A difficult time, but optimism prevails

As the only worker in a family that consists of his wife, two children and four seniors, Zhang Junling said he is overwhelmed. "I can't imagine my whole family living in Beijing. Living expenses are so high in the city, and my kids cannot go to a good school here. That's why I chose to leave them in my hometown in Xingtai, Hebei province," the 32-year-old said.

Zhang graduated from the Hebei University of Architecture in 2013 and decided to go to Beijing to find work, as he thought the capital would have more job opportunities.

When he first started working in the capital as an interior decorator, he felt excited. But after being in the city for three years, he sensed his job and life were getting duller. He was dealing with work pressures, too, including meeting monthly performance targets. Meanwhile, his parents had found a girlfriend for him back home.

The combined issues led him to return to Xingtai, where he and his girlfriend eventually married. Zhang said the cost of living in his hometown is low, and he didn't have to buy a house as his family already has an apartment there. His parents' pension was enough to cover their living expenses, but he needed to earn more after he and his wife had children.

"Life was much easier when I was by myself. However, after I got married and had children the amount I earned in my hometown was not enough, and our financial pressures got more intense with the first kid starting school and learning an instrument," he said.

Zhang moved back to Beijing at the end of 2018. He is again working as an interior decorator at a company in Chaoyang district, and he shares an apartment about 20 kilometers from the company to save on rental costs.

"I earn a decent salary, but I seldom go out for entertainment. To save money, I eat the free lunch offered by the company and cook dinner at my apartment."

Zhang's wife focuses on caring for their children. Their parents are too old to work or help with household chores, so he has to be the family's breadwinner. Knowing his family is relying on him to earn money drives him to work harder, he said.

He generally returns home once a month, but until recently epidemic prevention and control policies hindered his travels. Between June and the start of this year, he only made three trips home. However, last month, he traveled home for Spring Festival and only returned this week.

Despite the difficulties, he is optimistic. "I enjoy the sense of providing for my family and having them surround me when I return. Every time I go back home and see my children running towards me and hugging me, I feel all my efforts are worthwhile."

Though he is still struggling to adjust to life in the big city, he said he is thankful for his job as it means he can provide for his family.

"I still don't like living in the city very much. Everyone I encounter, whether they are my friends or people I pass on the subway, seems so busy. I have never had the feeling of belonging here," he said. "But working in Beijing allows me to earn a high enough salary to support my family, and I'm grateful for that."