100 Chinese People Series: A Chinese Teacher's Life

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• Yu Bo comes from Lujiang, Anhui. He drills holes at construction sites and installs electrical wiring and air-conditioners. His monthly income ranges from RMB 2,000 to RMB 4,000 depending on how much work he gets. He lives in a house located in Qianjiatang, Minhang district.  

• How long have you been in Shanghai? How did you end up in your current employment? 
• Yu Bo: I came to Shanghai ten years ago. At that time I hadn't a stable job and wasn't earning that much. The occasional opportunity enabled me to assist others in drilling holes for construction projects. Later on, I took it as my own work. At that time I earned RMB 300 to RMB 400.one day. But now the situation is not so good. There are many workers drilling holes in Shanghai and the market is saturated. Now I am earning less money that I would if I was outside Shanghai.
  
  
• How was your situation when you first bought your own drilling machine?
• Yu Bo: I used borrowed money to buy the first machine. At the time I couldn't afford it.
  
  
• Your business seems good. How do you improve your competitiveness?
• Yu Bo: Firstly, I am hard working. Secondly, I do work for a cheaper price. Thirdly, I'm credible. I can finish my work on time. Fourthly, I never care about the losses due to the lower prices. My attitude is that when I get a job I earn a little less money but I at least have one more job. Also I develop a reputation for doing good work and others will hire me.
  
  
• What are you concerned about most when you work at the construction site?
• Yu Bo: The electricity. We must be alert to matters of electricity safety at the construction site because often construction sites don't have adequate safety measures at all.
  
  
• How is your life? How do you spend your daily money?
• Yu Bo: It changes. Sometimes I spend a lot, sometimes less.
  
  
• How about today's lunch?
• Yu Bo: The boss pays RMB 5 to each person as a lunch stipend.
  
  
• What does family mean to you?
• Yu Bo: My family is close. I am with my parents and children often and that's good.
  
  
• How is your relationship with your parents and how do you educate your children while being away from your hometown for long periods of time?
• Yu Bo: It's hard to say. I buy gifts or give money to my parents during the Spring Festival.
  With regards to my child, I live with her for less than half a month in one year. The relationship between us is not good. When I got home, she was unwilling to speak to me. Usually, I call home and she is unwilling to talk.
  
  
• Have you ever thought of bringing your child to Shanghai?
• Yu Bo: Of course. I have thought about it for several years. But my wife and I would hardly have any time to take care of the child if she comes to Shanghai. If she comes, my wife can't work. In that case I will be the only bread-earner in my family.
  
  
• What is your largest difficulty you have encountered in Shanghai?
• Yu Bo: Housing. I live in a rented house. But low-income housing is often torn down to make way for larger buildings. Often I get familiar with the house and then it is torn down. So sometimes I have to move three or four times in one year.