More and more young people are becoming “shared children,” keeping elderly people who live alone company. Some do it for free, while others charge by the hour.
Teacher, Grandma Wang downstairs lives alone. I often go to her place to chat with her. She teaches me to speak Shanghainese, and the dishes she makes are delicious too.
That’s wonderful! What you’re doing is what many people nowadays call being a “shared child.”
A shared child? But I’m not her daughter.
It refers to young people who, although they aren’t related to the elderly, keep them company like their own children would. Some don’t charge, while others charge between 30 and 100 yuan an hour.
No wonder! Yesterday Grandma Wang said she would give me 50 yuan each time from now on. I told her I didn’t want it, but she insisted.
She may feel embarrassed. You have things to do too, and she doesn’t want you to spend your time on her for nothing.
But if I accept the money, we won’t seem like friends anymore.
Then try another approach. Grandma Wang can speak Shanghainese, right? Ask her to teach you for half an hour each time. That way, neither of you will feel indebted to the other.
That’s a great idea! I’ll go talk to her tomorrow and ask her to be my Shanghainese teacher. She’ll definitely be happy to hear that.
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