Unit 4  Understanding ideas 2

An Unusual Spring Festival

1 It was my first Spring Festival in the UK. I wanted to treat my British friend, Emilia, to a  Chinese dinner. She is a nice girl. Sometimes, she cooks for me.

2 However, I just couldn’t make it. I often watched Grandma cook, but I never cooked anything myself. It was midnight in China, time for dumplings. But my whole family came to my help on the phone. And I became a chef in one hour! I even made some cucumber flowers.

3 After Emilia hung balloons and lanterns in the dining room, I put the last dish on the table. “This is the lion’s head!”

4 “Are you joking?Isn’t that against the law?” Emilia was shocked.

5 I laughed. “It’s a pork meatball. My family always have it at the Spring Festival. Its round shape stands for family reunions. Try it!” Emilia cut a piece of it with her knife and put it into her mouth. “I love it!” she said. The smell of the dishes and our laughter filled the room. I felt like I was back home.