Guo Xuejun: The story of a Taiwanese northern drifter who has no life

In media reports and social platforms, most of the "Taiwanese in the mainland" group shows the "developed and successful" side. (Courtesy of the author)

Why do I want to write about the "unproductive" Taiwan North Drift? Because I used to be so "unproductive".

It is also because I do not want the group of "Taiwanese in the mainland" to only show the "developed and successful" side in media reports and social platforms.

Before the pandemic, there was a period of frequent travel between Taipei (and New Taipei) and Beijing. At that time, I had very few friends in Taiwan, and I was able to meet them regularly to maintain relationships, and I was even fortunate to meet some new friends.

At that time, it coincided with the period of high-speed integration of the mainland's cultural influence and Taiwan, and one thing popular in the mainland: it may be a film and television, a toy, a song, and traces of it can be found when you return to Taiwan. Thanks to constant chatting and observation during that period, I was able to capture other phenomena in articles on both sides of the strait that were full of "Taiwan is anti-China."

In the imperial capital for ten years, the two sides of the strait are constantly changing, WeChat has appeared, Douyin has appeared, "Sheep Cuisine" has opened a YouTube account and gained a large number of Taiwanese fans. However, the cross-strait imagination and reporting of "Taiwanese on the mainland" are still relatively rigid.

Most of my Taiwanese friends think that I have "always" been a strong woman with a high income. A few years ago, there were several coffee games, friends with Taiwanese friends, and college classmates who had not seen me for a few years, during which these cute people were curious to inquire about my professional salary (Taiwanese people are generally tempted and will not ask directly).

"In fact, many Taiwanese in the mainland are not as high as the forum said. Some industries are indeed several times higher, but the salary in my industry is really a little bit higher, and I don't earn much." I put on a cute smile.

"Ass, then why are you staying in Beijing?" , or "Oh, don't be modest :)" is often the reaction.

The neighbors in my hometown also have some talents, and during that period of frequent return to Taiwan, I met neighbors, and the greeting methods basically ranged from the most bland and kind "Come back, long time no see", to a bit of yin and yang weirdness "Now I have earned RMB roar" and "come back to use health insurance" and so on. Which sentence will be encountered, depending on whether there is a special locomotive.

Once an unfamiliar Taiwanese asked me "earn a lot of roar in Beijing" this kind of half-tentative, half-casual greeting, I nodded sincerely and firmly, "Yes, a lot, the renminbi is fragrant!" The other party laughed out, "Hey, but the cost of living in Beijing and Shanghai will also be expensive, and it will not be easy for you", and the atmosphere suddenly livened.

What, it turns out that this is much easier than trying to explain!

Talking about my new book a few days ago, a Taiwanese friend said something that impressed me. "I really want to make some achievements for my family to see, I always felt that I had to do something in the mainland, and I couldn't escape such pressure in my heart."

Taiwan has a high degree of development, but the pressure of Taiwanese people on the mainland to "have to mix something" may not lose to the small social animals in other provinces and counties who come to the imperial capital to work hard.

Here, I would like to summarize the occurrence of this phenomenon a little.

First, three "Taiwan North Drift" models.

In Taiwanese society, there are several common patterns of "Taiwanese on the mainland".

The first is the merry party and the determination of Taiwan businessmen and Taiwan businessmen on the mainland (in ancient times). For example, a Taiwanese businessman talked about the advantages and challenges of Taiwan's industry in the mainland, and the final conclusion is often that "Taiwan still has advantages at some levels, but the mainland is catching up quickly". There are also common folk tales shared by various netizens on the forum: "My relatives are Taiwan officials and colorful flags are flying in the mainland". Such patterns are still uncommon and have been around for a long time.

The second is Taiwanese stars (mid-term era) who earn millions a year in Taiwan and hundreds of millions a year on the other side. When I was still in Taiwan, everyone saw mainland variety shows actually label Taiwanese guests as "Taiwan, China", and took screenshots to criticize on social media.

Many years ago, every New Year's Festival, Taiwan's older generation of stars appeared on CCTV's major programs, and people felt that "the people of the previous generation inevitably have a bit of big Chinese feelings". In recent years, young stars no longer appear in Taipei 101 New Year's Eve, but on Hunan Satellite TV, Taiwanese from sighing to seeing nothing strange.

Ouyang Nana was ridiculed in Taiwan, and Taiwan's younger generation divided the stars into two camps: "go to the other side" and "don't go to the other side", but the former is many and powerful, and the young people finally say "the yuan is so fragrant" at most.

