Uncle Xu looked up at the group of foreigners and tugged excitedly at Xu Ying’s sleeve.
“Yingying, you were right! These foreigners really came because of our food!”
Although he couldn’t understand a word they said, he was certain the irresistible aroma had drawn them in.
Zhou Yi, a bit nervous but determined, stammered in English,
“Yes, we… we’re having a free tasting. Would you like to try?”
His accent was heavy, but his words were clear enough.
Qian Yuanyuan couldn’t hide her admiration. To her, this confirmed Zhou Yi’s charm — not only hardworking but educated too. A man who could speak English was a rare find in those days.
One of the foreign women, her face bright with curiosity, stepped forward. She had caught the fragrance from afar and had been tempted for quite a while, but her companions had refused to come.
“Can we still try something?” she asked, glancing at the stall that looked half-packed up.
Zhou Yi turned to Director Xu Ying (her title in the Yu County Food Factory’s Research and Development Department) and asked respectfully,
“Director, should we still serve them?”
Xu Ying nodded immediately. Business was business — if these foreigners liked the food, it might even lead to a new trade order. In those years, most foreigners visiting China came for commerce or joint ventures.
She quickly began setting out the food again, lighting the fire to re-fry the fried snacks.
Meanwhile, Uncle Xu, never one to sit still, eagerly carried a tray of braised duck and soy-braised pork feet [known locally as luwei 卤味 — a traditional Jiangnan-style dish, simmered in soy sauce, spices, and aromatic herbs]. As he walked over, a gentle breeze carried the fragrance across the entire area.
The foreign woman who had spoken earlier inhaled deeply, her eyes momentarily soft with anticipation. But when she saw the food — its dark brown glaze and unrefined presentation — her face stiffened in distaste.
This looks so unappetizing!
She had heard that Chinese people were poor, but she never imagined they were this poor — eating such things.
“No, no, no! I don’t want this!” she exclaimed, recoiling slightly.
Though the smell tempted her, the appearance disgusted her.
The other foreign women rolled their eyes. One of them sneered, saying to her companion,
“Ellie, I told you — what kind of decent food could they possibly make? The best things in China are all in the Friendship Store [government-run shops in 1970s–80s China, reserved for foreigners and diplomats, where imported goods were sold]. I don’t know why you insisted on coming here.”
Ellie (Aili) looked conflicted — the aroma was heavenly, but her pride wouldn’t let her admit it.
Uncle Xu, not understanding their words, still offered the tray with his usual hospitality. But one tall woman — Annie (Ai Ning), clearly the eldest and most arrogant of the group — suddenly stepped forward and slapped the food from his hands.
The braised duck and pork feet tumbled to the dusty ground.
Uncle Xu froze. For a long moment, he just stared. Then, his weathered face flushed crimson.
“What do they mean by this?! If they don’t want to eat, fine — but to knock food onto the ground like that!”
Heart aching, he crouched down and gently picked up the fallen pieces.
Annie scoffed, her blue eyes filled with disdain.
“See that? They even eat things that have fallen on the ground. Have you any idea how filthy their food must be?”
Zhou Yi and Yang Nan, both of whom understood English, stiffened. Their jaws tightened as anger burned in their chests.
Qian Yuanyuan and Qiao Yuzhu, curious but confused, leaned closer to Zhou Yi.
“Zhou Yi, what are they saying?”
Before he could answer, Yang Nan stepped forward, unable to hold back his rage.
“Are all you foreigners so rude? No one forced you to eat! If you don’t like it, just leave — why act so high and mighty?”
Annie was stunned for a moment, not used to being challenged. In her wealthy family, she was always obeyed. No one dared speak back to her — certainly not a young Chinese man.
To her, China was still backward, full of poor workers who should know their place. Seeing one of them stand up to her felt like an insult.
“Even the lowest servants in our country wouldn’t touch this filth! And you dare to serve it to us? Where’s your Chinese etiquette? Apologize at once — or we’ll find your leaders and show them how you treat your foreign guests!”
Her tone dripped with superiority.
“Elder Sister, that’s enough!” Ellie tugged at her arm nervously. “We were the ones who were rude.”
Annie turned on her sister, her temper explosive. She slapped Ellie sharply across the face.
“Shut up! Do you even know what you’re saying? You’re defending these poor people? In this world, Ellie, remember one thing — when it comes to wealth and power, the poor are always wrong!”
It was the kind of arrogant creed passed down in powerful families for generations.
Yang Nan clenched his fists, trembling with fury. He had always believed a man shouldn’t hit a woman — but at this moment, her arrogance made his blood boil.
Just then, Xu Ying stepped forward. Her gaze was calm and level, her tone composed yet cutting.
“We Chinese may not be as rich as you, but we are well-mannered. We don’t beg others for food. If we don’t wish to eat, we simply say so politely — we don’t insult those who offer it. To put it bluntly, you are ungrateful. To put it kindly, merely arrogant.”
Her English flowed fluently, each word crisp and measured.
Annie’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Qian Yuanyuan gasped.
“Xu Ying only finished high school — how can she speak English like that?”
Qiao Yuzhu nodded in quiet awe.
“I see now why both factory directors value her so much.”
Xu Ying smiled faintly.
“This is a free tasting. If you don’t wish to eat, no one is forcing you. Please, just leave.”
Ellie lowered her head, guilt washing over her. She had been the one to insist on coming, and now her curiosity had turned into humiliation. Tears welled in her eyes.
“I’m… I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Xu Ying merely shook her head. She knew Director Li of the Magic City Food Factory must be watching, waiting for her to lose her composure. If they clashed with foreigners, higher authorities — especially those in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — would naturally take the foreigners’ side. Her team would be made scapegoats.
No, she would not give him that satisfaction.
“Pack up. We’re leaving,” Xu Ying ordered calmly.
Ellie seemed as though she wanted to say more, but Annie roughly grabbed her by the arm. Before another word could be exchanged, a lively voice rang out from the distance.
“Oh my God! I’m not too late, am I?”
A striking woman ran toward them — tall, radiant, with waves of golden hair that shimmered under the sunlight. Her figure was graceful, her skin pale as porcelain. She looked almost like an angel come to life — and fittingly, her name was Angel.
Even Xu Ying was momentarily stunned. She had always heard that foreign women were beautiful — fair skin, sharp features, deep eyes — but this woman was something else entirely. Perhaps the most beautiful she had ever seen.
Angel hurried up to the stall, eyes gleaming as she spotted the remaining dishes.
“Beautiful girl, are you holding a tasting event?” she asked brightly, glancing eagerly at the braised duck and pork that hadn’t yet been packed away.
Before she could reach for a piece, Annie blocked her, exclaiming in horror,
“Angel! You can’t eat that! Don’t you see what it is? It’s filthy — and it even fell on the ground!”