German Chancellor Merkel visited China almost every year during his tenure.
In August 2007, Merkel visited China again and came to the ancient capital Nanjing. The Nanjing government arranged for her to stay in a super five-star hotel. It has a presidential suite with a top floor of more than 400 square meters, which can overlook the entire Nanjing city. It has two bedrooms, living room, conference room, study room, steam and dry facilities.
But Merkel declined China's kindness. She chose an ordinary room, 70 square meters, the price is 1,800 yuan, less than one-twentieth of the presidential suite.
The officials in Nanjing were very surprised by her choice, but she said that the presidential suite was too luxurious and there was no need to be so wasteful. Even such a room worth nearly 2,000 yuan was luxurious enough!
The next day's breakfast, there is a VIP private room to go, but she chose the buffet restaurant for ordinary people in the hotel.
Her breakfast is also very simple, including egg rolls, cheese cakes, , watermelon, and cereal. While picking up a piece of bread, she accidentally dropped the bread to the ground. The hotel staff wanted to change it for her, but she signaled that there was no need, and bent down to pick up the bread and put it on her plate.
Some people say that Merkel is the prime minister and is making a show. In fact, she is such a person in her daily life, and her diligence and thrift are deeply rooted in her bones.
In 1954, Merkel was born in a pastor's family in Hamburg . Soon, his family moved to Democratic Germany. At that time, less than ten years after the end of World War II, the long-term war consumption caused the German country to decline and the people were poor, and the people were in short supply of material resources.
The early life experiences and material scarcity made her develop the habit of hard work and thrift, and she could no longer change this habit that was integrated into her blood. As the excellent quality that has always been maintained, she has always worked and lived with such habits when serving as the Prime Minister of a country.
On July 6, 2014, Merkel came to Chengdu, the "City of Food". She went to the farmers' market like an ordinary person. In front of a seasoning stall, she carefully selected and looked through various seasonings. The detailed introduction of the stall owner opened her eyes. Many of the seasonings here cannot be seen in Germany.
Her arrival, although low-key, still attracted the attention of many people. Everyone was surprised by her as ordinary as an ordinary person. She was kind and curiously picked up a variety of seasonings and looked at them carefully. A stall owner shouted to him: "Auntie, buy something!"
called out to Auntie, which attracted the laughter of the audience around him. It is rare to see such a presumptive prime minister. People rush to talk to her and shake hands, and many people took out their mobile phones to take pictures as souvenirs.
With the recommendation of the stall owners, she bought Pixian bean paste and pepper noodles... She took out her change to pay, just like a housewife who was preparing to go home to prepare for dinner.
In a restaurant, through the translation explanation, she and the chef learned how to make Kung Pao Chicken Ding . From the selection of ingredients to the heat, she said she could go back and make it herself, but she couldn't buy so many seasonings in Germany. She was very happy when eating this dish. She ate almost half of it alone, lamenting the wonderfulness of Chinese food.
Once, when she met with the president of Nigeria, she asked, "Do you cook?"
President laughed and said that she was a big man and the president of a country. How could she go into the kitchen? Merkel said, "I will prepare three meals by myself!"
Indeed, Merkel, like an ordinary housewife after get off work, went to the supermarket to buy vegetables first and prepare dinner for her husband Sauer . What she specializes in is potato soup , meat rolls, pasta, etc.
Sauer is a scientist with poor living ability. Sometimes Merkel has to go shopping when he is busy. In order not to make him lose all his mind, Merkel often writes the items he wants to buy on paper and buys them on the same order.
Merkel doesn't take a car when he goes to work. She rides a bicycle to work and often walks directly.
Merkel is also very frugal in terms of wear. She wore a royal blue evening dress when she attended the Bayreuth Festival in 2008 and was still wore it when she attended the opening ceremony of the 101st Bayreuth Festival in Germany on July 25, 2012.Many people think this dress looks familiar, and the media, which has a good news, found that the previous photos were taken out. Compared with the two, it was not only the evening dress, but also the watch and necklace were the ones we wore back then.
Merkel's frugality became a hot topic of coverage at the concert.
Their family spends every year on Easter and they spend on Ischia Island in Italy. Every time they go there, they stay in the same room in the same hotel. They have no airs at all and are not picky about eating. They have to cover the remaining red wine for the next meal every time they drink. The hotel staff always praise her whenever they mention it.
Merkel's frugality has also brought her work, never wasting extravagance and waste in the various government funding. The economic policies formulated by her government not only made Germany the largest economy in Europe, , but also had an extraordinary status in the world.
Her frugal nature was found when she was very young and was deeply rooted in the bones, not the show that some political enemies thought. No matter how her opponent spread rumors and slandered her, Merkel still lives her way as usual. This has become a habit and will not change with people's own opinions. Merkel, who sets an example, has led all government officials with her role as an example, and advocates saving and opposing luxury. She is a prime minister of a great country. She regards herself as a commoner, but she is loved and respected by the people.
In 2021, Merkel, who served as Prime Minister for 16 years, stepped down. She said she would not donate her old clothes to the museum, but would take them to the old clothes purchase office.
During Merkel's tenure, Sino-German relations were very friendly. Although he felt a little regretful about her resignation, history will eventually turn to a new page. I hope that Germany, which has changed to a new prime minister, will still maintain good relations with our country...
