"Where? Let me see." Upon hearing that, Mrs. Li hurried to serve the hot rice in soup to a customer. She moved so quickly that some of it sloshed out, spilling directly onto the table.
The old woman waiting for her meal immediately started shouting, demanding that Mrs. Li make up for the spilled food.
The Chen family's business catered to common laborers and porters, where every single cent had to be accounted for. As it happened, their clientele of everyday city folk were just as particular, absolutely refusing to be short-changed in the slightest.
Take the bit of spilled rice, for instance. It wasn't much—not even enough for a chicken to peck at. 'But once it's in your stomach, doesn't it at least warm you from the inside?' they'd think. 'This was bought with our own hard-earned money. If it's spilled, aren't we the ones losing out?'
Mrs. Li had no choice but to hurry back inside and add another scoop to the bowl.
