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Chinese Hospitality

Chinese hospitality - genuine caring or ego masturbation?

by Dan
How many of you have had this conversation at a Chinese dinner table:
Yes, it's good. Yes, it's good. Very good. Yes, it's very good. I like it very much. Oh, thank you for putting that in my bowl. Yes, thanks for that too. Yes, I like everything. Yes, yes, I do. Oh, the eggplant? Actually, I don't eat eggplant. It looks delicious but I never eat it. No, no, no. The food is wonderful. Everything is fine and you are very kind. Thank you but I just don't eat eggplant. Oh, thank you for putting some eggplant in my bowl for me to try. Yes, it's very delicious but I am full. No, thank you. I don't want any more soup. No, thank you. I don't want any more rice. No, thank you. I don't want any more cabbage. No, thank you. I don't want any more chicken. No, thank you. I don't want any more fish. I am full…I couldn't eat anymore.
When what you're thinking is:
Yes, everything is good now please stop asking me. I already said that I like it so why keep asking me? Also, I already told you that I'm full. You put food in my bowl after I told you that I don't want anymore. Thanks for not even listening to a word that I've said. You put food in my bowl without asking me one more time and I swear that I'll rip your head off and eat it in front of you even though I'm guessing that the site of me gnawing on your flesh would actually make you happy since it would mean that I'm eating more. I enjoyed your cooking so much but I'm sorry I don't like eggplant and it has nothing to do with you or your cooking. Get over yourself already. I just don't like it. Now, can you please explain to me why you just put some in my bowl after I explicitly told you that I don't eat it? No, I am full. Don't you hear me? I am full. For the love of…I AM FULL!!!! Do you have any idea what that means? Do you even care what I keep telling you?
From what I've learned in all my years here is that Chinese hosts want nothing more than...