第九章 语言交换

One afternoon, after Lucas arrived at the shop, he found an extra person behind the counter.

A girl with a ponytail, wearing an apron, was lowering her head to wipe cups. Hearing the door, she looked up and said with a smile: 'Welcome!'

'Tingting, this is our store's Lucas.' Sister Wang came out from the back, 'My daughter, who just graduated from high school this year, is here to help out for a few days during the summer vacation.'

'Hello.' Lucas greeted.

Tingting looked at him with bright eyes and suddenly blurted out a sentence in German:

'Hello! You're German, right?'

Lucas was stunned for a moment, then replied in German: 'Hello! You know German?'

'A little.' Tingting said with a smile, 'I can handle daily conversations. But I'm about to go study in Germany, and I'm not confident.'

She leaned in a bit and said quietly: 'Actually, I have no idea how Germans live. I know even less about the differences from China.'

'So...' she looked at Lucas, 'Can you teach me?'

Lucas smiled: 'Of course. Go ahead and ask.'

After work, the two sat on small stools behind the shop. Tingting took out a small notebook and opened it seriously.

'First question.' Tingting said, 'Do German trash really need to be separated into many categories?'

'It needs sorting.' Lucas said, 'Paper, plastic, glass, and other rubbish must be thrown away separately. If you throw it wrong, neighbors may criticize you.'

'The neighbors would say that?' Tingting opened her eyes wide, 'That's too strict.'

'Second question.' Tingting wrote in her notebook, 'I heard that shops in Germany are closed on Sundays?'

'Yes, most shops are closed on Sundays.' Lucas said, 'So you have to buy things in advance on Saturday. When I first came to China, I saw malls open on Sundays, and I was very unaccustomed to it.'

Tingting laughed: 'Then when you came to China, did you think we were too lively?'

'Yes.' Lucas also smiled, 'But now I really like it. I often go out to buy food in the middle of the night.'

Tingting asked a few more questions: Do you need to make an appointment to see a doctor? Do you need to bring a gift when visiting someone's home? Do you tip when eating out?

Lucas answered one by one: 'For a doctor's visit, you usually need an appointment, except for emergencies; when visiting someone's home, you can bring a bottle of wine or flowers; in restaurants, you generally tip, five to ten percent.'

Tingting listened while quickly taking notes.

'Wait a moment.' She looked up, 'Five to ten percent... I need to write this down. It's too different from China. Here we generally don't tip.'

'Right.' Lucas said, 'So I say, understand these things first, then you won't be panicked when you go.'

'You've helped me so much; let me help you too.' Tingting closed the notebook, 'Is there anything about China you want to know?'

Lucas thought for a moment: 'Yes! I've never understood why Chinese aunties, when buying things, always ask first, "Is this fresh or not?"'

Tingting burst out laughing: 'Because aunties know how to live; fresh things are the healthiest. In the future, when you sell bubble tea, you must also learn to say, "Today's ingredients are all very fresh."'

'I see.' Lucas nodded, 'Then I've learned something.'

Sister Wang leaned over from the front, saw them chatting animatedly, and said with a smile:

'Tingting, don't just let him talk about Germany. He helps you, so you should help him too.'

'I know!' Tingting said, 'I'm teaching him now. We help each other, no money involved.'

'That's right.' Lucas nodded, 'We help each other, no money.'

Sister Wang said with a smile: 'It's so late, and you haven't eaten yet. Lucas, come to our house and have dinner together.'

Lucas immediately said: 'No need, auntie, I wouldn't feel right disturbing you.'

Sister Wang immediately said with a smile: 'You've learned to be polite. Lucas, you're doing well.'

Tingting, standing nearby, also said: 'Lucas will definitely become a China hand.'

Today, for the first time, he became the 'one being consulted,' using his own life experience to help a person who was about to travel far.

Lucas had a delicious dinner at Sister Wang's house.

On his way back, Lucas walked leisurely on the school campus. A gentle breeze blew in the summer evening, cool and pleasant.

Today I helped Tingting and also ate delicious food; it was another happy day.