Story time: Yesterday my friend ZiFan wished me a happy mooncake day. So I wanted to wish the same to the couple at my local Chinese takeaway: Hot Kitchen, but yesterday was their day off. So instead I went earlier this evening, when I got there and ordered my meal they looked tired and miserable but that was all to change.

There was a young and glamorous Eastern European woman collecting an order in front of me. She seemed polite but somewhat distracted, as though she hadn’t eaten all day. The woman from the couple behind the counter cooking and serving seemed exhausted.

As the Eastern European woman left with her food. I mustered some confidence said loudly “hope you had a happy mooncake day yesterday!” and suddenly, as though a switch had flicked, both staff had huge smiles!

In shock, unable to hide their joy, the woman replied “HOW DO YOU KNOW!!!!??”

The guy was busy cooking but briefly paused to whisper something to the her in her ear.

Then she asked me if I had “ever tried a moon cake?”

I said “no, but I would love to try one someday!”

The woman disappeared into the walk in cupboard with a spring n her step.

The guy then said “there are two main types of mooncake, lotus paste and red bean paste,and this was a red bean paste.”

Then the woman cut me a piece of red bean paste mooncake to try, I asked “how much?” She said “no, no, no, here, don’t worry it’s sweet” and she was right! It was delicious!

After enjoying my slice of moon cake, I said “do you speak Cantonese or Mandarin?” she said Cantonese so I said “aw, I only know one word of Cantonese and I will probably pronounce it wrong, M Goi!“, which means thank you (specifically for a service).

My meal was ready so I said my goodbyes to the delighted waving couple on the other side of counter and thanked them again for the food. As I walked out I felt like I had completely made their night and they were both smiling ear to ear!