Chapter 4 Chapter 4 "Su" is the Yearning of Earthlings
Anyone who has been to Suzhou knows a place called Fengqiao in the west of the city.Fengqiao is famous because there is a thousand-year-old temple - Hanshan Temple.It was first built in the Tianjian period of Liang Dynasty (502-519 A.D.), and its old name was Miaoli Puming Pagoda Courtyard.According to legend, Hanshanzi, a poet monk in the Tang Dynasty, once lived here for a long time, so later generations renamed the temple "Hanshan Temple".
When we were very young, we Suzhou people would recite this song "Night Mooring at Fengqiao" by Zhang Ji, a poet of the Tang Dynasty.
Hanshan Temple outside Gusu City, the midnight bells to the passenger ship.For thousands of years, there have been thousands of poems about Suzhou Fengqiao and Hanshan Temple, but none of them surpassed Zhang Ji's "Fengqiao Night Mooring".The beauty of Hanshan Temple lies in its "midnight bell"... I don't know when, our neighbors, Japanese friends, will travel across the oceans every Lunar New Year, and come in groups from island countries thousands of miles away Come to Hanshan Temple, stay quietly at midnight, and listen to the 108 bells ringing in the ancient temple to welcome the New Year.
The abbot of Hanshan Temple told me that his ancestors Hanshan Dharma Seng and Master Shide preached in Japan through his disciples and spread Buddhism in this country, which had a huge influence, so the Japanese regarded the bells of Hanshan Temple in Suzhou as their new generation. The auspicious sound of the year's spiritual home.
"Dang! Dang! Dang——" Hanshan Temple's 108 New Year's bells have now been included in the municipal ceremony.Every year, government officials and people from all walks of life gather in the ancient temple at the same time to ring the ancient bell that can only be hugged by a few people...
"The moon is setting and the sky is full of frost, Jiang Feng and Yuhuo are facing Mian..." This is the selection scene of "CCTV's Top Ten Most Economically Vitality Cities in China" held by CCTV at the end of 2004.When the host announced that the representatives of Suzhou began to show the vitality of the city, a nearly 60-year-old Finnish "foreigner" holding an Iranian drum sang the familiar and pleasant Pingtan version of "Pingtan" in standard Suzhou dialect. "Night Mooring at Maple Bridge"... The atmosphere at the scene was pushed to a climax.With his euphemistic and melodious tone, accompanied by the rich and exotic Iranian drums, the Finnish old man's affectionate and well-placed singing conquered all the judges and the audience at once.
"Suzhou won the first place in CCTV's 2004 Top Ten Most Economically Vigorous Cities in China!" When the host announced the result, the Finnish "foreigner" who sang Pingtan excitedly shouted in Chinese: "My hometown won Already! Our Suzhou has succeeded!"
Regarding the results of CCTV's selection of the "Top Ten Most Economically Vitality Cities", some people said that Suzhou deserved it, while others said that Suzhou people chose a "foreigner" to sing Pingtan and conquered the judges.I think both arguments are valid.Later I learned that this old Finnish man is called Aijero, a Finnish-Iranian who has stayed in Suzhou for more than ten years and claims to be an "old Suzhou native".Ai Zheluo, 64 years old, was originally a senior engineer of Suzhou Nokia Company. He was very reluctant when he was sent to work in Suzhou by the headquarters 11 years ago. He asked his boss if he could shorten the time from 2 years to 1 year. He fell in love with this place, and instead asked for a "permanent residence".Ai Zheluo, who retired from Nokia a few years ago, simply made his home in Suzhou. While working as a part-time English professor at Soochow University, he also established a "Happy Home" club composed of mostly foreign experts.Suzhou Pingtan, which was performed on CCTV, was learned off-the-shelf.
"Suzhou is so beautiful, she not only belongs to Suzhou people, but also belongs to the whole world." Ai Zheluo often said this to people.
Ai Zheluo may not know that a "foreigner" came to this ancient city of "Oriental Venice" hundreds of years ago and made the same sigh.This person is the famous Italian travel explorer Marco Polo.It is said that if the Italian travel explorer hadn't been ordered by his king to have an accident with his family, Suzhou might have stopped him from traveling around the world. "Suzhou has the same beautiful water and city walls on the water as Venice, but Venice does not have as many interesting stone bridges as Suzhou. It makes me feel like a drunkard stepping on the cloud road to enjoy the beauty of heaven." Marco Po Luo described it like this.
