The "Maintenance Teacher" Of "Happy Shoes"

At 8 a.m. every day, Cai Houdao, 85 years old old cobbler, appeared in his post in rain or shine. The booth at the junction of Youyi Road, Longhai, was placed on an old shoe repair machine and began a day's work. Yesterday, in his conversation with CAI, he told the writer with a smile that he had been working for 40 years as a "maintenance teacher" for his life.

At the age of 45, Cai Hao Dao, who had no fixed occupation, went to a family. leather shoes Shop for teachers, learn how to make leather shoes by hand. Three years later, because of the shortage of funds, there was no money to open the shop. In order to live, he made up 30 yuan to buy an old shoe repair machine to a Zhejiang man and began to mend his shoes.

An old style Shoe repair machine A three inch shoe drill. Cai Hou Dao wears a pair of presbyopic glasses. He is bent on his body. He does business around 8 every day until he gets home from work at 5 p.m. "People in stone yards and lanes know almost master CAI. He often supplies shoes and buttons for some difficult elderly people." Next to a woman who sells apples.

Cai Houdao has been honest for 40 years. He has never been a jerk. He has never cut corners. He has served a customer with a good skill and a sincere heart. "Two years ago, I asked Mr. Cai to fill these shoes. It's not bad yet. It's called a sturdy one, because it's out of fashion, and I don't want to wear it." One is in progress. Mending shoes The middle-aged man said. Cai Houdao never greedy for petty gain. Once, he found that he found a customer less than one yuan. He got up and chased over 50 meters and gave the money back to others.

In Shima Town, Longhai, there are few shoe repair stands. Speaking of shoe repair, Cai said that this is an old business in all dynasties, and people need it, but now it is declining. "In the 80s of last century, people often saw the cobbler carrying the burden on the street and calling for shoes." nowadays, fewer and fewer people are engaged in this business.

The income of shoe repair is not high. Apart from making up shoes, Cai Houdao also made a variety of businesses such as staple buttons and zippers. He can earn only one thousand or two thousand yuan a month. "It may be more liberal than working in a factory, but it's not very profitable." He said that no one is willing to do this job among young people nowadays. In the 90s of last century, two young people asked Cai master to teach their skills, and he taught them their skills without reservation. After two years of working, they decided to change their wives in order to marry their wives.

"Many people advised me to take a rest when I was so old. But the mass life can not be separated from this business, I always give up. Cai Houdao said he had a strong body, flexible hands and feet, and he could still work. He wanted to eat by his craft. "This is a comfortable life. If I can do it, I will do it. "