Why I hate using the phone

Talking on the phone in Chinese is sort of challenging. I mean, it's entirely challenging. You don't realize how much you rely on body language, gestures, and facial expressions until all of those are gone. Plus we have terrible reception in our concrete-walled apartment.... Fun!

So I ordered another jacket to be tailor made.

Won't Chelsea look great in this one!

I originally got some grey wool fabric for it, but after I left the fabric market, I realized it wasn't what I wanted. I don't like wearing wool when it's not very cold, and this is going to be a spring/fall jacket. So I went back a couple days later and changed fabrics. Nothing too complicated.

Then a few days later I got a phone call from the tailor lady. "Hi, I'm the one making the jacket for you," she starts in Chinese. 

"Oh hi!" So far, so good.

"So you know how we changed fabrics? Well, the lizi from last time, I don't think it's going to look very good with this material."
Me: "Huh?"
"Well, something something print fabric, plain fabric, blah blah blah. The new fabric has a print, and the lizi just won't work with it. Let's change it."
I'm scrambling here. Lizi, lizi, lizi.... For the life of me I don't know what she's talking about. Lizi as in example? The example picture I gave her doesn't look good with this new fabric? She wants to change it? What on earth is she going to change about it, and how are we going to decide on this over the phone? I LIKE the example picture I gave her! (See above!) I think it will look just fine with the printed fabric I chose. It will be gorgeous.
"Just keep it the same," I tell her. I don't want to make some major change over the phone.
"But with the printed fabric... The lizi... I just don't think it looks very good."
Oh dear! I really like it, so there! Just make it already! But all I say is, "Just keep it the same." (I'm nice in Chinese.)
We're both clear on the matter, and we finish our call
For the next few minutes, our phone conversation rattles around in my head, sort of like that screen saver where the words bounce around and hit the screen edge, change color, and float away in the other direction.  She wanted to change the lizi because the one I'd chosen doesn't go well with the print? Lizi, lizi, lizi.....  Then it dawns on me. Lizi means example, it also means pear, but it also means LINING! Aha!
We had had a conversation about the lining. I'd chosen a cool grey lining to go with the grey wool. It had funky grey circles on a shiny grey background. Yes, that would be ATROCIOUS with my knew paisley/floral patterned material. And I'd just told her to keep it the same. No wonder I could practically hear her eyes rolling over the phone!
I called her back. She'll pick a new lizi. I'm sure it will be marvelous. Either way, it will be better than the printed grey one I'd almost insisted on keeping.