Maple’s Special – 26
Well, though I always heard that China is a great place for business, I don’t really know how big its potential for making money is. I only know that the manpower here is cheap, the “made in china” logo always stands for not durable and the people here are cunning. That is all my ideas about China business.
But when I am landed in China, I witnessed the buzz about China’s great market.
I must really say China is really a great trading place.
For example, a girl handbag, in Bugis, it is usually sold for SGD $28, yet in China the same bag costs only 28 RMB. It’s the same number, but the currency is 5times difference! In between, a profit of SGD $20 is earned by the retailers. And let’s think, if a SGD$28 is acceptable for people, what if a bag of original pricing SGD $6? Won’t the customers fight for it?
Besides handbag, there’re still lots other stuff can be imported for sales transaction, including girls’ accessories, clothes, household products, carpet and more. Besides such complete product, China food and drinks can be another food opportunity. There’re lots nice foods here and hence it’s considerable to open shops in Singapore or Malaysia, just like how the chain company is doing.
So, if you’re a businessman looking for a place to trade in cheap goods, China is really a great place to go. As long as you are able to bargain with the local, a good price is definitely waiting for you. But the low quality may hold you back from trading there. However, think it at different perspective. Although the qualities cannot last for too long, its low price is still at a great advantage. Especially at this economy downturn period, more people will go for cheap goods instead of thinking its durability.
However, there’s one thing to take note. The climates in China and Singapore are totally dissimilar. And the climates are influential on their clothes design style and also their foods. So before blinded by the delicious of food and the cheap price, businessman should think of its possibility to be implemented in Singapore.
China, a great place of making money, if you know how.
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Maple’s Special -22
On the way reaching to the peak of mountain, actually there’s a question kept harassing me. I wonder how the ancient people managed to launch all the building there. How they move those heavy rocks or bricks to build the temple which is 1600m above sea level, without aids of technology?
Don’t you have the same inquiry with me?
It’s really hard to believe that they only make use of man force, without any help of modern machine.
Let’s flash this back to the past, the moment when the commoner began their hard work. The buildup is all ordered by emperor. No matter how tough the project was, the commoners still obediently and loyally abided the emperor’s order. No matter how many people died for the sake of the project, the rest still carried on the project.
I guess the emperor that time was really authoritative and commanding. Due to his autocratic ruling system, no matter how tough the work is, nobody dares to rebel.
Compare to the past, the ruling system nowadays portrays a big contrast.
There is no more emperor autocratic system, but a democratic political system. There is no more emperor, no more bias, but equality. Everybody is equal, has the equal right. And every resident is free to elect the representatives who they feel they can entrust on. And every resident has the chance to be leader to play a part in developing the country.
Nowadays, we dare to speak up our mind. There’s no more restriction as we have the freedom to express our opinion. If we’re not satisfied with the system implemented, we can complain. But in the past, the commoner don’t have the chance. If they do not comply with the order of emperor, they will get killed. That’s why they don’t dare to speak their mind up; they can only silently tolerate the order.
I feel a sense of lucky when I think of this. Feel fortunate for being borne in this new era, have the freedom to do everything that I want. Do not need to bury our mind deep in heart, do not need to tolerate the injustice.
Do you think so?
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Maple's Special – 21
It’s kind of unbelievable for us to be able to conquer Wudang Mountain right?
Personally, I also think it is incredible.
Not because I don’t believe others’ ability, rather I don’t believe myself. In fact, my stamina is not well-trained after I quit Tae Won Do years ago. And according to the tour guide, it is really tough to climb the mountain. Though when I am asked if I have the confidence to reach peak, I said yes, but deep in my heart, self-doubt.
I guess the main factor to let all of us to climb up is only one, the unity.
We, 17 people, are a team. We move as a team, we stop as a team. All thanks to the unity we have, we all can buck up whenever we think of giving up. Whenever there’s someone tired, we will stop to let her/him rest. Whenever there’s someone left behind, we will wait for them to catch up. Know why? Cause we’re a team and we’re united.
When we’re climbing up, there’re actually times when I wish to give up. I really felt that I cannot make it anymore. My body, my leg, my stomach can’t stand it anymore. I was about to give up. I was about to collapse.
But when I looked at my teammate, who was even more exhausted than me, who encouraged me, I know I have to buck up. From their eyes, I can gain the energy needed. I can see their urge for all of us to reach the peak. And If I give up half way, instead of myself only, I will bring the whole group down. I don’t want to drag them, and so I stand up again, continue climbing, till the top.
From this, I strongly feel that, unity is a drive, helps to push you and exploit yourself to maximum.
I guess if I am climbing alone, I will definitely give up half way.
Thanks my group, you drive me up.
One chopstick is easy to break, but a buddle of chopsticks is hard to break. This is the power of unity.
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When we are travelling in Wudang Mountain, there’re a few kids selling handmade souvenirs to us. None of us have bought it, but I guess all of us have the same feeling, pity.
Don’t know why, when adults are selling stuff, we could reject them very directly. But when comes to kids, we could hardly say NO. Even after we say no, we will feel a bit guilty to them. Maybe because we, the one who’re elder than them, are still studying using parents’ money, but them, younger than us, have to give up studies and strive for money.
Feel kind of useless whenever I saw them. And tend to have self reflection after that.
I will start to ask myself what I have done at his age, what I am doing now, at the age of 19. For the past 18 years, I have been relying on my parents, regardless of what. Financially, mentally, physically, there’s nothing that is really done by myself, all are done under the cover of parents.
At the age of 10, their age, I was still happily jumping around the school, making new friends. So blissful yet will still complain for doing homework. In my young context, playing is what life supposed to mean. But now, when I flashed back my past and compare to the kid here, I am too blissful. They don’t even have a chance to be educated, yet I detested doing homework when I was young.
Such a big contrast right?
When Singapore kids are complaining for their heavy school bags, the kids here are selling stuff. They don’t get a chance to be educated, particularly those rural areas one, although they are very desired to.
Though the kid has no chance for education, he has another earlier skill development, making money. At the age of 10, he already knows how to deal with customer and how to sell things around. Don’t you think that he is capable, just like a small boss? Even though I am 19 now, I have never been a boss before. Perhaps this is what life has taught them.
Lose the chance to study, gain the chance to make money earlier.
I guess this is the common life which the poor kids are leading.
Be appreciative, for you to have books to study.
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