The 12th Episode : Reception without smile
[November, 1982 Guilin, China]
We went a department store in the early evening before dinner. It was called a department store but quite different what we imaged. Lights were not enough bright, goods were not so many and no splendour. I don’t remember to have heard “can I help you?” when we entered and looked no intention to sell somethings.
Someone bought somethings, but no words like thank you were heard at the cashier, at least I don’t remember. Or said somethings? The tour guide told me later that Cantonese, a language in south China, were spoken in this region, that I didn’t know. I knew some words in Mandarin, standard Chinese, but no words I knew was heard. They said in Cantonese? No, no words came out from their mouths. Now I know some words in Cantonese though.
Even so, no smile on them surprised me. No way in Japan.
