There is a saying that leaving of with an appetite for every meal, and you will be healthy until old. (每餐七分飽﹐ 健康活到老!)

The first time when I visited Teochew in 2004, Teacher Hui (輝老師) bought me to take streamed buns and soya-bean milk. In the evening, he would order three dishes and a soup for dinner. The 3 + 1 was still deep in my heart.

After arriving in Teochew on 23 July 2016, we went to a vegetarian restaurant opposite Kai Yuan Temple (開元寺). That was the same restaurant we had our first dinner more than ten years ago. Walking into the restaurant, I thought he would order the Set Dinner for Two as usual. But after taking a dish after another, it seemed like much more than years ago. Although I liked to eat hemp fimble leaf (麻葉), I could not take much as there were too many dishes.

The second day after returning from Feng Xi Church (楓溪堂), we visited Paifang Street (牌坊街) and Guangji Bridge (廣濟橋). Then we came to the Auntie Zhu Eating House (楚姨飯店). That was the place we took our dinners twelve years ago. We took our lunch there to recall our sweet memory. But I thought we had too much food and I was unable to eat much of the dish of hemp fimble leaf. Am I old already?

I used to tell Teacher Hui I was a small eater before every meal.
I was wondered whether he understood my Mandarin. He might think that to treat the guest with ample food.
But, I was gradually afraid of taking meals.

We went to Quanzhou (泉州) and Xiamen (廈門) for a few days. When coming back to Teochew, Teacher Hui had to go back to school for the production of documentary. Hence I stepped out of the hotel in the early morning and walking through lanes and streets.
I found a shop selling soya-bean milk. I ordered the milk, a streamed bun and a fried cake I never eat before. I was not sure whether its name was Zhujiao Quan (豬腳圈). The hawker initially gave me two buns. When I told him I wanted one only, he took back the other one. I was able to finish my breakfast. I was very satisfied and glad that I could finish my breakfast. The customer sitting in front of me was wondering of my smiling face.

I walked and walked. I saw the Jin Long Hotel (金龍大酒店) and the Fuchen Restaurant (府城小食) next to the hotel. I stayed in that hotel twelve years ago during my first visit to Teochew. They were slightly different. I walked to the Nanqiao Market (南橋市場). I spent some times in the market that we were unable to see in Singapore anymore.

The shower was on and off. I came to the Auntie Cow Noodle Shop (牛大媽炸醬麵店). I was happy to see a dish of pineapple fried rice (菠蘿炒飯). Although it did not taste like Thai style, I was glad to enjoy it and finish it. I thought I did not see any leftover and I did not have any burden, therefore I was happy.

Although Teacher Hui wished that I could tried as many Teochew food as possible, but I was a small eater. When I saw any leftover, I was guilty and it made me afraid of taking meals.
I recalled the day I did not have even porridge to eat when I was young. I suddenly dreamed of the meal of 3 + 1 ordered by Teacher Hui on the first time I visited Teochew.