All kinds of books on the bookshelf in the shop

Various famous sayings attached on the wall except for books

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- A noodles restaurant is open at No. 55, Xiejiawan Centre Street, Jiulongpo District. It seems to be a bit strange that it only provides vegetarian food and offers customers some books although belonging to one of the catering services. The customers can not only read them at shop, but also borrow them to read. Next, let’s take a look at the story of Zhang Wenfeng, the shop owner, to uncover the mystery.

Strange point 1: drive half an hour to taste noodles

Yin Jiazheng, a 30-year-old employee of a company located at Erlang, Jiulongpo District, drove about half an hour to the restaurant in hungry condition at 10 a.m. on July 12. He stopped the car around the restaurant and walked into it. “A bowl of hot dry noodles with black sesame paste”. He ordered without the help of the menu and sat down.

"I cannot help coming here when I really want to eat the noodles. I always have a meal here three or four times a month." Yin said that he was from Wuchang, Hubei Province and had been working in Chongqing for five years. A bowl of hot dry noodles could make him taste the home flavor and comfort his soul. He said that there was a such shop in Guanyinqiao, but its taste was different after changing the owner. The shop at Xiejiawan Centre Street provided more authentic hot dry noodles than the said.

The owner answered that hot dry noodles is to Hubei what noodles is to Chongqing, so he could provide very authentic ingredient and material of hot dry noodles.

Strange point 2: cook noodles & persuad reading

The shop is decorated with elements mostly related to the delicacies sold, just looking like an elegant bookstore. Fresh roses are placed on each table, stickers and pens are hung in the overhead hooks, and famous sayings are attached on one wall.

A one-meter bookshelf is set up at the left corner, and over 40 books are placed on it, including Mengzi, The Analects of Confucius, Great Historic Writings of Politicization and Journey to the West.

"All are specially designed by myself." Zhang said that he and his cousins opened the shop together, and then he has been in full charge of the shop and decorated the store in February.

To combine the style of noodles restaurant and bookstore as possible as he could, Zhang has hired people to draw landscape paintings and write odes about hot dry noodles, and covered the deck locker to beatify the shop.

The owner answered: I was the management of a real estate company before. After I read ancient classic books, I became obsessed with reading and had the idea of persuading people to read. What I want to see is that customers can gain some spiritual comfort and strength by reading after they’re full. What I want to do now is to “cook noodles for people and persuade people to read”.

Strange point 3: only provide vegetarian food

"Owner, a bowl of beef noodles." Ordered by a customer who went into the shop while playing with his phone, as seen during the interview.

"Sorry, we only provide vegetarian food," the waiter Peng Zheng said. Then the customer walked out of the shop.

The reporter didn’t find the trace of non-vegetarian food at each menu and front desk signs. It doesn’t serve noodles with fried bean and meat sauce, beef noodles, Chinese sauerkraut noodles with shredded meat although they are common in other shops.

The owner answered: it is my personal choice. Although the profit was reduced greatly if only offering vegetarian food, I thought I should carry out the idea of something different in each stage. Of course, I will set up a deadline. If the store were in bad condition, I would adjust the plan in time. (Translated by Jiang Yuling, Fathom Language Limited)