Literati Labor: Life Among the Working-Class Writers of Picun

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In his new book, writer and former journalist Yuan Ling recounts his immersion into the culture and conversations of a vibrant literary community for migrant workers in Beijing. Editor’s note: “My Brothers and Sisters in Picun” is a new book about a community of young working-class people with literary aspirations in Picun, an urban village in Beijing’s Chaoyang District. In simple and understated prose, it conveys their commitment to pursuing romantic literary dreams in the face of challenging circumstances. The author, Yuan Ling, is a renowned writer and investigative journalist from the northwestern Shaanxi province, as well as a volunteer at the Picun Literature House. Over seven years, he spent several periods living in Picun, where he met more than a dozen residents at different stages of their journey from migrant worker to writer. Following is an excerpt from his book. On Feb. 2, 2023, three days before the Lantern Festival, I put a long-held plan into action and rented ………………………………