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China Elevator Stories
The Beautiful Tomatoes Of Siping
A lady at a market asks me to take pictures of the tomatoes she’s selling.
27/08/2013
Ruth Silbermayr
Author
One day, my in-laws and I are waiting for my husband at the market in his hometown, Siping. I take a picture of a basket with string beans. When one of the women working at the market sees this, she points at a basket with tomatoes she is selling and says:
“Take a picture of these. They are beautiful.”
I don’t object and take a picture, which brings a proud smile to her face.
Another woman sitting right next to her suddenly starts pointing at the salads she is selling and says: “Take a picture of these too; they are also really pretty.”
I take another picture.
Then the woman sitting right next to that lady starts pointing at her vegetables, but before this turns into an infinite loop, my husband turns up, and I tell the market ladies that I have to leave.
I look at the pictures on the way back home. The lady selling the tomatoes was right—the tomatoes do look great indeed.
Do you like taking pictures?
This is part of the series ‘Conversations with Locals in China,’ where I share conversations with Chinese people on my blog.