"It is because of this kind of support that I know I will succeed," he says. "As important as money is, however, it is not the main issue. I am more concerned about the heart of the people." He explains that every bowl of beef noodles he makes is prepared with his heart and says that it is the heart-felt support of Taiwanese here and abroad that will help him make his dream a reality.
Lee's hope is that in the future, the university's endowments will be donated by parents, alumni, and any person who cares about Taiwan. "The togetherness with which people work will be the driving force for my university to become world-class."
"The application has been approved and I have already received the license. Now we are almost ready to start," Lee says with confidence.
To speed up the process, he and his friends have been working creatively. Last Friday, they picked up t-shirts they had ordered and has started selling them for NT$300. On the front of the shirt are the words "The Awakening of Self-Consciousness" (自我意識覺醒), on the back, is his restaurant's logo and Lee's message to Taiwan, "Those who try might not make it, so we must try harder." (有人認真在做/ 都不一定做得到/ 咱們有得做/ 就更拼命做).
Despite his impending success, Lee has his share of detractors. Some say he has wild dreams, but he responds that the only difference between them is that he is willing to make it happen. "I am just a little man with a big vision," he says.
A-Ming Beef Noodle is located in Tainan on Jankang Rd., Sec. 2.
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