A Shopping Trip on a Public Bike

 I took a public bike to do some grocery shopping.  Using my phone — which was finally set up so I could do so — I was able to unlock the bike from its stall and go three km to the nearest supermarket.  As long as I returned the bike to a stall within an hour, the use of it was free.  I took the bike on narrow roads and was passed by cars, trucks, e-bikes and other bikes.  I heard a lot of locals saying “laowei!”  When I found the Mall, that I had been told directions to go to, I had to find a stall to park the bike.  I couldn’t find one easily so I had to use a map on the public bike app.

The Heng Long mall, which was not at all as fancy as Wuxi’s Hen Long, was good enough but it was annoying to have to show a health QR code to enter and then have staff tell me to put on a mask.  Give it up already China! I bought snacks and drinks which I put in a shopping bag I had brought along. I then went to the KFC where I had to use my phone to make an order. My number appeared on a screen which I looked at for a long time before my order came in a bag. I guess I had entered the order as take out. I took my food out of the bag and ate in the restaurant.  KFC offers beef burgers which are okay.  A new sensation you could say!

Riding the public bike back was a wee bit awkward because I had my shopping bag hanging off my shoulder, but I made it to the apartment safe and sound.