"On the willow bank, the dawn wind and the moon", "The son is on the river, the dead are like a husband..." Marco Polo walked across the crescent-like stone bridge step by step on the stone slab like a ladder, listening to the shepherd boy talking on the bridge. Humming ancient poems and music, intoxicated.
The water is like a silver knife, cutting the city of Suzhou into beautiful strips; the bridge is like a tailor, making the whole of Suzhou into an elegant and beautiful dress.Anyone who tries to wear it once doesn't want to take it off again, and stay in this place with body and life.The black magpie flies south and the moon is self-evident, and hates silver and Han water is full.
At night, Wu Wa passed by on the bridge, only going to the Weaver Girl in the sky.
(Gao Qi's "Wu Que Bridge" in Ming Dynasty) For thousands of years, with its unique beautiful appearance and exquisite culture, Suzhou has retained many wanderers and attracted many foreigners. The quality of "embracing all rivers", "embracing everything", and "bringing out the old and absorbing the new" has long been recognized and praised by the world.
In the year when Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty first sat on the dragon chair, such a scene was recorded in the memorial of Hu Fenghui, a weaver in Suzhou: "The Nanhao area of Changmen is crowded with merchants. Most of the people in Fujian, almost tens of thousands of people." In fact, before that More than 100 years ago, Fuzhou merchants who lived in Su had established the Sanshan Guild Hall in the 41st year of Ming Wanli (1613).During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Fujian merchants built 8 guild halls in Suzhou.Merchants immigrated to Suzhou from the end of the Yuan Dynasty to the beginning of the Ming Dynasty. At that time, Suzhou had become the center of China's economy and one of the important cities in the world. Therefore, businessmen who wanted to make a fortune flocked to Suzhou. The first climax of this.Like Fujian merchants, Cantonese merchants were also an early group of merchants from all over the world who came to Suzhou.During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, merchants from all over Guangdong built seven guild halls in Suzhou, of which five were built before or after Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty.And these five guild halls were all located in the most prosperous Shantang Street in Suzhou at that time.Among the 59 well-documented Suzhou guild halls in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, there are 13 on Shantang Street, and 17 around Changmen and Shantang, more than half of the city.The nearly 200 public offices that prospered later gradually spread to all parts of this ancient city.After Fujian merchants and Cantonese merchants came to Suzhou, merchants from Shanxi, Huizhou, Zhejiang, and Shandong also came and formed a greater momentum.These businessmen from all over the north and south not only did business here by themselves, but also moved their family members and helpers to Suzhou in groups after they made a fortune, becoming new immigrants here and integrating with the local people.It is this kind of economic and cultural freedom and openness, absorption and all-inclusiveness, which has resulted in Suzhou's unprecedented prosperity in history.The prosperity of that year was recorded in a long historical scroll "Gusu Prosperity Map" by Xu Yang during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. At that time, in Gusu City, from Huqiu to Changmen, there were many shops and thousands of merchants gathered on the Qili Long Street. Department stores are overflowing, boats converge, sails and scales gather...
It was also during this period that the city of Suzhou expanded significantly.The geographical extent of the city expanded and its population grew rapidly.The main trend of urban changes in Suzhou at this stage was the expansion of the city from the prefectural city to the city and suburban towns, thus forming a megacity with the prefectural city as the center and the suburban towns as "satellite cities".
This is Suzhou in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, she is dazzling.
However, Suzhou people have not satisfied and stopped their reconstruction and pursuit of a beautiful homeland.They are constantly looking for their own shortcomings...
So beautiful and rich, is there anything wrong with it?Outsiders always compare Suzhou to the most beautiful landscape painting in China, and they can't help but envy them. How can Suzhou people themselves be dissatisfied?
