…Deal struck-90 Yuan, I went with the young woman，Kang being her surname, by bike to her “factory” at Anhuai Cun 3 kilometers away outside Zhongyang Men, a simple open shed with only a cutter. A man cut a marble slab for a washstand with the size I gave him, cutting while cooling with water from a used plastic water bottle followed with sand grinding by another man. It was all over in 20 minutes, saving me not only time and trouble for a second visit asked by the man of a former shop I had approached at the Jinqiao Market, but also money - it being cheaper than the previous one.

“Are you making money?”I asked Ms.Kang. She nodded:“Thanks to our engaging in this trade earlier than others.”A native of Yanbian, northeast, she came to Nanjing with the help of her uncle, a demobilized soldier. More of her countrymen followed…

Back on the bike I was away with my marbled booty, away from the corner where they picked up gigs,the corner where they made the gigs,the corner by its side where they make a living for the gigs.A family in the corner… （July 4，1999）