Take, for example, my friend from a neighbouring country. He was working in a construction company, holding a fairly high post and earning good salary when he was retrenched. Today, he is a hawker.

• 笔者认识一位邻国的友人，原本任建筑公司的中层管理，收入不菲，但在情况困难下也难逃裁员的厄运，后来获悉他竟然当了小贩。