Xiao Li couldn't understand. "What are you all saying? I can't understand a single word."
The group of people, drunk and belligerent, spoke in mixed Mandarin and Cantonese, "What's the deal? Can't even speak Cantonese, how can you be a waitress?"
"There aren't many Cantonese people in this town, why should I speak Cantonese?" Xiao Li tried to explain to the red-faced, thick-necked drunks.
Their eyes were fierce and menacing, giving off an impression that they were not easy to provoke.
I pulled at Xiao Li, worried that she would be at a disadvantage. "Let me talk to them, I understand."
My mother is Cantonese. Although I don't speak it perfectly, I can understand it. "Gentlemen, may I ask what you have brought? If it's a protected animal, our establishment does not handle such items."
"It's just a snake caught from the wild. Very common, certainly not a protected species." One of the big men untied the snake bag to reveal a flower snake that had its mouth tied up inside.