The warmth in the man's--in Li Lianhua's smile is a balm on her nerves, and she feels like she can breathe a little easier knowing that the person she's competing against appears friendly. It's only after a moment ticks by and seeing the stall worker look to her that she realizes with a jolt: He's started the game already.

"Oh, ah..." Quickly, quickly... "Li Lianhua. Your name is nice to say. I like the sound of it."

It's a Ka Bue name, she thinks? Or something like it, as far as she can tell. She's no expert by any stretch of the imagination, but she genuinely likes the alliteration.