A Young Entrepreneur’s Journey After the Changfeng Hospital Fire

Yesterday, as I was taking a ride-hailing service home, the driver asked if we all finished classes at this time, noticing a lot of passengers heading to similar destinations. I wasn’t sure, but I decided to take off my headphones and chat with him.

During our conversation, I learned that he is a post-90s entrepreneur from Fengtai, Beijing. Previously, he owned a restaurant in Fengtai, serving home-style breakfast dishes and other local favorites. However, after the tragic fire at Changfeng Hospital, the Beijing authorities tightened safety regulations for restaurants. They mandated that eateries using natural gas switch to electric stoves. Unfortunately, his restaurant relied on natural gas and would require significant investment to upgrade to electric cooking, which posed a substantial cost barrier.

Moreover, after the lifting of pandemic restrictions, he found that his takeaway orders had dwindled, contrary to my initial intuition that business would bounce back. Coupled with high rent, he decided to close the restaurant and transition into the ride-hailing industry.

Reflecting on our chat, I had two strong impressions:

1. Despite the setbacks in his entrepreneurial journey, he retained a distinctive entrepreneurial spirit. This was evident in his high-quality service and articulate communication.

2. I had assumed the pandemic dealt a severe blow to the restaurant industry, but for this young entrepreneur, the reduction in takeaway orders post-restrictions had a more significant impact.

Individual destinies can be influenced by numerous factors in the current era, some apparent and others subtle. While a thorough safety inspection is warranted following the Changfeng Hospital fire, it’s equally important to consider how to reasonably and effectively address the safety issues facing vulnerable businesses.

The driver spoke with a remarkable acceptance of life’s challenges; he didn't utter a single complaint. Instead, he engaged me in an honest conversation, showcasing his clear logic and resilience. I truly admire his spirit of pursuing a second entrepreneurial venture and am touched by his positive attitude towards life!