Fei is a Chinese guy at work who is socially awkward. He does not hang out with others, nor does he talk to anyone beyond “Good morning” and “How are you.” It’s not that Fei doesn’t want to: he’s unable to. But he would bring food to us as gifts – Chinese cakes, Chinese candies, Chinese snacks – for Lunar New Years and other Chinese festivals. That’s what people do in Asia as a way to maintain relationships. A social obligation.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is near. No one at work besides me, another Asian, knows about this festival. Fei brings mooncakes, a type of round-shaped pastries, to work and gives each of us a box. The packaging looks gorgeous: a red square box with gold patterns depicting a lady dancing next to the moon. Inside is eight round pastries, about two inches in diameter. “Thank you very much!”, I say, as Fei hands me a box.
Every day since, Fei comes over to my office and asks if I have tried the mooncakes. I have not, but I will soon, I tell him, feeling slightly guilty inside. He explains how tasty these cakes are, and how if I microwave them for a few seconds, the egg filling will melt like “liquid gold”.
After saying “No, not yet” about five times, I am determined to remember to eat one so that I can finally say “Yes, I have!” and make him happy. The next day, I see Fei and report proudly to him that I indeed ate the mooncakes and that they were good. Thank you so much.
Bog is a white guy at work who is extremely friendly. Seeing how Fei does not talk to anyone, Bog would come talk to Fei, checking to see how he is doing. Bog brings himself to become Fei’s friend. That makes Fei happy, so Fei brings Bog more Chinese food. To Bog’s children, he is “Uncle Fei who gives them food that they cannot eat.”
Fei also gives Bog a gorgeous red box of mooncakes. Bog takes a bite. His children also try. None of them likes Fei’s mooncakes. There are still five cakes left in the box.
- We won’t eat them. Do you want these five mooncakes back? – Bog askes Fei.
- Oh, no no no! That’s fine, I don’t want them back. – Fei replies.
- Why? – Bog askes.
- Oh, that’s because – Fei answers – I also don’t eat them.
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