Xiaoxiang Romance

As soon as I graduated from high school, I followed my older brother into the world of carpentry. The hammer and saw in my hands witnessed countless sunrises and sunsets. Construction work was exhausting, but every drop of sweat helped put food on the table.

Six years passed, as fine and deep as the grain in a piece of wood. I grew from a callow boy into a young man ready for marriage.

So I headed south, like countless other young people chasing their dreams, and went to Dongguan, hoping to find my other half in one of its factories.

To improve my quality of life, I bought a car. It was not only my means of transportation, but also my companion in my free time. On weekends, I would drive around, enjoying the rush of the wind and the freedom of the open road.

My landlord, Uncle Zhang, unexpectedly came to play a part in my life. When he learned that I worked while driving a taxi, he made an interesting offer: become his personal driver, and my rent would be covered.

That deal subtly changed the rhythm of my life. My social circle and horizons became completely different from what they had been before.

Money, life, and romance suddenly seemed to come so easily.

I felt as though I were standing at a crossroads in life, with every step opening up new possibilities.

Would new possibilities really open up for me from here on out?