China News Service, Chongqing, March 10th: Title: Sixty-year-old Taiwan compatriot working as a catering "newcomer" in Chongqing: life is valuable in "experience"

　　China News Service reporter Zhong Yi

　　"Don't look at my age, but my cooking speed is no slower than that of young people." Recently, in a prosperous business district in Yubei District, Chongqing, the 65-year-old Wang Guanzuo, the owner of "Wang Zhipin Gao Seafood Noodles", was busy. He uses a "multi-pronged approach" of frying, boiling and stir-frying. In a short time, Taiwanese delicacies such as fried oysters, braised pork rice, Taiwanese milkfish ball soup, etc. are on the table one after another, and the taste buds of diners are excited.

　　Customers couldn't help but praise Wang Guanzuo when they saw that he was able to cook with ease alone.

What’s even more surprising is that he has only been in the catering industry for a year and a half and is a technician who retired from the automobile industry.

Talking about this crossover, Wang Guanzuo answered optimistically: "You can't be content with the status quo in life. When you encounter something you are interested in, try it. No matter whether you succeed or not, it will be a valuable experience."

　　Wang Guanzuo was born in Taoyuan, Taiwan in 1959. Because he was in the manufacturing industry, he frequently visited the mainland since the 1990s to carry out technical exchanges.

From tricycles everywhere in Hainan Island to today's busy traffic and increasingly convenient inter-provincial passages, Wang Guanzuo said, "I have watched the development of the mainland all the way." It was precisely because he was amazed by the rapid changes in the mainland that he officially "landed in China" in 2012 "Job hunting in Chongqing.

In January 2024, Wang Guanzuo, a compatriot in Chongqing and Taiwan, was sorting information in a restaurant.

Photo by China News Service reporter Zhong Yi

　　Looking back on the first half of his life, Wang Guanzuo often said "experience is more important".

He has a wide range of interests and is always curious about new things.

Using free time to travel is the best way to "unlock" the scenery of the mainland.

"More than 30 years ago, I went to Guilin, Guangxi on a business trip. I only had half a day to spare, so I went to Xiangshan to play around."

　　Whether he is joining a group as a retail investor or traveling by car, Wang Guanzuo has traveled all over the country.

He believes that even though the Internet can now live broadcast the scenery of various places, it is still different from experiencing it in person.

"The mainland is so big and each has its own characteristics. It's worth taking the time to walk around and take a look."

　　After retiring in 2018, Wang Guanzuo still lives a fulfilling life, sorting out information on the automobile industry, trying to improve technology, and even learning to cook from his family members who have experience in the catering industry.

In October 2022, Wang Guanzuo's enthusiasm for studying food has not diminished, and he is determined to open a store.

"It's not so much 'starting a business' as it is creating a new hobby so that more people can eat authentic Taiwanese food," he said.

　　Wang Guanzuo believes that the shift from making technology to making food seems to be a big change, but in fact it is not. The key lies in "exploring carefully".

He tried to input raw material costs, daily expenses, operating income and other data into the computer for real-time analysis and comparison, so as to facilitate the adjustment of marketing strategies in practice.

"Live until you are old and learn until you are old." He knows the well-developed network information and has hundreds of short food production videos saved in the folder.

When I encountered something with a complicated process, I wrote it down by hand in a notebook, and before I knew it I had saved two big notebooks.

　　"I am an amateur in the catering industry, and customer feedback is very important. If something is good, stick to it, and if something is wrong, improve it." In his spare time, Wang Guanzuo will carefully read the comments on food review websites. What makes him deeply proud is that the popularity of the store Once he reached the top, many suggestions became the biggest driving force to support his progress.

　　Wang Guanzuo gave an example. It used to take 15 minutes to cook a single serving of fried oysters. After repeated practice, now three or four dishes can be cooked simultaneously.

What needs to be emphasized is that "the cooking methods can be varied, but the essence of the dishes cannot be changed randomly." For example, in the Taiwanese home-cooked dish "Three Cups of Chicken", in addition to a cup of rice wine, a cup of soy sauce, and a cup of sesame oil, the "nine-layered pagoda" of spices is also essential.

　　In order to better cater to the market, Wang Guanzuo is actively pursuing innovations, doing takeout online, opening work meal reservations, and adding Taiwanese food stalls... He also decorates pictures of the island's characteristic scenery in conspicuous places to enhance diners' understanding of Taiwan. "As soon as the chat box is opened, the heart becomes closer."

　　"The future is unknown, and there are still many challenges ahead. We must try our best." At the end of the interview, Wang Guanzuo saw off another group of diners and walked to the unpacked table. A note pressed under the cup stood out. ——"Thank you for the hospitality! The milk tea is delicious. Come again next time. I wish you good health and a prosperous business!"

　　After reading it carefully, Wang Guanzuo smiled and carefully stored the note, "Communicating with people through food is also a great blessing in life."

(over)