So that was how it was. Xu Le looked at the child sympathetically and said to his mother, "Why didn't you bring him to see a psychiatrist? He hasn't eaten meat all this while. This can't go on."
"We did. We were thinking about raising another dog, but he refused. Every time we mentioned this, he would throw a tantrum."
The woman sighed deeply and looked at her son with heartache. "He's so skinny. Compared to his peers, he looks pitiful."
Xu Le thought that he hated the taste of "meat" and not the texture of meat. After chatting for a while, he found out that they would still come to this Chinese restaurant to eat the next day. Hence, he said, "If you come tomorrow, look for me. I'll make fried balls for him."
The child rolled his eyes and handed the cup to Xu Le. "I want more. What is this?"
"Salty milk."
Xu Le shook the cup and said, "Do you want more?"
"Mmm."
