Li Xiaobing You Might Not Know: An Ordinary Breakfast

Li Xiaobing, a name renowned in China’s feed industry—just who is she? What exactly makes her so remarkable? And what little-known aspects of her life remain hidden from the public eye? I’ll start with an ordinary breakfast, sharing my own firsthand experiences to reveal the story of Li Xiaobing that you might not yet know.

2012 Year 7 Month 11 It was the day before the company's semi-annual summary meeting. My boss, Mr. Li, and I agreed to work overtime together, preparing the summary report for the next day. We worked late into the evening... 11 That's it—work is successfully completed. Our homes are all located in the city center, 50 Kilometers away, an hour's drive—just thinking about having to wake up early again tomorrow to rush to the office, she suggested, "Why don't we stay overnight at my sister's place, which isn't far from the company?" Her sister’s home always has her daily essentials ready, and I’ve even stayed there occasionally when I ended up working overtime until late.

As usual, we first "lie down and chat," then each of us drifts off to sleep.

At 6 a.m., I felt her quietly getting out of bed in my sleep—she moved so gently, careful not to wake me, and certainly didn’t turn on the light.

At 7 o'clock, the phone alarm rang—time to get up. On the dining table, today’s breakfast was already laid out: a glass of milk, a plate of fried eggs, a serving of fresh fruit, a small dish of pickled vegetables, a bowl of mixed-grain porridge, and even a platter of wood ear mushrooms stir-fried with bamboo shoots, still steaming gently. As I stepped into the kitchen, Manager Li was still flipping the golden-brown pancake that was nearly done. She knew I’d entered and, without turning her head, casually remarked, "You love plain pancakes, don’t you? Well, this one’s baked purely in its original flavor—no extra ingredients added at all." With that, she picked up the spatula and gave the pancake a hearty flip, releasing an irresistible aroma that filled the air.

Before breakfast, she handed me a cup of plain boiled water, saying, "Drink this first!" Every time we ate together, she’d always chide me gently for my habit of using pretty-looking dishes to serve food—and for my preference for visually appealing meals—though she’d add that good food doesn’t necessarily have to be beautiful.

We enjoyed a lively and cheerful breakfast together, savoring every bite—nutritious, healthy, and absolutely delicious!

This kind of breakfast has become commonplace in my life. Whenever she rides in my car to work, she always brings me breakfast—boiled eggs, boiled corn, boiled potatoes, porridge, stir-fried vegetables, or even steamed buns. No matter what she makes, her breakfasts are always incredibly hearty and abundant. Because they’re so generous, she patiently carries all the pots, pans, and bowls from her home into my car—sometimes even deliberately filling a bowl with an extra-large portion of porridge. As soon as she sees me, she insists I take a warm, comforting first sip right away. Then, with those little eyes full of mischief and wisdom, she bursts into laughter. It often leaves me caught somewhere between amusement and exasperation, especially since if I don’t gulp down that porridge immediately, there’s a good chance it’ll spill all over me during our drive.

Life is often about not knowing how to cherish what you already have when you possess too much. Whenever she goes abroad or on a business trip, I find myself missing that breakfast I absolutely love—deeply and profoundly.

As I passed by numerous bus stops, I often glanced at them—wondering this morning, had they already eaten breakfast? But I wasn’t fortunate enough to feel compelled to tell them how wonderfully I was enjoying my own breakfast, a meal brimming with heartfelt care and affection.

We all know how crucial breakfast is—after all, as the saying goes, "The day is indeed set in the morning." We often emphasize, "Breakfast should be nutritious and satisfying." Yet, I understand how many unseen challenges exist in the workplace: buses and subways are always packed to the brim, with everyone striving to board gracefully—or at least with a hint of gentlemanly composure—while quietly offering their seat to those who truly need it. But when you miss that crowded bus or subway altogether, you end up facing the consequences of being late. Suddenly, every single minute of the morning feels incredibly precious. How many people walk into the office on an empty stomach? And how many, at best, manage only to briefly stave off hunger? Where has that heartfelt, loving gesture of preparing a nourishing breakfast gone? Sadly, it’s almost vanished entirely. In an era where even love itself seems reducible to mere numbers—where everyone is swept along by the relentless tide of modern life—most of us move forward not by choice, but by inertia. So tell me, when was the last time you took the time to thoughtfully prepare a breakfast for your loved one?

If I told you that my boss, Li Xiaobing, is a successful woman—a powerful figure in the business world—she's actually older than me. 20 Every year, she lovingly and warmly prepares breakfast for me—enough, at least, to make me feel deeply touched and proud. (Written by Zhao Jianping)