A "college student" in cycling gear begs on the streets of Jiujiang
"Please help, friends in Jiujiang！I came from Qujing, Yunnan, and have been cycling for over 20 days. I'm now in trouble, so hungry, and asking friends for a few yuan for food to buy some dry rations for backup." The chalk writing that appeared yesterday at the intersection of Dazhong Road drew many passersby to stop, but what caught the eye wasn’t just those words — it was also the young man in cycling gear nearby and his heavily loaded bicycle.
People had mixed reactions to the "cyclist" beggar
The young man had wine-red dyed hair, wore a backpack, and behind him was a "GLANT" (Giant) bicycle, with a sleeping bag, tent, and other items strapped to the rear seat... the full cycling outfit. Seeing the plea written by this "cyclist" with an out-of-town accent, passersby reacted differently: some quietly approached the young man and gave him 10 yuan; others looked at the "chalk messages" and thought the young man was scamming, so they turned and walked away; still others stared at him suspiciously and suggested he seek help from the Jiujiang Rescue Station to return home as soon as possible.
Is he really a "cyclist" from thousands of miles away? If he's on a cycling trip, why is he begging for meal money on the streets of Xuncheng? Could it be a new trick for begging? With these questions from the public, a reporter approached the young man and started talking with him.
Claims to cycle just to broaden horizons, set off with 3,000 yuan
The young man introduced himself as Gu Yongwen, 22 years old. In July this year, he graduated from Guiyang Minzu University. His parents had arranged a job for him, but he didn’t accept it right away. "I just graduated and wanted to go out alone to see the sights, take in the magnificent landscapes of our country, and experience the charm of different cities." His parents couldn’t persuade him otherwise, so they gave him 3,000 yuan for travel expenses. He set off from Qujing, Yunnan, cycling all the way, passing through Guiyang and Huangguoshu in Guizhou, as well as Changsha, Wuhan, and Huangshi. By the time he reached Huangshi, his funds were almost gone, and he faced problems with food and lodging. Gu Yongwen didn’t tell his parents, "so they wouldn’t worry." He began asking passersby in Huangshi for help, gathering enough money for one or two days' meals before setting off for Jiujiang.
Around dusk on the 10th, this "cyclist" successfully arrived in Xun (Jiujiang). That night, he used the same method to ask passersby for help on the pedestrian street, raising 90 yuan in the cold wind, checked into a small hotel, and had a 25-yuan fast-food meal. In the coming days, he plans to continue cycling to Nanchang, Xiamen, and then return to his hometown in Yunnan.
Raising funds: "Tough it out if possible," not telling parents about troubles
Worried about facing situations where there’s no town in sight during the ride, Gu Yongwen quickly "browsed" Jiujiang city and then bought chalk at a stationery store, using a somewhat embarrassing method of "begging" to raise funds for his "upcoming journey."
Gu Yongwen said that during his cycling days, his parents often called him, always reminding him to "take care of himself and speak up if he runs out of money." Each time, he reassured them by saying, "I still have money now, don’t worry." But actually, he thought, "I’ll tough it out if I can, and only turn to my parents when I really can’t hold on."
When the reporter handed the young man 10 yuan, he first looked a bit shy, then bowed his head and softly thanked him. "It’s the end of the year, and there are too many scammers begging on the streets. Who knows if this young man is one of them?" As the reporter left, he heard several passersby questioning the young man’s actions.