The third is the "dissuasional type" that has often appeared in recent years (recent times). The "dissuasive type" is often found in Taiwanese forums and social media. For example, someone will ask, "The company offers 10,000 a month to let me go to Shanghai (including accommodation), do you want to go?" There will be a lot of messages at the bottom, "Don't go in Shanghai for 20,000", "My friend goes, with an annual salary of 500,000 yuan", "Mainland first-tier cities are not worth it unless they are more or less a month, it is better to stay in Taiwan".

There are also Taiwanese in the mainland who will wave their hands and advise their juniors: "If you don't mix much money, don't stay in Beijing"!

The above three are often seen in the media, and they have repeatedly strengthened the perception of Taiwanese society: "Those who go to the other side of the strait and those who stay on the other side make a lot of money." If it were not for the money that is several times higher than Taiwan, no one would choose to be on the mainland."

Second, in mainland Taiwanese, in terms of income and development, "must show positive" pressure.

"Mainland first-tier cities are not worth it unless they are more or less a month", this is not wrong. Especially for those who are assigned by the company.

Taiwanese will choose to come to the mainland, whether they study first or directly employ, of course, for the possibility of making more money. But for Taiwanese who have stayed for several years, it is actually a comprehensive consideration.

For example, I, for Azhu (the author's cat) and you cute readers. For example, a Taiwanese friend of mine, also drifting north for many years, after stepping out of campus, his professional knowledge and contacts are cultivated here, but he is a lot unfamiliar with Taiwan's industry and workplace ecology, even if he is very unsatisfactory in the past two years, he chose to grit his teeth and support, hoping to wait until the spring blossoms.

He did not "make a lot of money", his family house is in Taipei, he can find a salary job when he goes back, and he is not sure how high his development will be in the future, just like other mainland young people are confused. It is even less cost-effective to stay on the mainland according to the "cost performance", but he still wants to stay in a familiar environment and friends at present.

In the context of mainland society, he, like me, is one of the members of "who came to the mainland to make money with a clear purpose"; In the environment of Taiwanese society, if he puts the current situation on the forum, most of his friends and netizens will persuade him to go home.

Naturally, I have subjective thoughts, perhaps not objectively universal phenomena. But as far as my personal observation is concerned, Taiwanese in the mainland are more or less burdened with such pressure: they can tell their Taiwanese friends that "Beijing can't eat, it's better to go back to Taiwan"; You can tell your parents, relatives and friends, "Beijing may have a higher income than Taipei, but the rent is too expensive."

You can complain that the cost of living and cost is not worth it, but in terms of "income and development", it must be slightly embellished.

"I'm in Beijing, the current salary is 10,000 (RMB, the same below)", "I'm in Shanghai, currently 8,000", unless you have just graduated, otherwise this kind of words, Taiwanese relatives and friends will probably be very confused "why do you stay", "return to Taiwan soon!"

Life is ups and downs, Chengdu people in Beijing, from a monthly income of 20,000 because of unemployment to a monthly income of 10,000, Taiwanese of course too. Your northern drift may go from 8,000, to 10,000, to 15,000, to 30,000, or 30,000 to 10,000.

At this stage of "falling", it may be more difficult for Taiwan to speak to relatives and friends in your hometown, and it may be more difficult to gain the understanding of friends in your hometown than your mainland friends. On social platforms, it is naturally more difficult to see this stage of Taiwan's northern drift "falling".

If it weren't for writing her own story, my mother and Taiwanese friends would not know that there used to be a "Taipei girl with a monthly income of 4,000". At that time, I didn't dare to say a word to my family and girlfriends.

Finally, the special nature of cross-strait relations should not take precedence over daily life and human feelings.

In mainland media reports, often in order to show the results of "Taiwanese talents going to the mainland", Taiwan's northern drift has often developed well, developed better, and developed better.

In Taiwan's general perception, "If it's not for a thick stack of renminbi, why stay on the mainland?"

In fact, not all of us in Taiwan are living so "righteously". We don't have to, all the time, be so "right". Now I no longer hide it, and I can frankly say to my Taiwan friends, "I may be the Taiwanese who earns the least in our cross-strait circles, and my salary is in line with Taipei's hahaha!"

The story of the Taiwanese on the mainland is inevitably propaganda and political because of the special nature of cross-strait relations. However, no matter how special cross-strait relations are, they cannot override daily people-to-people exchanges.

You have friends in one place and will be willing to stay; Having cats and dogs in one place and having their own jobs, they are naturally willing to stay; I didn't make much money in one place, my savings were pitiful, but I realized my self-worth, and of course I was willing to stay (although it was a little sad).

Life inevitably has ups and downs, and when things don't go well, some people will leave, and some people will stay. I hope that the story of Taiwan's northern drift can have more appearances; I hope we will not just be a propaganda story, or a "on the other side for money" scrutiny.

This is the reason why I wrote the story of a "no-show" Taiwanese northern drift.

(Guo Xuejun/Taipei girl looks at the mainland)