Cross-generation fight over a job
- By Elaine Duan
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E-mail China.org.cn, March 21, 2012
Despite the offer, his mother was still concerned about his seemingly insecure job. "We asked around and used our connections to help him settle down earlier," Liu said.
The father brought home good news soon. He begged his boss and helped the younger son get a post with the Chongqing-based branch of the railway construction company. The son accepted the offer but later left when he heard that newcomers were supposed to work in remote areas for a while.
His mother found his decision hard to understand and rushed to Chongqing in hope of persuading him to come back.
She reiterated that the employer is a state-owned enterprise, which guarantees a steady "bread" supply, despite the job requiring a start at the bottom level.
At the beginning, Liu was able to talk to her son. She even visited his girlfriend hoping to soften him a little. But she realized that her son was completely unwilling to accept her viewpoints on work.
In September 2010, another golden opportunity came along. The father's company promised to give offers to recent graduates who are the children of its staff members, once they are willing to return to their hometown.
This opportunity meant a lot to Liu. The couple pleaded with the company to accept their son despite him graduating from college one year before. "The company agreed to take him in, but warned that he would be sent to the Shijiazhuang-based Railway College for 2 years of study prior to regular work considering his lack of a professional background." Liu said.
"We told him the good news immediately but he showed little interest." Liu felt hurt about her son's attitude. Later, the son refused to answer their calls. "We had no other option but to come to Chongqing and take him back," the helpless mother said.
Liu failed to control her anger when she saw her son in a rented apartment in Chongqing. She tried to "wake" him up by cursing him with the worst words in her dictionary. After quarrelling for over half a month, the son gave in and returned to their hometown in October 2010.
However, Liu felt that he was reluctant to talk with her after the fight. On the eve of paying tuitions, her son unexpectedly called from the Shijiazhuang college, asking his parents if he could quit the study. His father said no.
The son handed over the 5,000 yuan ($791) tuition fee to the college and left for Chongqing again several days later.
On Feb. 23, 2012, the 57-year-old mother walked out Chongqing North Rail Station carrying a black trunk. It was the 10th time in 3 years that Liu has come to the remote city, with the same goal: to take her son home and send him to the state-owned enterprise.
"I won't go if he doesn't come home!" the mother decided.
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