Could eating from a hot pot be like sipping from the Fountain of Youth? A 73-year-old waiter who daily serves up this Northwestern Chinese specialty is living proof that this connection may indeed exist.吃火鍋和喝不老泉水相當嗎?一個每天上這道中國西北特色火鍋的73歲服務員就是活的證明,吃火鍋和長壽也許的確有關系。
Born in Tianjin, Wang Fuchang worked in textile factories from his youth until he retired at age 60. Although he loves to drink and play mahjong, these hobbies weren」t enough to keep this active senior from feeling bored. At last several Hui nationality friends suggested he try working part time at a Muslim restaurant. For eight years, Wang has happily waited tables at YiLiDe.
王福常出生在天津,從年輕時在棉紡廠一直工作到60歲退休。雖然他很喜歡喝酒,打麻將,但是對這個充滿活力的老人來說,這些愛好不夠刺激。最後,一些回民朋友建議他可以試著在一家穆斯林火鍋飯館工作。結果,王先生在義利德飯店愉快地當了八年服務員。
Wang regrets that he is illiterate but has learned to write down customers」 orders. Fortunately YiLiDe」s menu is a simple two-page affair. Hot pots restaurants usually serve shaved, frozen meat. For nearly 20 years, YiLiDe has featured fresh lamb, beef, chicken and seafood, thinly sliced to order behind glass on the scrupulously clean, pleasant premises. Wang recommended ordering seasoned, minced fish, lamb, and beef so we could roll our own meat balls. Our Chinese tasters rated the wanzi (meatballs) excellent; two laowai families found them delicious and fun to catch with chopsticks.
王先生很遺憾他是文盲。不過,他已經學會記下客人點了什麼。還好,義利德的菜單很簡單,只有兩頁。火鍋酒店一般都有冷凍肉片。近20年來,這家飯館的特色是提供新鮮的牛羊雞肉和海鮮;在又乾淨氣氛又好的店內,按照客人的要求,廚師在玻璃窗後邊把肉切成薄片。王先生建議我們點肉餡,自己可以做成丸子—又好吃又好玩!
Wang credits his superb energy and stamina to healthy routine. He wakes at 6:00 a.m., breakfasts at 7:00 a.m. and practices taiqijuan at a park until 8:30 a.m. At 10:45 the spry senior boards a bus for the intersection at Pukoudao and Huchang Lu and begins work when YiLiDe opens at 11:00 a.m. 『Uncle Wang is our supervisor,』 the young waiters joke. While mopping the floor after the lunch crowd, they insist the aged waiter rest upstairs. He naps and watches TV from 2:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. After the crew eats together at 10:00 p.m., but before the restaurant」s final cleanup at midnight, Wang heads for home.
王先生認為他充沛的精力來自健康的生活習慣。他上午6點起床,7點吃早飯,再在公園打太極拳打到8點半。差一刻11點時,這個精力充沛的老人乘車前往位於浦口道和南昌路交口的飯館。他11點開始工作,飯館同時開門。『王叔叔是我們的老板,』年輕的服務員開玩笑地說。午飯後,他們拖地的時候,讓老服務員在樓上休息。從下午2:30點到5:30點他看電視、睡覺。10點鍾和同事們一起吃飯後,王先生回家,而其他服務員打掃到深夜。
Every Friday morning, Wang worships at the mosque on Shaoxing Dao and Guangdong Lu. By 1:30 p.m. he is back at work. Since Muslims do not accept cremation, Wang」s greatest concern is his future burial. Because Wang and his wife live with their three sons, and he earns over 1000Ұ monthly, this devout elder soon plans to realize his dream– buying a burial plot in Beichen district. Wang Fuchang hopes to continue serving until he passes away, so we may yet long enjoy his charming smile and service.
每個星期五上午,王先生在附近的清真寺做禮拜。下午1點半他回去工作。穆斯林不想被火葬,因此王先生最關心的事情是他將來埋在哪。因為王先生和他的妻子跟他們三個兒子住在一起,而且每月他賺1000多塊錢,這個虔誠的老人很快會實現他的夢想,在北辰買一塊墓地。王先生希望繼續當服務員,我們還有機會享受他獨具魅力的微笑與服務。
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