How a Bankrupt Foodie Finds a Way Out

By Gong Chang

Back in the day there was a Shanghainese man named Shen Jingsi who was so fond of eating that he spent all his inheritance on food alone. He practically sold his property and land just to partake of another tasty morsel or two.

He was so keen on eating that he became “the uncrowned king” in the food industry and gained quite a reputation in society at large. When famous chefs from the north or south went to Shanghai to pursue their culinary career, they might not care to see other people,but Mr. Shen was a must-see person.

Later Mr. Shen lost it all and was destitute, but had no skills other than eating.He went out to apply for a job and was asked, “What can you do?”

He answered promptly, “I know how to eat.”

So people reported to Mayor Chen Yi, saying that there was a person with no skills other than an unparalleled expertise at the art of eating, the question was posed what job he would befit for?

The latter replied, “This man with a voracious appetite gourmet cuisine must be quite a fellow.Spending your entire life on food and eating yourself out of house and home is not an easy thing to do. Let him work as a professional dish taster in the Shanghai International Restaurant.”

From then on,the Shanghai International Restaurant boasted exceptional quality dishes,which was inextricably linked to Mr. Shen’s finicky sensibilities. He was paid a monthly salary of approximately 200 yuan for his services, a very high salary at the time he took the job. ◆

(FromLife and People,Issue 19, 2017. Translation:Lu Qiongyao)

當年上海灘有個人叫沈京似，好吃，把祖輩留下的家業吃個精光，賣房子賣地吃。

他潛心研究“吃”，成為餐飲界的“無冕之王”，在社會上頗具聲望。一般南北名廚到上海打天下，別人都可以不見，沈先生卻是要會一會的。

后來沈先生窮下來，什么也不會，就會個吃。出去登記要工作，人家問他，你會干什么？

他說，我會吃。

有人把他這個本事反映給陳毅市長，說有個人光會吃，看給安排一個什么工作合適？

陳市長說：“哦，那算得好漢子。吃了一輩子，散盡家財去吃，不容易。讓他到國際飯店工作吧，專門做菜的品嘗工作。”

后來，上海國際飯店的菜一直質量很高，與他這張刁嘴的貢獻是分不開的。給他開月工資200元左右，在當時算很高的工資了。◆