Video Editor

The tin shack where Xiao Ran lives is becoming less and less like a place for a human to live.

A wooden plank bed and a broken table were all the family's possessions.

The worst part is the lack of safety. The neighbors are a mixed bag, including construction workers, night market vendors, and people whose occupations are unknown.

That evening, Xiao Ran returned home exhausted after a long day and had just lain down when he heard a noise at the door.

He sat up alertly and saw a dark figure rummaging through his bag.

"Who?!" Xiao Ran jumped up and grabbed the person.

He was a young man, in his early twenties, skin and bones, his face filthy, and his eyes filled with panic.

"Big brother...big brother, spare me...I...I just wanted to find something to eat..." the man begged for mercy.

Xiao Ran looked at his bag, which contained only a few changes of clothes and a few dozen yuan.

Food? Where would he get extra food? He's already struggling to make ends meet.

"Where are you from? What do you do?" Xiao Ran asked.

"I...I'm from Hunan, I came to Shenzhen to work. I couldn't find a job, I ran out of money, and I haven't eaten for three days..." The man started crying as he spoke, "Brother, I just want to find some money to buy a train ticket home...I don't want to die here..."

Xiao Ran felt a pang of sadness.

With the world people.

Isn't he the same way?
I look for a job every day, but I keep running into walls, and I have less and less money left.

If it weren't for Liu Yuan's help, he might have ended up like this person.

"You can go now." Xiao Ran let go of his hand, took out the last twenty yuan from his pocket, and said, "Take this money, buy some food, and hurry home. Shenzhen isn't an easy place to live."

The man froze, staring at the money in Xiao Ran's hand in disbelief. "Brother...you..."

"Take this." Xiao Ran stuffed the money into his hand. "Remember, go home and live a good life. Don't come back to Shenzhen."

"Thank you, brother! Thank you, brother!" The man knelt down and kowtowed, then took the money and ran away.

Xiao Ran closed the door, leaned against the wall, and let out a long sigh.

This cannot go on.

They only spend money and don't earn any; they're just sitting around and running out of resources.

In a few days, he might actually go and steal or rob.

I must find work, any kind of work will do.

……

The next day, Xiao Ran went to the job market again, but still couldn't find a suitable job.

They either dislike him for lacking education, or for lacking experience, or for his pitifully low salary...

The salary is 150 yuan per month, including room and board, but you have to work 12 hours a day.

Xiao Ran didn't agree. It wasn't that he couldn't endure hardship, but that he was unwilling to give up.

After four years of university, you're going to end up doing a job that pays 150 a month? Wouldn't that be a waste of your education?

After leaving the job market, Xiao Ran wandered aimlessly through the streets.

As he passed by an electronics market, he saw a Walkman on a stall; it was silver and very pretty.

"Boss, how much is this?" Xiao Ran asked.

"Imported, Sony, four hundred and fifty," the shopkeeper said.

Four hundred and fifty... Xiao Ran touched the money in his pocket; he still had a little over three hundred left.

can not afford.

But he still picked it up and tried it out.

I put on my headphones, pressed play, and Jacky Cheung's "Love Letter" started playing.

"I await your return, under the midnight starry sky..."

Xiao Ran suddenly remembered Han Ling.

I remember the way she danced, the way she smiled, and the way she said, "Xiao Ran, I'm waiting for you."

If I give this Walkman to Han Ling, she will be very happy, right?
But... 450 is too expensive.

Xiao Ran hesitated for a long time, but finally gave up. He simply couldn't afford it.

Just as I was about to leave, a vendor came up to me, "Boss, want some CDs? The latest ones, from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Ten dollars a piece, buy five and get one free."

Xiao Ran looked at the CDs; they were all pirated, with rough packaging, but the songs were all popular hits.

"Do these...sell well?" Xiao Ran asked.

"They sell well!" the vendor said. "Young people love listening to music these days. They can wear a portable music player with a CD and listen to it while walking around. It's so fashionable. I can sell dozens of copies a day."

Xiao Ran's heart skipped a beat.

