"I won't live much longer" says 66-year-old Uncle Chen Jinchun with a smile, standing at the exit of Zhongxiao Dunnan MRT station, watching the crowds pass by, though not many actually stop. Over the past eight years, Uncle has made a living selling The Big Issue magazines, selling anywhere from 10 to 50 copies a day, earning 50 yuan for each sale. Life gets by reasonably well.
"As long as I can make a living" Chen Jinchun keeps expressing his reflections on life—not just because he once lived on the streets, but because he has been undergoing dialysis for over a year. Rolling up his sleeve, Uncle points to the wound where the "fistula tube" (note) is inserted, explaining that he has to report to the hospital 2 or 3 times a week. "Those days I can't set up my stall!" Or, getting out of the hospital at four o'clock, he'll grab a bite, then set up for another 4 hours, selling whatever he can.
Note: Numerous dialysis patients rely on arteriovenous fistulas created by cardiovascular surgeons to undergo kidney dialysis.
I first noticed Uncle Jinchun while I was walking around the Zhongxiao area. He was leaning against a pillar outside ZARA, squatting and gazing ahead, trying to catch some air conditioning in the sweltering summer heat. But then he suddenly picked up a plastic bag and walked into an alley. Curiosity got the better of me, so I followed him, only to discover he went into a convenience store and tossed the bag into the trash. It was a small, warm gesture—he didn't want to make a mess.
Next, he pulled out some bills and counted them, hesitating for a moment before buying a small hot coffee for 25 yuan—the cheapest drink in the coffee lineup. In such blazing heat, why buy a hot drink? I followed him back to his spot, and I noticed Uncle didn't drink the coffee right away. Instead, he set it in a shaded spot. I later learned why: an iced coffee costs 35 yuan—ten yuan more. Ten yuan might not seem like much, but for Uncle it's one-fifth of his earnings per magazine sale. So he chose to let the small hot coffee cool down before drinking it.
There's actually a story behind Uncle's coffee purchase. He said that previously, while selling magazines, he was so exhausted that he fell asleep squatting by the pillar, and someone stole the remaining magazines. Since then, he doesn't dare to be careless—if magazines don't sell, he still has to pay for restocking. So whenever he gets tired, he buys coffee to stay awake, rather than waste his hard work.
I crouched beside Uncle and listened to his stories. I noticed he was only wearing blue and white flip-flops, his toes and nails worn and cracked from years of wear. Every day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., for eight years, he sells magazines. He grabs quick meals at nearby food stalls and rushes back to continue selling. He used to call out his wares while walking, but now his strength isn't what it was and he can't drag heavy books around, so he sells from a fixed spot.
Uncle says that because The Big Issue has great content, many people buy it, and his living is sustainable. "I used to live on the streets!" When he talks about the past, he speaks of sleeping on the streets with no fixed location, every day unstable and difficult. It wasn't until a friend introduced him to selling magazines that he had a more stable life.
Uncle Jinchun says he's also introduced homeless friends to sell magazines alongside him, so they could all live better lives. That's why whenever he talks about The Big Issue, he speaks glowingly and actively helps promote it, because it changed their lives—they can now have three square meals, don't have to sleep on the streets, live in a nursing home with professional care, and have a better life than before. Though it may look hard to outsiders, Uncle Jinchun says, "This is already plenty. I'm satisfied."
About The Big Issue
The Big Issue
The Big Issue is a magazine founded in London, England, and has been in existence for over 20 years since its establishment in 1991. The magazine's content covers current affairs, social issues, and arts and culture information. Currently, it's published in different versions in ten countries including England, Japan, Australia, and South Korea. What's special is that this publication's distribution channel is through homeless and socially disadvantaged groups who sell it. The organization is composed of two parts: one operates as a limited company, responsible for producing and distributing magazines to street vendors, while the other exists as a non-profit organization to help these vendors resolve the issues causing their homelessness and regain control of their lives.
