noon
When Ling Foo went forth with his business in his pack he always closed the shop . Here in upper Woosung Road it would not have paid him to hire a clerk . His wife , obedient creature though she was , spoke almost no pidgin -- business -- English ; and besides that , she was a poor bargainer . It was hard by noon when he let himself into the shop . The first object he sought was his metal pipe . Two puffs , and the craving was satisfied . He took up his counting rack and slithered the buttons back and forth .