52 Down the Memory Lane 2 (2/2)
”You are probably right,” Xu Jing conceded. ”Maybe we should find a day to pay her a visit, after all, it was because of Auntie Xiao that we end up together. I would probably still be harassing you in that little shop if not for a little push from Auntie Xiao.”
Joann smiled from memory.
”Do you still remember how big of a fool I was on that first day I visited you at Auntie Xiao's?” Xu Jing asked.
”How can I forget?”
…
The young Joann kept an eye on Xu Jing who trailed behind her as she walked into Auntie Xiao's. She greeted Auntie Xiao who was busy serving a table of customers before going into the kitchen to grab the apron to put it on.
When she came out, Xu Jing had found himself a table by the corner.
Joann glanced at Auntie Xiao who was still busy with the customers and she knew it fell on her shoulders to serve Xu Jing. She knew Xu Jing was not really there for the food but she could not chase him out without reason, after all, he was a customer.
With resolute determination to not allow the man to disturb her work, Joann walked over to Xu Jing's table to take his order.
With a tone that was more polite than necessary, she asked, ”Sir, how can I help you? What do you want?”
Since this was his first time there, Xu Jing turned to study the menu that was written on the wall in large letters to familiarize himself with the options. Joann who stood beside him tapped the notepad in her grasp impatiently. Careful to not make her wait any longer, Xu Jing selected the item he was reading then, ”I will have the… Dou Hua.”
”You want them with brown sugar or white sugar?” Joann asked.
Xu Jing thought about it for a while before answering, ”Both.”
”Both?” Joann repeated in confusion before clarifying, ”You want two types of sugar in one bowl of Dou Hua?”
”No, I want two separate bowls of Dou Hua. One with brown sugar and the other with white sugar.”
”Okay then. Anything else?” While Joann was curious why the young man would order two bowls of Tong Sui since he was there alone, she did not ask. She simply assumed the man had a bigger appetite than his slight frame suggested.
”That's all. Thank you.” Xu Jing smiled at her. Joann ignored him and turned back to the counter to prepare his order.
Joann scooped the bean curd pudding out from the tub into two bowls. She then added peanuts and a healthy splash of sugar water to both. She placed them on a tray and carried them to Xu Jing.
After serving the food, she told Xu Jing, ”Enjoy.”
However, as she was about to turn and walk away, Xu Jing called after her, ”Wait, the other bowl is for you.”