乞讨算工作吗？70岁的老赵觉得是。他每个月20天上班，10天回家陪家人，看CCTV新闻解闷。
乞讨之前，全家一年收成只有两三千，而来北京乞讨之后，他一个人每个月就可以赚1000块。

这世界上多得是我们不知道的事。

老赵在北京五道口的夜店PPG门口

“老赵”是个上了年纪、留着胡子的乞丐，每晚都在五道口——这个可以称为北京大学城的地方沿街乞讨。坚持这个活计多年、摇着瓷碗中叮叮作响的硬币，老赵已成为附近最具辨识度的人物之一。而作为中国千千万万工人阶级的一个，即使他目前的工作选择有点特别，他的听起来却不会那么陌生。

他艰辛了一辈子、几乎没获得过什么机遇，可他对自己目前的生存状态却出奇的满意。我最近和老赵聊天，了解到了是什么导致他过上如此贫困的生活。

—您多大年纪了？是在哪长大的？
我70岁了，出生在河南省民权县的一个村子。

—您能和我们说说您早年的生活吗？
我是独生子，在民权县的一个农田里长大的。我妈妈是个厨师，所以我很小就学会了做饭。我帮家里收庄稼，也在村里的生产队当厨子。（生产队是1958—1984年间，中国社会主义农业经济中，生产和核算的基本单位。此处仅为原文翻译，更多请百度。）

我24岁结婚，几年后有了个儿子。现在我已经有两个孙子啦。直到三年前我离开家的时候，我们都在家里的农田一起生活、耕作。我们种了小麦、玉米还有其他庄稼。我们自己盖的房子，有三间屋。后院里还养了些鸡、狗，还有猪。

—您是怎么看待毛泽东（毛主席）的？
他是革命领袖，也是中国现在领导人的学习对象。别的我就没什么可说的了。

—您家里和居住地人们的生活受到了文化大革命的影响吗？
一点也没有。

—您上过学吗？
我上过一年小学，然后就辍学了，在家里农田帮忙。我不识字，也不会写字。唯一能看懂的字就是我的名字。

—您第一次来北京是什么时候？为什么决定做个乞丐？
很多年前，我们村的大部分男人就为了找到更好的工作、赚更多钱去了城镇，去的地方遍布全中国。后来村子里85%的劳动力都离开了，男的去城市里当劳力，女的就去工厂里工作。
虽然我年纪已经很大了，身体弱得做不了体力活了，也还是想跟上这个潮流。于是我决定来北京做个乞丐。那会是三年前，我觉得在这年纪，我也就只能干这个了。

—那您的家庭怎么办？
他们留在家里，照看农田。

—您能说一下您的一天一般怎么过吗？您住在哪里啊？
我睡在五道口地铁桥架下面的地上，早上五、六点起，然后开始往北京西北方向走，晚上就回到五道口，一般午夜才睡。

—您每天大约能赚多少钱？
能讨到20到30块，我也靠攒瓶子卖给回收站增加点收入。所以每个月平均能赚1000块。

 

—那您来北京乞讨之前，每个月能赚多少钱？
我们家靠种地每年能赚2000到3000块。现在我做乞丐，自己一个月就能赚1000块。

—什么人给钱最慷慨？
好像外国女人是最大方的。有一次，一个外国女士居然给了我100块。中国人给的一般少一点。

 

他们通常给我5毛或者1块。外国人给的都是5块、10块，这也是为什么我会选这一片来乞讨。这里总是有很多外国人走来走去的。

—您赚到的钱都怎么花呢？
我自己花的很少，每天在吃饭上超不过5块、10块的。我都吃些粥、馒头，把钱攒下来。有一次，我花7块钱买了一双鞋。

其实我每月都会回家看家人。每个月我在北京工作20天，10天回家、待在我们村子里。

—您每个月是怎么回家的？
偷偷上火车，躲在车厢中间睡觉。回家车程是12小时。

—您被抓到过吗？
有啊，我被抓了好几次，但是车上的人很同情我，只有一次让我花钱买了票。

—您每个月在家休息的时候做些什么呢？
我和家人在家放松，每天看看CCTV的新闻联播。我家有三间屋，每间住两个人，我和我老婆住一间，一间是我儿子儿媳，还有一间是我孙子们住。

