Making a living in Dongguan, her fiery red lips offer me tenderness.

Ding Yang rode his motorcycle back to the newsstand, where he bought a Dongguan map for two yuan. He needed to familiarize himself with the terrain before becoming a motorcycle taxi driver.

He was wearing one helmet, and another was hanging on the left handlebar of the motorcycle; the two helmets were his way of indicating that he was soliciting passengers.

Someone was actually waving at a bus stop.

"How much does it cost to go to Takeo-da?"

"I'm going that way anyway, you can pay me whatever you think is appropriate."

"I usually pay 3 yuan?"

"Okay, get in the car!"

……

From then on, Fenggang, Dongguan, had one more motorcycle taxi driver soliciting passengers.

Ding Yang transformed into Ao Debiao, desperately trying to get fares, thinking that he could escape poverty by running faster. Little did he know that poverty wasn't weighing down his vehicle, but rather his body.

The sun was like a furnace, its rays scorching. Sweat trickled down his forehead and into his eyes, but Ding Yang couldn't cry, because wiping away tears while riding a motorcycle was unsafe.

Back at the beauty salon that evening, Ding Yang was very happy. Although he wasn't very familiar with Fenggang, he had earned 90 yuan that day. Besides the 50 yuan the woman gave him, he also made 40 yuan.

Tang Li watched Ding Yang counting money like a child.

"Xiao Yang, driving a motorcycle taxi is not a good job, and it doesn't require much skill. You're just wasting your life."

"Sister, I know this is only temporary. I can't be a customer forever."

Ding Yang stepped forward and put his arm around Tang Li.

"Sister, back in Fenggang in 2007, the most touching love story wasn't one of grand gestures, but rather one between a rough-looking man who drove a motorcycle taxi and a divorced young woman struggling to make ends meet. In a damp alley, they picked up each other's grime and, with the simplest sincerity, made their days warm and cozy."

"Wow, that sounds so awkward. What does 'divorced young woman' even mean?"

"Hehe, there's nothing I can do about it, I haven't read many books, so I speak very roughly."

"Sis, I'm going to stroll around the night market and buy two cups of milk tea."

"Go ahead, I won't drink milk tea tonight, I'll gain weight!"

Ding Yang returned to the alley entrance, where the women soliciting on the street were still there.

"Hey handsome, wanna have some fun!"

Ding Yang approached the two streetwalkers.

"Hey fellow villager, how's business today?"

"Hey handsome, it's you? Business isn't too good."

Ding Yang took out a pack of Furongwang cigarettes and offered one to each of the two women.

"Fellow villagers, I'm driving a motorcycle taxi now. Please support my business in the future."

"Sure! What's your phone number? I'll call you tomorrow when I need to use my car."

After saying that, the woman immediately took out her phone, and Ding Yang immediately gave her the phone number.

"Okay, I'm going now."

But another woman said:

"Handsome, why don't you patronize our business for us?"

"Sister, if I weren't so broke, I would definitely support you, but I just arrived in Fenggang and I really don't have any money."

"Hehe, come up and have some fun. I don't want your money; consider it a friendly competition."

"Sister, please spare me! I'm still a virgin, how could I possibly be a match for you? I can't even last three seconds."

Ding Yang was so frightened that he ran away quickly, while the two women covered their mouths and laughed.

Ding Yang was speechless; he hadn't expected this woman to be willing to do it for free.

Suddenly my phone rang; it was my cousin, Liu Cuicui, calling.

"Hello!"

"Xiaoyang, where have you been these past two days? How are you doing?"

"I'm doing fine in Fenggang."

"Xiaoyang, I've asked someone to introduce you to a job. Come for an interview tomorrow."

"No need, I've already found a job."

"What kind of job?"

"I drive a forklift in the factory."

"You haven't even learned how to drive a forklift, what kind of forklift can you operate?"

"I'm learning right now, and I'll be officially hired in a month. My classmate is a supervisor at this factory."

"Xiaoyang, are you still angry with me?"

"No, I'm not angry with you. I just don't like seeing you like this."

"Alright, now that you've found a job, do your best. Call me if anything comes up. Goodbye."

After hanging up the phone, Ding Yang still felt a sense of warmth. Although his cousin was a prostitute, she still cared about him.

