Getting (Kinda) Deep With The Owner of a Donkey Meat Restaurant
By Vivian Liu
This month we meet Ms. Liu, owner of a restaurant that specializes in donkey meat.
How are you feeling today?
I’m feeling pretty good. Today isn’t particularly busy.
What's the first thing you thought when you woke up this morning?
I thought, ‘Damn it, I got up late.’
What is your idea of the perfect day?
A day when I’m happy. It doesn’t matter why, but a happy day is a perfect day.
Who is your best customer?
The regulars, of course. But more specifically, people who are polite, who take the time to give out compliments and who don’t make a fuss about things.
Who is your worst customer?
There are no ‘worst’ customers. Sure, people who are mean and make a big deal out of small things are annoying, but there’s no ‘worst’ type of customer. Customers are our livelihood.
Which living person do you most admire?
Two living people, actually: my parents, for raising me in a peaceful, stable household. There weren’t ever any fights or fusses, and I admire that.
When and where were you happiest?
When I was in the haven of my parents’ protection, back in Hebei. A child living with parents like mine is carefree, and very happy.
Which talent would you most like to have?
I want to be good at languages so that I can express myself better. I like being understood, and I admire people on TV who speak well and are persuasive. It seems like a powerful thing to have. Of course, I don’t have the time to learn how to be like that, but I wish I did.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I don’t know. I suppose it would be having a good, loving family – but it hasn’t happened yet. I don’t have any children.
If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
I guess there isn’t anything I want to change. I’m an indifferent person, and I don’t spend too much time scrutinizing the things in life I’m unhappy about. I just take it, and I’m pretty happy because of it.
What is your most treasured possession?
My body and my health. Without a healthy body, you don’t have anything.
What trait do you most value in a person?
Peacefulness. People who are peaceful are good to themselves and good to people around them.
What is it that you most dislike?
People who make a big fuss over small things, especially people who get drunk and start messing around.
What is your motto?
To become a better and better person, and that way, life will get better.
What always makes you laugh?
Lots of things. The TV, for example [laughs]. Lots of things make me laugh. Anything that’s funny, I guess!
What's the most surprising thing that's happened to you?
I don’t know. It hasn’t happened yet – I don’t have children.
Which era of Beijing's history would you most like to have lived in?
Ancient times, like in the Tang dynasty. I see it on TV a lot, but that’s not the only reason why. They valued tradition a lot more back then. Society and people seemed a lot simpler back then, too.
Visit Liu's shop at 17 Guanghuili, Chaoyang, Beijing 朝阳区光辉里17号
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