Soup: egg dumplings [Photo provided to Shanghai Star]

By the time a huge pot of soup is served, usually at about 8 or 9 pm, there are few people at the table who still have room in their stomachs. But everyone still dutifully eats a bowl to avoid angering their mother (the chef) and to "borrow some good luck". The egg dumpling, omelet stuffed with minced meat, is the highlight of the soup and symbolizes wealth as it is shaped like a gold ingot, the soup may also include meat, fish and mushroom balls representing the solidity of a family, and vermicelli to signify longevity.