In order to save face, Guo rose abruptly from the chair. Making a gesture of what he thought a host should be doing, Guo proclaimed with the utmost kindliness, “Guess we don’t need to add any more food. There’s plenty left. You keep eating. I go to check the bill fi rst.”
“Having said that I’d like to make up for last night,” I quickly rose to say,“I’d really like to buy this dinner.”
“Don’t. You are a woman,” Guo proclaimed once more.
“Do you suppose I’m not a man?” Mr Bao didn’t move, playing with a toothpick in his mouth. “Let me pay this time.”