by Michael on Sun Oct 05, 2014 8:14 am
I've been in Guangzhou for 9½ years and last night I met the friendliest man in town. He's a beggar outside my favorite Korean restaurant and I saw right away he was different. There are all sorts begging in Chinese restaurants, and I give something if they don't get too pushy. Foreigners hate being targeted. Most of them are pro's, but some of them seem sincere. Last night was different and I saw it right away.
Last night I saw that he was just like my old Special Olympics friends from Hawaii. Chinese people always have an ulterior motive to approach you, but I could see right away his big beautiful smile was not a ruse. Sure, he had his money bowl, so I gave him 15 yuan while waiting at my outside table for my food. He was so happy, his smile was gorgeous. I knew right away he was all right, the friendliest man in Guangzhou.
After the food arrived, I invited him to eat with me since this strip of sidewalk was his turf. In my broken-ass Mandarin I said a few things and asked my hao pengyao (good buddy) to sit with me, but he was already full. He was so happy at my invitation.
I finished eating, paid the bill and sat down on the sidewalk next to him for several minutes, chatting away in my english. He smiled and shook my hands. We held hands a few minutes and I remarked about the beautiful weather while he sat next to me on the sidewalk. Because I can't speak Chinese, we traded thumbs up.
After a while, I rose and helped him up with both hands, gave him another 20 yuan and he was so happy, he hugged me. I hugged back.
I rode away on my bike and people nearby on the busy restaurant strip were watching us and talking. They didn't know I'd just met the friendliest man in Guangzhou. They didn't know why.