又中又英——laughing all the way to the bank

　　Shops, businesses, and hotels are going bust because of the Wuhan coronavirus. But supermarkets are cashing in. Supermarket owners are laughing all the way to the bank. They must be hoping that the bulk-buying will continue for a long time. They must also be laughing at the stupidity of Hong Kong people. Supermarkets have raised the price of some items but Hong Kong's stupid people don't care. Before the coronavirus outbreak, Hong Kong people used to look at prices. They used to pick up items, examine them carefully, and even smell them before deciding whether or not to buy. But now they just bulk-buy whatever is available in supermarkets. The coronavirus outbreak has exposed the ugly underbelly of Hong Kong people.
　　If a shop or business is going bust, it means it is losing so much money it has to close down. To "cash in" used this way means to take advantage of a situation to make a lot of money. If you are laughing all the way to the bank, it means you are making a lot of money very easily. To bulk-buy, as I explained in my previous column, means to buy a lot of something. The word "underbelly" used this way means the hidden part of something. The expression "ugly underbelly" means this hidden part is ugly or unpleasant. Selfish Hong Kong people bulk-buying rice, toilet paper, kitchen towels, and other things, making it impossible for others to buy them, has shown there is a hidden, ugly side of Hong Kong people.
　　I cannot understand why Hong Kong's supermarkets don't stop people from bulk-buying. It is very easy to tell people they can only buy one bag of rice, one packet of toilet rolls, and one packet of tissue paper boxes. This will enable everyone to buy what they need. A big supermarket chain in Singapore has stopped people from bulk-buying after Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged people not to bulk-buy. Singaporeans listened to their leader. It is Hong Kong's tragedy that Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor doesn't know how to lead.
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　　因着武汉新型冠状病毒，商店、生意和酒店都要垮掉（going bust）了；但超级市场则可从中获利（cashing in），超市店主都要赚翻了（laughing all the way to the bank）。他们一定是希望这种「爆买」（bulk-buying）状况可以延续好长的时间。他们一定也在取笑香港人的愚笨。超市已经将一些货品的价格调高了，但香港的蠢人并不在意。新冠病毒爆发前，香港人都习惯看清楚价钱。他们都习惯拿起物品、仔细审视，甚至嗅一嗅，才决定要不要买。然而，他们现在只会大量购买（bulk-buy）任何超市货架上有的货品。新冠病毒爆发，揭露了香港人丑恶的阴暗面（ugly underbelly）。
　　若一间商店又或商业公司正going bust，意即它蚀本、破产，要关门大吉了。To “cash in”在这里的意思就是从中获利，赚个盘满钵满。若你是laughing all the way to the bank，意即你轻而易举便赚大钱。To bulk-buy，正如我在上一篇专栏中解释的，就是大量购买某物。
　　Underbelly一字在这里是指某事物隐藏的阴暗面。习语“ugly underbelly”就是那隐藏的部份是丑恶或令人讨厌的。自私的香港人大量购买（bulk-buying）米、厕纸、厨房抹手纸以及其他物品，令其他人都买不到，就反映了香港人隐藏的、丑陋的一面。我不能理解为何香港的超市不能阻止人们去大量购买（bulk-buying）。叫人们只能购买一包米、一排厕纸及一包面纸，是很容易的事。这就可让人人都能买到所需。新加坡总理李显龙呼吁人们不要爆买（bulk-buy）之后，那边的大型超市连锁店都已经限制人们大量购买（bulk-buying）了。新加坡人都会听从首长的话。特首林郑月娥不懂怎样去领导，真是香港的悲哀。
中译：七刻
Michael Chugani 褚简宁