Cash-strapped Chinese man requests extra rice; restaurant owner surprises him

A financially strained, unemployed man in China who ordered a set of fried rice on a food delivery platform not only received a larger portion of rice but also an apprenticeship offer from the restaurant.The young man, surnamed Wan, shared his experience on social media in mid-June, with the video attracting 40 million views and nearly four million likes as internet users praised the restaurant owner’s kindness.Living in Wuxi, in eastern Jiangsu province, Wan placed an order for the fried rice at 12.8 yuan (US$2) and included a note requesting more rice, according to Jiupai News.“Please give me more rice. I was recently fired and haven’t received my salary yet. I can only eat one meal per day. Please!” Wan wrote in his note.When he received the meal, he discovered it contained significantly more rice than usual, alongside a handwritten message on the lid of the lunchbox that read, “Come and be an apprentice in my restaurant.”A vendor prepares malatang, a mix of ingredients boiled in a hot, spicy broth, for customers at a diner in Tianshui, Gansu province. Such meals are staples in many parts of China. Photo: Getty Images“I only intended to ask for more rice; I just wanted to feel full. But look at the lid… the restaurant owner wants me to thrive,” Wan expressed on social media.“I was deeply moved by the restaurant owner’s response,” he told the media. “I never expected such warmth from a stranger.”Wan later contacted the owner and plans to work as an apprentice for some time, documenting his new work experience through videos.Details about Wan’s previous job were not disclosed in the report.The restaurant owner, surnamed Tan, expressed sympathy upon reading Wan’s note.“It is not easy for everyone. I also received help from kind-hearted people when I was young,” Tan was quoted as saying.During the daytime, customers sit on plastic stools and enjoy their meals at an outdoor food stall in a local market area, with illuminated menu boards displaying an array of Chinese dishes in Chongqing. Photo: Cheng Xin/Getty Images“What I did is just a small favour. I hope the public will refrain from messaging me on the food delivery platform, as I don’t have time to respond,” he added.Further ReadingPraise for the restaurant owner poured in across China’s internet.“I was moved to tears. I hope everyone can experience kindness from the world,” commented one online observer.Another noted: “As the saying goes, ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’”“When I saw this kind of video, it reminded me that love still exists in the world. Thank you, restaurant boss, for your selflessness,” wrote a third.