Tangjialing "ant tribe" worry about rising costs of living

Zhang Xin, aged 27, comes from Hunan, and graduated from a private university. Zhang currently works as a salesman in bank. Zhang is a typical "moonlight clan" member: he spends 450 yuan on rent, 40 yuan for water, 100 yuan for Internet, 300 yuan for food (he cooks for himself), 150 yuan on transportation, 150 yuan for long-distance calls with his girlfriend and about 100 yuan on other daily products. Zhang only scrapes by on his 1,500 yuan salary.

On March 17, Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Planning announced that the old villages in Tangjialing will be renovated. The old buildings that were constructed illegally will be demolished, and apartments will be built for white-collar workers to rent. However, the “ant tribe” does not welcome the idea of building apartments. "Few can afford the apartments for white-collar workers. The rent for even a small unit will definitely be higher than the current rent.” “The government improves our living conditions without considering our needs. Although the living conditions will be improved, the cost of living will become higher. If we are rich enough to live in apartments, why would we move to villages that are far away from central Beijing?" 　

On the eve of Spring Festival, an "ant tribe" graduate carried  his luggage to return to his hometown.

"Once the apartments for white-collar workers are completed, the rent will undoubtedly go up. I am afraid that I will scarcely be able to live on my salary at that time," said Zhang helplessly. 　

Zhen Zhen, aged 25, comes from Shanxi, and graduated from the Beijing Institute of Technology. She now works at an advertisement company, and earns about 4,000 yuan plus bonuses. Zhen's family is rich. Zhen is very beautiful, and she likes dressing up. When she was asked whether or not she would like to move to the white-collar workers' apartment, she made a calculation: the house she rents is the best one in the entire Tangjialing. With a rent of 700 yuan, the house has a kitchen and toilet, and is clean and neat. "If the rent goes up, I will have to save on other expenses. I do not want to cut back on shopping. I will not spend the money to live in the white-collar workers' apartment. I am satisfied as long as I have a room to live in."