■ By reporter Yu Jian When the earthquake came, she was as lost and helpless as others; after the earthquake, she helped others regain confidence; now, she and a group of brothers and sisters from the disaster area have come to Beijing, hoping to create happiness with their own hands... Her name is Yang Xiaohong, an ordinary kindergarten teacher from An County, Sichuan. Now please call her "Bean Mom," because her "Bean Mom" Mianyang pancake shop will open on May 12th, with the first store located on the first floor of Building No.5 in Peace Street Zone Ten. "We are opening this store to let society see that people from the disaster areas don't just wait for help; we can also give back to society," said Yang Xiaohong. That was the sweetest mineral water I've ever had. The dark days seemed endless. When Yang Xiaohong talks about the word "earthquake," her whole body still trembles, and her eyes involuntarily focus on the ground. On May 12th last year, Yang Xiaohong was still a teacher at the Sangzhuang Kindergarten in An County. That day, she happened to go to Anchang Town. Since there wasn't much building collapse there, Yang Xiaohong narrowly escaped. But when she returned to Sangzhuang Kindergarten, she saw large areas of collapsed buildings, along with panic and screams. She screamed out her daughter's name in anguish, finally found her daughter, hugged her tightly, and the two cried for a long time. The next day, Yang Xiaohong heard the news that her mother had perished, in the relatively severely affected Chaping Township. Apart from crying, Yang Xiaohong didn't know what else to do. Like many others, Yang Xiaohong felt warmth coming from all directions. "One day, I was walking with my daughter on the road when a truck full of relief supplies drove past, and then bottles of mineral water and instant noodles were thrown by my feet." That bottle of mineral water was the sweetest one Yang Xiaohong had ever drunk, and that pack of instant noodles made her daughter eat very fragrantly... These days, Yang Xiaohong has been writing an article titled "Memories of May 12th" - "The earthquake made me lose family members and brought me pain; care, however, healed my wounds and gave me hope"... She said it was this care that allowed people from the disaster areas to regain confidence and courage. Is building houses the only way? After the earthquake, Yang Xiaohong no longer wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. She saw many colleagues leave this world, and some of the children she taught also left forever. By chance, Yang Xiaohong helped a disaster prevention products factory recruit workers in Beichuan, prioritizing disabled individuals, "mainly wanting to help them find employment." However, those people's questions confused Yang Xiaohong: "What have you brought us? Is it something to eat or drink?" Yang Xiaohong patiently explained: "What I can offer you isn't one or two thousand yuan, but an opportunity to work. We hope everyone can still create their own happiness with their own hands." This dialogue made Yang Xiaohong think deeply, realizing that people from the disaster areas couldn't just wait around for help. It seemed like life would continue on like this. Neighbors and colleagues began planning to build houses. At first, Yang Xiaohong was somewhat anxious and also wanted to build a house. But she noticed a phenomenon - everyone rushed to build houses at the same time, causing construction materials, supplies, and labor costs to skyrocket. It would cost seventy to eighty thousand yuan to finish building a house. If the house was completed, not only would all the money be spent, but there would also be debts. Many families had to pause their house construction halfway due to insufficient funds. "Have we lost the pioneering spirit unique to Sichuan people? Is building houses the only path for us? Can we do more and better?" Yang Xiaohong pondered for a long time. Bringing house-building funds to grow "beans" in Beijing Yang Xiaohong had her answer, which came from a casual conversation with a friend. "Everyone talks about our Sichuan delicacies with pride, saying that Sichuan cuisine can travel the world, and wherever it goes, it receives praise!" The speaker spoke casually, but the listener took it to heart. Yang Xiaohong started thinking about her specialty Mianyang snack - pancakes, "Would they be equally popular if they were introduced elsewhere?" She decided to act immediately and contacted a successful friend who was already established in Beijing. After repeated discussions with this friend, Yang Xiaohong came to Beijing with the money originally intended for building a house. Not only did Yang Xiaohong bring the house-building funds, but she also brought along a master chef skilled in making pancakes. The master chef said that the most famous Mianyang pancakes should be the oil swirl pancakes, characterized by a "dragon eye"-like pancake head in the middle. Pulling and lifting the dragon eye causes the entire pancake to spiral open layer by layer without breaking, with each layer being crispy. Additionally, there are mixed hall pancakes, crispy skin pancakes, sesame pancakes, glutinous rice pancakes, and pickled meat or braised meat stuffed pancakes. Recently, Yang Xiaohong's pancake shop started renovations, with the first store located in Peace Street. The name was already decided - called "Bean Mom" - "Bean symbolizes rooting and sprouting; the people of the disaster area, the people of Beichuan, will have a day when they grow into big trees." Yang Xiaohong also explained, "The word 'Mom' makes me think of my own mom, and it also makes me think of those little friends from the kindergarten who are far away, 'I want to be their mom forever!'" I want to "hype" the spirit of self-reliance May 12th marks the first anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake. Yang Xiaohong's "Bean Mom" pancake shop is preparing to open in Beijing on this day. She said the opening of the pancake shop must thank the strong support of Chaoyang District. On this day, as long as you have photos that "can prove you volunteered in the disaster area," you can go to the "Bean Mom" pancake shop to eat pancakes for free. Regarding these matters, Yang Xiaohong explained them as "giving back to society." For this, some people expressed objections, claiming that opening on this day seems like a publicity stunt. Yang Xiaohong did not avoid this issue, frankly stating: "I am such a person; once I decide on something, I won't pay too much attention to others' evaluations, just start doing it first. I need to earn money to sustain myself first, and then plan for greater development. Regarding the pain brought by the earthquake, I understand that feeling of anguish the most. I know what is right to do. If you must say I am hyping, then I openly admit that I am indeed hyping, but what I want to hype is the spirit of self-reliance and not waiting for help from the people in the disaster areas!" The "Bean Mom" pancake shop also plans to hire laid-off female workers in Beijing, and later absorb university graduates from the earthquake disaster areas for employment... Yang Xiaohong always hopes that her small pancake shop can do more for the disaster areas and give back more to society. The greatest wish is for the General Secretary and Premier to taste the pancakes The pancake shop is about to open. All employees, including Yang Xiaohong, have one wish - they want Hu Jintao, General Secretary, and Wen Jiabao, Premier, to try the pancakes made by the people from the disaster areas. "We cannot forget that during the most intense moments of the earthquake rescue operations, the General Secretary and Premier disregarded the danger of aftershocks, working tirelessly among us. Their encouraging words made us feel the warm embrace of a mother, letting us know we are not alone, the country is our pillar! I just want them to take a break, relax for a moment, and taste the specialties of our hometown. Though I wish it, they are too busy to have the opportunity or time." Yang Xiaohong said, "Now that we are in Beijing, what we most want is for them to taste a meal personally made by the people from the disaster areas!"