Dumplings on Credit

On my way home from work in the evenings, I pass by a nightly street fair. There's usually someone selling copy DVDs, another person with panty hose in all colors & designs, still others selling wallets, costume jewelry, & of course a cornicopia of yummy street food.

I often buy veggie dumplings from the same guy a few times a week. The other night, the dumpling vendor saw me coming & dished up ten of the crispy bites for me (3 RMB = about US 40 cents) before I reached his stand. When I dug into my pocket, I realized that I only had a 1-RMB coin & a 100-RMB bill. In my basic Chinese, I told him that I didn't have any money, so I'd have to go dumpling-less tonight. He insisted. He shoved the dumplings at me, took my one kuai coin, & said I could pay him the remaining two kuai when I saw him next. I guess I've established credit in China!