Page 37 of Inventing Vivian

The redness spread from his ears down his neck, and creases formed along Zhang Wei’s cheeks as he grinned and chewed.

“Very well.” Benedict couldn’t help but grin back. “Keep your secrets.”

“What is this?” Mr. Thomas held a bit of tofu between his chopsticks, looking unsure if he should eat it or not.

“Su ji,” Zhang Wei said.

“Su ji?”

“It means meat-free chicken,” Benedict told him. “Made from soybeans. The consistency is a bit strange, but you’ll get used to it.”

Mr. Thomas put the tofu in his mouth and chewed. “This is all very good,” he said to Zhang Wei. “The taste is so different than anything I’ve eaten before, but I quite enjoy it.”

The man nodded his thanks, taking another bite.

Benedict was relieved. He knew Zhang Wei wouldn’t be offended if his food wasn’t appreciated, but he wanted to make certain his friend felt acknowledged for his efforts.

He put some more vegetables and sauce into his bowl and glanced toward Mr. Thomas. “No, wait!”

His warning came too late. Mr. Thomas put an entire red pepper into his mouth and bit down. He tipped his head in curiosity at Benedict’s outburst, but an instant later his eyes widened, and he slapped a hand over his mouth.

“Spit it out!” Benedict gave him a napkin and rushed to the icebox. He grabbed the pitcher of cream.

Mr. Thomas’s entire face was crimson. “Water,” he gasped, sticking out his tongue and fanning his mouth with his hand.

“Drink this.” Benedict gave him the pitcher.

“Peppers are not for eating,” Zhang Wei said. “They are for flavor only!” He left the table and took a bottle from a shelf.

Mr. Thomas was on his feet, gulping down the cream, with tears streaming from his eyes.

Zhang Wei brought the bottle and a glass. “Oil is better.” He took the cream pitcher from Mr. Thomas and poured some cooking oil into the glass. He gave instructions to Benedict in Chinese.

“Rinse your mouth with the oil, but do not swallow,” Benedict translated. “The oil will clear the burn.”

Mr. Thomas swished the oil throughout his mouth. After a moment, he spat it back into the glass. He sat, breathing heavily.

“Better?” Benedict asked.

He nodded, looking exhausted from his ordeal. His face was still red and his eyes watery.

“I should have warned you about the peppers,” Benedict said.

“Jinsè learned the same lesson,” Zhang Wei said, chuckling.

“He’s right.” Benedict remembered the shock as his mouth burned from the inside out. In time he’d grown accustomed to the heat of the peppers, but he still didn’t think he could eat one straight without the same results.

The men finished their meal with a cup of vegetable soup, and Mr. Thomas excused himself to return to his work.

“I understand Chester had his first kung fu lesson yesterday,” Benedict said, leaning back in his chair.

Zhang Wei grinned, his eyes lighting up with amusement. “He is an eager student.”

“I imagine he is.”

“He reminded me many times about the dinner party on Sunday.”

“He is looking forward to it, apparently. As am I,” Benedict said. He was very pleased that Zhang Wei had been invited as well. It would be the first social occasion his friend would attend in London, and Benedict was grateful that Mrs. Larsen apparently did not share the same prejudice so many others in Society held.

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