Why You Should Never Accept a Free Meal? Expert Reveals '5 Taboos of Business Hospitality': The Most Expensive Things Are Often Free

Before Lunar New Year, I accompanied two colleagues to visit a new client. The client’s office is located in Taipei 101, offering a panoramic view of landmarks like the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and the Taipei Dome. The Memorial Hall was completed in 1972, and the Taipei Dome in 2023—these two iconic structures, 51 years apart, connect two generations of Taipei residents’ lives and memories.

Our discussion went very well. We presented a gift to the client, who in return gave us three gifts—one for each of us. This was a gesture of goodwill and a promising start.

During the Lunar New Year period, I both received and gave many gifts. Behind gift exchanges lie deep cultural meanings:

1. When giving gifts, status matters more than wealth, and elegance surpasses status. Gifting is a form of greeting and blessing—it doesn’t have to be expensive, but it should leave a lasting impression.

2. Always reciprocate when you receive a gift. This is the principle of mutual exchange. You don’t have to return it immediately, but within a reasonable time (ideally within three months), you should. The return gift should be equivalent—don’t take advantage. If returning a gift isn’t appropriate, repay the favor in another way. All social debts must eventually be settled.

3. Never accept cash. Receiving gifts is polite; accepting cash is bribery. Department store gift cards are treated the same as cash.

4. All gifts are addressed to the CEO of Storm Media, not to Wang Xuecheng personally. If I didn’t hold this position, I wouldn’t receive these gifts. Gifts belong to the company and should be shared with colleagues whenever possible. Sharing boosts team morale.

5. Gift-giving signals that you’re still active in the business world—it tells others, “I’m still here.”

Both gift-giving and dining out are displays of national strength—graceful and composed. Regarding dining, there are several unspoken rules:

1. The highest form of dining is one-on-one. It signifies closeness and is at the heart of business dealings. True intimacy doesn’t require wagyu beef, shark fin, or abalone—Taipei’s Taoyuan Street beef noodle soup is just as excellent.

Large group dinners are about show, noise, and spectacle—not meaningful conversation.

2. Choose restaurants with seasonal awareness, prioritizing the guest’s preferences. Fish is essential; duck signifies prestige. The table should resemble a painting, with a balance of cool and warm tones. The distribution of colors matters.

3. When invited to dinner, clarify who is hosting and who else will be present. Avoid ambiguous invitations to prevent unintentionally endorsing someone.

4. If someone can’t make time for your dinner invitation, it likely means they don’t want to see you right now. It’s not necessarily your fault—they may be going through a difficult period. Don’t push.

5. Never accept free hospitality or gifts. What seems 'free' is only free because you don’t yet know its price.