Yesterday the Chino arrived. And no, I am not referring to a neighbor or a friend, but to my brother Carlos, whom I call this way because he has been living in China for so many years that he is already part of it. His story is one of those that deserve to be told, because if anyone has known how to take risks, dare and jump into the void without fear, it has been him.
The Chinese who came from China
Carlos was a pioneer in his world. While others dreamed of staying in their comfort zone, he crossed half the planet and set up the first Spanish restaurant in Beijing. But he didn’t stop there. He set up an entire shopping mall, El Patio Nali, which today is one of the most fashionable places in the Chinese capital. An exclusive place, full of restaurants, bars and luxury stores, where all of Beijing wants to go to see and be seen.
📍 But the road there was not an easy one. When Carlos arrived in China, he set up a restaurant with a Swiss partner, a man who owned wine cellars and with whom he shared a dream of bringing the best of Europe to the heart of Asia. The Swiss man’s story, however, ended in a way that seems to be straight out of a mystery movie. If memory serves… he was murdered. Or so I remember. A dark and confusing episode that remained in the shadows of his life in China.
Despite everything, Carlos kept going. And not only did he build his own empire, but he helped many others to make their way in Beijing. Entrepreneurs, chefs, traders, dreamers who wanted to set up in the Chinese capital found in him a helping hand. If ever a Spaniard wanted to set up something in Beijing, surely my brother had something to do with it.
The Akita, Beijing’s forbidden jewel
Ah, but I forgot an important detail: the dog. Because yes, Carlos not only has business in half the world, but he also has a super dog.
This is an Akita Inu, a majestic, strong and noble dog, the kind you only see in the movies. He is your faithful companion, but having him in Beijing is not exactly easy. The laws have changed and Akitas are now banned within 20 kilometers of the city. So… imagine the odyssey of walking him.
Carlos and his family have had to manage to keep the dog from attracting attention. They take him out at night, sneak him out, avoid certain places and take him with extreme caution. We complain about taking our dogs for walks… but this is a challenge. And yet, he still won’t get rid of him! Because if there’s one thing my brother has, it’s loyalty. And this Akita is part of his life, even if he has to live half in hiding.
The day the Chino came to my wedding
If there is one moment when my brother showed what he is willing to do for family, it was my wedding day. Imagine the mess: giving him barely 20 days’ notice and asking him to fly halfway across the planet with his entire family. But he did it. In his own way, of course. Because with him, nothing is ever simple.
📌 First he said he was coming alone.
📌 Then he said he and YaKon were coming.
📌 Then he said he, YaKon and my nephew were coming.
📌 And at the end… one more showed up! 😆
But there they were, all together. Of course, the wedding day was etched in the memory of the guests for two reasons:
1️⃣ The most epic rain ever seen ☔. In the whole spring it did not rain more than that day, but it rained as if the sky was falling apart.
2️⃣ The YaKon parade. No kidding. They say she changed her dress three or four times during the wedding. And if it wasn’t four, it wasn’t none.
I, in the midst of the chaos and excitement, didn’t even hear about it. But “they” did, and they took it upon themselves to remind me later 😂.
Carlos, a free soul
What I admire most about Carlos is not his success, nor his movie-like life. It is his tranquility. It seems as if the problems do not affect him, as if he has an invisible armor that allows him to walk without being hurt by the world. I have never seen him angry, or upset, or lose his smile.
In that, he is very much like our father, Don Andrés. Same way of being, same serene character. And the most curious thing is that they both share something else: the same smile and the same profidén teeth. 😆.
Carlos is one of those who, even though he is thousands of miles away, is still close. And although his life may seem like a whirlwind of travel, business and impossible projects, when he shows up, he always leaves a little piece of his magic in the air.
Yesterday I saw him, today he is leaving, and who knows when we will meet again. But one thing is for sure:
💫 It’s always a pleasure when Chino comes home. 💫
From MasTorrencito we wish you a good day and may your dogs be with you!!!!
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