Lessons we’ve learned after three months of doing these food vendor interviews: 1) All customers are great customers and 2) Everyone is happiest at home. This month, we meet Wang Chengfu, a cafeteria worker at Dongzhimen’s long-distance bus station, who says there isn’t a single person on this Earth he admires.
What is your idea of the perfect day?
A happy day.
Right. What’s the first thing you thought about when you woke up this morning?
It’s time to go to work.
Who is your best customer?
All of my customers are my best customers.
Who is your worst customer?
I don’t have any bad customers! Only best customers.
Which living person do you most admire?
I’ve never thought about this before. I don’t really have anyone I admire.
How are you feeling today?
I am feeling pretty peaceful.
When and where are you happiest?
At home.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Everybody wants to have talents, but they don’t get to control what talents they get.
True. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I know what I want my greatest achievement to be – I want to make my family’s lives better, happier. That’s what I want to do, but it’s a challenge.
If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
I can’t change anything by myself, so I don’t consider it. Everyone needs to change together.
What is your most treasured possession?
I don’t have any expensive or valuable belongings. My life is my most treasured possession.
What trait do you most value in a person?
Teamwork.
What is it that you most dislike?
Bad people.
OK. What’s the most surprising thing that’s happened to you?
My life hasn’t had too many ups and downs. It’s been very predictable.
What era of Beijing’s history would you most like to have lived in?
I would want to live in this current era.
Who is your hero?
I don’t have a hero. There’s not much point in having a hero because even if I look up to someone, I have to live my own life. I won’t become them no matter what. I don’t understand having a hero.
When was the last time you lied?
I don’t lie often. If it’s about something important, I never lie. I sometimes exaggerate my own accomplishments when I’m with friends and we’re all bragging. But to most people I’m honest. I tell it like it is.
Who is the person you love the most?
First, my old man and my old lady. Second, my wife and kids.
If you did not sell food, what job would you like to have?
I would still work, but I would want to do the things I like to do and have control over my work.
Try Wang Chengfu’s noodles at Sichusn Noodles (which we’re pretty sure was supposed to be called Sichuan Noodles), at Dongzhimen’s long-distance bus station.
Photo by Holly Li
0 User Comments