Second-generation migrant workers: better educated, ambitious, expecting love

When these rural migrant workers were waiting anxiously, two aunts from Beijing who came to the park to do morning exercises arrived at the place which is reserved for the registration for the matchmaking party. They said that they came here for their friends' daughters, and Wu who sells air conditioners in an appliance store was recommended by other rural migrant workers, because they thought he was more qualified.

"Please come in, aunts. Let's talk in the room." Wu hastened to ask the two aunts to come in, but the two aunts stood on the threshold chatting with him. Then Wu introduced himself in detail, from his vocation to age, native place, and future, as if he was delivering a speech.

On one of the questions about his plan for the future, Wu told the two aunts, "Only by working hard together, can we live better." The dialogue with the threshold in between lasted for less than two minutes. After the dialogue finished, one of the two aunts told the reporter from Beijing Evening News in secret, "I do not look down upon them. In my opinion, however, a rural migrant worker should find a counterpart to be his wife. The minimal requirement of my friend's daughter is to find a white-collar worker." After finishing these words, she shook her hands, saying "they are not on the same level."

Who should have a blind date with rural migrant workers? According to Information Times, a new survey found that 70 percent of Guangzhou residents do not agree with the marriage to rural migrant workers.

Axiety

Placing personal emotions in magazines

In fact, Wu's emotional world is quite colorful. Now, let us listen to his past stories.

Wu was born in a village in Qingfeng County of Puyang in Henan province. In 2002, Wu, a high school graduate was tired of looking after corn, soy beans and wheat. Summoned by one of his friends, he went to the "big Beijing where the Tian'anmen Gate and the Imperial Palaces are located."He found a job as a cement worker on a construction site. While chatting with fellow workers every evening in their dorm, Wu’s anxiety for a love started. "All the guys are quite aggressive. They would always like to talk about how virtuous and great their wives are." When the 19 year-old Wu heard this, his face would become red and he would immediately cover his head with his blanket.

Sometimes, older workers would go to a movie house to watch some "exciting" movies, and some would even find a "bath house" to have a good time. Wu knew of these things, but he said that they are not what he should do. "I am more educated than them, and will not stoop to a low level and do such things." Although Wu was looking forward to love, he usually placed his emotions and thoughts in magazines such as "Reader's Digest" and "Youth Digest." The love stories in the magazines deeply touched him. After reading so many descriptions about love, Wu had also thought of looking for a girlfriend. However, most of his fellow workers were old and tough uncles. There were also very few women, but all of them were old aunts in charge of cooking. "It was impossible to find a girlfriend at my workplace. It was also impossible to find one outside work because of our dirty clothes and dirty working environment."

China National Radio once quoted an expert's remark, "The objective conditions have decided that it is hard for migrant workers to solve their love issues. Migrant workers, especially the young and strong laborers, have been in a love-needing condition for a long time."