In our monthly series 'Getting Moderately Deep With... ' we ask a food vendor tough questions. Well, sort-of tough.
This month we meet Liu, the laoban of a shop that sells pig feet cooked in soy sauce.
How are you feeling today?
I’m fine, mostly because the weather is nice
and not too hot.
What is the first thing you thought when
you woke up this morning?
I was worried about my car. There are a lot
of cars in Beijing, but not enough parking
spots. The only way for people who live in
the hutongs like me is to park their car close
to their house [even though it is illegal in
my hutong]. There are no policemen in the
evening when I’m back from work, but they
often come in the morning after 8. So every
day when I wake up, the first thing that goes
through my mind is that I have to move my
car as early as possible.
What is your idea of the perfect day?
I think the perfect day has two parts. First,
good sales. Second, dinner with a beer and
a football match, enjoyed together with
friends in the evening.
Who is your best customer?
I do not think there is a difference between
good and bad customers. First of all, I treat
everyone equally. Then, if someone does not
like what I prepare, I certainly can’t blame them… it’s just a matter of taste.
But there must be some bad ones…
You know, since we are not a restaurant,
we do not experience problems like people
refusing to pay or asking for refunds.
Customers just buy our specialty and leave.
When and where were you happiest?
Here in Beijing, when I had just opened the
shop, and some customers came back to
compliment me on the food. It was so satisfying
to know I was doing well.
Which talent would you most like to
have?
Can I say a superpower instead? I would like
to be able to teleport. I could do so many
more things that way.
If you could change one thing about your
life, what would it be?
I would like to change where I live. A small
house in the hutongs is fine for me now, but
if I want to marry and have children, I will
have to find more spacious accommodation.
What is your most treasured possession?
My freedom, knowing that I can wake up
every morning and live my life as I want.
What trait do you most value in a person?
Kindness.
What do you most dislike?
Hypocrisy.
What is your motto?
‘Hard work pays off.’
What’s the most surprising thing that’s
happened to you?
Winning the license plate lottery! After waiting
for three years, I was finally able to drive
my car in Beijing.
Which era of Beijing’s history would you
most like to have lived in?
I would like to have lived in Beijing during
the Qing dynasty. I developed quite a fascination
with this era through TV shows and
movies, and I would be curious to see for
myself the differences in lifestyle between
then and now.
Who is your hero?
Zhou Enlai, because his integrity and dignity
always inspired respect and admiration.
You can try Yu’s pig’s feet at 18 Dongzhimen Nanxiaojie in Beijing
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