually, we're barely breaking even.
That means we're in critical condition. It could get worse anytime.
You know, you're like our targeted therapy. We won't survive without you.
You can help us make a comeback.
What are you doing?
Waiting for you to say yes.
You're so stubborn.
Well, I call this persistence. I work hard towards my goal.
Right, Yee?
Go for it!
So you're not getting out?
Only if you say yes.
Where are we going? If you say yes, I won't mind going to China with you.
Hello?
Get out of my car.
What?
Get out.
We're holding this meeting to discuss how to improve Fa Sin Chi's competitiveness.
Fa Sin Chi has been meeting our targets since the reorganization.
But I want to exceed the target. What kind of course can attract parents?
I'm thinking about a visual arts course that develops children's creativity
and teaches them about art history such as the lives of Van Gogh and Monet.
Not many places offer this kind of course.
Miss Chu, it probably means no one has discovered its potential yet,
or people realise it won't work, so they simply don't bother.
Whether it'll work or not, I think it's worth a try.
Hongkongers are labelled as uncultivated. There's a need to nurture talent.
Sis, I remember you proposed this a few years ago.
Right.
So that means it's never worked all these years,
which implies that it's just a waste of time and money.
But we won't know unless we try.
I think your visual arts course is just a dessert.
We don't even have time for the main course. How can we make time for dessert?
That's common sense, right?
May, thank you so much.
You're welcome. Mr Shek, we welcome new volunteers.
Oh, great.
Give me a call if you have any questions.
Sure.
Thank you, May. Bye.
Bye, Miss Chu. Bye, Mr Shek.
Bye.
Let's go.
She's so nice.
May has a lot of volunteer experience.
I can tell. Hey, a friend of mine has a studio in the neighbourhood.
He's holding an art exhibition. Let's go check it out.
Sure.
Come on.
This is my friend's exhibition.
Nice.
We were classmates. I used to dabble in art.
You did?
Right. Can't tell, huh?
Never judge by appearances.
I was a performance artist.
In a bold way?
I'd stand still on the street and pose like a bronze statue all day.
Wow! You're still doing that?
Now I'm a money-grabbing realtor who runs around a lot.
Excuse me, am I supposed to laugh?
You're such an honest person.
What? You like this?
I'm talking to it. I want to know what it's trying to express.
OK, take your time.
What is it saying to you?
I can't communicate with it. I don't know what it's trying to say.
Strictly speaking, it's not a piece of art, it's something beyond my comprehension.
Exactly! It's like, when you try to communicate with it,
it gives you something, but you don't know what it is, and it's confusing you.
Right.
That's exactly what the artist wanted to convey.
You know this artist called Granite?
I'm Granite.
Stone... Granite! Sorry I commented on your work.
It's cool.
But even if I had known, I would have said the same thing.
That's why I said you're an honest person. Thank you.
Did you create any other work here?
No. When I was making this, I was at a crossroad.
You know, artists don't make a lot of money. So I asked myself
if I should keep going or keep living. I was struggling, and this is what I chose.
You're right. Like Kuk Sir said, art is just a dessert, not a necessity.
That's why he banned my visual arts course. Oh well, that's expected.
But we're different. You should have insisted.
Sometimes you have to give up things in order to survive.
What if I talk to him?
Talk to him? When it comes to money, he's even more persistent than me.
I'll see what I can do.
Since you've said that, I won't give up.
Fa Sin Chi is not a charity.
I have to pay bills and keep the business running every day.
Stop talking about money for a minute.
Since when have you become so unrealistic? They charge $15 for this drink.
The cost is only $2. Ask the owner if she'll sell it to you for $2.
Madam, will you sell me a milk tea for $2?
No problem. You've been a loyal customer. It's on me.
Oh, I love you so much. That's what I call the warmth of humanity.
That's easy for you to say. Would you cover the losses?
How many students do you need to break even?
At least eight.
Just eight? I'll pay for tuition out of my own pocket, OK?
$150 per class. Two classes per month. Eight students comes to $10,000 a month.
Are you really going to pay for that?
Take my word for it. Don't belittle me.
I dare not. The burning desire in your eyes has totally got me beat.
By the way, don't tell Miss Chu I'm paying...