Selling CDs?

This job seems pretty good.

It doesn't require much capital or technical skills; as long as you find the right location, you should be able to sell it.

"Where did you get this CD from?" Xiao Ran asked.

“Guangzhou!” the vendor said. “There’s a wholesale market for audio-visual products over there, full of these kinds of goods. If you want some, I can take you there. But… you’ll have to pay me a referral fee.”

Xiao Ran thought for a moment, then said, "Okay, take me there."

……

Three days later, Xiao Ran returned from Guangzhou, carrying a large bag of CDs.

He didn't buy pirated CDs, he bought cut-out discs...

It's an original foreign CD that has been cut open for various reasons and can no longer be sold normally, but it can still be played.

These discs are cheap and of good quality, much better than pirated ones.

Xiao Ran did the math: a bootleg CD costs three yuan to buy and sells for ten yuan, so he can make a profit of seven yuan per CD.

Selling twenty tickets a day would be 140. That would be 4,200 a month.

It's much better than working a regular job.

Xiao Ran found a pedestrian overpass, laid out a cloth, and displayed the CDs.

"Cutout CDs! Authentic quality! Ten dollars each! Buy three, get one free!"

He started shouting.

At first, no one paid any attention, but soon people gathered around.

"Is this really a bootleg CD? Or a pirated copy?"

"Look at the cut, look at the packaging, it's definitely the genuine product. No counterfeit can match this quality."

How's the sound quality?

"Listen, it's definitely better than pirated versions."

Xiao Ran also brought a portable music player and headphones for customers to try out.

good results.

The sound quality of imported CDs is indeed much better than that of pirated CDs, and the songs are all the latest popular songs from abroad, many of which cannot be bought on the market.

On the first day, Xiao Ran sold fifteen tickets and earned 105 yuan.

The next day, they sold 25 tickets and earned 175 yuan.

On the third day, I sold thirty tickets and earned two hundred and ten yuan.

Business is getting better and better.

Xiao Ran was very meticulous. He categorized the CDs by artist and style, and even made a small notebook to record which songs sold well and what songs customers wanted.

Next time I go to buy goods, I'll use this record.

The other vendors were envious.

"Where did this kid come from? He's trying to steal our business!"

"Exactly, they're selling them so cheaply, and the categories are so detailed, how are we supposed to sell them?"

"We need to teach him a lesson."

But Xiao Ran didn't know any of this. All he knew was that he could finally make money and he wouldn't have to go hungry anymore.

The first thing I did after making the money was to buy that silver Walkman, which cost 450 yuan.

Then I bought a few of the most popular cassette tapes and sent them to Han Ling.

"Ling'er, this is what I bought for you with my own money. It's not much, but every penny is clean. When I earn more money, I'll buy you something even better. Wait for me, I'll come to pick you up soon."

Han Ling received the gift and cried with joy.

She called Xiao Ran and said, "Xiao Ran, I received the gift, I love it! You've worked so hard, don't overwork yourself..."

"It's not hard work," Xiao Ran said. "For you, it's all worth it, no matter how tired I am."

……

Liu Yuan's life at the company wasn't easy either.

Senior colleague Zhang Zhiqiang reminded him again, "Liu Yuan, the company recently got a big order from a client in Guangzhou who wants to order a batch of equipment. This order is very important, and several departments are vying for it. Be careful, don't let yourself be used as a pawn. I'll make sure you get some benefits, but don't choose the wrong side."

Liu Yuan nodded. "Senior brother, I understand."

But he soon discovered that the interpersonal relationships in the company were very complicated.

That day, an old colleague asked him, "Liu Yuan, were you introduced by Li Zhong?"

Li Zhong was the person Liu Yuan's father had asked for help through that connection.

“Yes! Uncle Li introduced him,” Liu Yuan said.

The colleague sneered, "Then you'd better watch out. Li Zhong is in cahoots with Vice President Wang, and now that Vice President Wang has lost power, Li Zhong isn't having an easy time either. You... better watch yourself."

