The foreman came out with a whip, as if herding cattle, and chalked a number on our backs, one by one. That number showed that we were taken on.

• 工头拿着皮鞭从大门出来，像轰牲口一样轰人，一个挨一个地用粉笔在人们背上写上号码，这个号码就是上工的证明。