—您在北京的时候都会随身带什么东西？带着更换的衣服吗？
我在北京时只穿一套衣服，而且没地方洗澡。我带着拐杖、水杯、讨饭缸（也当脸盆用）、一个垫子和一些吃的。

—您在警察那遇到过麻烦吗？
有个政府部门（北京救助管理站）负责救助在北京的无家可归的人。有一次，我被他们接走了，带到了他们的看守所。那地方有点像是流浪者的监狱。他们有权拘留你，然后把你遣送回乡。

我在看守所待了12天，在那有吃的，住的也挺好。那个大楼里大概能住500人，每间屋子都有12张床。床很舒服。我们能吃到馒头、米饭和蔬菜，只有法定节日才有肉吃。至于娱乐设施嘛，那里有个扑克牌桌。我在那的时候和别的被拘留者靠打牌来打发时间。我拘留到期的时候，拿到了一个警告。重复违犯者会受到双倍处罚。在那以后我就没被抓过。

—您在北京有朋友吗？
我偶尔会在五道口城铁桥下和别的乞丐打牌，输赢最多超不过10块。我在这认识一个也是我们省来的乞丐，岁数跟我一样。我认识他一年了。

我以前还认识一个日本人，是北京语言大学的学生。他像朋友一样对我，而且十分慷慨。在他回日本之前，我们有时候会聊聊天。

—想过更好的生活，您有别的谋生技能吗？
我唯一的技能就是做饭。但我没有本钱开饭店，所以我没法走这条路。

—您晚上会做梦吗？记得住您的梦吗？
有时会。我做过最好的一个梦是：一阵狂风把无数的钱朝我吹过来。钱多的我都拿不过来。

—如果您能去到世界上任何地方，你会去哪里？
我会去美国。美国是个好地方。国家强大，有很多先进的武器。美国人也聪明，他们技术很先进。

—您未来有什么计划?
我还会在北京工作两三年，然后就退休、回家养老。我肺有点毛病，所以我不觉得我现在的生活能坚持很久。

 

原文：Down and Out in Beijing: The Story of a Migrant Beggar

“Old Zhao” is an elderly, bearded beggar who spends his evenings working the streets of Wudaokou, in Beijing’s university district. After several years of plying his trade, Old Zhao, with the clinking of coins in his porcelain begging bowl, has become one of the most recognizable figures in the neighborhood. His story is a familiar one for tens of millions of working class Chinese people, even if his current choice of work is not.

For someone who has endured a lifetime of hardship and limited opportunities, he appears remarkably content with his current existence. I spoke with Old Zhao recently and found out what draws him to the indigent lifestyle.

—How old are you? Where did you grow up?
I’m 70 years old. I was born in the village of Minquan, in Henan province.

—Could you tell us about your early life?
I was a single child and grew up on a farm in Minquan. My mother was a cook and I learned how to cook from an early age. I picked crops on my family’s farm and also served as the village cook for the Production Team (Production Team was formerly the basic accounting and farm production unit in the people’s commune system in China from 1958 to 1984).
I got married at age 24 and had a son a couple years later. Now I have two grandchildren. We all lived and worked on the family farm, until 3 years ago, when I left. The farm has wheat, corn and other crops. We have a self constructed three room house. We also have a backyard, with chickens, dogs and pigs.

—What do you think of Mao Zedong (Chairman Mao)?
He was the leader of the Revolution and the current leader of China is following in his example. I have nothing else to say.

—Was life on your farm and in your community affected by the Cultural Revolution?
Not at all.

—Did you attend school?
I attended one year of elementary school, but then dropped out to work on the farm. I can’t read and write. The only Chinese characters I understand are those for my name.

—When did you first come to Beijing? Why did you decide to become a beggar?
Several years ago, the male labor force in my village decided to move en masse to bigger towns and cities, in search of better jobs and pay. They moved all over the country. About 85% of the village’s labor force left. The men went to the cities as laborers, while the women went to work in factories.
I decided to pursue the trend, though I was too old and frail to continue doing manual labor. I decided to go to Beijing and become a beggar. That was three years ago. I feel this is the only job I can do at this point in my life.

