The Fat Wife of the 1980s Awakens

At such a special moment, everyone turned their eyes to Xu Xiufang, as if her decision was their compass.

Xu Xiufang not only comes from a wealthy family, but also has a broad vision and rich experience. In this small group formed temporarily, she has become a leader that everyone trusts.

As for Xie Yi, he always respected his wife's opinions, and this time was no exception. He was willing to follow Xu Xiufang's decision.

"Well, let's try some Western food. It's nice to change the taste.

"Xu Xiufang smiled and made suggestions, indicating that everyone should choose their favorite food.

Just as the flight attendant was about to turn around and leave, she added, "When we get our meals, could you please bring a few pairs of chopsticks for us? Thank you so much!"

The flight attendant was stunned when he heard this and looked back at Xu Xiufang in confusion, as if he was not sure whether he had heard it wrong.

Seeing this, Xu Xiufang patiently repeated: "Yes, we need spare chopsticks. Thank you for your trouble. I really appreciate it!"

Although the flight attendant was confused, he still maintained his professionalism, nodded in agreement, and then left quickly.

At this moment, several foreign passengers around couldn't help but let out a slight sneer. Although the sound was small, it was still quite noticeable in the quiet carriage.

Xu Xiufang just smiled faintly and didn't care too much.

However, Feng Dongling, Fang Kai and others were quite unhappy about this. They knew very well that Xu Xiufang's move was actually to take care of those members of the team who were not used to using knives and forks.

As the Western dishes were served one by one, everyone almost simultaneously chose to give up using the knives and forks in front of them, and instead focused their attention on Xu Xiufang, waiting for her next move.

Seeing this, Xu Xiufang could only helplessly pick up the knife and fork and prepare to guide everyone.

In fact, Xu Xiufang, Xie Yi, and even Sanbao and Xiaoyun all have some understanding of Western dining etiquette.

In the years when Beijing was not yet fully open to the outside world, some state-owned restaurants began to provide Western food services in order to attract foreign tourists.

Whenever the family has a dinner together, Xu Xiufang always patiently teaches the children Western dining etiquette while tasting the food. Even Xie's father and mother are happy to join in, even though they have never really experienced Western food, let alone cooked it themselves.

Mr. and Mrs. Xie are old, and they seem to have trouble handling these small and delicate tableware. Their clumsy movements seem quite funny in the eyes of the passengers around them.

Even though no one said it directly, the subtle atmosphere in the air and the smiling eyes of others all revealed a hint of contempt.

Suddenly, with a "clang" sound, Xie Yi resolutely put down the knife and fork in his hand, calmly picked up the chopsticks, skillfully picked up a piece of steak, and chewed it with big mouthfuls. He was so comfortable and confident, as if enjoying Western food with chopsticks was the most natural way of behavior.

Xie's mother and others were stunned at first, and then followed suit, silently putting down their knives and forks and picking up the familiar chopsticks.

Xu Xiufang couldn't help laughing, with a smile on her face, and joined them.

However, in the eyes of some foreigners watching, this scene became a manifestation of "lack of education".

A traveler from Country C made loud comments in fluent English, making no effort to hide his contempt. He obviously believed that Xu Xiufang and her group were not good at using Western tableware and did not understand English, which was why he made such brazen remarks. His voice was so loud that it was obvious that he wanted all the foreigners around him to hear it.

Hearing these remarks, the foreigners around laughed at the same time.

In that era, English was still a relatively unfamiliar language to the Chinese public, and many people did not fully understand the words, but there were always a few passengers who were fluent in English and quietly translated for their friends around them.

As a result, more and more people knew about it. Even without translation, just by looking at the expressions and words of those foreigners, one could guess that they were making fun of Xie's father and mother.

The Chinese passengers on the same train couldn't help but look gloomy when they saw their compatriots being ridiculed.

Xie Yi's face was even more gloomy. He studied English hard for a year last year. Although he didn't dare to call himself an expert, he could still understand basic conversations.

His face was solemn. He slowly put down his knife and fork and stood up.

Feng Dongling and Fang Kai followed closely behind and stood together.

On the other side, Erbao saw this and hurriedly pulled Dabao up. He felt that just standing there was not enough, so he simply jumped onto the chair and put on a menacing look, even though it looked quite childish.

At this moment, Xie Yi and the other two stood side by side. All of them were tall and strong with serious expressions. Especially Xie Yi, whose face was naturally fierce, as if telling everyone that he would show no mercy in a duel.

This awe-inspiring aura indeed shocked many onlookers.

The arrogant laughter just now weakened a lot in an instant. It was not difficult for people to see that this was a typical mentality of bullying the weak and fearing the strong.

"However," Xu Xiufang's tone rose slightly, revealing a force that could not be ignored, "our respect and understanding does not mean that we have to accept unwarranted ridicule and belittlement. On the table, whether it is a knife, fork or chopsticks, they are all manifestations of culture, not distinctions of high and low. The difference between you and me is that we are willing to learn from each other's customs with an open mind, instead of generalizing like you and building a high wall with your ignorance."

The C countryman's face changed constantly. Xu Xiufang's words seemed to have hit his soft spot, leaving him speechless for a moment.

The foreigners around began to nod in agreement, and the atmosphere quietly changed from confrontation to understanding and tolerance.

Xu Xiufang looked around, her eyes gentle and firm, as if they could penetrate people's hearts. "I believe that no matter where you are, respect and understanding are the most precious gifts in interpersonal communication. We are willing to give you this gift, and we hope that you can give back with the same attitude. If what happened today is a misunderstanding, let it go with the wind; if it is intentional, please remember that every culture deserves respect."

As she finished her words, the entire restaurant seemed to be surrounded by a warm halo, and the originally tense atmosphere disappeared without a trace.

Foreign friends began to praise it, and some even took the initiative to apologize to Xu Xiufang and others for the rudeness of the countryman C.

Xie Yi watched silently from the side, his eyes full of pride.

Xu Xiufang not only skillfully resolved the conflict, but also won the respect of everyone present. Her wisdom and courage deeply impressed him.

Xu Xiufang sat back next to Xie Yi again and said softly, "Sometimes, you don't have to be tough to solve a problem. The bridge built with understanding and communication is often more solid."

Xie's father and mother finally put their minds at ease, and the eyes of the Chinese people around them also lit up again. They looked at Xu Xiufang with approval, secretly rejoicing in their hearts that the Xie family had such a good daughter-in-law.

As for the man from Country C, he was silent for a while and finally lowered his head. Although he did not apologize explicitly, it could be seen from his body language that he had realized his mistake.

The storm was quietly settled as Xu Xiufang responded calmly.

Xu Xiufang, Xie Yi, and everyone present learned more about the importance of respect, understanding, and cross-cultural communication in this lesson.

This is not just a debate about chopsticks and knives and forks, but also a dialogue between the soul and culture.