John's Butcher Shop, selling friendship

When I first came to Ireland, a friend told me that the town's butcher's store was a "psychotherapy center" for the entire town. No matter what the trouble, into the butcher store must come out with a smile. I did not understand before, but later became a regular customer of the butcher store, only to find out the reason.

　　The butcher's store has been open for 30 years, the black sign is dark gold text, push the door in is a spotless freezer. The owner, John, has his hair waxed to make it look untidy, and in his suit you'd think he was a manager in an office building. Usually the butcher store opens at 10:00, he comes at 8:00. Whenever he was happy, talking about the goods of the day, he put his hand to his mouth and let out many loud kisses to the air, describing how tender the meat was.

　　The first time I went to the butcher store, I asked John if he had any chicken, and he said, "Today is Monday, no, it will come on Friday, I will save one for you." I was casually listening and didn't go on Friday. The next week I went back to the butcher store and John looked aggrieved: "Why didn't you come last Friday? I saved chicken wings for you and you didn't show up until this afternoon, so I had to sell them to someone else." I was so embarrassed that I made up my mind never to stand him up again.

　　I often buy chicken wings, and when he sees me, he always says happily, "We have chicken wings again today! Fresh ones!" There was a time when I couldn't catch the wings every time I went there, and one day when I finally did, John smiled and said, "You can have the wings today!" I heard that my daughter had learned Spanish and that John was stressing her out every time he saw her.

　　A female friend of mine told me that the butcher in her neighborhood often leaves her pig's feet, free of charge, because the Irish don't eat them and the butcher will dispose of them at a very low price. The butcher would also leave her the pig's skin when she called before Chinese New Year, also free of course. My friend's New Year's Eve dinner was served with a pork rind jelly that everyone praised.

　　From John, I also learned a lot about cooking. Knowing that I was new to cooking steak, John generously shared his wife's family recipes with me, and pointed out the meat on the counter, telling me which piece was cut from which part of the cow and how it tasted. In addition, there was nothing he didn't know about who had a bumper honey crop, whose child had a DNA test and accidentally found a half-sister ....... Once I asked him a question about beef, and John not only told me, but invited me to visit his cold storage. John joked, if you sell this knowledge to China, you should be able to make money. I said yes, if I make money I will share it with him. He nodded his head and said seriously, "Knowledge is power."

　　Everyone loved John and was always willing to turn the corner to talk to him and buy some fresh meat to take home after their daily dog walks, taking the kids to school or shopping at the convenience store. The butcher store can accommodate up to two customers at a time, but there is a constant stream of customers pushing through the door from morning to night. I used to think that such a cute little store would grow if John expanded his operation, but he didn't seem to have that in mind. Summer came and it was barbecue season, but the butcher store put up a notice: "I'm going on a trip, see you in two weeks." I asked, "Aren't you going to do business during such a good golden week?" John shook his head, "Going to Spain to sunbathe with my wife and children."

　　For a long time, I didn't understand why John's small butcher store could co-exist with the big supermarket 50 meters away, and I always thought there was no room for small stores to survive in the face of supermarket chains. Then I happened to read a quote from Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart, who said that a small hardware store run with heart and soul, Wal-Mart can't beat it. What he meant was that the temperature and feelings that a small store has are irreplaceable by cold machines and efficient supply chains