—What about your family?
They stayed behind to tend to the farm.

—Can you describe a typical day in your life? Where do you “live”?
I sleep on the ground under the bridge at the Wudaokou subway station. I wake up at 5 or 6am and then begin wandering throughout the northwest part of the city. I make it back to Wudaokou in the late evening. I usually go to sleep by midnight.

—How much money do you usually make per day?
20-30 RMB ($3.00-$4.50) per day from begging. I also earn supplementary income from bottles I collect and turn in to recycling centers. On average, I make 1,000 RMB ($150) per month in total.

—How much money did you make per month before you began begging in Beijing?
My family made about 2,000 to 3,000 RMB per year on the farm. Now I personally make 1,000 RMB a month as a beggar.

—Who is most generous to you?
Foreign women tend to be most generous. One time, I even received 100 RMB from a foreign lady. Chinese people usually give less.
They usually give me 0.5 to 1 RMB, while foreigners usually give me 5 to 10 RMB. That’s why I chose this area to work in. There are plenty of foreigners walking around.

—What do you do with your money?
I spend very little, no more than 5 to 10 RMB per day on meals. I usually eat porridge and mantou (steamed buns) and save the rest of my money. One time, I bought a pair of shoes here for 7 RMB ($1.05).
I actually go home each month to visit my family. I spend about 20 days each month working in Beijing and then I go home to to my village for 10 days each month.

—How do you get home to your village each month?
I sneak onto a train and sleep between the railway cars. It’s a 12 hour train ride.

—Have you ever been caught?
Yes, I’ve been caught several times, but the train staff took pity on me. Only once have I been required to pay for a ticket, after being caught.

—What do you do during your off time each month?
I relax at home with my family and watch the CCTV news broadcasting every day (CCTV is Chinese Central Television, the primary state operated television network). Our home has three rooms, so there are two people to each room. I live there with my wife, my son and daughter-in-law, as well as our two grandchildren.

—What sort of possessions do you have with you during your time in Beijing each month? Do you have a change of clothes?
I wear the same clothes during my time in Beijing and I don’t have access to showers while I’m here. I have my walking stick, a drinking bottle, my begging bowl (also serves as a washbasin), a cushion and some food.

—Have you ever run into any trouble with the police?
There is a government department (Beijing Municipal Assistance Center) that is responsible for homeless people here in Beijing. One time, I was picked up by them and brought to their detention center. It is like a prison for the homeless. They have the power to detain you and send you back to where you came from.
I spent 12 days at this detention center, where I was fed and provided with good accommodation. The building holds about 500 people and each room has a dozen beds. The beds are quite comfortable. We were served mantou (steamed buns), rice and vegetables. Meat is only provided during official government holidays. As far as recreational facilities go, there is a poker table there. I played poker with some other detainees while I was there, to pass the time. At the end of my detention period, I was given a warning. Repeat offenders are required to serve double sentences. I haven’t been caught since.

—Do you have any friends in Beijing?
I occasionally play poker under the Wudaokou bridge with some other beggars. The most I’ve won or lost is 10 RMB. I know another local beggar that is from my home province and is the same age as me. I’ve known him for a year.
I used to know a student from Japan who was studying at Beijing Language and Culture University. He befriended me and was quite generous. We talked occasionally before he returned to his country.

—Do you have any special skills that you could use to earn a better living?
My only skill is cooking. I don’t have enough start up capital to open a restaurant, so that’s not an option.

—Do you ever dream at night? Can you remember your dreams?
Sometimes. My best dream involves a gust of wind which is carrying tons of money toward me. There is so much money, I can’t carry it all.

—If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I would go to America. America is a good place. It is a very strong country with very advanced weapons. Americans are smart and they have advanced technology.

—Do you have any plans for the future?
I will work here in Beijing for 2 or 3 more years, before I return home for good and retire. I have some lung problems, so I don’t think I can continue this life for much longer.
End