My Suzhou folks are really not satisfied. They are looking for and examining their own deficiencies: Is the landscape painting beautiful?Beauty, it is flat, deep and lofty.But Suzhou people feel ashamed when they look back at the unobstructed plain scenery, because people always regard Suzhou's "Little Bridge and Flowing Water House" as the most beautiful, but Suzhou people think that "Little Bridge and Flowing Water House" has only one kind of flat distance. The beauty of the city should also have the beauty of far-reaching and high, so they began to renovate alleys and rivers leading to rivers and lakes.
"The alleys make the feet go deeper and deeper, and the city and the river make the oars go farther and farther..." Suzhou people have since then had a calm and restrained artistic conception of harmony between man and nature-spiritual and natural.
But they immediately discovered that too much calmness will lead to disorganization, and too much restraint will lead to blockage, so Suzhou people immediately reminded themselves-my ancestors began to stand next to people's homes on small bridges and at the ends of alleys with the city. Tall pagodas were built on the bank of the river so that I could look up anytime and anywhere to know the bigger world beyond the sky.Therefore, after Suzhou people have small bridges and flowing water houses, alleys and city rivers, and added towering temple pagodas, they have realized everything that is flat, far-reaching and lofty... Thus, their natural home and spiritual home They have all become "the most beautiful in reality".
Now I have made an important discovery - the essence of my hometown Suzhou: You see, why Suzhou people registered the city's trademark as the majestic Tiger Hill!That is, they are implying a kind of high-level vision, never-ending pursuit and state of mind, and a mind to see the world at a glance.
"See Tiger Hill Pagoda first, and then go to Suzhou City." After hearing this old saying, I think there should be another sentence: If you want to know Suzhou City, go to Tiger Hill Tower first? !
Yes, if you want to truly understand Suzhou and Suzhou people, you must stand at a high level.
That day, I came to the bustling Guanqian Street, and was attracted by a new landscape in the middle of the street: a commemorative wall with the handprints of the top ten "New Suzhou People" in 2006 stood there majestically.It uses hard blue-gray gold bricks as the base, and the ten pairs of gilded handprints on the wall exude a scorching brilliance, making visitors stop and look up.In ancient times, there were inscriptions on steles of emperors and celebrities, and inscriptions of those who donated to build temples; nowadays, there are footprints of stars on the Avenue of Stars, and calligraphy inscriptions by officials.However, Suzhou is the first to "set up a monument and set up a biography" for the group of migrant workers.As commented by the media, foreign entrepreneurs have left a deep imprint on the city of Suzhou with their own hands.This is a testimony, but also a unique landscape.
Standing in front of the "New Suzhou People" handprint memorial wall, I have a lot of emotion: this wall not only reflects the respect and gratitude of the Suzhou government and people to the group of "migrant workers", but also reflects the A kind of mind and state of mind, but also reflects their most sensible choice for the future.
Because of this handprint wall, I immediately obtained a statistic: By 2008, the ratio of Suzhou’s local registered population to the total number of migrant workers and entrepreneurs was exactly 1:1.That is to say, there are now two 6 million people in Suzhou, one is the local registered population of more than 6 million, and the other is about 6 million "new Suzhou people" who work and live here.
Heh, I feel that I am no longer so familiar with my hometown and the current folks!But what makes me feel relieved is that they are all "Suzhou people".
"New Suzhou people", what a friendly and fresh name.
"I am willing to move here with my family, children and relatives because the government and fellow villagers here do not treat us as outsiders." A fellow from Henan who has settled down in my hometown town for more than ten years said this to me.He lives opposite my sister's house, and he said that he has brought more than 20 relatives from their hometown in Henan to Suzhou to work. "Four household registrations have also moved in."
This is my new hometown.Looking at his solid and broad back, I thought of another new Suzhou native originally from Henan. His name is Luo Yanyin. ".Luo Yanyin, who is just 40 years old, is from Shangcheng County, Henan Province. He came to Suzhou to work in 1992. In 1997, he was hired as a pipe maintenance worker in the dredging class of Suzhou Urban Drainage Service Company. In 2006, he was elected as one of Suzhou's first "Top Ten New Suzhou People" with the highest votes, and became the first migrant worker in Suzhou's history to win the National "May 1st Labor Medal".
"Luo Yanyin is the glory and pride of our Suzhou people." Comrade Wang Rong, Member of the Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Suzhou Municipal Party Committee, said this to me. From his expression and tone, I felt the true feelings and heart of a leader.
