By Stephan Scheuer Aug 19, 2008, 8:34 GMT
Beijing - In a little street, next to Beijing's Workers' Stadium that hosts Olympic football matches, rests a corrugated iron shed on wheels bearing the Chinese signs for 'bicycle' amd 'repairs'.
It's where Li Guobao earns his living - and also where people from the neighbourhood come together to chat, one of countless such places where daily life in the 17 million metropolis is little affected by the Olympics.
'I've been here for the past ten years, and the Olympics aren't going change anything for me,' says Li as his screwdriver gets to work on an ageing bike.
A group of older men look on. 'This is what we do,' says one, who identifies himself simply as a long-time Bejing resident. 'We come here every day to sit and chat.'
While the Olympics might not change their lives too much, they certainly yield plenty to talk about. 'They're a once-in-a-lifetime experience,' says the resident. The other three elderly men nod.
'But the government has spent a lot of money on them,' says another, who idenfies himself as Sun. The millions could have been spent on plenty of other things, he says.
Li briefly looks up from the bike, but says nothing and carries on working. 'But,' the resident says, 'the games are great.' A lot has changed, he says - not least the Beijing air, which is much better.
Li carries on wordlessly working. He knows a lot of people round here, but he doesn't want to talk politics. He'd rather just listen, and enjoy the company.
He starts work every morning at half past seven, and finishes 12 hours later. After all, there are a wife and two children to feed. Two children? In China?
Yes, explains Sun. Li originally came from the countryside, where they're not quite as precise about the one child-per-family rule.
Sun himself says he 'can't compain' about life in the capital, to where the 35-year-old moved from Henan province ten years ago to earn a living, also as a bicycle repair man.
'At the end of the month I have 1,700 yuan (around 250 dollars) left over for me and my family,' he says. That's with the rent and the beer at the end of the day already paid for.
The elder men are meanwhile getting into politics. 'Yes, our President Hu Jintao is doing a really good job,' says one. His predecessor Jian Zemin was not so good.
'He never did anything to combat the corruption,' he says. 'China would have got the Olympics without him, anyway.' The others nod their agreement.
'We're not discussing, we're just talking,' says Sun, insisting that he has the freedom to says whatever he wants. 'China is a free country,' he says, looking at the others for confirmation.
'...at least, as long as you don't question the party,' he adds, and starts to laugh. Then, still grinning, he's off on his bike. He'll be back tomorrow, at Li's mobile bike shed.
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