MOO!

The old gentleman bought three egg-tarts for his grand kid. For himself, a small fried bing. As she ate, it soon became apparent that she did not like the crust, but simply went for the custard. Carefully and luxuriously the little thing scooped out and savoured the sweet eggy filling. At last there were three perfectly cleaned out shells in front of her, and she smiled happily.
Her granddad is a very indulgent man.

I had gone there after attending to some business early in the morning, and was myself happily getting around some hot milk-tea and a crumbly cake. Breakfast, but later in the day than for most people. There were already tables enjoying noodle soup, and southern titty pork knuckle over rice.
Along with coffee and a scrumptious array of pastries.
Mostly elderly people; I felt quite young.


The weather has improved. It is not as cold as last week. Even a little bit of warmth brings old folks out of the woodwork. During the morning, Chinatown is their place. And other than badly dressed scruffy tourists, who audibly make stupid comments as they wander around, grey-haired people are the majority, striding purposefully (albeit at a reasonably calm and slow pace) toward coffee shops, bakeries, and Portsmouth Square.
Some of the old geezers have a spring in their step.
And a cigarette in the corner of the mouth.
Ah, it is good to be alive!

Never trust retired gentlemen, unless they have a grandkid in tow. And beware that the infant maybe a shill or accomplice. Old farts are better card sharks than you can possibly imagine. Fast hands, nimble arthritic fingers, and sparkly eyes. Even at nickle stakes, they'll clean you out.
One moment you had a couple of bucks in your pocket, and a pocket.
The next, grampa over there is buying another pack of smokes.

He's still got a twinkle in his eyes. Lunchtime is coming up, and surely there's another sucker somewhere nearby? Gonna have me some nice greasy roast duck over rice, with green green veggies!

Here chicken. Here chicken. Here chicken!


Dumb white tourists amble past, twittering cow-sounds at each other.


All they ever eat are eggrolls and pork buns.


Everything else is unknown.


And dangerous.


Moo.


APPENDIX

Egg tarts: 蛋撻 ('daan taat'), rich yolky custard in a crumbly or flaky pastry cup. Small fried bing: 煎餅. Milk tea: 奶茶 ('naai cha'); strong black tea with sweet condensed milk. So very wonderful, especially during colder weather. Crumbly cake: 荷花酥餅 ('ho faa sou bing'), a round bakery item consisting of a sweet rich doughy filling which is often similar to boterkoek, surrounded by a flaky pastry cut across petal-wise to open up like a flower. Southern titty pork knuckle: 南乳豬手 ('naam yü chyu sou'), pigs trotters flavoured with red-fermented tofu (naam yu; "southern titty"), stewed till buttery soft. Cigarette: 煙仔 ('yin-jai'); the essential adjunct to elderly rapscallions. Eggrolls: 春捲 ('chun kuen'). Pork buns: 叉燒包 ('cha siu baau'); along with eggrolls, these are very popular among suburbanites.




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