“Traditional market is a place of kindness.” - Ms. Gui-Ju
Hualien Markets - Exclusive Interview with Zheng Jie Vegetable and Fruit Stall
#ChunghwaMarket
#SmallButComplete
#WorkingattheMarket
August 29th, 2020
Text/ LI Shan
Translation/ LIU Yi-Chun
Photography/ LEE Te-Mao
With cute short curly hair and thick purple-framed glasses, Ms. Gui-Ju patiently explained to the customers about how to use different vegetables for various dishes at the stall, just like the aunt next door. She came to this market when she was 25 years old. Because she met and married her husband, she decided to leave her hometown in Taichung and went to Hualien to learn how to sell vegetables with her mother-in-law. She took over the stall business for 40 years now.
The stall is 70 years old. Vegetables were carried to the mountain in transport cages in the early years
Ms. Gui-Ju said her husband's grandmother started the business outside the Chunghwa Market around 70 years ago and they were the third generation to run the business. With the transformation of the market, they moved into the Chunghwa Market and set up their stall at the corners of the aisles. In addition to selling in the market, Zheng Jie Fruit and Vegetable Stall mainly sells to restaurants and hotels. In the early days, when there were forestry farms, workers would come and buy vegetables, and carry them to the mountain in transport cages. Ms. Gui-Ju also hires two drivers to help them deliver the vegetables. Their house becomes a place to organize and pack the vegetables, and her husband is in charge.
She is glad to work at the market and learns how to deal with customers
“Everyone can do this job as long as they want to,” Ms. Gui-Ju said. She actually took some time to overcome the feeling of "embarrassment" when she first started working in the market. She followed her grandma’s instructions and now she felt at ease. Ms. Gui-Ju used to work in the Tanzi Processing Factory in Taichung. She never thought that one day she would work at a market in Hualien. She has adapted her perspective of work. Now, she goes to the market in the morning to chat with customers, and gets off work at noon. Although the market's business is not as good as it used to be, Ms. Gui-Ju is not anxious about the changes.
Singing karaoke on the day of Chungyuan Pudu was a team building activity of the market
Every year’s Chungyuan Pudu is the time for the market to hold team building activities. Ms. Gui-Ju said Chunghwa Market Association will set up a long table in the middle of the market and helped everyone prepare offerings. She mentioned that everyone is friendly and warm-hearted in the market. Besides the Pudu ceremony, the karaoke activity is the highlight of the day. All the vendors will have fun together. Ms. Gui-Ju likes the atmosphere of the market very much. The vendors will not be suspicious of each other, and they get along well. The manager of the market also responds to the needs of the vendors passionately, making her happy to work here.
People can find whatever they need in the traditional market and interact with friendly vendors
Ms. Gui-Ju believes the traditional market is still irreplaceable even the modern work styles affect eating habits, and fewer people are willing to visit the markets. She said Chunghwa Market is a small but well-equipped place. People should definitely take a look in winter, there will be a variety of dishes. The traditional market is more diverse and friendly. When the customers encounter cooking problems or don’t know what to cook, they can directly ask the vendors for advice. Most of the vendors are happy to share their experience and knowledge. Sometimes they will also give out free scallions or a few pieces of ginger, and the customers can bargain for prices. This will only happen in traditional markets. Lastly, Ms. Gui-Ju hopes that the Chunghwa Market can make parking more convenient for customers. It can have new modern parking facilities while maintain its characteristics of being a traditional market.
