The Rebirth of Bao

By SJ Garland

Raised by her Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner Grandma in a shophouse off Chinatown, Lena Lau strives to be just like everyone else in Singapore. She is busy finishing her undergrad, drinking bubble tea with her friends and fantasizing about the handsome boy who lives next door.
Unfortunately for Lena, she is not an average Singaporean student. She is the carrier of a forgotten ancient secret. A gift passed down through her lineage that can be used to heal the sick. For years, Lena was able to ignore the power growing at the edge of her subconscious, aware that it was a curse as much as a gift.
Lena is forced to use her gift when her best friend suffers a medical emergency, unleashing her power into the world. She is quick to discover her power is not what she believed and Lena must navigate a treacherous path where old enemies of the bloodline lie in wait to control her.
Set in the vibrant city state of Singapore, Lena Lau’s struggle to survive is entangled with the black market Chinese medicine trade and the elite of Asia who control everything in the glittering city.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Singapore
• Release date: Oct 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781482879162

SJ Garland

SJ Garland is a Canadian author residing in Singapore. She has published close to twenty books in several different genres including Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance and Historical Adventure. The Rebirth of Bao is her first foray into Magic Realism incorporating her love of the mystical with a splash of Singapore.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

L ena sat at a plastic table in the nearby hawker centre where her grandmother had taken her upon arriving in Singapore for the first time. She looked around and understood at once she was dreaming. First, the usually bustling hawker was empty of patrons, and only one stall was trading. Second, only Lena’s favourite Bak Kut Teh stall was open. The old Chinese lady who ran it, however, was nowhere to be seen.

She frowned as she scanned the rest of the stalls. A sense of unease at the lack of activity bristled against her senses. The hawker was one place in Singapore where people from all walks of life congregated no matter the time. It was disturbing to be the only person occupying one of the fastened orange plastic chairs. Lena braced to stand and leave, not wanting to be a part of this dream any longer. Especially if it was a premonition. If the hawker stall she frequented as a child was about to close, a piece of Lena’s childhood would be lost forever.

Lena was prone to dreams like that. An event likely to occur played out in her dream, and Lena would realise that it was about to happen upon waking. Some might think it was a blessing, but Lena understood it was a feature of her family curse. Ever since her year four teacher had left on maternity leave, Lena understood she would never see her teacher again and found the joyous celebrations around her departure jarring and unnatural. One tried to cheer Lena up by pointing out that she would be back next year.

Except her teacher hadn’t come back.

Lena looked down to brace a hand on the table’s smooth surface to slide out from the chair and stopped. A hot bowl of Bak Kut Teh, served in a traditional clay pot with a lettuce leaf poking out the side in the Malaysian fashion, waited for her. Her mouth watered, and Lena sat back down, unable to deny the pork broth soup’s draw and the memories of comfort it carried in the light fragrance.

Not caring this was a dream, Lena picked up the chopsticks and ceramic spoon laid out neatly next to the bowl.

Lena, I have an important message for you. The sound of a man’s voice ripped Lena’s attention away from the soup with a start. She stared at the newcomer sitting opposite her at the round table. Although she had never met him before, Lena recognised him at once. Her brain had absorbed many bits and pieces of information over the years living with her grandmother; this man was not a stranger.

Lena half stood with her body pinned between the table and the fixed seat, doing her best to bow to the man in front of her.

Your grandmother taught you well, the man complimented. Lena sat back down, doing her best to keep her gaze from the Bak Kut Teh and on the man’s face. She eyed him warily. The duke demanded her respect, but Lena worried over the reasons for the Duke of Zhou’s presence in her dream.

She does her best, but I am not an obedient pupil, Lena felt forced to admit, even though the duke would well know her shortcomings.

There is not much time for you to learn, but you must. The Duke of Zhou’s stare pinned Lena to her chair for a moment, his face becoming granite like he was about to command his forward troops into battle, and the outcome would be their deaths.

