In Chinatown, one can buy meats found at local Safeway or Von’s, like steaks and pork chops. You can even get fancy ducks for special occasions. At my local Chinese supermarket, you can buy things you wouldn’t find anywhere else. Call them exotic ingredients for dishes fit for an Emperor: frogs, snails, geoducks, and snakes. Here’s a story of a merchant from long ago, who sold something a bit more exotic at the marketplace.

Soong was a successful business owner. He sold groceries to the local villagers. One bad summer, a heat wave overtook the countryside and eventually killed the local crops. Soong’s market failed because there were no vegetables to sell. Everyone in the village was leaving the countryside to venture into the larger towns to find work and food. Soong did the same.

It was a sad morning when Soong boarded up his shop and tied everything he had into a small bundle wrapped up with rope. He ventured west to the next village.

Soong walked no further than twenty minutes when a Ghost jumped out from behind a big rock. "Boo!" cried the Ghost.

Soong, in no mood to be bothered by anything, said, "Hah, you don’t scare me, you Ghost. For I am a ghost also."

"Oh, okay. That’s good to know. Hey, Friend, which way were you heading?"

"I was going to the next town to see what I could scare up. You and come along with me, if you’d like," said Soong. So Soong and Ghost headed west together.

Along the way, Soong had an idea, "Hey, this is farther than I thought. I’m really tired. How about if we took turns riding on each others shoulders." Ghost agreed and Soong climbed on top Ghost’s shoulders.

Ghost grunted, "You’re pretty heavy for a dead man."

Soong answered smartly, "I’m heavy because I’m newly dead."

Ghost carried Soong for another half an hour then said, "I’m getting tired also, it’s my turn to ride on your shoulder." So Ghost and Soong switched places.

"Since I’m newly dead, what are the things I should watch out for, " Soong asked curiously.

Ghost held his breath in fear, "The worst thing is human spit. For one thing, it’s a very nasty habit humans have. The second reason is that if inhibits your ability to shapeshift."

"Shapeshift?"

"Yah, when you need to scare humans or get away quickly, you change your form from ghost to bird or animal. Don’t worry. The longer you become a ghost, you learn to do these things and more." Soong listened intently and walked further on.

Soong looked ahead to the horizon. The next town was coming up. Ghost said," Okay, Soong, put me down so we can get ready to scare the town." Soong did not let go of Ghost’s legs. Ghost struggled and cried, "Hey, let go of me!" He then realized, "You’re not a ghost, but a human! You tricked me!"

Soong held on and didn’t say one word. Ghost struggled more then changed shape to a bird, attempting to fly away. Soong grasped onto the legs and held tightly. Ghost changed shape again to a heavy goat and jumped off Soong’s shoulders. With all of his might, Soong inhaled then expectorated a huge amount of spit! How gross that must have felt. It landed on Ghost, keeping him to goat form. Soong lunged forward and grabbed the animal by its horns. He removed the rope from his bag and tied it around the goat’s neck.

Soong brought the goat to market and sold it for a considerable amount of coin. He was able to go back to his own town, re-open his market, and get back to business.

Nowadays, when I browse for vegetable, fruits or exotic meat at my local Chinese supermarket, I’m sure they don’t sell ghosts. It may very well be that I’ve probably never looked hard enough. Or so I think…