One cannot be apprehensive when doing work. If you shy away from trying, you will never learn anything. A moderately mentally retarded woman, known by her nickname Hsiao Hui, over the past two years has baked over 10,000 egg rolls. Hsiao Hui, who turned 20 years old this year, this month finally passed a number of baking examinations. From starting out as an apprentice, she has become the first mentally handicapped manager of a bakery. She is now earning NT$17,280 a month and created a life for herself full of dignity and self respect.

Hsiao Hui said that when she was 18 years old, she entered a refuge bakery that provides employment opportunities for mentally handicapped people. Upon starting training at the bakery, she learned how to make egg rolls. Initially, she was quite shy when she came into contact with customers. She did not know how to approach and begin speaking with customers. Usually, she would stay in the back mixing the ingredients and baking the egg rolls. When customers came through the front door to buy bakery goods, she would become so scared that she would run behind the counter. She did not know how to handle the situation.

Lee Yi, who was a counselor to Hsiao Hui and responsible for helping to train her, made an extra effort to encourage Hsiao Hui to learn arithmetic and to write various business reports. She also urged Hsiao Hui to drum up the courage to face customers. Since Hsiao Hui performed quite well, she gradually moved up in rank in the bakery. First starting out as an apprentice, she then became a student worker, and interning manager. Over time she eventually became to be the manager of the refuge bakery. Each day, she arrives at the Taipei Youth Recreation Center on time, where she goes to work at the egg roll store there.

"It is quite exhausting to be the manager of the store. It is a tough job, but I will do my best to fulfill my responsibility. I do not want to let anyone down," said Hsiao Hui, who was on the one hand baking egg rolls, while smiling and talking to the reporter. Hsiao Hui, who is a devoted daughter, gives her earnings to her mother each month. She hopes that she will be able to gradually save some money so that her mother will not have to worry about her.

Meanwhile, the 52-year-old Hsiang Hsuan has multiple sclerosis, the complications of which have made her blind. Even though she is not able to see, she is able to use her other senses in figuring out the trick to making egg rolls. Hsiang Hsuans personal best is having made 100 egg rolls in a day. As a result, she is affectionately referred to as the "Blind Egg Roll Master." She and Hsiao Hui usually work together. Hsiang Hsuan looks after Hsiao Hui as if she were her mother. The two of them have developed a close friendship over the years and help each other out in making the egg rolls, packaging and selling the finished product. The two are the best team from the refuge bakery.

"Recently, my illness has gotten worse and the pain in my body is hard to endure. I am still in pain even if I take the strongest medicine available," lamented Hsiang Hsuan. She said that given her physical state, she will have to take some time off, but will return to the bakery after she gets better. This means that Hsiao Hui will have to take on more responsibility in teaching others. Hsiao Hui said, "It hurts me to see Hsiang Hsuan in such pain. It is best that she takes a good rest. I will wait for her return."