Liu Yuan's heart skipped a beat.

He went to Zhang Zhiqiang and said, "Senior, that colleague said Uncle Li..."

"Don't listen to his nonsense," Zhang Zhiqiang interrupted him. "Just focus on your own work. Don't ask questions or get involved in other things."

Even so, Liu Yuan could sense that his senior brother's attitude towards him had changed somewhat.

They used to be very enthusiastic, but now they're a bit indifferent.

I used to take him with me for everything, but now I keep many things from him.

Liu Yuan knew in his heart that he might have really chosen the wrong side.

But he couldn't help it.

The job was introduced by Li Zhong, and he was on the same side as whoever Li Zhong was on.

It can't be changed.

All I can do is be careful and avoid making mistakes, hoping that bad luck won't befall him.

……

Xiao Ran's business is booming.

He set up a stall on the overpass, and because of his detailed product categories, cheap prices, and good service, many customers became repeat customers.

Some people even come to him specifically to ask if he has CDs by a certain singer.

Xiao Ran wrote them all down and would bring them back next time he went to buy more goods.

After a month, he earned more than three thousand.

In 1992, this was considered a high income.

He moved to a new place, out of the tin shack, and rented a single room for 100 yuan a month. It had a window, sunlight, and a shower.

Life finally started to improve.

But a big tree attracts the wind.

Other vendors became increasingly envious of his successful business.

That day, Xiao Ran had just set up his stall when several urban management officers arrived.

"Who gave you permission to set up a stall here? Do you have a license?"

"No...no." Xiao Ran panicked.

"If you don't have anything, pack your things and come with us."

Xiao Ran's CDs were confiscated, and he was taken to the urban management team.

You need to pay a fine of five hundred yuan.

Where would Xiao Ran get five hundred yuan?
He sent most of the money he had just earned home, paid the rent and bought daily necessities, and only had a little over a hundred yuan left in his pocket.

“I…I don’t have that much money…” Xiao Ran said.

"No money? If you have no money, you'll be detained until your family comes to pay."

Xiao Ran panicked. He couldn't let his family know, and he especially couldn't let Han Ling know.

Then he thought of Liu Yuan.

Gritting his teeth, he made a phone call to Liu Yuan.

Upon receiving the call, Liu Yuan rushed over, paid the fine, and bailed Xiao Ran out.

"Old Xiao, what are you doing?" Liu Yuan looked at Xiao Ran. "Selling DVDs at a stall? Do you know that's illegal?"

“I know…” Xiao Ran said, head down, “but I can’t find a job, I can’t just starve to death, can I?”

“You can’t do this!” Liu Yuan said. “If you get arrested by the urban management officers today, you might get beaten up by thugs tomorrow. Shenzhen is a very chaotic place.”

"Then what can I do?" Xiao Ran smiled bitterly. "I don't even have a diploma, and no regular company will hire me. Working in a factory would only pay 150 a month, and I'm not willing to accept that. Setting up a stall is risky, but at least I can make money."

Liu Yuan sighed and patted Xiao Ran on the shoulder, "Old Xiao, don't worry. I'll try to think of a way for you."

The two parted ways at the intersection.

Liu Yuan watched Xiao Ran's retreating figure, feeling a pang of sadness.

The once spirited class monitor has now fallen to this state.

As a brother, he felt obligated to lend a hand, so he introduced him to another company. ...

Following the address given by Liu Yuan, Xiao Ran found the freight company.

The company is located in an inconspicuous old building in Luohu District, without even a sign at the entrance.

Pushing open the door, I entered a room filled with smoke, where several men were playing cards.

"Who are you looking for?" a bald man asked, looking up.

“I’m looking for General Manager Wang; Liu Yuan introduced me to him,” Xiao Ran said.

The bald man sized him up a few times. "Mr. Wang is in the inner room. Go in yourself."

Xiao Ran knocked on the door of the inner room, and a gruff voice came from inside, "Come in."

Pushing open the door, I saw a fat man in his forties sitting behind a desk, doing calculations with a calculator.