"Whether it is industrial workers, management, or technical personnel, we have attracted many outstanding domestic and foreign talents. We have always introduced talents, especially leading technological and entrepreneurial talents, as an important part of Suzhou's opening up. policy." Wang Rong said in an interview with reporters during his participation in the "Two Sessions" of the country.
As far as I know, Suzhou has attached great importance to the introduction of talents and labor since the early stage of reform and opening up.The early "Sunday Engineers" and the current "Sunday Scientists" are their unique experience in introducing talents.Labor import is one of the key measures for Suzhou to achieve rapid development in the past 30 years.According to the statistics of the public security department, the three stages of 1985-1989, 1990-1999, and 2000-2008 were the fastest-growing period for the "new Suzhou people" in Suzhou, and these three stages happened to be three important steps for Suzhou to step up period of great development.
In the early 1980s, township enterprises in Suzhou were poised to rise.By the late 1980s and early 1990s, there were two thirds of the world.During this period, a large number of skilled workers in township enterprises came from technicians and retired engineers of state-owned enterprises in Shanghai.They rushed to the villages and towns of Suzhou on Saturday to guide these "crossing the river by feeling the stones" township enterprises to start projects, build assembly lines, produce products, and even help sell products.Later, township enterprises in Suzhou flourished, and some of these people stayed and became the first batch of "new Suzhou people".The second critical turning point in the development of Suzhou was the period of urban industrialization that began in the early 1990s by means of large-scale introduction of foreign capital. At this time, various production factors and overseas new technologies and new products gathered in the central city. , the export-oriented economy and the rise of private enterprises caused a large number of graduates from colleges and technical secondary schools, laborers from other places, and entrepreneurs who came here to operate and set up factories to flood into every corner of Suzhou's urban and rural areas, forming the second wave of "new Suzhou people". "climax.The third period of Suzhou's rapid development is the nearly ten years after entering the 21st century, which reflects the new industrialization process aimed at the agglomeration and development of the IT industry.At this stage, Suzhou has undertaken the gradient transfer of the international IT industry, and at the same time, state-owned enterprises and institutions have comprehensively promoted reforms.New technologies, new concepts, and new models of modern international economic and social development have entered Suzhou's various industries one after another. The process of new industrialization has accelerated significantly, and the characteristics of economic internationalization have become more obvious.During this period, a large number of high-level domestic and foreign talents and skilled industrial workers gathered in Suzhou, forming the largest wave of "new Suzhou people".Today, foreign-funded enterprises in Suzhou that have grown from scratch have gathered more than 2 million "new Suzhou people"...
A city with a population of 6 million accepts and absorbs the same number of newcomers, so some people call it the "white-haired youthful face of Suzhou".
Suzhou is ancient, and Suzhou is young.When a other half mainly composed of young people integrates into the original half of the group, this group must become youthful!
In today's Suzhou, no matter the city or the countryside, it is difficult for you to tell who are the real old Suzhou people and who are the new Suzhou people who have just settled down. They have completely integrated into every corner of the land.
This is the brilliance of my folks and government officials: more than ten years ago, they changed the name of "migrant workers" to "new Suzhou people".
The word "new" contains kindness and warmth, respect and consideration, as well as expectation and hope.
Suzhou's concern for migrant workers and entrepreneurs is not a simple "change of words", but practical and effective practices and measures, and it is like the kind of meticulous and considerate care of a family .
