To ask about Chinese culture and gift giving?

[AjasLipstick]

Because my DD has a friend whose Mother happens to run a market stall near our home at weekends, she sells a certain artisan type food which is amazing.

Whenever DH tries to go and buy some, the lady will NOT allow him to pay for it.

Same if we drop her DD off at her house....then the Mother will come out and give some of this product as a gift.

We want to buy the product regularly but feel we can't! As she never lets us pay.

I read that Chinese people are big on gift giving....but where's the line? Dh wants me to get some of the stuff tomorrow but I don't want to because I will have the "Here's the money...NO NO!" thing again.

And if I insist...like...properly insist, she gets offended!

What to do!?

I never said but per. my title...the family is Chinese.

Trade.

Make her something lovely in return.

I can't! I don't have bloody time to be making things. I work and so does DH....to make money to pay for stuff!

I'm a shit baker and not crafty at all.

I have a friend like this (not Chinese though). Every time I give her child/her a gift voucher to the equal value. Like a family voucher at pizza express or something. I know make a very clear joke "ha ha, please let me pay, you'll only end up with another pizza express voucher!" and then she stated letting me pay.

Oh I'd feel awkward doing that...and she'd be

In Chinese culture this is very common. However they will expect something in return, whether it be a favour or a gift, so make sure you reciprocate!

Nightmare well I feel like it got worse after I gave her a lift somewhere...she'd missed a train and was an hour from home late at night and her DD said "Call Aja!" so she did and I went to collect them.

I've also had her DD a lot after school and done teas and so forth. But we're "equal" now and I have bugger all to give...vouchers seems a bit crass. If only I grew stuff!