Man on the Street is a regular series where we talk to someone doing an everyday job, in order to gain insight into the lives of normal Chinese people.
"No need” – these are the words most of the baggage handlers at Shekou port hear almost every day. For many of us, not having to awkwardly maneuver several heavy suitcases into the trunk of a taxi is good news, but for Wu Chen and his ‘colleagues,’ this means they will not be paid. Wu will pick up and load your bags into the taxi anyway. Sometimes he gets a “thank you,” sometimes not. But that’s all in a day’s work.
Wu works at Shekou port in Shenzhen. He is not an official employee but a “volunteer of some sort,” as he puts it. Every day, from 8am to 10pm (minus a short lunch break), he will be there. Waiting.
He takes a spot right next to the taxi stop where ferry passengers, eager to get to their destination in comfort, line up and wait for cars. Most of them carry bags and suitcases from Hong Kong airport or a day of heavy shopping. Many a Shenzhener has stood in this line, tired after going through customs and anticipating some rest.
As the long-awaited car finally arrives, you will see a man hurrying quickly to help you put your bags in the vehicle. He will not ask you if his help is needed – something that occasionally gets him into trouble. When the luggage is in the trunk, he might give you a quick glance, but won't insist on getting paid for his services.
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“Some people won’t even look at me, as if I was never there,” Wu says. “But some would thank me and give a tip. Some ask me not to touch their bags, as they are afraid I will ask them for money. But that's the job. I get what I get and I am happy to do it.”
Wu’s enthusiasm is inspiring. The work that he is doing is often unappreciated, but to him that’s not a discouragement. “At least, I get to spend a lot of time outdoors. I see people coming and going. Some of them I already know. I also have some muscles,” Wu says, proudly displaying his toned arms and smiling.
One of his wishes is to go on a ferry trip himself and switch roles with his clients. “I can’t travel much," he notes. “Even for Spring Festival, I don’t come home every year.”
The long hours are Wu’s only complaint. He tries to always be at the port at peak times when the boats arrive, but as one comes almost every 30 minutes, he can’t do much in between.
Most of his days go by in Shekou Matou. He is there from early morning till late night, on weekdays and weekends. Sometimes he takes a day off, but even then his thoughts wander back to his workplace – he asks himself if there are many people at the port that day and if any of them are missing his service.
When questioned as to why he chose this work, Wu gazes into the distance with monk-link serenity. “That’s what I can do,” he says.
THE DIRTY DETAILS
Monthly salary: RMB1,000–3,000
Days per week: 7
Hours per day: 10
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[Photos by Daniel Mh Chun]
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