My humble $3 chicken rice

I rarely eat at hawker centres; I will pay more for the same food (or worse) but nicer eating environment because I enjoy the eating experience more than the actual eating.

I am also the kind of person who gets food cravings when I see an ad or hear someobody talking about a certain food. If I see a Carl Jr's ad, I will want to eat a Carl Jr's burger. If during a random conversation, someone said they ate char kway teow, I will want to eat char kway teow. In other words, I'm every marketeer's dream.

The other day, I watch some Channel 8 show about chicken rice in a hawker centre and as expected, I developed an insane craving for chicken rice; and strangely enough, chicken rice from a hawker centre. And so, I went down to the nearest hawker centre for lunch yesterday. I went after lunch hour so it wasn't crowded and I can get a seat easily (which improved the eating experience). What shocked me is, there are 3000 stores selling chicken rice. How many different variations of chicken rice are there?

I chose the store nearest to where I was standing and told the uncle (busy chopping chicken) that I want a plate of chicken rice. He asked me "how much" - which got me confused. (How much chicken I want? How much am I willing to pay for it?) When he saw my stunned face, he clarified and asked whether I wanted a $3 plate or $4 plate and so on. Ahh. He is talking about the size. There is a display picture showing a plate of chicken rice with a side of vegetables for $4 so I ordered that.

Chop chop chop chop...

Uncle: Miss. There is not enough vegetable. I'll give you what I have but I won't charge you it. Just pay $3
Frou: It's okay. I'll pay $4 since you are giving me some vegetables
Uncle: No. There's not enough vegetables. Don't pay me for it.

I looked at the plate of vegetables he gave me. It was....a lot of vegetables~  more than what my usual atas shopping centre food court would have given . In fact, I once paid $8 for chicken rice with 2 strands of kai lan at the food centre at MBS.

Frou: Uncle, are you sure?
Uncle: Yes. Next time you come back I will give you more vegetables, ok?

And he insisted on taking only $3.

I am a changed woman this random act of honesty. Who says you can't have a good eating experience at the hawker centre!?