articles
China Elevator Stories
“Promise Me To Be Happy”
My fiancé and I pick up my wedding dresses in a wedding dress shop in Shenzhen and chat with the tailor.
19/05/2013
Ruth Silbermayr
Author
My fiancé and I pick up my two wedding dresses the other day. Before we leave the shop, the tailor says to me: “Promise me to be happy. If you find out that the dresses are too tight before flying back to Austria for the wedding, you can call me and I’ll change them. Or if there’s anything else, no matter what, just call me.”
She looks at both my fiancé and then me, and continues: “Also, if he doesn’t treat you well, call me.”
Then, addressing both me and my fiancé, who’s protesting at her implication that he might not treat me well, she says: “Our customers often call me to tell me all kinds of stories. Just like friends, no matter if the events are positive or negative, feel free to call me anytime.”
While she accompanies us to the elevator, she tells us: “My husband and I have been married for over 20 years. For each anniversary, he takes me somewhere special. Sometimes we travel somewhere; other times we just have a nice dinner at a restaurant. We’re very happy with each other. I wish you two happiness too.”
The elevator arrives, and with smiles on our faces, we say goodbye to the tailor who helped me find my wedding dresses.
Has anyone ever wished you happiness?
This is part of the series ‘Conversations with Locals in China,’ where I share conversations with Chinese people on my blog.