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Gene Huang is Louis Huang's brother and Jenny Huang's second and youngest child. He is portrayed by Ken Jeong.
History[]
- "You have that little faith in me?"
"The one thing I have faith in is that you'll always screw up. I even brought you here to screw up and make me look good, and you somehow screwed that up, too."
"I'm not a screw-up anymore. I've changed." - ―Gene Huang and Louis Huang
Gene is the second and last child of Mr. Huang and Jenny Huang, and was raised in Taiwan with his older brother, Louis. When Gene and Louis were young adults, their father offered to send one of them to the United States of America, as he did not have enough money to send both of his sons. Louis and Gene both wished to go, but wishing to be polite, Gene offered it to Louis, expecting Louis to refuse and allow his younger brother to go. Instead, Louis accepted their father's offer and was sent to the US, causing Gene to hate Louis and for the two brothers to become estranged for several years, refusing to be on speaking terms. Sometime later, Gene's mother Jenny left Taiwan and joined Louis in the US as well.
Gene struggled to make a living on his own in Taiwan, but was able to keep himself afloat as Louis, believing it was his responsibility as his older brother, sent money back home to support Gene. Gene used the money to take various classes and engage in different careers, none of which lasted very long for Gene. After Louis became engaged to Jessica Chu, the pair flew to Taiwan to meet with family, and Gene met his sister-in-law. As Jessica did not have money to purchase an engagement ring for Louis, Gene lent her the money to do so, causing Jessica to become indebted to him, although she had no idea that Gene's money was coming from Louis.
Gene engages in a "Chinese polite fight"
Gene eventually found employment with Delta Airlines as a pilot and became successful in Taiwan, even becoming engaged to a beautiful model named Margaret. Wanting to bury the hatchet with his brother and have his family at the wedding, Gene, who had his brother's phone number as he still kept in touch with his mother, called Jessica and informed them that he would be flying to Orlando. Upon arriving in Orlando, Gene hugged Louis, much to his brother's shock, and met his nephews for the first time. He notified them that he was getting married and that he wanted them to attend his wedding in Taiwan, much to Louis' shock. Gene added that he booked a hotel, but Louis insisted that, since he was family, he should stay with them.
Gene at his brother's house in Orlando
While Louis wanted to take Gene out to Cattleman's Ranch Steakhouse, Gene instead made dinner reservations at a fancy restaurant for all of them and paid the bill as well. Returning to the Huang household that night, Gene played with the piano and broke it as a result. When Louis told Gene to pay for the piano's damages, as he had just been notified by Jessica that Gene lent her money and that she had paid him back, Gene refused. The two brothers argued before the true source of Gene's anger was revealed – Gene was still bitter that Louis had stolen his chance to emigrate to the US and become successful, claiming that he could've had a better life and that Louis should have sacrificed for him. Louis responded that he did sacrifice by sending money to support Gene, with Gene replying that he believed Louis sent money because he felt guilty for what he did. Gene, taking his mother with him, then left Orlando and flew back to Taiwan.[1]
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Gene makes amends with Louis
Returning to Taiwan, Gene continued with his wedding preparations, only to realize that Louis and his family had followed him. While initially standoffish, he was touched that Louis had flown economy plus with no discounts just to be there for him, and tearfully made amends with his brother, asking him to be his best man. However, tension between the two escalated once more when Louis was shocked and jealous that Gene had become more successful in Taiwan that his own success in the US, having a lavish home, a beautiful supermodel wife and money.
As a result, Louis insulted Gene, and revealed that he struggled when he moved to the US and that he wished he had stayed behind and built the kind of life Gene had. After the wedding, Louis and Gene made amends once more, with Louis apologizing for his actions and stating that he wished he could see his brother more often, as they had only seen each other once before in the last dozen years. Gene then enthusiastically replied that he would be in Orlando again next week and that he would visit, only for Louis to state that next week was too close and that he wished to space their visits apart.[2]
A few years later, in order to take his family on a trip to the UCLA campus, Louis called Gene and asked for free airline tickets from Orlando, Florida to Los Angeles, California, with Gene complying.[3] Shortly after, after Louis begins to complain how ungrateful she is for everything he does for her. Jessica notifies him that mother-son relationships can be complicated, and gives him an example: recently, Evan disappointed her by leaving brand new milk out to spoil, but just then, Eddie had come in asking if they insurance after hitting a mailbox and a tree. She tells Louis that perspective is vital; compared to perfection, Evan had messed up, but compared to Eddie, she sees Evan as a saint. As his mother also has two sons, Louis declares that his younger brother Gene is the "Eddie" and decides to invite him so that when he messes up, Jenny will realize how much better Louis is in comparison.
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Gene returns after a few years
Louis invites Gene over, but finds him to be a completely different person. Gene divulges that he fell into the lion's pit at the Singapore Zoo, and as a lioness was clawing his chest, it made him realize that life, with every moment on Earth, should be treasured. Jenny then asks Gene if he brought her a gift, but when he replies that his hug is a hug of gratitude, she storms off angrily, claiming that no one knows how to give gifts anymore. Louis and Jessica explain to a confused Gene that while he is away every ten years or so, it is Louis who takes care of Jenny and puts up with her. Gene then offers his assistance, and decides to help Jenny with her tasks for the day and relieve Louis of the burden.
Gene buys a hot tub for Jenny
Gene returns after running errands with Jenny, and much to Louis' surprise, Gene enjoyed doing so. Jenny then tells Louis that spending time with Gene made her appreciate all the hard work Louis does for her, which makes Louis happy. Gene then adds that he spoke to Jenny after realizing that there was tension between her and Louis and got her to value Louis. However, just then, Jenny begins to fire up the hot tub which Gene had installed in the garage. This infuriates Louis, who believes that Gene simply bought his mother off, and he storms away.
Gene in the hot tub with Jessica
Louis fetches Trent Masterson and brings him to the garage to dismantle the hot tub, only to find out that Jessica is in there relaxing with Gene and Jenny. Louis asks how she could do so, and Jessica replies that Louis' concern with the hot tub was who would pay the utilities, but because Jenny had agreed to pay it herself, she found no issue in using the hot tub herself. Louis scoffs at the idea of his mother making payments, and Gene chimes in that if their mother could not pay for the hot tub, he would; this angers Louis, who states that Gene would be gone by then and that the one thing that would never change was Gene being a screw-up. Insulted, Gene replies that he has changed and is no longer a screw-up and refers to Louis as a martyr; as he exits the hot tub, mentions that he has emotional scars from being Louis' brother.
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Gene and Louis make amends once more
Louis has the hot tub removed from the garage and installs it in his living room, inviting Gene to enter with him, citing that they had their best brother-to-brother talks in hot water, hearkening back to their time in Taiwan's hot springs with their father. There, the two brothers make peace and Gene admits that their family and "Hurricane Gene" did not make it easy on him. Louis adds that Gene's wife, Margaret, must be loving the new and improved Gene, although Gene admits that she left him two years ago, and that he was embarrassed to divulge the fact to his mother or his brother. Gene adds that her leaving him is what prompted him to change his outlook on life, but clarifies that he still fell into a lion pit and was clawed up as a result. As the two brothers hug, Gene decides to ask what exactly Jenny is retiring from, and Louis replies that he has no idea.[4]
Appearances[]
- Bring the Pain
- Coming from America
- Gabby Goose (flashback)
- Grandma's Boys