The Legacy of Nian Nian Bistro

This is a record of an interview with Lai Hongcheng, a former prison guard who sought spiritual deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life, his experiences in the ghost realm, and his eventual liberation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Xi, on February 7, 2021.

Lai Hongcheng speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Such a chance is something I had never even dared to imagine. Thank you, Namo Amituofo. Thank you, Practitioner Su. I, Lai Hongcheng, am infinitely grateful.

A Childhood of Hardship and Love

I was born into a very poor family. My parents worked odd jobs at the market just to scrape by. Our environment was incredibly difficult, and many times, I had to take my younger brothers and sisters out onto the streets to earn a little money. There were twenty-five children in our family, though some passed away shortly after birth. Only fifteen of us survived. I was the second-born son, with one older sister, three younger sisters, and ten younger brothers. Even though our parents lived in such poverty, they could never bear to send any of us away. They endured endless suffering and toil, hoping only to raise us to adulthood.

Life was a constant struggle, and from a young age, I knew I had to work hard. As the eldest son, whenever my parents were out working, I would assist my older sister in looking after the younger ones. My sister carried the burden of caring for the entire family on her shoulders. Following her lead, I learned how to manage daily life: cleaning the house, cooking, washing clothes, and tending to my siblings. My sister was an excellent cook, and I learned much from her. As I grew older, I began taking on odd jobs on the streets to earn a little money to help the family. Sometimes, I would buy necessities for my siblings or bring home a little something extra to improve our meals."

The Birth of Nian Nian Bistro

"Time passed quickly, and before I knew it, I had reached adulthood. My parents had grown old, my sister had married, and several of my younger siblings had started their own families. Our home was different now, filled with many new members. Seeing my parents' age, I insisted they stop working and stay home to rest, leaving the responsibility of providing for the family to me. I found a stable job delivering vegetables in the city. Sometimes, I could bring home the leftover produce. Though the pay wasn't much, it was enough to keep everyone fed.

Since we were children, our parents taught us to be diligent, frugal, and honest. I kept these lessons close to my heart and often taught my siblings the same: 'We may be poor in wealth, but we must never be poor in heart.' My siblings were equally hardworking and honest. One day, we decided to open a small bistro together to sell simple dishes. Because I had spent years working on the streets, I was well-acquainted with many shop owners. When they heard I was opening a bistro, they were all eager to help. With their warm support, our little shop finally opened its doors. We named it 'Nian Nian Bistro'.

Nian Nian Bistro wasn't large, and the shop space was quite small, but the business was exceptionally good. Every day, we sold many boxes of food. At first, people only came to help us out, giving us a chance to succeed, but after tasting the food, they kept coming back. The flavours were all based on what my sister had taught me. She had a true gift for cooking, and her recipes were unique and delicious."

Honouring a Sister's Memory

"After the bistro opened, my sister visited a few times, but eventually, she passed away due to illness. To honour her memory, I made a point of learning to write so I could record every recipe she had taught me. I wanted her unique flavours to remain in this world forever, a testament to my gratitude for how she had cared for us. After she passed, our home felt heavy for a long time. Though we didn't speak of it, we were all heartbroken. To lift our spirits, I reorganised the bistro and invited the whole family to help. I told them I wanted to preserve my sister's unique flavours, and they all agreed. I added many new dishes to the menu, all based on her teachings.

Once the bistro was revitalised, it was packed with customers every single day. We were all so busy that we gradually let go of the sorrow of losing her, replacing it with deep gratitude. My parents watched as all their children worked together in harmony, and they felt a sense of peace. I tried to keep them at home to rest, but they couldn't stay idle; they would often come to the bistro to help or offer advice on how to improve the dishes. They, too, had finally moved past the pain of losing their daughter.

My parents raised twenty-five children in their lifetime. Even though ten were no longer in this world, in my parents' hearts, all twenty-five were still present. As the eldest son, they often asked me to look after my siblings, and I obeyed, caring for each of them. Now, everyone was working at the bistro, and we lived in harmony."

A Legacy of Kindness

"For over a decade, business at the bistro never slowed down. Many customers would praise the food after just one bite and promise to return. As my siblings started their own families, we expanded the business and opened branches elsewhere. The bistro became quite famous in those days. Everything we sold was vegetarian; because we were so poor growing up and couldn't afford meat, my sister had researched many ways to prepare vegetables so we could eat happily. These became our signature dishes.

My parents passed away peacefully. After they were gone and my siblings had their own lives, I was left without any attachments, running the bistro alone. Then, one day, a young boy came to the door. Seeing his situation, I knew he was a person who had suffered, so I took him in and let him help me run the shop. The boy was very ambitious and soon became capable of managing things on his own. He ran the bistro very well.

Looking at this young man reminded me of my own hard days. I decided to do more good in society, so I began letting other struggling youths work at the bistro. I passed down the recipes my sister had left behind, hoping to give these young people a better path and a chance at a new life. The bistro was in good hands. I left it to these diligent young people, and they continued to run it well. I told them that in the future, they must keep the bistro going and continue to help those in need, giving everyone a chance at a better future."

From the Ghost Realm to Deliverance

"I passed away at the age of fifty-six. After death, I arrived in the ghost realm. Through a twist of fate, I opened another bistro there, and business was just as good. Often, prison guards from the ghost realm would come to dine. I spent many years there until one day I was summoned to the Yama Palace. I brought many dishes from my bistro as an offering for King Yama. We chatted for a long time, and he asked me, 'Do you wish to continue running your bistro?' I replied, 'I do not know where else to go.' King Yama smiled and said, 'If you are willing to change, there is always an opportunity. The years you spent helping young people and changing their lives in the human world—that merit still exists.' He allowed me to stay at the Yama Palace to work, waiting for the right conditions to seek liberation from the cycle of birth and death. I am very grateful for everything he arranged for me.

After I began helping at the Yama Palace, I witnessed many different lives and various kinds of suffering. Though my heart ached, I was powerless to help. It wasn't until I heard Practitioner Su expounding the Dharma that I understood these were all matters of destiny. I felt deeply moved by the truth of reincarnation. Every day, I diligently listened to Practitioner Su explain the Great Dharma. Over these years, I have awakened to much. Thank you, Practitioner Su, for your dedicated teaching, which has made these principles clear to me. I finally understand the importance of seeking liberation and leaving suffering behind. I am so grateful for this opportunity to learn.

I am thankful for all the good conditions that have brought me here. I am grateful for the compassion of the Buddha and the great kindness of Practitioner Su. Today, I have obtained this opportunity for rebirth, and I cherish it deeply. I am grateful for the Buddha's mercy, which is beyond words. On behalf of all the prison guards who are being delivered today, I bow in gratitude for the Buddha's grace. Namo Amituofo."

This interview was recorded by the Buddhist disciple Shi Fa Xi.