Swinging between simplicity and luxury

Author: Nan Ni
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Perhaps greed is human nature. We desire both pleasure and depth, both a vibrant life in this world and profound fulfillment across lifetimes. We seek to embrace both the lightness and the weight of life. Whether it is truly possible to achieve both is a mystery to me. Perhaps, it is also a mystery to you.
Excerpt: The Scene of the Eccentric
Late at night, after a social gathering with friends at a hotel, I boarded a taxi and chatted about the booming real estate industry. The driver also joined in: I sold my apartment in Pudong for over 400,000 yuan. How much did you pay for it? I asked. 200,000! he proudly replied. With that money, I bought two cars. One, I rent out, collecting monthly rent; the other, I drive myself. During the day, my wife drives it for fun, and at night, I use it for business. You’ll probably recoup your investment in just a year or two? No, it’s even better. I’ve already made back the cost of one car in just three months. Listen, there are many ways to make money in Shanghai. It just depends on whether you know how. Of course, you need connections. I’ve leveraged my business relationships. I’ve been driving taxis for 20 years! It’s a tiring job, I said. But I’ve seen 99.5% of drivers complain about their profession. It’s rare to meet someone as cheerful as this driver. His energetic and excited tone made even riding with him feel lively. I admire people who are enthusiastic about everything.
"Not tiring at all. Driving a taxi feels like playing. I enjoy coming out at night—I’m full of energy then. During the day, I’m not. I’m a night owl. Bright lights energize me, but the sun makes me feel sluggish. I love driving. Besides driving, I don’t know what else to do. I’m already 40—I can’t compete with the young ones in knowledge. I was one of the first taxi drivers in Shanghai. When mobile phones first came out, look at this brick-like thing—it cost 20,000 yuan, and I had one. The diamond ring on my finger and the platinum necklace around my neck are worth 50,000 yuan combined. Taiwanese and Hong Kong bosses who ride with me say I look more like a boss than they do!"
"Running your own business, don’t you feel lonely? Like you miss the warmth of a collective?"
"Why would I need that? I’m already used to having no one to tell me what to do. I have friends! After finishing my shift, we eat late-night snacks together. Chatting with customers is also enjoyable. Every deal brings a circle of friends together, and a pleasant chat is the best part. Then we part ways."
I believe he’s telling the truth, including the 50,000 yuan worth of male jewelry. He’s slim and exudes excitement—typical of a night owl. His words carry a worldly charm, like a classic old Shanghaier. He’s the epitome of "listening to six roads and observing eight directions"—clear about what he wants to do and what he can do. His feet are always firmly planted, never swayed by external chaos. He’s experienced and enjoys life, having cultivated a calm and open-minded personality.
"My sister, however, isn’t like that. She moved back to Shanghai from the countryside, and her husband isn’t very accomplished. When I have money, I give her 2,000 yuan. After all, I only have one sister. She’s my sister in this life, but not necessarily in the next." I laughed. I admire his perspective. I once wrote an article titled Reasons to Love Shanghai, arguing that this city is charming and vibrant because of its diverse eccentrics. An eccentric is someone with their own unique values and worldview, not one who blindly follows trends. When people with different ways of living coexist, there’s no room for comparison, tension, or competition. Everyone has their own space, and the city’s space becomes vast. The more we appreciate and learn from one another, the greater the space for mutual growth. The spiritual cohesion of a big city depends on the number of outstanding, yet diverse, individuals it has.
Tonight, I’m very happy. I admire this city, just as I admire this stylish driver.
Excerpt: The Beauty of Men
Why aren’t handsome men considered commodities? In the past, beautiful women were truly beautiful—wearing simple blue cotton clothes and still radiating charm. Now, beautiful women are everywhere. As long as you’re thin, at least 1.6 meters tall, not disabled or mentally impaired, and have the ability to use makeup and trendy styling, you can become a beauty. Beautiful women are everywhere on the streets, and it’s hard to find an unattractive one. Beauty no longer surprises you. Your aesthetic nerves have become numb.
That’s why handsome men are now in vogue. The members of F4 are all handsome, and F4 has taken the world by storm. F4 has pushed Zhang Ziyi out of the spotlight and secured the "Lenovo" advertising contract. I’m not sure who else F4 has pushed aside—ask the crazy fans. To be considered handsome, one must be naturally gifted. Men might wear designer clothes and sunglasses, but they’d never dare to wear foundation, blush, or false eyelashes. Even when wearing sunglasses, they need a straight, high nose bridge. So, naturally handsome men are rare, and those who can sing and act are even rarer.
Didn’t you see how Andy Lau stayed famous for 20 years? No female celebrity has had such luck. Didn’t you see Hu Bing, who kept getting worse in every drama, yet still smiled brightly? Which beautiful woman has such confidence?
What do people chase now? You’ve noticed, haven’t you?—Money, of course. Because money can create many miracles. Beyond money, people worship beauty and youth. Because beauty and youth are things money can’t buy. Look at the rich—once they have money, they still go to great lengths to stay fashionable and even try to reverse aging. Someone poured pee on Ms. Zhao Wei—no doubt, it can be understood. There are as many dazzling people in this world as there are abnormal ones. That’s called ecological balance.
I have a girlfriend whose daughter is obsessed with F4. The mother originally wanted to scold her harshly, but after watching F4’s stuff herself, she became even more obsessed than her daughter. "How wonderful, the young ones!" she eagerly recommended the pirated VCD she’d already watched three times. I said, "You and your daughter are both consuming handsome men. No wonder their business is so good." My friend said, "I’m normal, but my daughter isn’t." I asked, "Why do you say that?" "My daughter is normal, and I’m not," she replied. "You know how old my daughter is?" she said. "She’s not even 10 yet!"
Her daughter failed two subjects in her big exam, so she locked away the tapes and set an example herself by painfully saying goodbye to "How Wonderful, the Young Ones." Later, she solemnly summarized her lesson: "People are so easily carried away!"