This is a Cantonese term for fights between couples that happened regularly but do not affect their relationships. It literally means wielding flowered weapons.
When I was growing up, all my neighbors and I stayed in wooden houses. There would be no privacy as everything said in such rooms could be heard most clearly from outside the wooden walls. My little friends and I would congregate outside one house in particular after the evening meals. We would play along the pavements. At least once a week, we would be in the best position to listen and perhaps witness some highly dramatic fights.
As I remember the order of events, first the couple would argue about stupid things like the food was not good. The wife would insult the husband for not bringing home more money to buy more expensive food. Then the husband would counter that the wife's mother failed in teaching her to cook a decent meal. From there voices would be raised and a proper quarrel would ensued. We tiny tots would be enthralled and we waited for dishes to be thrown.
As the months passed on, this couple would periodically make special trips to buy more dishes to be thrown at each other. Their disposition did not seem to sour after successive quarrels. In fact we noted that the following morning after a big fight, they would be seen hand in hand walking to work in a nearby factory.
I suppose this is how the couple cleared the air and the fights were their enhancements and excitement in their interesting life!
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