“Simple Recipes”

The article begins with a detailed description of a simple but meaningful ritual the narrator’s father taught them as a child: preparing rice. The father would sit the child on the kitchen counter and demonstrate how to rinse rice grains by hand, removing dirt and sand until the water ran clear. The process involved swirling hands in cloudy water, scrubbing grains, and rinsing repeatedly, creating a sound like a field of insects. Once clean, the rice was measured by resting the tip of the index finger on the surface; the water should reach the first knuckle. The father relied on touch rather than measuring cups, closing his eyes to feel the waterline. This ritual symbolized care, tradition, and a connection to cultural practices passed down through generations.

The narrator reflects on memories of their father in the kitchen, describing him as out of place amid the glossy surfaces of counters, stove, fridge, and sink. The father wore old buttoned shirts and faded sweatpants, standing barefoot with a focus on cooking. These moments are vividly recalled, even in dreams, highlighting the emotional weight of the father’s presence. The father’s rituals, like preparing rice or cooking fish, were performed with precision and care. The narrator later took over these tasks but struggled to replicate the same level of care, often resulting in mushy rice. Despite imperfections, the father ate without complaint, demonstrating acceptance and a calm demeanor that reassured the narrator.

The narrator’s father was born in Malaysia and immigrated to Canada with their mother before the narrator was born. They first settled in Montreal and later moved to Vancouver, where the narrator was born into the city’s persistent rain. The family’s cultural background included an attempt to teach the narrator their native language, which did not come easily. The narrator’s older brother was born in Malaysia but lost the language after immigrating, a fact that angered their father, who viewed it as laziness or a refusal to remember. The family’s home had yellowed ceilings from cooking, and the air was heavy with the smell of countless meals prepared in a small kitchen.

The narrator recalls their father’s expertise in cooking, often watching cooking shows like Wok with Yan together. The father would critique Yan’s methods and demonstrate simpler tricks, such as transforming orange peels into swans or making green onions bloom like flowers in water. The father believed these skills were accessible to anyone and not reserved for experts. He took detailed notes when Yan demonstrated Peking Duck, laughing heartily at Yan’s puns, such as Take a wok on the wild side!. The narrator admired their father’s resourcefulness and creativity in the kitchen, describing him as a man of tricks who could carve a watermelon into a castle.

The narrator describes their father’s role in their morning routine, taking them to school and listening to their daily recounts of learning. For example, the narrator shared that a brachiosaurus eats only soft vegetables, and their father humorously examined their forehead, declaring it high—a trait he associated with intelligence. The narrator took pride in matching their father’s steps, feeling a deep connection. The father’s playful and affirming nature fostered a sense of joy and belonging in the narrator, who saw their father as a magician capable of transforming ordinary tasks into something special.

A vivid scene describes the narrator’s father bringing home a live fish in a plastic bag filled with water. The fish was barely breathing, its mouth opening and closing as the narrator touched it through the bag. The father then filled the kitchen sink with water and released the fish, which curled and jumped before settling. The narrator watched the fish closely for hours while the father prepared dinner. The fish’s struggle in the sink is described in detail, with the narrator imagining its heartbeat and even attempting to hypnotize it. Eventually, the father used a cleaver to end the fish’s life before cleaning it for cooking.

The article highlights generational and cultural tensions within the family. The narrator’s older brother, born in Malaysia, lost his native language after immigrating to Canada, which frustrated their father. The brother spent afternoons playing soccer outside, returning home only at dinner time. During a meal, the brother expressed disgust at the fish’s eyeball, calling it sick. This led to a heated argument where the brother shouted insults at their father, including a racial slur (chink). The father reacted with physical violence, using a bamboo pole to strike the brother, leaving a line of blood on his back. The mother remained passive, clearing the table afterward.

The article describes a typical family dinner where the father cooks fish, rice, and cauliflower. The father uses chopsticks and eats slowly, savoring each bite, while the mother eats with her head bowed, as if in prayer. The brother initially refuses to eat the fish due to the eyeball but eventually tries it and coughs violently, spitting it out. The father reacts with anger, slamming chopsticks and striking the brother. The brother retaliates by throwing a fork and shouting insults. The father’s response escalates to physical violence, culminating in the brother being struck with a bamboo pole. The mother clears the table afterward, her face weary.

After the violent incident, the narrator reflects on the family’s emotional state. The mother clears the table quietly, scraping dishes over the garbage. The narrator moves away from the table and up the stairs, observing from outside their brother’s bedroom door. They see their father holding a bamboo pole and their brother lying on the floor. The narrator is paralyzed by fear and unable to intervene as the pole strikes their brother’s back, drawing blood. The narrator’s inability to act or cry out underscores the powerlessness and trauma experienced in the household. The article ends with this unresolved tension, leaving the reader to ponder the long-term impact on the family.