The Gods of Sanhe

This is a group of middle-aged individuals who sleep under bridges, rely on daily wages, and often have a meal to look forward to but not the next. They are known as the "Sanhe Gods". Li Hua is a typical member of this community. Originally from a town in Zhangjiakou, Hebei, his parents were ordinary farmers. After graduating from junior high school, he went out to work and joined a technical school to learn tailoring. In 2003, he packed his bags and moved to Beijing. With some skills, he started working in a garment factory, working up to twenty hours a day without even a sip of water. A month of overwork only earned him a salary of two to three hundred yuan. Feeling like a replaceable screw in a machine, his sense of self-worth diminished. The factory provided meals, but the food was bland, consisting mainly of cabbage and potato soup. Li Hua grew tired of the monotonous routine. One day, he overheard the boss telling the chef to buy the fattest meat so that the workers would get sick of it. This made Li Hua reflect on his life and its direction.

One night, while working with middle-aged couples who had been in the factory for over a decade without savings, he decided to leave. He tried various jobs and eventually sold cosmetics. However, the company went bankrupt. Li Hua, with dreams of making it big in business, took over the cosmetics venture with a friend. Initially, they made good profits, earning 5,000 to 10,000 yuan daily. But the outbreak of a pandemic changed everything. The market deteriorated, sales plummeted, and a large inventory of cosmetics expired.

By the time the company closed, Li Hua was 35 with only 10,000 yuan in savings. Unable to find a suitable job, he ended up in Ma Jiu Qiao Qian Ri Jie. Most men there were aged between 35 to 60, with low education and skills. Jobs included parcel loading, warehouse sorting, working in pharmaceutical factories, and security. These jobs paid around 200 to 300 yuan daily. Despite the low pay, there was no place to voice any grievances. Living costs were low, with meals costing around 50 yuan a day.

Li Hua's first job was at SF Express, loading and unloading parcels. It was grueling, with 12-hour shifts without breaks, earning him 280 yuan a day. Many there had been working for over a decade. To outsiders, their lives might seem tough, but they had moments of peace, free from worldly worries. After spending time there, Li Hua realized he needed hope. He started recording short videos of his daily life, which surprisingly gained admiration online. Some envied his free-spirited life, while others found it meaningless.

However, Li Hua had plans. He believed that the moment you stop, your income stops. With his videos gaining traction, he saw new opportunities. He bought a second-hand car and planned to travel to major cities to document the lives of ordinary people. Unsure of the future, he continued to live by his principles. Even when faced with uncertainties, he believed in a brighter tomorrow. Hope is an indispensable force, always inspiring us to move forward and face challenges. We must always believe in it.