love for pets

Last monday, I was processing document papers in one of the big state owned trader here in Shanghai to hasten the shipping documents I need. I was invited to join for lunch at their building canteen. It was actually his third time to invite me to have lunch but I declined for the first two incidents. Unfortunately, I felt obligated to join him because this will be my third time to decline him. It was a real experience.

It was very clean for Chinese standards considering that the building is actually state owned. hehe! People were orderly qeued and waited for their turn to choose their meal buffet. It was a LOT of food, for 7RMB you get to choose one square rice, 3 veggie dishes and 2 meat dishes with overflowing soup. However, I opted to take the 'ban mian' which is actually boiled noodles with sesame oil and soysauce to swap for my rice. With this I only get 2 veggies and 1 pork dish but I also get to have the buffet soup. We were eating our meals and the old man beside me, he started putting in his stainless steel container with newspaper left over of his fish bones. My counterpart started to speak in Shanghainese. He asked me if I understood, from the looks of it, I knew what it was for. It was for the pet kitten. We were laughing because we were just discussing about my dog food. I was giving him an overview and here it was in actual setting. Seeing someone put their pets while they are even away from home. It is very interesting how people value their pets as if they are humans. I think this is a result of the one child policy. Everyone gets lonely without anyone to play around. Especially so most of them have their kids leave their homes at a very young age for boarding school or college or work. I dont think i can ever develop the love for pets. I'm too practical to dote.