100 Chinese People Series: A Street vendor's Life
Although joined by a common cultural heritage, Chinese people each have their own unique world view and ways of life.
These reality videos will bring us into the real daily lives of average people in China.
Although joined by a common cultural heritage, Chinese people each have their own unique world view and ways of life.
These reality videos will bring us into the real daily lives of average people in China.
Hu Youhua
(A street vendor)
Gender: Male
Age: 22
From: Liling, Hunan
Lives in: Shanghai How long: One and a half year
Marriage status: Single
Earnings: RMB 1,000-3,000 per month
Hobbies: Making money, watching TV
Work: Sells porcelain from a street cart in Shanghai
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Introduction:
- Hu Youhua comes from Liling, Hunan. He is only 22 years old and has been in Shanghai for one and a half years. He is a street vendor who sells porcelain from a cart.
Interview:
- Jongo: I've heard that you have just been fined by the police. Can you tell us what happened?
- Hu Youhua: At that time it was a plain-clothes officer that fined us. My nephew got into a fight with the officer, which made the situation worse. If he didn't fight with the police officer, we would have been fined RMB 300 (38.85 USD). In the end, we were fined RMB 1,000 (129.5 USD) for two carts. We paid almost RMB 1,500 (194.3 USD) including medical fees.
- Jongo: How do you feel about getting fined?
- Hu Youhua: We work hard to earn money, but the money is all gone in the end because of the fine. Although, if we were not fined, the officer would have confiscated our goods.
- Jongo: How do you feel about your job?
- Hu Youhua: Our job is better than theft and robbery. Our job is legitimate, but we are at a low social status compared with those who have legal employment. So in the end our job is neither good nor bad.
- Jongo: Tell us a little more about your work.
- Hu Youhua: I don't know. Every day I rest and then I sell goods.
- Jongo: How do you feel about your suppliers, your customers and the law enforcement officers who attempt to stop you from selling things on the street?
- Hu Youhua: With regards to the suppliers, they often give us defective goods. It is very difficult to sell goods with defects. However, we have to be liable for losses. The suppliers don't have any responsibility to us. If the defective goods can't be sold, we don't make any money off them.
- As for customers, they basically look down upon us. When customers bargain with us, I don't agree with them and they say 'your goods are picked from rubbish,' but I can't do anything about it.
- And on top of this I get harassed by police officers.
- But we still have to do business. If you don't, how can you support yourself?
- Jongo: When will you be married?
- Hu Youhua: I have never thought of it. I may marry when I am 26 or 27 years old. Currently my condition is poor. We built a house last year and now I don't have any money.
- Jongo: What are your plans for living in Shanghai?
- Hu Youhua: I hope that one day I can rent a store on Huaihai road. That would temporarily be my dream. I have two foreign friends. But now my condition is poor and there is no way for them to help me.
- Jongo: Do you get angry with your customers when they mistreat you?
- Hu Youhua: I don't. I don't care if customers don't buy goods from me. If I can give more discounts, I will. If I can't, I won't.
- Jongo: I don't know how to comment your job. Is it hard?
- Hu Youhua: It is hard and at the same time it makes me happy because I can handle it.