Back at the beauty salon,

Tang Li immediately pulled down the roller shutter door.

"Sis, it's still early today, why are you sleeping so early?"

"I bought you an outfit today, try it on, it's from Baleno."

"Sis, my clothes are great."

"What's so good about it? It looks like a roadside stall. It's all washed so white. Such a handsome young man is dressed like a rough old man."

Tang Li personally helped Ding Yang change into blue and white straight-leg jeans, a warm white T-shirt, and a pair of Anta casual shoes.

He looks absolutely stunning in this outfit.

"It looks great! I'll dress like this from now on."

"Sis, this outfit must have been expensive, right?"

Why do you care so much? Just dress nicely.

"Sis, you've gone to so much trouble."

Tang Li hugged him.

I know that one day you will leave me, but I can't bear to.

"Sis, don't overthink it. I'm here with you, aren't I?"

"Xiaoyang, you're tired from the day. Take off your clothes, go take a shower, and go to bed early."

"Hehe, I'm going to fight you for 300 rounds."

"Ugh! 300 rounds? Are you even capable of that?"

"How can a man say no? I'll make him kneel down and beg for mercy, singing 'Conquer' later."

Tang Li blushed.

"It's not certain who will beg for mercy..."

"Remember to make sure your toothbrush is clean."

"Hehe, got it..."

Fish and dragons swam all night.

……

Time flies like an arrow.

One month later...

Ding Yang rode his dilapidated motorcycle, wandering the streets all day picking up passengers, exposed to the wind and sun, living a rough and numb life, with countless helplessness and grievances hidden in his heart.

Driving a motorcycle taxi might seem like a life of freedom, but it's actually a never-ending ordeal. They leave before dawn and don't dare return until midnight, enduring scorching sun of 30-40 degrees Celsius. The asphalt is burning their feet, the engine is scorching their legs, and by the end of the day, their backs are soaked with sweat, dried, and covered in white salt stains. After a month, Ding Yang had tanned considerably, his fair skin turning a wheat color.

He roamed the streets and alleys, from industrial zones to urban villages and alleyway entrances, always on the lookout for customers. His competitors were fiercely competitive, jostling and rolling their eyes at each other for a mere dollar or two in fares—a modern-day version of Xiangzi, the rickshaw boy.

Ding Yang's motorcycle taxi had no paperwork, so he had to turn around and run whenever he saw traffic police or urban management officers. While others went shopping and drank milk tea after get off work, Ding Yang could only squat by the roadside eating steamed buns and three-yuan fried noodles. He worked in the wind and rain, covered in dust, and nobody respected motorcycle taxi drivers. He was clearly trying his best to make a living, but he lived the most humble life, and sometimes it was heartbreaking.

Although Tang Li treated him very well, after a while, the novelty wore off, and she couldn't see a future with him. She was a realistic woman and couldn't marry a motorcycle taxi driver. Besides, she knew that Ding Yang didn't love her and couldn't spend his life with her.

In June 2007, under the blazing sun, Ding Yang was picking up passengers in the industrial zone as usual, having just dropped off a customer in Yantian.

As Ding Yang approached a shady path, just around a corner, he wasn't paying attention when two auxiliary police officers suddenly rushed out, blocked his motorcycle, and quickly pulled out the keys.

Ding Yang wasn't paying attention and didn't have time to escape before the car keys were pulled out.

At this moment, a policeman also walked over.

"Please show your driver's license and vehicle registration."

Ding Yang didn't have any license for his motorcycle, but he did have a Class C driver's license. He didn't dare to take it out right now, because his Class C license might be confiscated.

"Officer, I left my ID at home. I'll go get it now."

"Motorcycle temporarily impounded..."

Knowing he couldn't get the motorcycle back, Ding Yang simply made an excuse to run away.

Seeing his motorcycle being towed away, Ding Yang felt a pang of sadness and a stinging sensation. He felt an urge to cry, and tears welled up in his eyes. Why is it so hard for poor people to earn money?

I lit a cigarette, sat under a tree, and sat there silently for almost an hour.

Good heavens, everyone says it's easy to make money in Dongguan, but why is it so hard for me? I worked hard for a month and still can't afford a motorcycle. How am I going to get by?

Ding Yang was like a rough man raped by life, now lost and disoriented.