I mean don't tell her I'm sponsoring her students.
Why not? It's a good thing. You're just crazy about her.
What are you talking about?
You're so in love.
No, I'm not.
You love her.
What? She's a nice person. I should help her, right?
I always help people, including you. Have I ever turned you down?
Seriously.
Yee, you're so slow.
Be quiet!
You be quiet...
Have some fruit. What do you do before you eat?
Wash our hands.
Good boy.
Daddy, why don't you teach me abacus?
Because you're good at math, so you don't need me to teach you.
Then why is Yee learning it?
Mental abacus can train your focus and memory.
You don't need that kind of training.
You mean Yee is stupid?
I'm not stupid!
You're stupid!
Don't call your brother stupid. Be a good sister, OK?
Even though you do well at school, you shouldn't brag about it.
If Yee works harder, he can do well too.
OK!
Daddy, can you teach me mental abacus? I promise I'll be a serious learner.
Yee, do you want to learn with your sister?
Sure!
Yeah!
First of all, let's learn the basics.
I know. Use the thumb to add, the middle finger to subtract,
and this is how you reset.
That's good.
Daddy, test me.
Try to compute this.
The answer is 78.
Same here.
Both correct.
I'm better than Yee.
I got the correct answer too.
Yat, have you heard the story of the Tortoise and the Hare?
The arrogant hare didn't take the race seriously, so he lost in the end.
Daddy, that's enough for addition and subtraction.
I want to learn multiplication and division.
I don't teach kids who have no patience.
I have lots of patience.
If you really want to learn, I'll teach you.
You're done brushing your teeth. Go to bed.
Daddy, I don't want to sleep yet. Teach me more mental abacus.
Daddy, I want to learn more too.
OK, sit down.
I just showed you how to use the abacus. Let's review the five units.
OK!
If I say four, what do you say?
I know!
Let Yat answer. Yee, help her out.
One!
Correct. If I say three, what do you say?
I know! Two!
Correct.
Way to go!
Mommy's home! What are you guys doing?
Hey. Hi, Mommy!
We're learning mental abacus.
Yat, you're learning too?
Yes, I'm learning faster than Yee!
Yat, what did I tell you?
Even if you know the answer, you shouldn't brag about it, OK?
Daddy's right. Just because you're smart that doesn't mean you'll win every time.
Put your mind to whatever you do. Have you practiced the violin today?
The competition is coming up. Miss Anita said you picked a difficult piece.
How confident are you?
I'm very confident.
Yat, you should be practicing the violin instead of learning mental abacus.
The competition is two weeks from now. Miss Anita thinks you need longer lessons.
I've been practicing very hard. I can play the whole song.
Let me spend more time on mental abacus and take the qualifying exam.
But it's not going to be easy. Can you handle both?
I can do it. I learn fast. I have a good memory.
Test me, Daddy. If I get them all correct, let me take the exam.
Yat, you can't always have it your way.
I can do it. Why won't you give me a chance?
Honey, when is the competition?
The Saturday afternoon after next.
The exam is on the same day in the morning.
You're really letting her do it?
Since she's so confident, why not?
Daddy, which grade is right for me?
How many grades are there?
12. Grades 12 thru 9 are primarily addition and subtraction.
From grade 8 onwards, it's multiplication and division,
but they haven't learned that yet.
I want to take the grade 9 exam.
You have to complete the exam in 10 minutes. Grade 9 is too hard for a beginner like you.
There's still two weeks. I'll practice very hard.
You still have to practice the violin. It's hard to handle both.
Hard work doesn't bother me.
Are you sure?
Yes.
All right then.
Thanks, Daddy!
Tired?
A little.
How's work going?
I really enjoy talking to the patients during treatment,
but some of them are quite difficult.
They may think I'm not trying hard enough
and say horrible things to me. I'm their punching bag.
Making money is never easy.
I know. We used to complain that you prioritized work over us.
I didn't know work could be so stressful.
Taking care of the kids is harder. I used to think of nothing after work.
Now I'm on call 24 hours a day. Those two monkeys have burned me out.
Now you know.
Honey, she's spent a lot of time preparing for the violin competition.
Now shes taking the abacus exam. You know how competitive she is.
