On October 15th, Hong Kong actress Yuen Wing Yee (Liang Liang) revealed during an interview with Chinese internet celebrity Papi Sauce that she had been in a standoff with her son since the day before filming. The 19-year-old son, Chong Mou Tong (Mo Tong), said something she found “very impolite”, leading her to temporarily ignore him in the hopes that he would reflect on his actions.
Yuen Wing Yee’s 19-year-old son, Chong Mou Tong, joined his father Chong Chi Lam on stage last month at Chong Chi Lam’s concert in Guangzhou. Their first joint performance attracted attention from the public. Unexpectedly, on October 15th, Yuen Wing Yee revealed during an interview that she had entered into a cold war with her son due to a “very impolite comment” he made the day before her appearance on the show. Rather than immediately confronting him about his words, she decided to not speak to him in order to prompt him to reflect on the situation and his behavior.
When discussing their family dynamics, Yuen Wing Yee admitted that her son gets along better with Chong Chi Lam, and they have fewer arguments, while she tends to clash more with her son. During this cold war between mother and son, Chong Chi Lam tried to ease the tension by saying, “Let it go, who hasn’t spoken inappropriately before, he’s just a kid,” hoping the mother and son wouldn’t hold onto the disagreement for too long.
Yuen Wing Yee and Chong Chi Lam’s parenting methods towards their son have always garnered attention, as they do not use their celebrity status to pave an easy path for their son. They respect his personal choices, including whether he decides to enter the entertainment industry. It was reported that Chong Mou Tong’s participation in his father’s concert underwent evaluation by the band’s music director beforehand, illustrating the parents’ desire for him to earn opportunities through his own abilities rather than relying solely on his family background.
Yuen Wing Yee previously revealed that her stricter parenting approach had caused emotional issues for her son in the past, to the extent that Chong Mou Tong once complained to his father about wanting a new mom. With professional advice, they gradually adjusted their way of interacting. By openly discussing this recent cold war, she not only sheds light on the conflicts within parent-child relationships but also gives insight into her balancing act between discipline and communication. As for when this mother-son standoff will end, Yuen Wing Yee did not provide further details.
During the interview, there was a humorous moment. In the entertainment industry, Yuen Wing Yee and Chai Siu Fan’s “Hong Kong-style Mandarin” (HK Mandarin) has always been a classic joke. When the host asked Yuen Wing Yee who currently spoke better Mandarin between her and Chai Siu Fan, Yuen Wing Yee jokingly interrupted, exclaiming that the question was “provocative” and asked if they could compare her with someone else instead. She critiqued the comparison, saying it was an insult to her. She joked that even though Chai Siu Fan had spent many years developing in mainland China and her husband Zhang Jin was also from the mainland, her Mandarin was not praiseworthy.
Yuen Wing Yee disclosed that she once asked Chai Siu Fan directly, “How can your Mandarin be so off?” to which Chai Siu Fan confidently replied, “I speak it just fine!” This response left Yuen Wing Yee amused and incredulous.
While neither of their Mandarin skills is perfect, online users and media analysts point out that they have different styles, with generally Yuen Wing Yee having a slight edge over Chai Siu Fan in Mandarin proficiency. Despite Chai Siu Fan’s HK Mandarin being the “baseline” for Hong Kong people, her unpretentious, naturally humorous sincerity has become her unique trademark. The playful interaction between the two on the Mandarin issue confirms their close friendship of nearly 30 years.