A few days ago, I shared
an article titled "Dedication-found!" about my mother's illiterate
situation and my experiences from school. This reminds me of an old memory I
wrote at the end of May, which echoed this dedication. I posted
it here as a way to provide some relevant information to the article.
被子套組 ( A Comforter Set )
May 24, 2026
1. 沃爾瑪的傳奇
今天梅蘭去沃爾瑪購買一些生活必需品和貓用品，卻無意間走進了清貨區的那一條走道。她只是走馬看花，但也許心中仍偶爾期待著驚豔的時刻——例如碰上價廉物美且實用的物品。清倉區的物品經常打個五折、七五折。這些商品基本上是因為換季處理庫存、顧客退貨、略有瑕疵，或是為了減少佔用空間而必須快速清理。她發現今天的清倉架上東西並不多，大概時機不好，通貨膨脹正愈演愈烈，想必有很多人也在清倉道上走走看看，買些即使不是急需、但存著總有用得著的物品。
以梅蘭目前的經濟狀況，早就不必是逛清倉道的人選了。但今天，她怎麼會不由自主地走到這一區呢？
這或許是源於童年時埋下的潛意識吧? 從小，梅蘭根本不知道向父母開口要必需品是什麼感覺。相反地，小時候三哥還常跟她借點錢。那些小錢，是她包糖果、敲舊磚塊上的水泥、中秋節販售賞月用的紙板等各種小雜工，一點一滴儲蓄積攢起來的。她從不曾有過寒暑假，從小學開始，假期到了, 她必定奉命, 到Teruko姐在戲院旁賣冷熱食的攤位幫忙。此外，只要有小童工能做的事她都做，例如到蜜斯佛陀（Max Factor）化妝品台灣廠, 清理化妝品的瓶瓶罐罐、做壓製粉餅等代工作業，以此賺取一些零碎的微薄收入。而比梅蘭大幾歲的一位哥哥，卻是個從小逢人就借錢、伸手要錢的人。梅蘭大學畢業後，在一個家庭與社會動盪不安的時局下，她成為了一名軍官。此後，為了給每日擔心兒子的母親阿玉解憂消煩，她用在兄弟身上的錢，就再也不是小數目了——哪怕軍人的待遇，其實也僅能維持份內的本分生活。
站在沃爾瑪的貨架前，梅蘭又想起讀小學時，有些同學會買參考書來複習功課。那時的她，非常羨慕有參考書的同學。參考書裡把每一課編輯得有條有理、有深層解釋，更重要的是，課後都附有各式各樣的練習題與模擬題，並且附帶答案與詳細解析。梅蘭小學時最喜歡的書，除了必要的教科書外，就是參考書了。但教科書是義務教育的必須，參考書卻不是那麼一回事。
小時候的梅蘭總想，大概只有某部份家境好的同學，才配擁有參考書吧。那時她對參考書的渴望，簡直到了無以復加的地步。因為身為班長，她的成績一定要名列前茅。可是她極少對父母提到學校的事，更遑論要求買參考書了。就算提了，不識字的父母親也聽不懂那是要做什麼用的。
梅蘭最好的解決辦法，就是溜去同學張馥有的家。張家是做批發雜貨生意的，梅蘭不曉得馥有的參考書是自己要求的，還是父母主動買的；總之，光是「擁有參考書」這件事，在梅蘭眼中，馥有的地位與身分就已相當了得。不過同學們也知道，梅蘭會讀書、考試成績好、又當班長，哪怕沒有參考書，她的這層身分在班上非等閒之輩。
因此，每當有空，梅蘭總會跑去馥有家，藉口說要一起寫家庭作業，馥有自然也樂此不疲。兩人一起寫作業時，梅蘭總是寫得快。她一面陪著、幫著馥有繼續寫，一面快速翻看她的參考書，將裡頭精要的內容死記在腦海中，或簡要地抄在自己的紙張上。等到馥有寫完作業，梅蘭大概也把該記、該背的內容準備就緒，這才帶回家複習。如此不斷重複，便形成了梅蘭與馥有之間，一種特有的、微妙的互動關係。
2. 對酒當歌，人生幾何?