What if she can't handle two things at once and ends up failing both?
She won't give up unless you let her do it.
Success and failure is just part of the process.
You said you'd give them the freedom to explore.
You're right. All right then.
Good morning.
Here's the visual arts course proposal as mentioned earlier. Please have a look.
That won't be necessary.
Kuk Sir, it took me two nights to put this together. At least have a look.
It's approved.
What?
I said it's approved.
What made you change your mind? Did your conscience finally strike you or what?
Shek Tung begged me to give you a chance. He wouldn't stop bugging me, so I said yes.
I thought he wasn't serious about it. He really kept his word.
But conscience can't feed you. I can't help you if there aren't enough students.
How many students do we need?
At least eight.
I'll find eight students.
Kuk Chi-keung, it's been a while!
Right.
So you're not dead yet!
Not until I help you arrange your funeral.
I wonder why you're not dead yet. You still have a sharp tongue.
I'm no match for you.
While you're still breathing, Spend more time with your buddy Shek Tung.
Why should I?
He's been working like crazy seven days a week.
He works like a cow but thinks like a pig. You know how eloquent he is.
No matter how hard he tries, he can only close small deals.
But he's changed his style recently. He's becoming more like you.
In what way?
In a bad way, of course. He has learned your dirty tricks.
We've been getting complaints. Our boss is not happy.
But why is he working so hard anyway?
Did he lose money in stocks or gambling in Macau? Why is he so desperate?
You're such a nosy Parker.
We're colleagues on the same team. I don't want to see him die.
Die? It's not that serious.
It's not serious, it's critical. You haven't seen him in a while, have you?
Bet you didn't read the news this morning. I'm happy to share this with you. Look.
Oh my god!
Realtor begging some rich housewife. Selling property or body?
It's been viewed so many times. You're a disgrace to the whole business and me.
Stop eating for a second and say something.
It's a misunderstanding. I worked 8 hours non-stop without eating anything.
When I finally got the contract, I was so excited I collapsed,
and somebody recorded it. That's it.
That's worse than kneeling on broken glass. You've crossed the line this time.
You don't want to end up getting suspended like me.
Don't worry, my bottom line is much higher. I'm not like you.
When you're blinded by love, your bottom line sinks.
This has nothing to do with Miss Chu.
You finally admit you like Miss Chu.
So? Miss Chu is a decent woman. So what if I admire her? Tell you what.
A girl like her is hard to find. Even Chang-er is no match for her, OK?
I'm speechless. Because of the visual arts course,
you've been eating cup noodles every day without saying a word.
You'd rather be her secret admirer and spy on her.
What, you've got a problem with it? Did you catch me spying on her?
Does she know? Does she know?
Why are you spying on her anyway?
Dude, you know what I do. I have to make more money.
Dude, I've got to tell you something.
Helping other people is good, but don't go too far.
OK.
Shek Tung, do you understand? Yes.
Stop touching it. It falls off easily.
It doesn't matter. She'll find out eventually.
What am I supposed to do?
It's OK, looks are not your selling point.
That's good then. Let me touch it!
No, stop doing that!
Geez! Knock it off!
Madam, take one. Hi madam...
Please take one.
Stone, good morning. Good morning, Miss Chu.
What a coincidence.
Right. You've been handing out flyers all morning. You must be exhausted.
Not really. I'm pretty tough. Are you heading to work? Talk to you later.
Wait!
It's usually very quiet in the morning. I'm not in a rush.
Do you want me to help you?
I hate troubling you.
No trouble at all.
Let's go over there. There are more people.
Sure.
So, how's it coming along?
I called parents of our students, but they weren't interested.
How come? They make their kids learn all sorts of things to create profiles.
An art course is exactly what they need.
But the kids have very busy schedules. Some of them prefer learning at a studio.
I didn't expect it would be so hard to find eight students.
At first Fa Sin Chi only had a few students. We were barely breaking even.
I handed out flyers on the street every day.
I know it didn't come easy.
We just need eight students. How hard can it be?
Please take one. Fa Sin Chi Education Center is offering a new course. Visit us sometime.
Please take one.
Sir, Fa Sin Chi Education Center is offering a visual arts course for kids.
