Chapter 167

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

At 6:30 PM, Wang Dashan arrived at Guangyuan Bus Station.

Exiting the bus station, outside was a bustling small plaza, and beyond the plaza the highway was choked with traffic.

Nearby there was a bus stop, and many people were waiting for the bus dragging their luggage.

Wang Dashan called Zhu Zhiming again, saying he had already arrived at Guangyuan Bus Station.

Zhu Zhiming said he was on the bus heading over and still needed a bit of time; if Wang Dashan felt hungry, he could eat first on his own.

Wang Dashan was indeed hungry, but he felt it would still be better to wait for Zhu Zhiming to arrive and then go eat together.

So he found a corner near the bus stop and sat down, waiting patiently.

He took out his earphones, opened Qianqian Jingting on his phone, and waited while listening to music.

From "Autumn Never Returns" to "Praying to Buddha," from "Moon Above" to "The Rose's Funeral," he listened to songs for a long time until finally his phone rang — Zhu Zhiming calling.

"Hello, I've already arrived at Guangyuan Bus Station, where are you?"

Over the phone, Zhu Zhiming asked.

Wang Dashan hurriedly replied:

"I'm right by the bus stop outside the bus station exit!"

Wang Dashan looked around, and saw a person walking over from the opposite side of the footbridge ahead.

That person was none other than Zhu Zhiming.

"I see you! I'm right across from you!" Wang Dashan shouted loudly.

"I see you too, I'm coming over now!"

Zhu Zhiming hung up, crossed the footbridge, and came before Wang Dashan.

The two looked at each other and smiled; Zhu Zhiming gave Wang Dashan a punch to the chest and said with a grin:

"Not bad, two years as a soldier and you've bulked up this much — you must've trained a lot in the army!"

Wang Dashan smiled in reply:

"In the army you have to train; if you don't train you'll be punished to death by the instructors!"

Zhu Zhiming hurriedly asked:

"Haven't eaten yet, right?"

Wang Dashan shook his head:

"No, I wanted to wait for you so we could eat together!"

Zhu Zhiming then said:

"What do you want to eat? Today I'm treating! Whatever you want to eat, just tell me!"

Although Zhu Zhiming was very generous, Wang Dashan didn't dare let Zhu Zhiming treat him to anything too expensive.

So he said:

"Just finding a random roadside stall to make do is fine!"

At this moment, Wang Dashan spotted a Longjiang Pig Trotter Rice restaurant ahead; the shop had posted prices — a portion of Longjiang Pig Trotter Rice cost only eight yuan, which counted as relatively cheap.

So he hurriedly said:

"How about we just eat some pig trotter rice!"

Zhu Zhiming readily agreed with a smile:

"Good, let's eat pig trotter rice! Coincidentally I also want to eat pig trotter rice!"

So the two entered the Longjiang Pig Trotter Rice shop together.

Each ordered a portion of pig trotter rice.

Zhu Zhiming only ordered a small portion, eight yuan.

Wang Dashan felt he was too hungry, so he ordered a large portion, 12 yuan.

When the two portions of pig trotter rice were served, Wang Dashan discovered that there wasn't much difference in the quantity of pig trotter between the small and large portions.

Wang Dashan felt a bit shortchanged.

Zhu Zhiming laughed heartily:

"No problem, if you can't eat your fill you can ask the boss for more rice; generally refills are free!"

Wang Dashan said:

"In a bit I'll have him add rice; I must eat back my 12 yuan's worth!"

The pig trotter rice was very greasy and heavy-flavored, but for people like Wang Dashan and Zhu Zhiming who came from poor families, they liked this kind of heavy flavor.

The two ate in big mouthfuls, not feeling it was greasy but instead finding it very fragrant.

"This taste is not bad!"

Wang Dashan said as much.

Zhu Zhiming then said:

"I think it's just okay; it's not as good as the pig trotter rice where I live!"

Wang Dashan hurriedly asked:

"Where do you live?"

Zhu Zhiming then said:

"Right near Tianhe Bus Station, there's an urban village called Yuangang Village! It's only a few hundred meters from Tianhe Bus Station!"

Wang Dashan was surprised:

"That close? If I'd known, I would've bought a ticket to Tianhe Bus Station! Made you come all this way to pick me up!"

Zhu Zhiming just said:

"It's not your fault. I didn't make it clear on the phone. I've been too busy at work, forgot to mention it."

Wang Dashan hurriedly asked:

"What kind of work do you do now?"

Zhu Zhiming didn't dodge the question, just said directly:

"Helping someone tighten screws at the Auto Parts City, still an apprentice. The pay is pitifully low, damn it. Take-home is only one thousand yuan a month, no room and board, no social security."

Zhu Zhiming graduated high school and went out to work, now it's been nearly two years, and his wages haven't gone up. The reason is simple: he's unwilling to settle down and learn a skill. He keeps switching jobs. When he first started, he worked at the Dongguan Shoe Factory, lasted less than a month, couldn't take it and ran off. Later he got into an electronics factory with higher pay, but disliked the heavy pollution, bad for health, quit in under two months.

Later he followed a friend to Guangzhou to find work. That friend went into private sewage cleaning. He originally followed that friend to do private sewage cleaning, but disliked the filth, did it for a few months and quit again.

What is private sewage cleaning? It's private toilet unclogging.

This job requires going around pasting small ads. When caught pasting ads, he got chased off by urban management plenty of times, cursed at by residents inside the buildings.

On top of that, this work only pays when there's work to do. When there's no work, not a penny. Income is very unstable, and it's dirty and stinking.

So Zhu Zhiming did it for a few months and ran off again.

After that he switched jobs several more times in a row.

Until two months ago, through a relative's introduction, he came to the Auto Parts City as an apprentice.

The pay is very low, but he can learn a skill.

But it depends on whether he can endure, settle down. If he can't stay patient, he'll probably run off again.

"Everyone's like this when they first start working. Suffer a bit, earn some money. Once you have capital, then start your own business. That's the real way!"

Wang Dashan has his own plans.

He came out to work to earn some capital, then start his own business.

Although he still doesn't know what business to start, doesn't know specifically what he can do, he's already firmly convinced that only entrepreneurship is the only way out for the poor.

At that time the country's economic environment was still pretty good. Entrepreneurship was a very hot trend. Lots of people started their own businesses, and success stories were everywhere.

Everyone took Ma Yun as a role model. The social economy was still full of vitality.

"You're right, but it's hard to accumulate capital. Take me now — apprentice at the Auto Parts City, I spend almost my whole salary every month, sometimes even have to swipe my credit card!"

Zhu Zhiming shook his head and sighed.

He used to think going out to work was easy, at least easier than studying.

Once he actually entered society, he realized: no education, no ability, it's simply impossible to move an inch.

A hundred times harder than studying!

When taking exams at school, at least teachers would highlight key points so you knew roughly what would be tested.

In society there's no teacher to highlight key points. You have no idea what you'll be tested on.

This vast society is like a wilderness of wild grass — no clear paths. Everything requires you, just stepping into society, to slowly feel your way.

The hardship in all this — only those who've suffered society's beatings can deeply understand the taste of it.