The First Step
To consider Mr. Ping busy would be an understatement. On a typical day, the noodle shop owner delt with hundreds of hungry customers. Almost the entire valley ate at his noodle shop. And it was no exception for his son and the Furious Five. Sometimes, even Shifu was convinced to come down with them. And when he did, Mr. Ping never took it for granted.
"Look at them, over there." The goose shook his head, a hint of a smile across his beak. Master Shifu glanced at him. "Whom?"
"Po and Tigress, of course!"
Looking to the right, at the table his students had seated themselves in, Master Shifu studied both the two mention warriors. "What?" He asked, curiously. "They're talking."
"Talking." Mr. Ping repeated. He allowed himself to think the word over. "Talking is always the first step."
"To what?" Sensing the oblivious look the goose was giving him, Master Shifu shook his head. "A relationship?"
"They spend a lot of time together, Shifu." Mr. Ping retorted. "Don't tell me you haven't noticed it too."
"Well, yes. I suppose I have. However, they also live together. Both are destined to talk."
"But do they have to do that?" Placing his wing up, Mr. Ping pointed to Tigress and Po down the store.
Tigress appeared to be holding back a laugh, while Po was nudging her side. The panda appeared to be playfully teasing her and it appeared Tigress was teasing him back.
The Kung fu master turned back to the noodle maker, who at the same time, was lifting up the steamy bowls while giving him a knowing look.
"Grandchildren." He stated, proudly. "Shifu! We are going to be grandpa's!"
"What?!" The accusation automatically set Shifu back. "Mr. Ping! Tigress and Po are highly respectable warriors. I'm sure the last thing on their mind is-"
"-Oh, Shifu." Mr. Ping chuckled, dismissing his correction. "Give it a few years. I'm sure Po will work up the courage to ask her out, by then."
Shifu's eyes gently fixated themselves back on the two warriors, before facing the noodle maker one last time. "Mr. Ping. As much as Po and Tigress clearly admire each other, I don't know if.."
To his surprise, Mr. Ping had disappeared. Shifu looked back and forth, only to see him handing Po and the Five their orders. Smiling calmly, Shifu gave his own hidden, knowing smile.