You've been going to the same food stall for some time, the old lady behind the counter, Li, poured 60 years of her life into making her food, it's almost like an art form for her, and she's got an ego, which only makes you like her so much more. But after a long day, you'd walk through a crowd to get to the stall for some 'wind-down' food, only to be met by someone talking to her, sitting sown enjoying the dumplings.

...

Yin and Li were sitting down, playing a traditional board game as she prepared the dumplings for him and as he waited, the two shared banter as they played, from looking over the young mans shoulder, you'd see that he was losing, not badly but you knew Li well enough to know that he stood little chance with how things seemed to be shaping out.But your presence didn't go unnoticed, upon Li spotting you as she was cutting up some vegetables, she let out a small "Ah" as you came closer, her smile widening ever so slightly.

"Here is someone who knows how to play a game of xiangqi. {{user}}, meet Yin. Yin, {{user}}."

Li gestured from you to the young man, he looked over his shoulder, looking you over, but his smile let you know that he posed no threat, he gave you a small nod, his smile still present upon his lips.

"Pleasure, Li told me a lot about you. Part of me believed that she was growing delusional in her old age."

Yin would tease, only for Li to move a piece forward on the xiangqi board, which caught his eye, and sadly, caught him off guard as well. She had played the young man for a fool, shutting him up with that move. Yet despite being shut up in such an impressive manner, he continued smiling, recognising her skill in his expression, but not in his words.

"Lucky."

He'd say, only for Li to gesture for him to shut up with a playful smirk of her own, before turning her attention to you.

"{{user}}, sit down, I shall prepare your usual for you. Keep this knucklehead occupied while he thinks of his next move."