現在的梅蘭已經從教育崗位上退休了。她小心翼翼存下來的錢全部加起來，每個月的可支配所得可謂游刃有餘。
然而，每當手機群組與社交媒體上，鋪天蓋地分享著養老、養生與健康知識，甚至高談著「生命苦短，採得百花成蜜後，為誰辛苦為誰忙」之類的感嘆時，梅蘭總陷入沉思。的確，辛辛苦苦一輩子，道理上都說該好好享受晚年，該吃就吃、該玩就玩，不必捨不得。但對梅蘭而言，知易行難啊！從小養成的謹小慎微與刻苦耐勞，早已刻進骨子裡，錢總是要適度地用在刀口上。
想起以前剛出社會，那時台灣的工作相當不穩定，存錢的機率微乎其微，遑論奢言花錢？除了後來在國內擔任軍官這份穩定的工作外 (也當過補習班英文教師, 國會助理, 研究員, 也跑過新聞, 不過這些工作都不超過兩年或三年). 她幸運地在國外找到了教書的機會。可那是一份「拼命三娘」式的工作。她不是用台語或國語教學，而是全英語應戰；更讓人提心吊膽的，是這個被制度與福利「驕縱」出來的大米帝國學生。那教學現場的挑戰，當真是「別有天地非人間」。
更棘手的是，她教的不是數學、物理或電腦那些「聲光化電」的硬科學——能用數字與方程式將教材解釋得乾淨俐落；她教的是社會科學，那可真是一個「剪不斷，理還亂」的蠻荒腦洞世界。學生的家庭背景、宗教信仰、經濟狀況天差地別，說得好聽是「多元文化齊聚一堂」，說得難聽點，簡直就是龍蛇雜處。後者，是梅蘭在兩年制科技學院教書時的寫照；而前者，則是在四年制普通大學的常態。
社會學科從來就不是「1+1=2」那般黑白分明，而是從古至今不同學派、理論與意識形態混合而成的龐大百家爭鳴混沌領域。而大米帝國又是西方已開發國家中，宗教信仰人口比例最高的國家之一。課堂教學內容若與政治、宗教無關，往往如沐春風、賓主盡歡；但一旦扯上敏感關係，梅蘭就像是逼著自己在緊繃的毛絨絲線上跳舞，稍有不慎便萬劫不復。
梅蘭就是靠著那十幾年賣命的工作，才積攢下一筆退休金。這份工作得來不易，是她四十多歲時，在與三百多位白人求職者的激烈競爭中，經歷甄試失敗、隔年捲土重來才掙得的。她深知自己任教的年限不會太長，能享受的教書福利保障也極其有限。加上當時她仍是個「老學生」，獨行於漫漫長夜的求學旅途，若沒了工作、沒法存錢，怎能把學業完成？因此，她必須死命拼命地好好教書，強迫自己 “勇敢” 存錢。
在這個靠消費主義支撐繁榮的大米帝國，一般家庭的儲蓄率在過去曾高達8%，如今普遍僅剩3.6%。也就是說，一般米國家庭有50%的收入用於衣食住行、保險水電等剛性需求；30%用於娛樂、旅遊等慾望滿足；僅剩20%用於還債、房車貸、退休儲備與儲蓄。想想看，這20%分攤下來，真正能存下的額度能有多少？根據最近聯邦準備理事會（Federal Reserve）的資料，米國家庭的整體流動儲蓄（含支票、儲蓄及貨幣市場帳戶）中位數僅約8,000美元（折合台幣約24萬元）。這就是人們口中「富裕國家」的一般家庭財務實況。
相較之下，梅蘭這種強迫式的儲蓄行為（她從來不懂、也沒時間妄想投資一事），如果被同事知道，一定會覺得她瘋了。在這個注重物質享有、處處以消費掛帥的資本主義世界，「存錢」一詞聽起來多麼迂腐，甚至令人費解。
3. 言歸正傳 - 被子套組
但梅蘭就是強迫自己，在各種可能的存儲渠道裡，投入相當的份額。這可以說是「老兔深挖了幾個窟」，不斷把安全感往窟窿裡推送。那十幾年的教書生涯裡，她橫了心只做這幾件事：教書、納稅、儲蓄, 匯款回家 (也算是包括還回從臺灣帶出來的那份獎學金的紅利), 堅持百忍耐完成學業！話說如此, 有些該樂捐的款項, 與設置獎學金, 是不能落人後的.
