One of the frequently heard phrases nowadays is “I’m broke again.” They’re mostly young people who entered the workforce recently. With the new year of 2012 approaching, money has become a daily topic of conversation. “Hey, is the year-end bonus this much?” one asked. “How can I pass the days with such a small salary?” Another one exclaimed. “It looks like we’ve got to tighten our belt in the coming New Year.” Someone echoed.

It is understandable that people complain about the pay they receive with increasing living standards. It seems that prices of our daily necessities are going up every day and our salaries remain stable for too long. We have to put food on the table. Life seems not easy for everyone nowadays. For those who have begun work for only several years, the perception could be more obvious with a limited beginner’s wage.

As a mid-aged man, however, I feel content with everything I’m able to get. I have to make it clear: I’m NOT rich though I am Rich. I’m actually the only bread-earner of the family. My wife gets a minimum salary as a laid-off worker and my son is still in university. You can imagine what kind of life we lead with the income I get. There’s no secret solution to speak of. The only way out, if any, is to control our budget and make every penny count. I’m proud of myself that we’re living a decent life and that most of my dreams have been fulfilled. I especially take pride in the fact that I bought the current house five years ago with borrowed money and a housing accumulation fund loan from the bank, which proved a very wise decision. And recently I purchased a car, as you may know.

As a country boy, I was taught to be frugal and hard-working. When I was in senior high, I always tried to spend as little as possible, for I knew my mom didn’t have much money for me to squander. I still remember having rice with only soy source and boiled pig fat for lunch at school. Even while in the teachers’ school, I had my lunch box steamed with two pieces of bacon brought from home as a meal. I believed that once I graduated from high school, I was supposed to be financially independent.  

When I received my first paycheck, which was only 39.5 Yuan, I felt I was one of the wealthiest persons in the world. I had never had so much money that could be used as I wished to. I remember telling my mother, “Mom, I have money now. You brought me up and gave me money for various needs. Now that I’m earning money myself, you don’t have to give me any money. It’s time that I gave you money. You deserve to lead an easy life from now on.”

Even after I got married, things were not so easy, as a matter of fact. First we lived in an extra workers’ dormitory room for about one year. Then the factory arranged that we share a two-storey apartment with another couple. Several years later, we were allowed to live in a 36 square-meter house. It was as late as in 1997 that I bought my first house, which was only 79 square meters. We lived in that condominium for about ten years with a lot of nice memories. However, we sold it, for we had to return the money we had borrowed. To tell the truth, in the whole process, I hardly used any of my parents’ money. All the money was clean and hard earned.

Of course, all this would have been impossible without my wife’s support and cooperation. She is a truly cute lady with few words. I don’t know how to describe her in words. Thoughtful, understanding, hard-working all seem to be insufficient. Honestly, we’ve never felt we’re poor and leading a miserable life. On the contrary, we seem to be content and happy, and hopeful that life is getting better and better, which has proved to be true.

I know that youngsters today were raised in a totally different environment. The world has changed so much. We cannot request them to lead a life as we used to. However, one thing should be the same: One has to learn to be independent. No matter what, we’re the ones to determine our future. Only through hard work can we truly gain and fully appreciate a wonderful life.