thin king

Lower on price, heavier on weight

Last week there was a new trick in the wet market.

I bought a pink sea bream from my regular fishmonger.
The price was $7.50 per kilo and it cost me $6.
That was a fair value price for that day.

As I passed by another stall I saw some more of this fish,
all about the same size.
When I asked, the man said it was $7 per kilo;
and that price was cheaper than the one I had bought,
so I picked one.
The man put it on the weighing machine and said "$7.50".
"What", I let out, but the man, a new assistant,
looked at the machine and said "boh phian ler".
I waited but he did not change what he had said,
nor did he turn the face of the machine towards me,
so I thanked him and declined to buy it.
I think he will remember me !

At the cost of $7.50 the price would have been over $9 per kilo,
that fish could not be over a kilo in weight.
The fish were all about the same size, about 800 grams each.
How could this middle aged man try to pull a fast one over me,
he has not eaten enough rice yet so to say.

During my schooldays I used to help my father in his provision shop.
Then I could just scoop out beans,
rice and other things almost to the exact weight,
give and take a few grains.

Times are changing, bad times are here.
Very soon the weighing machines may have magnets under the weighing pans.
Really, caveat emptor !!!

Ron

Note: This sea bream is the one usually served as curry fishhead.
It is a gentle and noble looking fish with flesh on its face,
and its eyes, including the lining around the sockets, are delicious.