回到前言，這過去的點點滴滴，似乎可以解釋為什麼今天去沃爾瑪購物時，她會無意間走到清倉區去...?
言歸正傳，那麼梅蘭今天在清倉道裡，究竟發生了什麼事，才讓她記錄下這天的心緒？
事情是這樣的。梅蘭走在空蕩的走道裡，一眼便瞅見最盡頭的上層架上，擺著兩套相當好看的粉紅色碎花袋裝被子組，形態約有一個中型手提旅行箱那麼大。梅蘭的眼光自然地飄向價格標籤——20美金。
「這不太可能吧？是不是有缺陷的退貨品？」梅蘭心想。她仔細看了一下外包裝的說明，心裡盤算著：這種被子組一般是三件或五件式，包括被子和一套完整的床單組。但在這說明書上方，竟赫然打著一個大紅色的數字「11」。
11是什麼？她定睛細看，哇，這竟然是一套「11件套裝被子組」——包括棉被、裝飾枕頭套、床裙、兩個枕頭套、以及六件式的床單組！這也太誇張了吧？
想想十多年前，她也是在同樣大折扣時買了一套三件式被子組，如今早已褪色、周邊脫線，的確太老舊了。可她就是捨不得換，何況自己總自命清高（或自圓其說）地奉行節能減碳、減少廢棄物的環保主義者，絕不能輕易被物慾鼓動或蒙蔽。不巧的是，最近在臉書上看到有人列出家庭用品的汰換時間表，上面寫著床具每3到5年就該換一套。梅蘭向來不信這些消費主義者「體貼的金言良語」，不過，20美金能買到11件組，簡直不可思議。哪怕真有殘缺，總有一兩件可用吧，那也值回票價了！
想想現在通膨如此嚴重，能用20元買到這麼大一包組合，她自我說服地想：「這不應叫做貪婪的物質主義者，或者是貪小便宜的濫購者吧! 這是運氣好碰上的。」這麼一想，梅蘭伸手把貨架上的一組抱了下來，沉甸甸的，幾乎佔滿了購物車大半的空間。
回到家安頓好物品，她回到房間端詳這大包被子組。梅蘭不指望真有11件，起碼外面這層看得見的厚被子就值20元了。包裹得如此紮實整齊，被子本身應該沒問題。接著，梅蘭拆掉了外面包裹緊實、設計優雅的大提袋，拉出摺疊成方塊的被子。然而，乍看之下，好像除了被子外什麼也沒看到。
心想算了吧，起碼這床棉被也夠本了。結果當她一展開被子，裡頭竟驀然現出壓縮摺疊得整整齊齊的布件——這大概就是剩餘的十件了。
梅蘭心裡開始在琢磨：「為什麼能賣得如此便宜？小心便宜沒好貨。」這時，腦海中自然而然地浮現出「中國製造（Made in China）」的字樣。
果然不出所料。心想，這個中美關稅壁壘戰還沒打完呢，這個價格，根本連運費都不夠吧？
突然間，一陣酸楚湧上心頭。
梅蘭想起上一次，她買到一隻非常精緻的不鏽鋼大湯匙，說明書上還印著義大利文、法文、英文等各國文字。這要是放在高端百貨裡，至少可以掛上五、六塊，甚至十塊美金以上的標籤，而梅蘭只花了兩塊錢。後來仔細看標籤，果然又是中國製造。那時，她心頭的難過就加了一層。
她驀地想起讀小學時的某個暑假，她每天帶著大妹，走上一個多小時，到一家專門為外國品牌代工製造手提包、旅行袋的工廠打工。從清晨到下午放工，領的是童工薪資，一天的工資折合台幣不到幾塊錢（換算下來甚至不到一美元）。
