A leisurely Saturday afternoon wandering around a familiar street in Wanchai Hong Kong after my worship band practice at church, I decided that it’s time for tea. Because I am on a no-sugar no-carb high-fat diet, there aren’t too many choices for me for tea. No MacDonald’s, no croissant, I was looking for the dim sum place which I knew is located on this street that I have walked past so many times but have never gone inside to eat. 

I found it. When I went inside, there were only two older male customers, who were having their tea sets. It comes with a bowl of steamed rice with a dish on top and a choice of dim sum and a pot of Chinese tea or a cup of milk tea or coffee.

I didn’t want to have rice, of course, so I asked if I can just order dim sum, and the old waiter said of course. 

The guy sitting at the table across mine started to talk to the older waiter who was busy serving us. (He just finished moping the floor; he said moping it twice would make the place airy, because oil can fall onto the floor when they bring the dim sums in and out to the customers.) That customer complimented on the good quality of the shrimp dumplings that he was having. They chatted for a bit. The old waiter looked at me and said, “For 40 years we have worked together!” With his head he pointed to his boss who was right outside the store where they sell to-go dim sums. 

This team was from the old Lung Mun Restaurant (which, he alluded, might have been closed already). They started that eatery together in Wanchai. They kept everything original of the quality of the old famous Lung Mun Chow Ka (Chow Ka means a big restaurant). 

I joined in the conversation by complimenting on the siu mai. I liked it too. I thought it was very good that I started to order my second dim sum, the steamed fermented bean chicken feet. I was also filling my stomach with my 4-dollar jasmine tea, which comes in a white teapot all for myself. 

Then, there was one Japanese lady customer coming in, whom they know, because the old waiters were chatting with each other that they knew that that Japanese lady knew Chinese. Soon, a group of 3 Americans came in and there was another Chinese guy coming in at the same time for tea.

The lady in the 3-American coup asked if they have the dumpling that has soup inside. First, I thought she meant wonton. The other old waiter who was serving them didn’t seem to speak or understand much English. So I gave them a hand. She wanted to order the siu lung bau. But, I told her that this place serves Cantonese dim sum only. Siu lung bai is a Shanghaiese dim sum, which they don’t make. 

Bingo! Then, I asked if they have ordered the siu mai, which was really good. They didn’t! So they ordered it. I started to chat with them and moved over to their table (when I actually was thinking of leaving–I have had enough tea by that time). The lady is working in HK and has been here for 3 years. Her guy friend came to visit her from Minnesota and his guy friend’s fiend from Colorado came to visit him. They just finished hiking from Stanley to Wong Nai Chung and ended up in Wanchai for dim sum. In fact, the guy from Colorado said that this place was recommended by his friend. 

I said, “Wow! I didn’t know that this place is so famous. This is my first time coming in here to eat.” We have bought take-away siu mai and shrimp dumpling once and I remember its taste. I quite liked it, this was what I remember. That’s why I came back for it this time by myself.

At around 5, the first older waiter who served me earlier came back to the entrance, took off his apron there, folding it, and said, “It’s time for me to call off my day.” I asked, “Your shift ended so early?” “Not early at all! I started to come here to work at 5am, got up at 3am. I have already worked for 12 plus hours today!”

Immediately, I translated his story into English for the American friends. I asked the lady what she does in Hong Kong and each of them told me what they do for living. I told them as well what where I lived in the states and what I am doing right now at this moment in my life. When I knew that two of them actually are music and band teachers, I started to share with them a video of my son’s blowing the trumpet for his very first time on my cell phone. We chatted for a little bit more. And then, it was time for me to head off to my next destination. 

When I paid for my meal outside the eatery, the owner asked me, “you must be highly educated.” I smiled and asked him (I was wondering what I should tell him), “Is a doctorate degree high enough?” Then he followed, “You must be earning a lot of money.” 

Well, not quite. It is a long story. I told him, “Well, I have also been a full time mom for a while.” That settles it. Indeed, I’m not earning that much money and I am currently in job transition. (I have also just told the 3 American friends that I will have a job interview this coming Thursday, but it’s very competitive. People from all over the world–the US–come to compete for the same job. I needed luck, which they gave me their blessings so generously.)

Jokingly I said to the owner, “Well, I was just telling the Americans that I’m [my age]!” “No way,” he said, “you look like you are in your 30s!”

Giggling, I walked away. Hong Kong has a place like this, in the ordinary Wanchai neighborhood. Amidst the fast-growing city development, I am happy to know that there is this spirit of Hong Kong people just right around us. I could truly feel the friendiness of this place, which I went inside for the very first time even as I walked in and out of Wanchai every Saturday when bringing my son to his oboe lesson or visiting my mom’s place. 

I often wonder why we have to behave in a certain way when you are at a certain age, as I was walking away from the dim sum place with an inevitable light-heartedness. I said to the owner and a female employee (who wasn’t working today as it seems) who was standing right outside the store as my last words to them before leaving, “I am just being myself, I’m not thinking about age all the time.” 

It is contending to be able to be “yourself” every day. 

I guess it is my luck to get to live my “30s” again. I don’t mind that at all.
Wanchai Hong Kong

July 22, 2017