Take a look at the specific content of the “New Suzhou People Plan” implemented by Suzhou City in 2006, and you will understand that Suzhou’s considerate care for migrant workers and entrepreneurs is not just a simple policy concern, but It is a true "family" that treats each other equally.This plan includes: old-age care - as long as they meet the conditions, migrants can participate in social insurance in Suzhou, and they will be treated equally with local employees, equal participation in insurance, and equal enjoyment.From pension, medical care, work injury to maternity, unemployment, five insurances in one.There is medical treatment for illness - migrant workers employed in enterprises are included in the urban employee security network.The 50,000 migrant farmers who farm in the rural areas of Suzhou are also included in the local rural cooperative medical care. Their children also enjoy serious illness medical insurance and various immunizations.Learning is taught—according to incomplete statistics, nearly 300,000 children of migrant workers are currently studying in primary and secondary schools in Suzhou, accounting for a quarter of the city's compulsory education students.Suzhou has set up designated primary and secondary schools for the children of "new Suzhou people", and there are 15 schools in the ancient city area alone.Occupational housing - through government investment, unit funding, private capital absorption, farmers' shareholding and other fund-raising methods, more than 4,000 high-quality, beautiful environment, and low-rent large-scale residential areas (points) for migrants have been built in the city. A total of more than 1.7 million foreigners have been attracted to stay.Respect for the rights of every citizen in the city, including passing travelers, is the basis for the healthy development of this ancient and emerging modern immigrant city.
At sunset, in Suzhou High-tech Zone, Jingshan Apartment, a 130,000-square-meter apartment for migrant workers that has just been completed, is lit up, and the melodious singing of Qingman is floating in the green grassy community.Dong Jinna, a young female worker who came back from get off work, walked into the clean and tidy neighborhood with cheerful steps. The warm spring breeze blew on the girl's peach-like face, and accompanied by a silver bell-like laughter, Xiao Dong entered her dormitory—— Room C4205, Building 5.This is a 35-square-meter dormitory in which 10 employees live. The bathroom, electric fans, and desks are all available, and the room is very tidy. "The rent here is only 60 to 70 yuan per month. The facilities are complete, comfortable and safe, and life is very convenient." Although she has only been in Suzhou for two months, Dong Jinna has already adapted to life here.
"I have already made up my mind. In two or three years, I will take over my parents. Suzhou is so beautiful. The people here are good, the city is good, and the work and life are better. So I want to mobilize the whole family to move here. People from Suzhou." In fact, there are not a few people who think like Dong Jinna.According to a research report in Suzhou, among the more than 6 million "new Suzhou people", one tenth of them have settled or are planning to settle here and become permanent Suzhou people.Among them, students returning from overseas and foreigners in foreign companies accounted for a considerable number.
Tang Jiecai, a Singaporean with a Chinese-style name, finished his university studies in the United States and went to Silicon Valley to start a business. After 12 years, he came to Suzhou from the United States alone. At first, there were only 3 people in the company, including him, to do outsourcing services.After several years of hard work, Xinyu Software Company, which he founded alone, has entered the "Top 100 Global IT Services", and ranked third in the "Professional Application Development Providers" in the top 100 individual rankings.Now, Tang Jiecai's company has branches in Shanghai, Dalian, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and the United States. There are more than 1,000 employees in Suzhou alone. Many well-known companies such as Boeing, Microsoft, IBM, and Procter & Gamble are his long-term customers.As a representative of the "new Suzhou natives" of foreign origin, Tang Jiecai's handprints were also imprinted high on the radiant handprint wall on Guanqian Street...
Tang Jie is not the only foreign "new Suzhou native" with such glory.
On January 19, 2009, Suzhou's 2008 "Top Ten Charming Technological Figures" were announced. Thomas Lin Tong, who used German wisdom to manufacture China's famous "brakes", was particularly eye-catching because he was the first foreign expert to win this award.When Thomas received the certificate of honor from relevant leaders of Suzhou, he shouted to the audience attending the awards ceremony: "I am Thomas, and I am from Suzhou!"
Thomas has been engaged in research and development in the field of public transportation systems in Germany for 12 years. Because of his outstanding performance, he was sent by the company to China, where the market is broader and the challenges are more arduous.The reason why he finally decided to come to China, he admitted frankly, is not only because the Chinese subway market accounts for 50% of the world, which has more room for development, but also because he has a wife who can speak Chinese and loves Chinese culture.For them, the ancient Chinese civilization is mysterious and fascinating. In 2005, Thomas and his wife came to Suzhou and started a new work and life.As a freshman, he will undertake the development and implementation of the company's project system technology.Not only does he have to face new challenges in his work, but he also has to deal with the differences in working conditions and working methods with his Chinese colleagues due to different cultural backgrounds. Many difficulties are unimaginable.But the optimistic and cheerful personality unique to Europeans made him feel that these differences were very fresh, and all problems were solved in the process of gradually "doing as the Romans do in the countryside", and he soon became an authentic "new Suzhou native".