I am almost finished with my University studies, Lena told him, her voice weak as she tried to swallow. What she really needed was a glass of water to remove the lump in her throat. She coughed, hoping that might help. She shook her head. This was her dream. Lena had control over what happened here.

You understand that your attempts at normalising into a modern life are not what I mean. The duke stared at her under bushy brows, his moustache twitching as his frown increased.

That is the path I have chosen. Lena stood up to the deity with little grace.

I am here to tell you it is not your fate. The Duke of Zhou gave her little opportunity to respond. And as you are already well aware of your fate. You are wasting my time by coming here to remind you, his tone deepened. Lena’s hindbrain screamed in warning of the danger, and it took all her effort not to jump up from the table and run. This was her dream, dammit. She understood the ground rules of a meeting with the duke. You received your message and were grateful for his coming. To her knowledge, no one had ever thrown the message back in the great Duke of Dream’s face.

Not until now, however.

The choices we make in this life govern us for eternity. Therefore, my destiny is my own. Lena hid her hands under the table and clenched them together, her nails biting into her flesh as she did her best to remain calm. The hard expression on the duke’s face did not change as he stood up from the plastic seat, his robes rustling around his large frame, the long open sleeves hiding his clasped hands in front of his belly.

You are not of this world or heaven. The judgement of your past lives has no comparison to that of your peers, Lena. Destiny awaits you whether you have prepared. Beware of the dangers in ignorance. Only knowledge can give you safe guidance. Lena watched as the duke faded into nothing in front of her, his last words ringing out in the empty hawker centre.

She looked down in front of her to see the clay pot of Bak Kut Teh had disappeared. Lena’s stomach growled, and she wondered if the duke would hear her cursing him. This was all a dream, and Lena would act accordingly, as she did with all requests and warnings when using her family curse as a gift. She would ignore it.

Lena woke with a start, staring blankly around the room until her gaze focused on the light shining between the shutters of the French-style windows of her room. Blinking a few times to awake fully, Lena sat up abruptly and leaned over to grab her phone from the bedside table. She tried the home button, but the smartphone was dead.

Damn it, Lăolao! Every time! she shouted at the closed door to her room, knowing her grandmother was probably three stories down by now in the traditional Chinese medicine shop she owned and operated. Lena swung her legs out of bed, doing her best to untangle them from the light blankets wrapped around her feet as she stood up. Lena crossed the room, plugged her phone into a cord beside her worn laptop on her messy desk, and strode from the room.

I don’t know how you do it, but when I catch you! Lena yelled down the central staircase at her grandmother, knowing it was a useless threat. She would never hurt her grandmother on purpose, and as far as Lena knew, the only thing that bothered the old woman was Lena attending university. Since she already did that, there was little else Lena could say or do in retaliation.

Lena brushed her teeth in the small but clean bathroom before returning to her room to change quickly. How her grandmother sucked all the battery from her phone was a mystery. She would find out all her secrets one day. With a twist, Lena pulled her hair into a ponytail and then stuffed her laptop, books, and partially charged phone into her bag and hurried from the room. She descended the stairs and rushed into the kitchen. Lena was wrong about her grandmother. The old woman was waiting in the small kitchen, sitting at the table neatly laid for two.

What time is this? You need to get downstairs and help me open the shop! Sometimes I don’t know where your head is at! Mary Lăolao scolded as Lena opened a top cupboard and pulled out a box of sugary cereal. You are so lazy sometimes. Lena made sure her grandmother was staring at her before she purposely rolled her eyes. You need to drop these university courses! They are taking up too much of your time, she grumbled. Lena closed her eyes and breathed a few times deeply before jamming her hand into the cereal box and lifting a handful of cereal to her mouth. She opened them again to see her grandmother’s face twist in disapproval.

I know you did something to my phone, Lăolao, Lena accused and watched as her Lăolao’s face transformed into a mask of innocence. Her finely honed grandma senses from living most of her life under the same roof went crazy.

