Sasha felt awkward. “Penny, don’t be angry. We haven’t met in such a long time, so don’t be angry over
such a small issue. And Matthew, don’t fight with Penny anymore. Come, let’s have dinner first.”
After much pleading and persuasion, Penny finally sat down in a huff.
Soon, dinner was served and everything was Western cuisine, like steaks and such. The cutleries given
were forks and knives, but there was also a pair of chopsticks on the table should the customer want to
use it.
As Matthew was not used to using forks and knives, he picked up the chopsticks and started eating.
When Peter saw it, he immediately exclaimed in an exaggerated tone, “Sir, this isn’t how you should eat
Western cuisine. You have to use a fork and knife instead. How are you any different from a barbarian
with the way you’re eating now?”
His loud voice attracted the attention of the people nearby and they sneered.
“Oh dear, this is the first time I’m seeing someone eat a steak using chopsticks!”
“What’s so weird about that? Just grab any one of the uncouth men working at the construction site near
my place and he’ll definitely be eating a steak with chopsticks too!”
“How could an uncouth person enter such a high-end place like Shanghai Nights?”
“It’s obvious that the tall, handsome and rich man seated across him is treating him to the meal!”
“I think this is the first time in his life he’s ever been to such a high-class place!”
Penny also had a look of disgust. “Sasha, why did you bring him here? Nobody eats Western cuisine
with chopsticks. The civilized way to eat it is to use a fork and knife! What he’s doing now is really
ungentlemanly and uncivilized! He’s a disgrace to us!”
“Why is it a disgrace to eat with chopsticks?” Matthew asked with his lips pursed. “You’ve been eating
with chopsticks ever since you were young. Do you also find yourself a disgrace? I just don’t understand
how something left behind by our ancestors from thousands of years ago is a disgrace. According to
your logic, are you saying that the tradition of our country, which is thousands of years old, is
uncivilized?”
Penny swiftly retorted, “I didn’t say that it was a disgrace to use chopsticks, but it depends on the
situation! Why are you using chopsticks when you’re eating Western cuisine? Using a fork and knife
when having Western dishes is the civilized method! The way you’re eating now is ungentlemanly! If you
want to use chopsticks, shouldn’t you go to a Chinese restaurant instead of coming to a Western
restaurant?”
“If you wanted to have Western cuisine, why are you having it here instead of aboard?” Matthew asked.
Flabbergasted, Penny stuttered, “H-Having Western cuisine here is a cultural exchange between two
countries. Why can’t we have Western cuisine here?”
“Since it’s a cultural exchange between two countries, why can’t I use chopsticks for Western cuisine in
this country?”
Penny was suddenly tongue-tied and she exclaimed furiously, “Are you even a man? What else are you
good at besides being unreasonable? Forget it, I don’t want to argue with you anymore, lest it makes me
appear ill-bred.”
Giving a tit for tat, Matthew said, “Just because you say you’re classy, it doesn’t mean that you are
because actions speak louder than words. It’s my business what I’m eating and how I’m eating it. Don’t
you know that minding your own business is good manners as well?”
“You!” Penny was so angry that she didn’t know what to say.
“Guys, forget it.” Sasha hurriedly tried to make peace. “Penny, Matthew doesn’t like to use forks and
knives, so just let him be. And Matthew, stop arguing with Penny.”
Matthew nodded with a grin and continued eating with chopsticks while Peter cast a look at him from
across the table and muttered under his breath, “Barbarian!”
Unwilling to show any sign of weakness, Matthew shot back, “Nincompoop!”
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