Handing out flyers doesn't seem to work.
Kuk Sir said I'm responsible for losses.
Without support from Fa Sin Chi, I have no money for publicity.
How could he do this to you?
The visual arts course was my idea. I should be responsible.
A while ago, my company held a trade show at the mall.
The manager is a friend of mine. I can ask him a favour. It should be OK.
Really?
Really.
Then let me write a proposal.
Proposal? Just talk him into it.
Grade 9 abacus qualifying exam. Passing mark is 70 out of 150.
You have 10 minutes. Are you ready?
Yes!
Start!
You look happy. Did you answer all the questions?
Yes. Now I can proceed to grade 8.
You mastered addition and subtraction in a short time,
but multiplication and division are much harder.
I love challenges.
What about the next challenge? Are you confident?
Yes.
You're a talented violin player, but it takes practice to do well.
I know. The hare is a good example. Pride comes before a fall.
I'm glad you know.
This isn't the only competition. I'm sorry you lost. Just practice harder.
Don't be upset. You may win first place next time.
Ophelia, what do you think of my idea?
Let me see.
I like it, but we only have a week left. I wonder if there's enough time.
You'll help me, right?
Even so, there's still not enough time, unless Chan Sir and Wing can help.
It was my idea. I don't want to trouble them.
Miss Fa. Miss Chu.
Pork Belly, school's out?
Yes. What are you drawing?
This is a future city. Miss Fa and I are going to build a model.
You guys like building models?
Miss Chu is setting up an art course.
We're exhibiting in the mall to attract more students.
Good idea, but make sure you're using your spare time.
Sis, can you think of any good and cheap materials for such a large-scale model?
I have it all figured out. We can recycle straws, plastic bottles,
paper cups, plates, and things like that to teach kids to be Eco-friendly.
Sounds like fun! Can I join?
Sure.
Pork Belly, Miss Chu is working, not playing.
Pork Belly, it would be great if you could help.
But... You have so much homework. Can you handle it?
I promise I'll help Miss Chu after I finish my homework.
How about this, Pork Belly?
You help us build the model and we'll help you with your homework.
Yeah!
You guys are such good friends. I have no reason to say no.
Just remember, even though my son is helping you, I'm not.
Eight students. No exception.
Don't worry, that's another issue. I never use kids.
Pa. Dad.
Where's Yat? Is she ready?
Almost. It's time to go.
Let me see if she's ready yet.
You're having dinner with friends. Isn't it inconvenient to bring Yat along?
Not at all. Do you remember Uncle Cheung?
Of course. You and your two buddies were like the Three Musketeers.
Uncle Cheung was the one who talked the most.
He talks and brags a lot. His son isn't quite as smart as you,
but he always compares his grandson to mine and tells everyone
he passed the grade 8 piano exam. Big deal. My granddaughter is a violinist.
We're ready.
Grandpa.
Good girl. I'm proud of my beautiful granddaughter.
Chi, we're bringing the violin.
What for?
For a performance, of course.
At dinner? Won't it be awkward?
No, a performance will be nice. Yat, do you mind?
Yat, do you want to do it?
Sure.
All right then, let's go.
OK. Bye.
Have fun.
Bye Daddy. Bye Mommy.
Bye. Have fun.
Bye.
Yat just lost the competition. It may hurt her feelings.
You just said you wanted her to be stronger.
She was putting on an act.
I don't think so. It's a challenge for her.
How could you be so cruel, Daddy?
Cheers.
Fung, come here.
Fung, where did you go today?
I gave a piano recital at the TV station.
He won first place in a competition. The TV station wanted to interview him.
Pretty impressive for his age.
Right. Fung, there's a piano over there. Could you play me a song?
No, I want to eat.
What?
Cheung, if he doesn't want to, don't force him. Yat, come here.
Grandpa.
Good girl. Why don't you play the violin?
Sure.
Go get ready. My granddaughter always does what I say.
Yat, stop! It's OK!
I'm so tired. I need to lie down. Look who's here!
Daddy, this is my bed! Why are you sleeping here?
I'm tired and cold. Can I share your blanket?
No! Don't be so selfish!
No!
Why are you acting like a turtle? Turtles hide their heads in their shells.
