A restaurant worker in Guangdong, China, has drawn widespread attention online after responding in kind to a customer who allegedly threw cash onto the floor while paying for his meal.
The incident took place at about 7pm on Aug 3 at a night market restaurant in Luoding, Yunfu, and was captured on the premises’ CCTV system.
According to Chinese media reports, a white-haired male customer was preparing to settle the bill when he waved 200 yuan (about RM120.30) in cash in front of a young worker before deliberately tossing the money onto the ground.
The employee appeared momentarily taken aback but eventually bent down to pick up the cash before heading inside to prepare the customer’s change.
He returned shortly afterwards but, instead of handing the change directly to the customer, threw it onto the ground near the man’s feet in the same manner.
The customer appeared angered by the response, but others at the table quickly intervened. One of them picked up the money while helping to calm the situation, preventing the confrontation from escalating further.
Footage of the encounter later circulated online and sparked heated discussion over the way service workers should be treated.
The restaurant owner later revealed that the employee involved was his son, who is in his 20s.
He said his son had not interacted or argued with the customer before the payment incident. Although the customer had consumed alcohol that evening, the owner said he did not appear intoxicated and he could not understand why the money had been thrown on the floor.
After reviewing the CCTV footage, the owner said he believed his son had handled the situation appropriately and rewarded him with 100 yuan (about RM60.15).
He added that his son did not dwell on the incident afterwards and maintained that the young man had done nothing wrong.
Many social media users criticised the customer’s initial behaviour, saying drinking alcohol was no excuse for treating restaurant staff disrespectfully.
Others praised the worker for responding without resorting to physical confrontation, with some saying his reaction showed that respect should be mutual.
