My name is Xu Linxiang and I was born in 1949. I didn't receive much education, only attended primary school up until second grade because my family couldn't afford to keep me in school. I spent my days herding cattle, gathering firewood, cooking, and doing other household chores. After the cultural reform in China, my family moved to the Dongxiang Copper Mine area, where I met my spouse. After having children, I never worked until my spouse passed away and I moved to Nanchang with my eldest daughter to ease her financial burden.
She had a child, and at that time, their family didn't own a house. I moved to Nanchang to help relieve their financial pressure, working as a nanny or cleaner for others. After my eldest daughter settled in Nanchang, I went to Nanjing to help take care of my grandson. After he grew up a bit, I moved to Guangzhou to live with my youngest daughter for a while. My son didn't achieve much in life: he didn't earn much money and got divorced. He lives in Nanjing and rarely comes to visit me. My youngest daughter lives in Shenzhen, Guangdong. She has never married and rents a house, but she earns a good salary. Overall, things are fine for her. Jobs are hard to find in Guangdong and I felt bored often. Soon, I returned to Nanchang to take care of my eldest daughter's second child.
When my grandson grew up, I was over 60 and didn't want to burden their family, so I moved back to my old house in Dongxiang. My siblings also live in Dongxiang, so we visit each other often. People around the Dongxiang Copper Mine have known each other for decades; a short walk leads to familiar faces, and catching up can take a whole morning. I usually get up at five in the morning to water the vegetables and help my brother with some products. At seven or eight, I typically cook porridge, noodles, or I might go to the market to buy some buns. In the morning, I might stroll through the market or work on some projects while watching TV at home, then go to the cafeteria for lunch around 11. I usually nap until about three in the afternoon, then sit at my brother's place for a while, mainly to pick up and deliver goods. I dine in the cafeteria again at five-thirty in the evening and usually continue working at home, wrapping up my day. If nothing else, I can watch the news on TV, so I don't feel lonely. Since nursing homes cost money, and I can manage on my own, I see no need to move to one. I choose not to live with my children because they might find me annoying and burdensome as I age.
I think I'm living quite well now, relatively speaking, it's quite good. I don't aspire to be wealthy; having a stable life is enough for me.
- Xu Linxiang
China
Xu Zhi｜Content curator
Ruihan｜Editor
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