This is General Manager Wang, Wang Dashan.

"Hello, Mr. Wang, I'm Xiao Ran. I was introduced by Liu Yuan," Xiao Ran said.

Wang Dashan looked up at him. "Liu Yuan told me, you're a college student, right? Okay, I'm short of educated people here. You'll start work tomorrow, mainly in charge of the cargo at the dock. The base salary is four hundred per month, with bonuses for good performance."

"Thank you, Mr. Wang." Xiao Ran asked, "What exactly is the job?"

"It's very simple," Wang Dashan said. "Every day, I go to the dock and keep an eye on the loading and unloading of our goods. It mainly involves dealing with the people at customs. You have to offer them cigarettes when necessary and treat them to meals when appropriate. Just make sure the goods get through customs smoothly and aren't detained."

Xiao Ran's heart skipped a beat.

Dealing with customs? That doesn't sound like a simple job.

"Mr. Wang, is this product... legitimate?" he asked cautiously.

Wang Dashan laughed, a smile that held a deeper meaning. "Young man, in Shenzhen, where are you going to find so many legitimate goods? As long as you can make money, that's all that matters. Don't worry, nothing serious will happen. Even if something does happen, it won't concern you; you're just an employee."

Xiao Ran understood.

This isn't a legitimate freight company; they're smuggling goods.

His job was to deal with customs and ensure that smuggled goods could pass through smoothly.

Is it illegal? But he had no choice.

I only have a few dozen yuan left, and I don't even know where my rent will be next month.

He couldn't turn down the job that Liu Yuan had gone to great lengths to introduce to him.

“I’ll do it,” Xiao Ran said.

"Smart guy." Wang Dashan tossed him a pack of cigarettes. "Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock, report to Old Li at warehouse number three at the dock."

……

Suddenly, Liu Yuan's life at the company took a sharp turn for the worse.

That day, a major client from Guangzhou came to discuss business, and the boss personally received him.

Liu Yuan was assigned to help serve tea and water and greet customers.

There was nothing wrong at first, but the client said at the dinner, "Li Zhong from your company is quite reliable. He was the one who helped me get that batch of goods sorted out last time."

The boss's expression changed immediately.

After the dinner, the boss called Li Zhong into his office, closed the door, and they had a fight.

No one knows exactly what the argument was about, but Li Zhong was fired the next day.

Liu Yuan, who was introduced by Li Zhong, was naturally implicated as well.

The HR department spoke with him, "Liu Yuan, the company is undergoing restructuring recently, and your position has been eliminated. Here is your salary for this month; we've overpaid you for a month. Pack your things and leave."

Liu Yuan was bewildered. "Why? Is there something wrong with my job?"

"No problem, it's just a restructuring." The HR manager said expressionlessly, "Hurry up and pack your things, we'll process your resignation this afternoon."

Liu Yuan went to find his senior, Zhang Zhiqiang.

Zhang Zhiqiang was packing his things.

"Senior brother, what's going on..." Liu Yuan was stunned.

“I got fired too.” Zhang Zhiqiang sneered. “With Li Zhong gone, everyone on his line is finished. That’s how this company is; if you choose the wrong side, you’re out.”

"But senior, we have no problem with our work..."

“What’s the use of having no problems at work?” Zhang Zhiqiang said. “The key is who you’ve chosen to side with. Liu Yuan, I warned you before, this place is treacherous, don’t choose the wrong side. You didn’t listen, now you know?”

Liu Yuan was speechless.

"Alright, don't be sad." Zhang Zhiqiang patted him. "Shenzhen is so big, you won't starve. But let me give you some advice: to survive here, you either need to be capable or have connections. If you have neither, get out of here as soon as possible and don't waste your time."

After saying that, Zhang Zhiqiang picked up his suitcase and left.

Liu Yuan stood there, his mind blank.

I lost my job, and I lost my place to live...

The apartment in that Hong Kong-style building was rented by the company, and I had to move out when I resigned.