How could I do something to your phone? Mary Lăolao banged her cane against the tiled floor a few times for emphasis. I can barely get between the bottom floor and this one, her mouth turned down, and Lena realised she was in for a show. Lena grabbed another handful of cereal. Look, I’m a cripple. Why do you eat that? Come, I have congee. It’s better for your guts. What goes in needs to come out, right? How does that stuff come out?

Lena only smiled as she chewed on the multi coloured pellets. One day, I am going to figure out how you drain all the battery from my phone, Lăolao. She finished her unsatisfying breakfast and folded the lid back in place before returning it to the cupboard. No need for any geckos to get the wrong idea. Or worse, ants.

I’m a Wūpó. Remember, mayhap I put a curse on your phone. Lăolao waved the fingers of her free hand at Lena and grinned.

You might have scared the neighbourhood with your stories of being a witch Lăolao, but I know better. Lena leaned down to grab her bag and throw it over her shoulder. She glanced at the clock and swore in her head.

You don’t need to go to university when you have the gift, Lena! You can genuinely help people with what you have at your fingertips! Not studying some silly books on economics. A buzzer cut off Lena’s reply, and relief flooded her system. She couldn’t be late for her business class again. Professor Sayid already had it out for her. But she couldn’t leave Lăolao to run the shop on her own. She did the main consulting, but she needed help with the day-to-day administration, putting medicines together. Things she wanted Lena to do, but as she had told dream Duke of Zhou. She had her own path! She shouted in her head and hoped the duke was listening. Lena was far braver now than she was in the land of the unconscious.

The buzzer rang again. I’m coming! Lena shouted, slightly out of breath as she grabbed onto the banister to stop herself from sliding down the stairs. She found her footing on the last step and sprinted towards the front of the traditional shop house she shared with her grandmother. Without a second glance, Lena skipped past the sky well in the middle of the room behind the storefront, an oasis filled with koi and lily ponds.

Lena rushed around the gleaming counter and into a room filled with shelves stacked with jars full of medicine, dried goods, and boxes. She came to a halt just before she bounced off the wooden front door. The buzzer rang again.

Yes, yes. I’m here! Lena unfastened the series of locks and wrenched the door open to find a neatly dressed man waiting impatiently about to press the door buzzer again. He adjusted his glasses while he stared at Lena. He looked to be not much older than her but sensed his disapproval at her appearance.

Good morning, the placement board at the college sent me over to help Madame Mary Tan this morning, his tone was formal, almost bored. He gazed over Lena’s shoulder into the still darkened traditional Chinese medicine shop.

Great, come inside. I’m Lena, her granddaughter. Lena moved out of the way in a rush to get the man inside. We’re running a little late this morning, she added and flicked on the lights for the shop.

Speak for yourself, lazy girl. Lena didn’t bother to glance over her shoulder or respond to her grandmother, too intent on opening the shutters on the windows to the front of the shop.

It is a great honour to meet you. I am Dennis Ang, Lena heard Dennis introduce himself. I’m so fortunate to have the opportunity to meet a living legend. Lena slammed the last of the shutters open with more force than necessary and did her best to appear pleasant as she turned to see her grandmother reach the bottom of the stairs, eyeing Dennis with a thorny gaze.

Lena cleared her throat. One hand on the door handle. She had an excellent idea of what her grandmother thought of Dennis, but hopefully, she might keep a civil tongue in her head. They warned you, right? My grandmother is not the easiest person to work with. Lena stared at her grandmother in warning.

The college warned me that Madame Tan likes things to be done a certain way. That she has particular standards. Dennis turned his head over his shoulder as he spoke in Lena’s general direction before looking back at her grandma, I am top in all my classes. He shifted the cross-body satchel and made to unzip the top.

The thing is… Lena started letting go of the door handle. Her grandmother was the most difficult person in the world as far as it concerned Lena. Dennis did not know what he was up against, and even though Lena wanted to escape, she felt guilty about leaving the student at the mercy of her grandmother’s wiles. Even if it meant missing another one of Professor Sayid’s classes.

