In recent weeks, a retired couple of Indonesian-Chinese descent has captured the attention of netizens in Quanzhou, with their story spreading widely online. The couple runs a small Indonesian-themed restaurant in the heart of Quanzhou’s ancient city, drawing both locals and tourists attention not only with their authentic dishes but also their heartwarming love story and positive outlook on life.

　　A Simple Yet Popular Eatery

　　The restaurant, named Ruilan Happy Life Restaurant, is located next to the cinema on Xijie Street in Quanzhou's historic district. Though modest in size, the restaurant is meticulously clean and bright. When the reporter arrived at the restaurant at around 10:00 a.m. , 76-year-old Moranhua was busy preparing the essential satay soup base in the kitchen. She warmly welcomed the team, offering us a seat.

　　"Every morning, I arrive at 8:00 a.m. to start cooking the satay soup. It takes two to three hours to prepare," explained Moranhua. To ensure the flavour is just right, they never use leftover broth, but cooking fresh soup every day, enough for only a few dozen servings. Once it's sold out, the couple takes a break. Due to the popularity of the dish, many customers have asked if they could cook more, but the elderly couple politely declines, explaining, "We’re getting older, and it’s physically demanding. We hope everyone understands."

　　Moranhua's 77-year-old husband, Liu Ruixing, also plays a key role in the restaurant. He buys fresh ingredients from the market every morning, often wearing traditional Indonesian clothing. When he enters the restaurant, he greets everyone with a cheerful smile and a friendly "hello" in English. In the spacious kitchen, the couple prepares spices and condiments while joking and teasing each other like a young couple. “His Min Nan dialect isn’t as good as mine!” Moranhua laughs. “But my English isn’t as good as his!” Liu counters, with a grin.

　　Preserving the Flavours of Home

　　The couple shared their story of how the restaurant came to be. More than a decade ago, after retiring from factory jobs, they found themselves with a lot of free time and decided to open an Indonesian restaurant. The name of the restaurant, chosen by Liu, combines characters from their names—“Rui” and “Lan”—to symbolise their shared life.

　　Moranhua and Liu offer a variety of beloved Indonesian dishes such as satay noodles, Nyonya cake, layered cake, shrimp crackers, coffee, satay pork skewers, turmeric chicken wings, lemongrass iced tea, and spicy sauce. “These dishes were all taught to us by our mothers, who were traditional Nyonya Indonesians. They were fantastic cooks,” Moranhua recalls.

　　Moranhua fondly remembers how, when she was young, her mother used to make various pastries and snacks to sell at the factory where they worked. She followed her mother’s lead, learning the recipes as a child. “We’re committed to preserving the authentic flavours of our Indonesian heritage. We want to keep that unique taste for fellow overseas Indonesians,” she explains.

　　Though the couple originally opened the restaurant to keep busy in their retirement, they are not driven by profit. “As long as we earn enough to cover our needs, we’re content,” Moranhua says. They plan to continue running the restaurant for as long as they can, only stopping when they are physically unable to continue. Their children have also learned the recipes, and while they would love for the next generation to take over, they don’t pressure them if they choose otherwise.

　　A Love Story That Spans a Lifetime

　　Moranhua and Liu Ruixing grew up in different parts of Indonesia in ordinary Chinese families. When Moranhua was 12, her school closed down, and her father decided to take the family back to China so she could continue her Chinese education. The family was originally from Fuqing, but they were assigned to Quanzhou, where her parents worked at a factory. Moranhua enrolled at Quanzhou No. 2 Middle School (now Peiyuan School).

　　By coincidence, Liu Ruixing’s parents were also assigned to the same factory, and that’s how the couple met. “The moment I saw her, I liked her,” Liu recalls. “She was so beautiful, and we had a lot in common because we both loved sports.” They began a relationship, and later discovered that their families had been on the same ship when they returned to China.

　　“I wanted to attend university,” Moranhua says, reflecting on her youthful ambition. Liu, however, was more than willing to wait for her. “I’ll wait for you,” he reassured her.

　　However, when Moranhua was preparing for university exams, she was informed that, as an apprentice at a monosodium glutamate factory, she wouldn’t be allowed to sit for the exams. Liu comforted her, helping her through the disappointment. Later, as they prepared to marry, they were told apprentices could not marry during their training period. Liu waited nearly ten years before they could marry—Moranhua was 27, and Liu was 28. At the time, this was considered quite late, and their relationship was the subject of much local gossip.

　　“We rarely argue. I’ve always been very considerate of her,” says Liu, with a childlike smile. Reflecting on their nearly 50 years together, he attributes their long-lasting marriage to the wisdom his father-in-law shared with him: “In marriage, you need to be tolerant and patient to build a healthy, lasting relationship.”