With only a few hundred yuan left, where can I go?
……

After working at the freight company for a few days, Xiao Ran felt increasingly uneasy.

The goods at the dock were all poorly packaged; some didn't even have labels.

Old Li helped him deal with customs officials, offering cigarettes, bribes, and saying nice things to get the goods through customs.

One time, Xiao Ran couldn't help but ask Lao Li, "Brother Li, what exactly is this thing we have?"

Old Li glanced around and lowered his voice, "Young man, don't ask questions you shouldn't. Knowing too much won't do you any good. Just remember to collect your salary on time every month. Pretend you don't know anything else."

Xiao Ran felt a chill run down his spine.

This job won't last long.

If something happens someday, he will be an accomplice.

But if I don't do it, what else can I do?
That evening after get off work, Xiao Ran wanted to go see Liu Yuan.

Liu Yuan helped him find a job, and he was very grateful.

Go to the address Liu Yuan gave you, and you'll find that Hong Kong-style apartment complex.

I knocked on the door for ages, but no one answered.

The neighbor poked their head out and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for Liu Yuan, who lives here."

"They moved out, they moved out the day before yesterday," a neighbor said. "I heard they lost their job and couldn't afford the rent anymore."

Xiao Ran was stunned.

Liu Yuan lost his job? Why didn't you tell him?

Xiao Ran tried calling Liu Yuan's pager several times, but no one answered.

Xiao Ran felt a little flustered.

Liu Yuan only knows one person in Shenzhen, so where could he go?

……

Chen Qiming's days at the Grain Bureau were becoming increasingly difficult.

The work summary he spent two sleepless nights writing was thrown directly into the trash can by the section chief.

"Xiao Chen, what do you mean by this?" The section chief's face was grim. "Implicit accusations? Barbed remarks? Do you have a problem with me?"

"Section Chief, I didn't..." Chen Qiming panicked, "I just made some suggestions, thinking that our work could be improved..."

"Improve?" The section chief sneered. "You've only been here a few days. What do you know? There are rules for working in government offices. You can't just change them as a college graduate."

"But section chief, I really want to do something for the unit..."

"Get things done?" the section chief interrupted him. "To work in an organization, you first need to learn how to be a good person. If you can't even be a good person, what are you going to do?"

He walked up to Chen Qiming and lowered his voice, "Little Chen, I'm warning you. When you work in an office, you have to keep a low profile. Don't be too flamboyant or showy. If the higher-ups see what you've written, they'll think there's something wrong with our department. You're not allowed to write this anymore, understand?"

"I...I heard it." Chen Qiming lowered his head, his voice barely audible.

"Alright, get out!" The section chief waved his hand. "Remember, talk less and do more. Don't meddle in things you shouldn't, and don't ask questions you shouldn't."

Chen Qiming walked out of the office, feeling a chill in his heart.

He genuinely wanted to do something for his company and offered some suggestions for improvement.

Unexpectedly, the section chief misunderstood him as making veiled accusations and speaking with barbs.

Does working in a government agency mean you can only coast along and can't speak the truth or offer suggestions?

He doesn't understand.

But the section chief's words were very clear: either follow the rules, or get out.

For the first time, Chen Qiming felt that he might have chosen the wrong path.

Maybe I should have gone to Shenzhen with Xiao Ran and the others back then?
But it's too late to say all this now.

……

A week later, Xiao Ran was overseeing the unloading at the dock when he suddenly saw a figure loitering in the distance.

The man was wearing a wrinkled shirt, his hair was messy, and he was carrying a tattered bag. He was walking back and forth on the dock, as if he was looking for work.

Xiao Ran took a closer look and was stunned.

It turned out to be Liu Yuan.

"Liu Yuan!" He ran over.

Liu Yuan turned his head and saw Xiao Ran, his eyes slightly evasive. "Old Xiao... what are you doing here?"

"You forgot! I work here." Xiao Ran looked at Liu Yuan's appearance, her heart tightening. "What happened to you? Where are you living now?"

