中国·福州——热爱城市从热爱美食开始

“The first stop in Fuzhou has to be Lao Fu Zhou!” Since the Spring Festival, Fuzhou has seen a steady rise in its cultural and tourism popularity. Along with it, Lao Fu Zhou, a Fujian cuisine brand that represents the traditional flavors of Fuzhou, has also been thriving. To visitors, it’s a restaurant known for its sweet-and-sour dishes. But what sets Lao Fu Zhou apart are the heartwarming stories that unfold inside.

Recently, the reporter accompanied Xu Xiaoyan, the second-generation inheritor of Lao Fu Zhou, to the Lao Fu Zhou (Xihu Road). In the kitchen, the clattering of pots and ladles filled the air as staff members communicated with hand gestures, encouraging each other in a lively, positive atmosphere. If you weren’t paying close attention, you might not notice that a few of the kitchen staff members are deaf-mute. “Their optimism and positivity really move me,” Xu Xiaoyan said.

It’s not just this branch; over the years, Lao Fu Zhou has provided job opportunities for nearly 80 deaf-mute individuals. For Xu Xiaoyan, it’s a “mutual journey” of kindness between people.

Xu Xiaoyan clearly remembers the evening of the third day of the Chinese New Year in 2015. The restaurant was bustling with guests, and the staff were busy beyond measure. In the kitchen, she saw a deaf-mute man washing dishes. The cramped space forced him to bend over, and his hands, having been soaked in the water for a long time, had turned pale.

After the restaurant closed for the night, the dishwashing man approached Xu Xiaoyan and gestured for her to stay. Given the staff shortage during the busy Spring Festival period, Xu Xiaoyan was worried he might want to resign due to exhaustion. To her surprise, the man smiled at her and, a bit shyly, wrote on a piece of paper: “I’m really happy here. Everyone treats me so well! Can I bring a few of my deaf-mute friends to help out at the restaurant after the Spring Festival?”

“I never expected that he wouldn’t complain about being tired and would be so kind-hearted,” Xu Xiaoyan said, clearly moved. Since then, Lao Fu Zhou has been offering job opportunities to the deaf-mute community. Today, the restaurant has 20 deaf-mute staff members, some of whom not only wash dishes but also help prepare traditional snacks.

The kindness is also spreading around the restaurant. To communicate better with the deaf-mute staff, the head chef and other employees have taken the initiative to learn sign language.

“Great!” That’s how Guo Bing, the founder of Fuzhou Xiaoshan Public Welfare Service Center, described Xu Xiaoyan. “It’s hard to accept and work with deaf-mute individuals, but what’s most impressive is that she did all this good without seeking attention!”

Guo Bing and Xu Xiaoyan’s connection also began through their shared commitment to public welfare. At that time, Guo Bing was looking to promote braille menus, which was supported by Xu Xiaoyan without hesitation. Since then, every year on Children’s Day and during the Spring Festival, Xu Xiaoyan has delivered festive dishes like Fotiaoqiang to children in welfare homes. “We’ve known each other for eight years, and she’s someone who quietly does a lot of good. Most of the time, I only hear about her kind deeds from others,” Guo Bing said.

That sense of goodwill never faded, even in Lao Fu Zhou’s most difficult times. During the Spring Festival in 2020, when the COVID-19 epidemic brought Fuzhou’s dining scene to a standstill and many restaurants struggled with excess stock, Lao Fu Zhou’s suppliers stepped up without hesitation, offering to help clear out the inventory.

Having felt the warmth and kindness of others, Xu Xiaoyan was inspired to give back in her way. When she saw online how tough things were for medical workers, she decided to provide them with free meals. For ten consecutive days, Lao Fu Zhou provided over a thousand free meals to more than ten community service sites - each one thoughtfully packed in an insulated container and delivered straight to the site. “Public welfare isn’t about showing off on social media. I hope people approach it with sincerity and genuine care,” said Xu Xiaoyan. Inspired by her example, other restaurants like Champion Wu also stepped up, offering hot meals to medical workers.

“She’s truly remarkable, standing in the rain herself, yet still holding the umbrella for others,” Guo Bing said, his voice full of both admiration and concern.

When asked why she continues her work in public welfare, Xu Xiaoyan answered, “For me, charity is as natural as eating. It has become a part of my daily life.” She shared that she grew up seeing her elders do good deeds and that contributing to public welfare has been a tradition passed down since the opening of Lao Fu Zhou. For the past 30 years, Lao Fu Zhou has always been there to lend a hand whenever someone with a disability sought help. Xu Xiaoyan’s uncle, Xu Zhenzheng, the founder of Lao Fu Zhou, even personally donated more than 100,000 yuan to help an employee who had fallen ill.

“Charity doesn’t take up much time. You don’t need to wait until you’re rich to give back. When someone needs help, you just lend a hand. It’s easy if you try,” Xu Xiaoyan said. She sees this spirit of giving as the key to Lao Fu Zhou’s growing success.

Today, Xu Xiaoyan not only engages in charity in her daily life but also integrates it into her business. On the Meituan platform, for every order placed at Lao Fu Zhou, the restaurant donates 1 yuan to support Meituan’s charity project “Playgrounds for Rural Children.” Since January 2022, Lao Fu Zhou has donated over 240,000 yuan, which has been converted into more than 10,000 interlocking panels, helping to build playgrounds in 427 locations. It has brought a happier childhood to tens of thousands of rural children in Gansu, Guizhou, Sichuan, and other regions. (Fuzhou Daily Reporter: Lin Rongsheng)