They had come feeling uneasy and uncertain, yet with a little anticipation and excitement. On the way back, only the excitement remained.
As they looked at the city scenery along the way, they could barely take it all in. Daytime was nothing like nighttime. They could not even count how many stories the tall buildings had, and wished they could ask the tractor to stop so they could count them.
Then there were the bicycles weaving through the streets, the people in bright, beautiful clothes, and the hawkers moving about calling out their food for sale. Even their bearing seemed different. Every one of them was full of vitality, anticipation, and hope for the future.
At that moment, a thought began to sprout in their minds: if they had enough money to buy a shop or a house, could they stay in the city and become city people too?
This was no county town. This was the city.
Their hearts stirred. Since A-Dong had bought a property, didn't that make him a city resident, someone a cut above the rest?
A subtle change came over everyone's thinking. They felt that Ye Yaodong was already a notch above them. Although they did not think much of that shop, he had still bought property.
If he moved to the city in the future, he would never have to smell that fishy odor or feel the salty sea breeze again. He could go out looking smart and well-dressed every day...
The ride had lasted only a few minutes, but their thoughts had already taken countless turns. They no longer thought as they once had, that simply getting through each day in their little fishing village with enough to eat was good enough.
What man did not have an ambition in his heart? They