Liu Yuan smiled bitterly, "After losing my job, I also lost my place to live. I've been looking for work at the labor market these past few days, but I haven't found anything suitable. I've run out of money and haven't eaten for two days."

Without saying a word, Xiao Ran pulled Liu Yuan to a small restaurant by the dock.

Liu Yuan ordered two bowls of noodles, which he wolfed down in just a few bites.

"Eat slowly, order more if you're still hungry," Xiao Ran said.

After finishing his noodles, Liu Yuan took a sip of water and sighed deeply, "Old Xiao, I'm really done for this time."

Then he recounted the events at the company.

"...Li Zhong was dismissed, and I was implicated as well. My senior brother was right; if you choose the wrong side, you're out. I thought I could make a living based on my own abilities, but I didn't expect that here it's all about connections and choosing sides."

Xiao Ran was silent for a moment, then asked, "So what do you plan to do now?"

"I don't know." Liu Yuan shook his head. "I'll find a place to stay first, then look for a job. Shenzhen is so big, I'm sure I can find work."

"Stay at my place," Xiao Ran said. "I rented a single room. It's small, but we can squeeze in."

Liu Yuan looked at Xiao Ran, his eyes a little red, "Old Xiao, thanks. I wouldn't have come to you if I hadn't really had nowhere else to go."

"Why are you saying all this?" Xiao Ran patted him on the shoulder. "We're brothers, we'll share the hardships together."

That evening, Xiao Ran took Liu Yuan back to his residence.

The single room was indeed small; with just a bed and a table, there wasn't much space left, but we still added another bed.

"Make do! You can stay here from now on," Xiao Ran said.

"How about that..."

Xiao Ran laid out the bedding on the floor, then took down her own mosquito net and hung it up for Liu Yuan, saying, "There are a lot of mosquitoes here, so it's better to have a mosquito net."

Liu Yuan watched Xiao Ran busy at work, feeling a mix of emotions.

They used to be classmates, brothers, going to school together, playing ball together, and chasing girls together.

What now?
One was doing illegal work at the docks, and the other was unemployed and homeless, without even a place to live.

Shenzhen is truly a cruel city.

“Old Xiao,” Liu Yuan suddenly said, “is your job…reliable? I heard that a lot of the goods at the docks aren’t clean.”

Xiao Ran paused, "I know. But if I don't do this, what else can I do? I'll do this for now! I'll save some money and then find a proper job."

“That’s true.” Liu Yuan lay down and looked at the ceiling. “Old Xiao, we must make something of ourselves in Shenzhen. We can’t let Han Ling look down on us, and we can’t let Su Ning laugh at us.”

When Suning was mentioned, Xiao Ran's eyes darkened. "Yes, definitely."

"I heard that Suning has opened a company in Shenzhen."

"Oh? A trading company?"

"No! Shenzhen-Hong Kong Electronics manufactures pagers."

"Sigh! Comparing yourself to others is just awful."

"I heard that Suning's father is a big shot in Shenzhen. He invested in Suning and opened this Shenzhen-Hong Kong electronics company. Why don't we have such good fortune?"

"..."

At this point, neither of them spoke.

It was late at night, and the sounds of construction from a distant site could be heard outside the window.

Shenzhen's nights are never quiet, and there's no shortage of money, envy, jealousy, and resentment.

……

A few days later, Xiao Ran called Han Ling and said, "Han Ling, I miss you so much."

"Xiao Ran, I have great news! I'm going to Guangzhou for a cultural performance!" Han Ling's voice was filled with excitement. "After the performance, I'll come to Shenzhen to find you! We can finally meet!"

Xiao Ran's heart tightened. "When?"

"Next Friday. I have a performance all day, and then I'll take a bus to Shenzhen on Saturday. Where are you staying? I'll come find you."

Xiao Ran suddenly thought of his simple single room and Liu Yuan lying on the other bed.

He absolutely cannot let Han Ling see him like this.

"Ling'er, don't bother going back and forth. I'll just come to Guangzhou to find you," Xiao Ran said.

"That's...okay!"

...(End of chapter)