Getting Moderately Deep With... The Manager of A Family Restaurant

By Edoardo Donati Fogliazza, July 26, 2019

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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 manager of Xiao Wang Home Restaurant. 

What’s your idea of the perfect day?
When I finish my work and go home to spend time with my family. 

What's the first thing you thought when you woke up this morning?
There’s a lot of work to do. 

Who is your best customer?
I have to say there is not really a good or bad customer for us here. Though we always hope our customers are kind and respectful. 

Who is your worst customer?
A person who lacks manners and, whether or not he’s satisfied, does not respect the staff and mistreats us. 

Which living person do you most admire?
I don’t really like to idolize people. I tend to look up to and compare myself to people who are close to me. For this reason, I would say I admire my boss the most, because every day I have proof of his talent. 

How are you feeling today?
Just fine. Though there aren’t too many customers, which makes me feel a bit uneasy. 

When and where were you happiest?
Every time I eat a meal together with my family. I am very lucky to have everyone nearby, especially compared to many people in Beijing who are just here to work and live far away from their relatives. For this reason, I am grateful. 

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Nothing in my life has happened yet that I would classify as an achievement. My dream is to open a restaurant myself and this drives me every day, but until that dream is realized I can’t say I’ve truly accomplished anything. 

What trait do you most value in a person?
Their sense of justice. This means their ability to tell what is right, regardless of whether they are rich or poor. 

What is it that you most dislike?
People who cannot relate to others. On one hand, I mean those who are not able to communicate, or tell a story and have someone understand them. On the other hand, I mean those who do not consider how others feel and who think only of themselves, for example treating everyone badly if they’re not in a good mood. I really can’t stand that. 

What is your motto?
Always push forward. We can make mistakes in life but the important thing to keep in mind is to always push forward. 

What’s the most surprising thing that’s happened to you?
Every time a relative or a friend surprises me by visiting me at the restaurant or at my house. It’s always amazing to see a person we care about after a long day. 

Which era of Beijing’s history would you most like to have lived in?
Beijing during the Ming dynasty era, for sure. I have a feeling I belong in that time period. During emperor Zhu Di’s time, Beijing was a metropolis with an advanced economy and a center for the arts. There was also a sort of peculiar spirituality. I would definitely want to have lived during that time so I could check it out.


You can find Liu at Xiao Wang Home Restaurant at Bldg 2, Guanhua Dongli, Chaoyang 朝阳区光华东里 2号楼

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