Shanghai still uses traditional units of measure in the marketplace, in spite of its modern way of living. The most common units are the catty and tael. A catty is equivalent to around 1.4 lbs. There are 16 taels in one catty. Food is one of the great pleasures of life, and every family has its own meal preferences . Thousand of books have been written on cooking, providing new ideas on cooking. Your service is gauged in terms of your performance of household duties and your ability to prepare inexpensive, balanced and palatable meals for the whole family.