It's not all that — shall we say — "un-often" that we lump the words "crappy service" with "post office" together in one word — but we don't bother putting a negative in the whole thing because, well, service at times can be — something to whine about at length. But your Beijingologist experienced some quality service at the Dongsi Post Office today while picking up payment from China Post's payment transfer system.

Just around 15:00, counter number 6 had a lady wearing specs — we're not sure if she was called Li Chen (李晨) or not — and she was that one postal officer who not only knew her manners... well, we'll just let the story roll in the form of bullet points:

• Polite service, no buts

• Quick and reasonable check of ID

• A caring and pleasant voice

• The trouble of going through a stack of CNY 10 notes to find a new note for your Beijingologist

• Running the bills from the radio station payment through the inspection machine twice in full

• Filling in out the passport number of your Beijingologist — first time a non-Beijingologist "did done" this (we know, bad grammar)

• Being really pleasant at the end

Boom. Thumb banged on the "Excellent" button as she asked for our two fen on her kind of service.

Now Dongsi's my favorite post office. (State Secret: It has a Line 5 Subway stop next to the thing!)