Shengliver’s Note: Miss Wang Yaxue, a country girl from Yunxi, is friends with Miss Pan Xu, an urban girl from Yunxian. Over the weeks and months, the two teens have been growing up together, lending each other a hand. You will be reading in this entry about their shopping trip made last weekend. The narrator is Yaxue.

Last Sunday, accompanied by Miss Pan Xu, I went to Sanyan to buy shoes. Having made the purchase I was satisfied with, I had only 100 yuan left in my purse to cover my living expenses for the week to come.

On the way back to school, we bumped into a hoary man squatting on the pavement, wearing clothes that were dirty and out of style. Because it had rained the day before, the street was covered here and there in puddles and we could not help but shiver. However, the old man did not care. In front of him stood a piece of cardboard with words saying that he was in need.

The very sight of the old man reminded me of my granddad, who is his contemporary. When my granddad was younger, he worked day and night to support our family. Now he is suffering from some terrible disease.

The man on the pavement, in my eyes, was as pitiful as my granddad. Then Miss Pan and I gave him some cash though we as students were not rich. What infuriated me was that most adults passing by turned a blind eye to the grey-haired man as if he did not exist. Only a couple of them tossed over some coins. I complained to Miss Pan that we, students who still depend on our parents, would give while most adults would not.

“They are heartless,” I commented.

Miss Pan thought differently, though. She argued that most so-called beggars on the street, with arms, hands and legs just like us, could go and find a job.

“Yes, they could work,” I said, “but this man is so old that I doubt anyone is willing to take him on.”

Miss Pan went on to explain that there are many guys in town cheating in this way. According to her, they take advantage of our sympathy by feigning poverty and misery, but I did not believe it.

As we were walking down the street chatting, we came across another old guy perched on the pavement just like the first one, with a big placard positioned at the front saying the same.

Exchanging amused looks with me, Miss Pan laughed, asking, “Do you want to donate again, Miss Wang?”