Growing up in a Gourmet Paradise, I was taught to
eat. Food became
an inherent part of my life and I take pleasure in eating every day. On special
occasions like the traditional ‘Chinese New Year Dinner’, my family gathers
with our relatives to celebrate this very important ritual. Though the
objective of this dinner is to gather as a family in this special holiday, my
main objective each year is just, to eat. To start the banquet, a suckling pig
is served right in the middle of the lazy susan. The whole pig symbolizes
completeness in Chinese beliefs, as it is the
‘First Dinner of the Year’. I always doubt the reliability of such beliefs,
nonetheless, the suckling pig is succulent with roasted crispy skin and juicy
meat. As the long wait till the start of dinner began, I would stare at the
suckling pig’s crimson head, with its red blinking eyes (made of cherries)
staring back at me. When the laughter of the elderly playing mahjong started fading away, I would doze off.
This typical situation
always makes me ponder about my ancestors’ practices. Like most people around
the world, I am accustomed to greeting people with ‘How are you?’ Traditional
Chinese, however, would greet each other with ‘Have you eaten yet?’ - even
right after having a meal. Perhaps, food really tops fashion, living or even
recreation in Hong Kong culture. At least, it does in my family.
“Cheers!” I was
immediately awakened by the noise of clattering glasses. Our eyes were all
fixed on the mouth-watering pig, but none of my relatives were bold enough to
take the first move. After all, it is an essential manner to let the eldest
have the first pick. My stomach started rumbling, craving for food. The truth
is, I get hungry every hour. I was annoyed by this undelightful situation. I
gazed around, but everyone stayed as rigid as the suckling pig.
I do regard the old Confucian tradition of respecting the elderlies of the
family. They are the “wiser” people who play leading roles in holding
the extended family together. Ironically, though the
meaningful family value behind the tradition is deeply rooted in me, I do not
like to be held back by certain rituals. And moreover, when my stomach
was rumbling stridently, my instinct told me that I had to take the first move.
I lifted my chopsticks tranquilly, trying not to arouse any attention. Leaning
forward, I placed them on the most alluring piece of meat. I squeezed my
fingers tightly, hoping to capture it without failing. Then, there was a tug on
my waist.
I peeked around under my
chopsticks, meeting my mom’s ominous eyes at the edge of my sight. My mom
lowered her voice and started whispering something I could not understand. I stared
at her, with my chopsticks still hopelessly dangling above the dish.
No, I did not want to
ruin the dinner even though I love food too much.
With my other hand, I
swirled the lazy susan towards my eldest uncle and stopped it right in front of
him. I faked a smile on my cherry-red face. “After you, Uncle!” I joyously
exclaimed.
