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A new Chinese film, The Dumpling Queen, tells the true story of Zang Jianhe – a single mother abandoned by her husband who rose from selling dumplings on the street to founding Hong Kong’s renowned Wanchai Ferry food brand.

Many admire her perseverance, but what strikes me most is her struggle as both mother and breadwinner. Her sacrifices before success deeply resonate with me – my own mother is a single parent too.

My father died when I was three and my brother two. Once a full-time housewife, she became the sole provider for five – including her elderly in-laws – after his passing.

Like Zang Jianhe, my mother had no formal qualifications – she left school after Form Three.

Fortunately, her elder brother offered her a job, but the pay barely covered the essentials: bills, food, and school fees for her children.

Though uneducated, she valued learning – determined to lift us out of hardship. She paid for private tuition and worked mornings at a wet market to earn extra. Her generous friend often gave her free vegetables, helping her save more.

Raised in a moderately wealthy family, she rarely sought their help – choosing instead to live frugally. She seldom bought clothes for herself, focusing only on necessities.

When I was in Form Four, we moved to another town in the same district. Her job with her elder brother was ending, but she was lucky again – a relative offered to co-run a snack wholesale business. The early months were tough – sales were low, and we couldn’t afford help, so I stepped in to assist.

I remember once helping my mother at the shop when several police officers arrived – someone had reported us for selling firecrackers. They searched the place thoroughly but found only “pop pops”, a legal children’s novelty. Still, they insisted on taking one of us to the station for questioning.

They first chose me, but my mother strongly objected – I was just a student, and she feared a police record would ruin my future. She volunteered to go instead. Though initially resistant, she was eventually handcuffed and taken away.

Thankfully, with help from relatives, she was released that night.

A scene in The Dumpling Queen brought it all back – Zang detained for selling dumplings illegally, pleading with police to release her innocent daughters.

It struck a deep chord. Like Zang, my mother has always shielded us – selflessly and fiercely, like a hen guarding her chicks.

She has been both mother and father to us. Without her sacrifices, my siblings and I wouldn’t be who we are today.