Chapter 4: The Sufferings of the Common People
During his journey, Lao Can saw the sufferings of countless common people. They lived in poverty and hardship, yet no one paid attention to them. This situation made Lao Can feel heartache.
Many farmers lost their harvests due to natural disasters. The famine compelled them to sell their children and even sell themselves into slavery. Lao Can felt immense sorrow upon seeing these scenes.
Some handicraftsmen also faced dilemmas. The influx of foreign goods caused local handicraftsmen to lose their markets, and many became unemployed as a result. Unable to find work, they could only rely on meager savings to barely maintain their livelihoods.
The impoverished people in cities were even more miserable. They had no land and no skills, and could only do the most lowly work. Even so, their income could barely sustain their basic needs, and their lives were exceptionally difficult.
Lao Can recorded all these situations. He hoped that through these records, later generations would understand the hardships of that era, and also hoped to arouse some people's attention and promote change.