We had a four-day break last week due to the Chinese National Matriculation Test (NMT), which takes place June 7 to June 9 annually. With no lessons to attend, I had a heavenly time at home. Meanwhile I made an important discovery.

On Saturday evening, I hurried home from school after a basketball game. I was parched. A look into the fridge, and I found a watermelon stored there. To quench my thirst right away, I cut the fruit into slices and started to wolf them down. Passing by, Mother said, “Son, don’t eat so much cold melon, or you will have stomach-aches.” I responded to her with a mumble. Too thirsty to resist the inviting juicy fruit, I did not heed Mother’s warning.

That very night I ended up with terrible stomach-aches. I had to get up and visit the toilets several times.

The next day after lunch, I decided to nap for a while. It was so hot that I turned the air-conditioner on. I set the temperature at 20. When Mother noticed it, she exclaimed, “Oh no, Son! You will catch a cold if you have so low a temperature running.” Mother turned it up to 26. The moment she left the room, I reset it at 20. I thought I outsmarted Mum.

As you have found out, Shengliver, I speak in a heavy nasal voice. That is because I am still under the influence of the bad cold Mother warned me against back at home last weekend.

“Don’t drink cold water!” “Don’t eat too fast!” “Don’t kick off the quilt!” “Don’t, Don’t, Don’t …” It seems that Mother will never be running short of the negative word.

It suddenly occurs to me that underneath the word “Don’t” lie Mother’s deep love and great wisdom. I have to admit that, as a parent, Mum knows far better than me on a lot of practical matters.