You're a turtle who doesn't talk, right? Come on, don't ignore me.
Daddy, is Grandpa mad at me?
Of course not, you silly. Grandpa told us not to punish you.
He said he won't force you if you don't want to play the violin.
But it was my own choice.
Sweetie, like I said, you either win or lose in a competition.
Don't be upset just because you lost. You can't hide under your blanket forever.
Hold your head up high no matter what. Otherwise you won't see what's ahead.
Daddy and Mommy will always support you.
Yat, we love you very much, OK?
Should I put it here?
Sure.
Sorry I'm late.
Stone, you've been helping out after work these days. You must be exhausted.
Why don't you go home and rest?
But will you be able to finish?
We'll try our best.
Just let me help you finish it. By the way, have you eaten yet?
I wasn't hungry until now, but I want to keep working.
Let me buy takeaway.
I can do it.
I need some fresh air anyway. Tag along if you want to help.
I...
Please help my sister. Thanks.
Sure.
What do you want to eat...
Let's go, Stone.
OK.
And a pomelo salad.
Sure. Please have a seat and have some water.
OK. Thank you.
Sit down. Amazing. You really know what your sister likes to eat.
We're sisters. We understand each other without having to say anything.
I wish someone in the world could understand me like that.
You don't have any siblings?
Does Kuk Chi-keung count?
There used to be someone who understood my sister better than I did.
After he left, my sister almost had a nervous breakdown.
He left? Who?
My brother-in-law.
How could he leave such a wonderful wife behind?
Well, he went to heaven.
Sorry.
My brother-in-law came up with the name Fa Sin Chi,
not because my name was Fa and my sister's name was Sin,
but because he thought children's smiles were beautiful like flowers.
Like seeds brought into the world by a fairy, they should be carefully cultivated.
Because of that shared belief, they were able to support each other.
My brother-in-law really admired the way my sister persisted in education.
That's why they opened Fa Sin Chi. Other than making money,
they wanted to help kids who were struggling with learning.
They're good people.
Right. My brother-in-law was a head physician at the hospital.
Maintaining Fa Sin Chi wasn't a problem.
But he was sick for a few years. They spent a lot of money on treatment.
Fa Sin Chi didn't make much money. We even went under sometimes.
It wasn't easy but you still kept going.
Most people don't understand why we must save Fa Sin Chi. It's pretty simple.
Because my sister and brother-in-law dedicated themselves to Fa Sin Chi.
You think you don't stand a chance with my sister?
I understand. She's beautiful and kind. Even I find her attractive.
Right, actually I... But...
Anyway, Fa Sin Chi is her priority. She also volunteers in her spare time.
As for dating, just go with the flow.
Go with the flow.
Be careful! Be careful!
You scared me!
Miss Fa! Miss Chu! Uncle Stone!
Red light! Be careful!
What's the matter, Pork Belly?
Uncle Stone is playing red light green light with me.
The model is done! I want to touch it!
Don't run!
Stop!
Thank goodness. I can't imagine if they had run over.
Shek Tung!
Watch out!
Is Uncle Stone dead?
Of course not. Let me see.
He's snoring. He's sleeping.
What? He's asleep?
Hey.
What's going on? Where's the model?
It's on your chest.
You passed out and wouldn't let go.
Be careful.
Don't worry, you're a hero now.
Right, you saved the model.
Yeah! Uncle Stone is awesome!
Welcome.
Next to the toilet is OK. It's busier here.
Right.
Daddy, the visual arts course is fun. I want to take it.
Me too.
Really? Miss Chu, I'd like to apply.
Two? Yeah! We've got applicants!
Pork Belly said he was interested before he went to the toilet.
We've got three! Three!
Miss Chu, my son is interested too.
Four!
Siu-mei, do you like building models?
Yes.
Well, let's sign up for the course.
Five!
Good news, Sis! We've got two more applicants!
We only need one more.
Miss Chu!
Siu-man!
Hi!
You came to visit me?
Right. I looked up some information online. Prenatal education is very important.
So I want to sign up for your visual arts course and foster my baby's creativity.
Good.
But it's only for kids.
Perfect. That's a kid right there.
We've got enough students.
Should be OK if they pay in full.
Yeah! We did it!