汝爱什米咸?

I approach the “菜饭” stall with my usual lunch hour drowsiness, but the lady manager to wake me up.

“小弟，汝爱什米咸?”

Not because she calls me little brother, but first time in my life I am intrigue by the wondrous of Hokkien dialect. She asked me what kind of “saltiness” I want leh!

“小妹，我不要咸。我要甜酸鱼。”

I returned the kindness. We both smile at meeting people from the same ‘tribe’.

I also realized the Hokkien of stingy is "咸涩", which are 'taste' also.

I will continue to ponder about the word and culture for this whole day.

Interesting surf raed - Who are the Hokkien People? and the urban dictionary (billingsgate warning)