Second-generation migrant workers aspire to fit in with the city

They are different from their fathers' generation who went to work in Guangdong 10 to 20 years ago. The do not have callused hands because they did not work with the hoe and sickle for a long time, and they do not even know how to farm. Without any burden in their lives, they can move to other places as they wish. They listen to an MP4 player and chat using qq on their mobile phones, and they have got used to the city life. They are the typical post-80s and 90s generation. Because they followed their father's generation to work in Guangzhou, they are also called second-generation migrant workers.

Migrant workers at the job market

Compared with their fathers' generation, they have better education, broader horizons and stronger personalities. More importantly, they, who are working hard in Guangdong, are no longer satisfied just with their fathers returning home with money, because they pay more attention to spiritual demands and hope to set roots in the city with their wisdom and hard work.

During the Spring Festival, reporters from the Guangzhou Daily went to Hunan, Hubei, Anhui, Sichuan and other places to interview second-generation migrant workers who work in the Pearl River Delta Region and learn about their life and work. Through the interview, it was found that their opinions on choosing their work and their values are different from their fathers’.

Outlook on Values

Xu Bin from Anhui Province: Buying a luxury house and driving a beautiful car are examples of success

While people of the same age are working to buy a house in their hometown, Xu, aged 22, deposits all of his income in the bank. He said that he wants to start his own business in order to buy a luxury house and drive an Audi in Guangzhou, two things which in his heart are examples of success.
 
When many people of the same age are studying hard without caring about what happens around them, Xu, aged 22 this year, has studied in society for five years. Xu, who comes from Caomiao Village, Chunshu Town, Liuan City, Anhui Province, has been working in different hardware factories in the Pearl River Delta Region. When Xu finished middle school, he followed the villagers to work outside his hometown. In the beginning, Xu had to work in a garment factory because he did not have any skill.