Meet Your Vendor
I was born in Zhejiang province in China. When I was four years old, my family moved to another village. We were advised to relocate because of flooding and irrigation work. My mum and dad were rice farmers. I had a younger sister and a younger brother. We were poor, so we didn’t go to school – I learned from my parents.
We didn’t have very good health, things were really tough. My mother died in her fifties, my father died at 74. We had a very simple diet, just barely putting food on the table. There’s definitely a higher standard of living here in Australia. It’s better now.
I can’t remember much from my childhood. But I do have a memory of being by a river and climbing over rocks and catching crabs and prawns and barbecuing them afterwards. It was very, very delicious.
I worked on the farm from the age of 16 or 17. Sometimes, we’d gather up soybeans and we’d go to a place where they made tofu, and they’d make it into a little snack with a dressing: soy sauce, chilli oil, sesame oil. That was a fond memory.
I married at 18 and had my first child at 19. I had three children in three years. But my husband died when he was 35 – I was 22. My youngest son drowned when he was very young. It was very difficult.
My daughter was working in Shanghai when she met an Australian, her husband: he was teaching English. They came to Australia around 2000 because he had heart problems and had to have surgery. I came back and forth to visit, and 10 years ago I migrated to Australia. I live with my daughter and her two children. My son-in-law died a few years ago. My son is still in China – he has one child.
Farming was very difficult work physically – but it’s also difficult selling magazines here in Canberra, especially when it’s cold. I’m 70 now, and I had gastrointestinal surgery recently, so my health is not what it used to be. I enjoy gardening, and I like to watch TV and take it easy.
I’ve been selling The Big Issue for seven years, and I’ll retire once I can get the pension. The money helps with my food and bills, general expenses. I try and make a connection with customers, and I have regulars who say hello. I was in The Big Issue Calendar in 2023. It was great. People have come up to me and said: “How come you’re not in the calendar this year?” Some people will give me a hug or a tip. I enjoy these positive exchanges.
Wen sells The Big Issue at Westfield Woden, Corinna St, Canberra
Interview by Amy Hetherington
Photo by Long Nguyen
Published in ed#740