Tianji Longjiang Zhujiaofan (Rice with Pork Trotter), a restaurant in Panyu District, Guangzhou, has gone viral for its "Er Hao Can" (二号餐), or "Number Two Meal."
Recently, a young man dragging a suitcase lingered outside the restaurant. Only after the crowd thinned did he step in and quietly ask for a Number Two Meal.
Zun Chunling, the wife of the owner, handed him a bowl of rice with pork trotter without asking why. After finishing, the young man gave a deep bow and softly said "Thank you" to the couple.
The idea of the Number Two Meal didn't happen overnight.
The owner, Huang Zhanhu, a former soldier, opened the restaurant in 2016. Back then, he noticed that people without money sometimes ate the leftovers of other guests. Feeling sympathy, Huang decided to provide a free set meal for anyone in need.
He then created a discreet code — "Number Two Meal." With this code, diners can receive a full meal without questions or judgment.
Why "Number Two" and not "Number One"? As Huang explains, in Chinese, the number "2" (èr) sounds similar to "ài," the word for "love," symbolizing the passing on of kindness.
A notice at Tianji restaurant reads: "If you are job hunting in Guangzhou and going through a difficult time, tell our staff you'd like the Number Two Meal. There's no need to feel embarrassed; simply enjoy the meal and leave. Everyone faces hardships at some point. The owner is a retired soldier and received help from others as well."
The "Number Two Meal" at Tianji restaurant in Panyu has been described as a small light in the darkness. In fact, across many corners of Guangzhou, warm flames of kindness have long been flickering and spreading.
In Tianhe District, Wang Wenhong Hulatang restaurant posts a sign at its entrance: "If you are in need, tell our staff you want an A Meal, and you can eat for free. No explanation required."
On Donghuadong Road in Yuexiu District, Ruyi Jook-sing Noodles restaurant has been offering free bowls of jook-sing noodles for five years.
Each bowl has carried countless touching stories: someone who came here during hard times, someone who later brought fruit to show gratitude after finding a job, someone who even returned the 300 yuan once borrowed from the owner…
This kind of heartfelt assistance is not only a small innovation in the food industry, but also a reflection of Guangzhou's inclusiveness — a spirit that encourages those in need to keep moving forward.
Author: Liu Yue
Photo: Nanfang Plus
Editor: Huang Qini, James Campion, Shen He
