The Coffee Shop in China 20 years ago

Twenty years ago, the coffee shop was called "Coffee Shop." it was usually in the hotel lobby or on the street. It was dark when entering during the day. The coffee was instant, and there were no freshly ground beans. Most of the guests are lovers, some young, some not too young, passionate, Qing Qing, coffee is not authentic, but the second.

In the late 1990s, I used to work as a reporter for a magazine and often went to Beijing to cover news. Some "celebrity stars" invited me to a coffee shop for an interview. For example, Yang Erche Nam of the Mosuo nationality once invited me to a coffee shop in Sanlitun to talk about her love story with a Norwegian diplomat. Of course, this more romantic love than coffee has long come to an end. But I was deeply impressed by Yang Erji's unrestrained alternative temperament and the romantic atmosphere of Sanlitun.

Later, the first Starbucks opened in Cofco Plaza near Beijing Station, and it was packed. Almost every time I go to Beijing, I have to go to Starbucks and then get on the train back to Tianjin. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this "Starbucks" is like a mobile stage, and there are often "stars" showing up without makeup. I have met the late crosstalk actor Hou Yaowen, film actors Cong Shan, Zheng Xiaoning, CCTV famous female director Meng Xin and so on.

But the coffee shop I miss is not Starbucks, but a small coffee shop on Harbin Central Street. It was winter a few years ago. I went to Harbin on business. I went to Sun Island to visit the ice sculpture, and then my friend invited me to Central Street for coffee.

There was an old man in the shop. I asked for a cup of hot chocolate and looked out of the window at the sparse crowd. The afternoon sun came in and left me in a trance, as if I were lazy and intoxicated in the context of an old European movie. I tasted mellow hot chocolate for the first time. Before I left, I asked for my business card and wrote "Effie Cafe" on it. The next day, I went to the coffee shop, the foreign old man is still here, according to the cigar newspaper in hand, there are only two foreigners drinking coffee and reading the computer. After I ordered coffee, I accosted the beautiful shopkeeper. Only then did I know that the foreign old man was an Italian and an investor in this coffee shop. The female shopkeeper had just returned from studying in Italy. What was the relationship between him and the old man? I didn't ask. Some things are supposed to be mysteries.

Not long ago, I went to Harbin, where I had been away for many years, and the hotel I stayed was on Central Street. I can't wait to go to Effie. I miss it like a long-lost friend. In fact, I miss disappearing in the darkness of time, miss a kind of mood at that time; the coffee shop is actually a "prop", just like the old building, the old house, the props have disappeared, how can human feelings be tolerated? Unfortunately, I walked up and down Central Street several times, looking for it from corner to corner, but there was no sign of "Effie". When I finally found it, it had become "KFC", brightly lit and frustrating!

This is how the city becomes similar and disappointing.