On this very day in 2024, many still believe that arriving in America will lead to a meteoric rise in status, a sweeping transformation of one's social standing and quality of life. But what is the reality? Let me unravel this story for you.
The protagonist of this tale is Yang Nian, a 36-year-old man. His father passed away in a work-related accident during his childhood, and the family received little compensation. Since then, life had been steeped in poverty. His mother later remarried, leaving Yang Nian to be raised by his grandparents.
This fragmented family became a source of enduring pain for Yang Nian. From a young age, he harbored resentment towards any mention of his parents. Jokes about his father or mother were enough to ignite his fury.
Growing up under his grandparents' care, Yang Nian faced lenient discipline typical of a skipped generation. Consequently, he rarely listened to their guidance. Mischievous and unruly as a child, his academic performance was mediocre—neither remarkable nor abysmal. When it came time for college, he barely managed to enroll in a local, unremarkable university, majoring in photography and post-production. In essence, he studied graphic design—a profession that, even at the time, promised no more than an ordinary life.
There's a saying online: "Three generations of poverty for photographers." While Yang Nian didn't grasp its implications, he thought at least it was a trade he could rely on for a living. With this mindset and under the watchful eyes of his grandparents, Yang Nian embarked on his college journey.
Like many others, Yang Nian experienced a deep yet fleeting romance during college. It ended in their second year, leaving him disillusioned. Though the old saying "out with the old, in with the new" offered some comfort, he remained single through graduation. By his third year, Yang Nian had started interning off-campus—essentially working part-time jobs. Through these experiences, he began to gain insights into the photography industry.
He aspired to infuse his work with personal creativity, but his lack of social finesse—an unyielding flaw—soon became apparent. This shortcoming marked his path for the next decade: as an average photographer, producing no exceptional work, making no grave mistakes, yet drifting aimlessly. By the time he turned 30, his career had plateaued.
After graduating, Yang Nian never dated again. His meager income barely covered his living expenses. His grandparents passed away one after another during this time, without experiencing the fulfillment of seeing their grandson repay their kindness. By then, Yang Nian was left utterly alone in the world, save for a distant and unreachable mother, and a smattering of extended relatives.
One of his childhood friends, who had grown up alongside him, got married in his early thirties—a milestone that pierced Yang Nian's already fragile heart.
At 33, Yang Nian began dating a woman who was 30. After more than a year of courtship, they reached the brink of marriage, only for her parents to firmly object. Their reasoning? Yang Nian had neither parents nor assets and no promising career. Ironically, the woman's situation was far from ideal—she was 30, divorced twice, and raising a child. Even so, her parents refused to let her settle for a man like Yang Nian.
By now, Yang Nian had little to look forward to in life. The world had also entered the era of the pandemic—a grain of sand from the times that, when it fell on ordinary people, became an insurmountable mountain. Every nation and every community felt the weight of the crisis. During this period, Yang Nian lost his job.
While confined at home during the lockdown, Yang Nian stumbled upon Douyin, a popular social media app. There, he discovered a peculiar phenomenon called "walking to America." Unable to secure visas, some people had resorted to traversing treacherous paths through South America to reach the United States.
Videos of these journeys captivated Yang Nian. The stark juxtaposition of lush rainforests and streams of people trekking en masse left an indelible impression on him. Groups of hundreds undertaking perilous adventures—a sight he had never imagined. The influencers chronicling these expeditions, with names like "Travel the World Xiao San," amassed thousands of likes, their content fueled by the dream of starting anew.
Yang Nian became mesmerized. The allure of earning $150 a day in the U.S. for six hours of work—an astronomical sum compared to his current life—ignited a spark of hope. Thoughts of working as a dishwasher or doing menial jobs flooded his mind. If only he had 300,000 yuan, he thought, his life wouldn't have been so bleak.
This seed of desire grew into an unrelenting ambition. Each video he watched strengthened his resolve to join the journey.
"I must leave! I must leave! I must leave!"
Yang Nian repeated these words in his heart until one day in 2021, the opportunity finally arrived.