Chopstick War

I found myself sitting in a quaint breakfast restaurant nestled in a peaceful Beijing neighborhood. It was the early hours of 7:30 am, and the hustle and bustle of people getting ready for the day echoed through the air. There was a line of eager customers awaiting their orders, with just two staff members attending to the crowd.

A couple in their sixties were waiting for their take-out order. The man leaned over a stack of storage boxes, searching for something within. One of the staff members called out to him in a loud voice.

"What are you doing over there, sir?" she shouted, her tone lacking patience.

"I was going to get some chopsticks since I plan to eat my meal at the hotel," the man responded, displeased with the way he was addressed.

"The chopsticks are right behind you on the counter. Take some from there," the woman replied, serving other customers while still speaking loudly.

"Why can't you be more polite? I wasn't taking anything from you. I simply needed some disposable chopsticks," the old man retorted, growing more irritated.

"I never said you were stealing. I just wanted to inform you that the chopsticks were right behind you." the woman replied, feeling offended by the man's scolding.

"You are belittling us because we are visitors from another province!" the man's wife interjected. "This is discrimination!" Her loud remark caught the attention of all the customers present.

Another staff member joined the argument, exclaiming, "We are not from Beijing either. We are just trying to make a living with our small business. How could we belittle you?" His voice was filled with frustration.

The old man refused to back down from the confrontation, yelling even louder about how he wasn't stealing anything. The woman also raised her voice, emphasizing that she was merely suggesting an easier way to acquire the chopsticks. The scene escalated, with some customers taking sides and joining the quarrel, naturally aligning with the staff members.

In the end, the male staff member erupted, shouting at the couple, "Get out! We won't serve you!"

"Don't we have the right to purchase food in your restaurant?" the couple yelled back.

"No, you don't!" the staff member responded sharply.

Assessing their situation, the old couple reluctantly backed down, leaving the establishment with empty stomachs.

So, what is the moral of this story?

1. The old man could have politely asked where he could find some chopsticks to take home.

2. The woman staff member could have inquired more pleasantly about the man's actions and offered the chopsticks with a cheerful attitude.

3. Either party could have recognized this as a simple misunderstanding and extended an apology. However, none of them chose to do so.

When we refuse to see things from the perspective of others, we fight over petty things. The consequence? We lose our temper, out dignity and our breakfast.