69novels Chapter 657: Toasting Is Taboo
Chapter 657: Toasting Is Taboo
Realizing her blunder, Song Yinyin quickly shook her head: "No, it’s nothing! Oh, Mr. President, please eat. If you find it delicious, I’ll make it for you next time!"President Shi Mai’er was quite surprised: "Oh, you can cook?"
"Yes," she nodded, "I learned from my mother. Although my cooking skills are not exceptional, I make pretty good longan sticky rice cakes."
"Looking forward to it."
President Shi Mai’er nodded, ate the longan sticky rice cake on his plate, and nodded: "Indeed, it tastes very good, but it doesn’t seem as delicious as the ones I’ve had before."
"Have you had this kind of longan sticky rice cake before?"
Song Yinyin asked in surprise.
"Yes, I came to Imperial City more than twenty years ago, and a friend of mine could also make this kind of longan sticky rice cake."
Song Yinyin nodded and said: "Then your friend must have exceptional skills."
"That’s true," responded President Shi Mai’er, seemingly lost in memories.
A waiter happened to walk past her with a tray of various crystal-clear drinks, and on a whim, Song Yinyin stopped him and casually took two glasses of red wine.
She handed one glass to President Shi Mai’er, bowed, and said: "President Shi Mai’er, may I toast to you?"
Toasting, in Country Z, is a part of the culture and a very common practice.
However, at this moment, President Shi Mai’er’s face showed a surprised expression, and he hesitated to take the glass from Song Yinyin.
Moreover, the atmosphere around suddenly turned awkward.
Song Yinyin intuitively felt puzzled, why was everyone giving her such strange looks?
Just as she was pondering, Lu Jihan strode over.
"Song Yinyin, put the wine down immediately!"
"Uh, why?"
Staring at Lu Jihan’s angry face, Song Yinyin was completely baffled.
Lu Jihan, with a tense jaw, came directly to seize the glass from her hand and quickly placed it back on the waiter’s tray.
Then, he turned and bowed respectfully to President Shi Mai’er, saying, "Mr. President, my apologies, my wife was out of line, and I ask for your forgiveness."
After a slight pause, he turned to glare at Song Yinyin and scolded softly, "Aren’t you going to apologize to President Shi Mai’er?!"
Song Yinyin was dumbfounded, she had no idea what she did wrong, and why Lu Jihan was being so unreasonable.
She hadn’t seen this cold side of Lu Jihan in a long time.
Probably back when she first returned to the country, and she and Song Dabai were brought to the Lu Family Mansion by Lu Jihan, was the only time his face had such a cold expression.
For a moment, she felt wronged, her eyes turning slightly red.
But President Shi Mai’er smiled and shook his head: "It’s fine, it’s fine. I see that Mrs. Lu didn’t know the customs of our S Country, so saying the wrong thing is understandable; she didn’t mean to."
With a smile, he looked at Song Yinyin and said: "In our S Country, most citizens practice Islam, which prohibits alcohol. Especially in formal settings, toasting an elder is considered taboo and is seen as disrespectful or offensive behavior. In serious cases, one may be spurned or scorned."
After hearing President Shi Mai’er’s explanation, Song Yinyin suddenly understood.
She was terrified, never expecting that ’toasting’ was taboo in S Country!
The saying goes, those who don’t know are not guilty. Song Yinyin truly acted unintentionally, and President Shi Mai’er, being broad-minded and forgiving, pardoned her ignorant behavior.