Related News
Home » Sunday » Now and Then
Handshake that changed outlook
Print Edition
THOUGH most young people are passionate about starting their own business today, being self-employed was a difficult choice only some few years ago. But the pioneers brought about great changes to their own lives as well as to others.
Before 1990s, when people took up jobs in factories it was a source of great pride, while those who were on their own were usually looked down upon despite their higher incomes. They were called “ge-ti hu,” literally meaning “individual household.”
Simply put, being independent was seen as nothing but a waste of time.
Generally, only those who could not get jobs in factories, institutions or government agencies or departments, would choose to become self-employed. That included, in many cases, the unemployed youth without recommendations, or those who had spent time in jail. While speaking of prisoners, Shanghai locals would lower their voice and address them as “the ones who came down from the mountains.”
Jiang Anru, a 57-year-old vegetable seller at a farm product market in Jing’an District, was also one of those who “came down from the mountains.” Nobody wanted to shake hands with him, but his destiny changed after one particular morning in 1983.
It was February and he was busy cutting winter bamboo shoots. Jiang heard a common question about price of bamboo shoots in Sichuan dialect. He answered without even looking up. When he did raise his head, Jiang discovered it was no other than Deng Xiaoping, the Chinese leader, standing at his stall.
After greeting him, the leader shook his hands before leaving. After Deng left, a great number of people rushed to shake Jiang’s hands. That handshake with the paramount leader suggested that the self-employed as a group was deserving of credit too.
Though these independent group of people were tagged with titles such the new rich, heartless rich or dirty rich, they did ring in changes to people’s lives.
When the first batches of jeans and electronic watches were exhibited on Liulin Road in the 1980s, few people imagined that they would be pioneering fashion in the city.
They set the stage for Huating, Xiangyang and Qipu markets.
Others got into transporting fruits, vegetables, fishes and meat to various local markets. And then came the domestic appliance sellers who injected new concept of life among the people.
Looking back, many of the successful entrepreneurs said they didn’t choose to become independent but was forced into it. Having a good business sense helped them develop and profit.
With a new outlook and the coming reforms, the term, “ge-ti hu,” slowly faded from our lives.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