"During the three years in China, I learned how to use Chinese methods to solve China's problems. This is different from Germany, but very interesting." Thomas said.
In the past three years, the team led by Thomas has been responsible for participating in the technical design and commissioning of nearly 30 subways, light rails, and large-scale railways around the world.These projects are distributed in different countries and different cities, including the Suzhou light rail project under construction.The prototype car used by Shanghai Metro Line 9, which he participated in, is one of the milestones in the localization of China's subway.The inclusive and modern Suzhou gave Thomas a stage to display his talents, and the advanced technology he brought also allowed China to keep pace with Germany in this respect.The traditional Suzhou of Wu Nong's soft language turned Thomas and his wife into authentic "new Suzhou people", and they also had a daughter born in Suzhou.Now, Thomas says to everyone: "The mysterious China attracted me to come here, and the heavenly Suzhou persuaded me to stay here. I feel very lucky and happy."
Erhu, Tai Chi, reciting poems, performing sketches... Another "Love in Suzhou" talent competition for foreign friends has begun. Hundreds of foreign friends from more than 20 countries including the United States, Japan, Canada, and Switzerland competed to perform on stage:
You see, Ou Kexin, who came to Suzhou from Seattle to study in the United States, spoke unproficient Mandarin and focused on talking about Suzhou in her eyes.In her eyes, this ancient city with a long history of 2,500 years is bigger than Seattle, with four distinct seasons and a mild climate. The warm and hospitable Suzhou people are kind and understanding, making people forget their loneliness.
Listen to how Zhou Wenyi, an "old Suzhou", described his life in Suzhou: "After I came to work in Suzhou from Malaysia, I firmly grasped every opportunity and worked confidently and seriously like a Suzhou person from the very beginning. , I swim and play squash in my spare time, and I feel infinitely comfortable. The reason why I live and work in this paradise is that I can often eat my favorite hairy crabs and green plums..." Hahaha... laughing and singing together The crowd of new Suzhou people surged.
The scene of the competition was full of climaxes. Joseph and his wife from the United States performed the sketch "Chinese Romance". The humor and exaggeration made the audience burst into laughter, but the Joseph and his wife were still immersed in the intoxication. The sketch "Marriage Proposal" expressed their Fascination for small bridges and flowing water in Gusu, white walls and black tiles, and stone alleys.When the 19-year-old Korean girl, Jung Soo-e, came onto the stage wearing a blue cheongsam, the audience burst into cheers. "The beauty of Suzhou is the most unique beauty. The beauty lies in her gardens, the beauty lies in her small bridges and flowing water, and the beauty lies in her waxy, sweet and whiny Suzhou dialect. I love you, Suzhou, My foreign country!" The Korean girl yelled in a sweet, crisp voice, over and over again.
"I love you, Suzhou—my foreign hometown!" Then, everyone in the audience stood up in unison, shouting in unison, spreading the fiery and affectionate voice throughout the entire city of Suzhou...
"Yes, the development and changes in Suzhou in recent years have exceeded our traditional vision, and there have been many new changes, such as the economy, which has fully transformed from 'Made in Suzhou' to 'Created in Suzhou', and at the same time is heading in a new direction Development, that is, from "created in Suzhou" to "invested in Suzhou" - relying on Suzhou's strong economic strength, technological strength and talent strength, to realize another form of Suzhou economy in places other than Suzhou. Regardless of "Made in Suzhou" , or 'Suzhou Creation' or 'Suzhou Investment' are inseparable from the power of new Suzhou people. According to forecasts, by 2010, the number of 'new Suzhou people' will exceed 8 million, more than the local registered population. That is to say, The traditional concept of "Suzhou people" will change from now on, and Suzhou will become the Suzhou of China and the Suzhou of the world in the true sense. Suzhou is our common beautiful, harmonious and prosperous home." A Suzhou cadre told me.
How well said!Suzhou is our common home—of China and of mankind.
However, I know that Suzhou, my homeland of China and mankind, can be as beautiful and vibrant as it is today, and it has actually taken a flick of a finger, and it is for this reason that I have this work. .