We won’t be needing any of that. Mary waved a hand at Dennis while leaning heavily on her cane. Mr. Lee called me from the college and assured me Mr. Ang would be the perfect fit. She smiled, and it might have been Lena’s overactive imagination, but she thought she saw an unholy gleam in her grandmother’s eye.

It is such an honour to meet you, Madame Tan. Your reputation precedes you. Dennis bowed to Mary. Lena watched the interaction like a slow-motion car crash.

As it should. Now let us get to work, or my granddaughter will try to linger instead of attending to her studies. She goes to university, you know, Mary informed Dennis with mock solemnity.

OK, Lăolao. Lena moved away from the door and walked over to her grandmother. Dennis placed his satchel on the bench and appeared to be engrossed in retrieving items. She leaned down, wrapped her grandmother in a hug, and warned in a low tone, Try not to scare this one away. We need him.

I don’t know what you’re talking about. Lena frowned at her grandmother as she let her go. Have a good day, Sūnnǚ. Make sure you attend to your studies. Economics makes the world go round. Lena didn’t bother responding. Instead, she turned to Dennis before heading towards the door.

Good luck with her. Lena opened the door and stepped outside into the familiar wall of heat and humidity. Even after all the years she had lived in Singapore, Lena had never acclimatised to the weather. She thought it was all bullshit, anyway. Everyone in Singapore sweats. It was the great common denominator. Even with the door closed behind her, Lena could still make out some of Dennis and Lăolao’s conversation.

She goes to university? She must be a very obedient granddaughter. Lena huffed out a breath at Dennis’s assertion.

Not as obedient as one would hope. You know this generation with their ideas! Economics! Business! There are much more important matters in the world than making money. Lena shook her head, knowing the words were for her, and somehow her grandmother knew she was eavesdropping. She remembered the dream she had with the Duke of Zhou. Determination built inside of Lena until she felt like she could take on the world. I will make my destiny. She chanted inside her head all the way to the bus stop.

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Lena missed her bus, and by the time she ran down the hallways of her university to find the door firmly shut on her class, Lena was feeling less like a person in control of her own destiny and more like a person failing at everything. Professor Sayid’s familiar note was posted on the door.

If you’re reading this, you are late, and you have officially missed class.

Lena tipped forward on the balls of her feet until her forehead met the door, her skin resting against the paper. She wanted to blame her grandma, but the reality was Lena was well aware of Lăolao’s little games. She had some way to drain her phone battery, and Lena should take precautions. From now on, not going to bed until she double-checked and plugged her phone into an outlet. If Lăolao wanted to drain her phone, let her suck up all the power in Singapore to do it.

With new determination but little happiness, Lena stood up straight and headed down to the cafeteria, where she normally met her friends after class. She walked down the halls, eyes straight ahead, and felt as she always did. Out of place. Like the building itself was willing her to leave. Lena glumly entered the cheery, if functional cafeteria and spotted her best friend right away at their regular table, sitting alone with her laptop open in front of her. She wended her way around tables, some empty and others filled with students chatting and working. Lena pulled a chair out opposite of her friend unceremoniously, flopped down in it, and stared at Emma.

Good morning. Aren’t you supposed to be in class? Emma’s expression was curious as she stared at Lena over the laptop.

Yes, crazy Lăolao strikes again. I swear Professor Sayid is going to fail me. Lena opened the zip on her backpack and rummaged through the contents before pulling out her cell phone and a charging cable.

You need to find out how she is doing that. Or I’m going to believe she has black magic. Emma nodded her head for emphasis. She used one of the USB ports in the middle of the table and sat back in her chair for a minute.

It’s not black magic. Somehow she’s using a circuit box or some new technology. Lena pursed her lips, conscious that she sounded a little unhinged. Anyway, there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for my battery getting drained. I just need to figure out how she’s doing it without coming upstairs. There’s no way she can get up to my bedroom without me hearing her cane. I’m surprised she hasn’t poked a hole in the flooring. She puts it down so hard, Lena finished as she reached into her bag to pull her laptop out.

