You’ve got questions? She’s got answers.

（But you probably won’t like them.）

Dear Ayi， how do I get to know my neighbors better？ It feels like everyone in my hutong courtyard minds their own business and I haven’t connected with any of my 鄰居"（línjū， neighbors）.

Hesitant Hutonger

Whatever happened to saying “hi” and introducing yourself？ On the internet， you 年輕人"（niánqīngrén， young people） are all so 活躍"（huóyuè， active）， 跟猴兒似的"（gēn hóur shìde， like monkeys）. How can you be so （尸從） （sóng， lame） in real life？ 學學"（xuéxue， learn from） the girl in my hutong courtyard. She knocked on my door as soon as she moved in， with some 花生油"（huāshēngyóu， peanut oil） and 堅果"（jiānguǒ， nuts） as gifts. It turns out they were free 年貨"（niánhuò， goods for new year） from her 單位"（dānwèi， employer）， but it was a nice gesture all the same. Later when our courtyard 被封了"（bèi fēng le， was locked down） during the 疫情"（yìqíng， pandemic）， I brought her some dumplings. 一來二去"（yìlái èrqù， gradually）， we became 忘年交"（wàngniánjiāo， intergenerational friends）. Now she accompanies me to square dancing， and I give advice on her 感情問題"（gǎnqíng wèntí， relationship problems）. 總之"（zǒngzhī， In short）， don’t sulk on your couch， just get up and 走動走動"（zǒudòng zǒudòng， move around）！ Better yet， forget about your stuck-up 小資"（xiǎozī， bougie） neighbors. Talk to the 老人家"（lǎorenjia， seniors） who actually belong there instead！

Dear Ayi， recently I’ve been so busy working， I barely have time to think. How can I obtain a better work-life balance？

Wistful Berry

Young people today are so 貪心"（tānxīn， greedy）！ You want your work-life balance， yet you also insist on your 獨立"（dúlì，"independence）， 野心"（yěxīn， ambition）， and 激情"（jīqíng， passion）. At the same time you want to get rich， while enjoying 社會公正"（shèhuì gōngzhèng， social justice） and 心理健康"（xīnlǐ jiànkāng， mental health）！ You know what？ You’re too privileged！ Back in my day， I worked day and night so I could 養(yǎng)家糊口"（yǎngjiā húkǒu， raise a family）. You think my life is less 值得"（zhídé， worth living）？

You think your lives are卷"（juǎn， competitive）？ Try being a 草根"（cǎogēn， grassroots） revolutionary fighting the 資本主義"（zīběn zhǔyì， capitalist） system like we did back in my day！ Now that’s a 全職工作"（quánzhí gōngzuò， full-time job）， and you can forget about work-life balance.