How about when you haven’t plugged your phone in? That can’t be the circuit box. And you’re right, she is a menace with that cane. Ethan says she whacks him with it when we’re not looking. Emma looked like she was doing her best not to laugh at the thought of her boyfriend being attacked by her best friend’s grandma. Maybe she’s flying up there.

Or turning into a bat? Lena added drily.

Maybe, Emma laughed, and Lena smiled in response. Do you want a roti? My mum made them. She pushed a plastic container in Lena’s direction. You should be nice to her, she’s your grandma.

Lena opened the lid to reveal beautiful fried roti stacked one on top of the other. Picking up one, Lena closed the lid and scrutinized her friend before taking a bite of the flaky pastry. You’re just saying that because you think she saved your life.

She did save my life, Emma insisted, pulling the plastic container back. All I did was walk in the door too. Actually, now that I think about it, your grandma definitely practices black magic.

My family has a gift, that’s all. Well, the female side anyway. The gift does not allow people to fly or use black magic. Lena forced thoughts of her family’s curse along with the unwelcome image of the Duke of Zhou out of her head. She yanked her laptop open and punched in the password with more force than necessary.

A few of us are going out to a new bubble tea shop tonight. Do you want to join us? Emma asked her tentatively, knowing Lena’s answer would probably be no.

The college sent over a new shop assistant today, Lena answered her friend, avoiding her question. It was Emma and her boyfriend Ethan’s dream to open their own bubble tea store.

That’s great news, her friend tried to sound encouraging.

It means I have at least six days before she runs this one-off. That’s her official record. Six days, Lena emphasized the last two words.

She seems to have developed a knack for it. What’s wrong with this one? Emma enquired as Lena chewed another bite of roti.

The same as all the others. He’s a he. Lena focused on her laptop screen and pulled up a project she had been working on.

She’s still worried about the curse, Emma whispered.

Lăolao is hardly worried I’m going to fall in love with one of the shop attendants. She thinks it’s bad Yùnqì to have a man working in the shop. Especially around auspicious days. If we have too much yang, then our energy gets out of balance. Sometimes it was so hard to explain her grandmother’s reasoning, especially when she didn’t really understand it either.

Emma looked like she was considering something before she finally spoke. Doesn’t that mean that technically you have an excess of ying at the minute? I mean, two women working in the shop should mean that you need two men, right? For balance, she ventured.

Technically, I suppose, but no one is going to change Lăolao’s opinions on men. They are pretty set. Lena was as disappointed as Emma looked.

You should introduce me to your Lăolao. All Chinese grandmothers love me. The newcomer kissed Emma swiftly on the cheek and sat down next to her.

Not my Lăolao, Ethan, Lena commented under her breath.

Seriously, even Indian grandmas like me, Ethan turned to grin at Emma. She shook her head at her boyfriend. Lena watched the byplay between the two of them, sadness pulling at her heart. Emma looked over, and Lena immediately changed her expression.

Don’t feel sorry for me. I’m making my destiny. The words had the strength of rice paper in a storm. Despite Lăolao’s best efforts, I’m going to finish this degree and work in an office like everyone else. Where I will meet a nice boy and get married, she shrugged when her two friends continued to stare. You know, do normal stuff.

Ethan’s mouth pulled down, his voice sad. My nai nai says people like you cannot escape their destiny. You and your Lăolao are holders of important knowledge, and there is no turning your back on your place in the community.

The stare Lena bestowed on Ethan should have made it feel like someone was walking on his grave. Emma punched Ethan’s arm. He looked over at her with an innocent expression, breaking eye contact with Lena.

The curse doesn’t affect me. I was born in America. Lena felt uneasy, especially after her dream, but she refused to be bullied down a path that wasn’t right for