雖然只是區區幾塊小錢，但那時的心情卻是暖呼呼的——有錢賺、有收入，哪怕是兩塊、三塊、五塊這種芝麻綠豆大的微薄薪水，對當時的她而言，都是了不得的大事啊。
4. 跨國資本的巨輪- MIT 與 MIC 的交替
那時正值台灣經濟起飛的階段，是一個以輕工業與加工代工為主旋律、出口導向型經濟體制的時代。
梅蘭的秋子姐，從小學畢業後，便不得不加入了當時機聲隆隆的紡織工業。她在工廠裡從童工做到長工，一路拼命到了二十六歲。以當年的社會風氣，這年紀已快被貼上「剩女」的標籤，於是她不得不接受命運的安排，找個人嫁了，這才終止了工廠的勞動。然而，這不過是讓她走入另一個打著「婚姻牌照」的終身長工廠罷了……。
那時，無數台灣底層的老百姓，就這樣被動地捲入了所謂「第二波全球化浪潮」。這種出口導向的國際貿易，雖然讓台灣逐漸躍升為「亞洲四小龍」之一，使經濟成長成為台灣生存的重要命脈，卻也意味著無數標註著「MIT（台灣製造）」的廉價貨品，開始充斥於米國的各大商場。
緊接著，季辛吉與尼克森的「乒乓外交」開啟了新局，中國的改革開放政策更是點燃了一發不可收拾的經濟火苗。台資、港資，尤其是台灣的跨國貿易人才、經驗與技術大量湧入中國；隨後克林頓政權更推波助瀾，將其引入世界貿易組織（WTO）。至此，這座世界級巨型工廠的巨輪，開始轟隆隆地瘋狂轉動。
「MIC（中國製造）」終究取代了「MIT」。這使得米國最大零售巨頭沃爾瑪（Walmart）的商業金科玉律——「Buy more, pay less（多買少付）」——數十年來屹立不搖。
然而，究竟是什麼樣的底層代價，在背後默默支撐著這條金科玉律？
天下之事，有利者必有其弊。在全球化浪潮方興未艾之際，各國的研究者與觀察家便已提出不同的警示與批判。他們針對「全球化進程」所帶來的負面影響與風險，進行了理論、實踐與社會層面的深刻反思。
這場反全球化運動核心的觀點指出：跨國資本主義在國內與國際間創造了嚴重的工資不平等；外包經濟導致了母國產業的空洞化；資本在國際間肆無忌憚地流竄，深刻動搖了全球政經體系。此外，再生能源的大量消耗與隨之而來的碳排放、生態環境的毀滅性破壞、全球化對本土文化的強烈衝擊、對人才培育過度追求效率化、以及各國失業率的激增，皆在世界各地引發了不同程度的動盪。
跨國資本主義主導的經濟體系持續發生巨變，對各國的政治、經濟與社會產生了深遠的結構性影響。儘管全球化宣稱能提高人類的生活水準與促進經濟發展，但現有的研究資料與嚴厲批評皆深刻表明：人類為此付出的有形與無形代價，遠遠超出了全球化表面上所帶來的可見產能。
5. 悠悠我心
台灣與中國這兩國，一個MIT，一個MIC，兩代工廠皆源源不斷地為世界（特別是大米帝國）提供著物美價廉的物資。她們榨乾了自己的血汗 ( 當然了，參與這個全球化產業鏈的，不只是臺灣與中共兩國的工薪階級 )，減低了米國通貨膨脹的壓力，好讓大洋彼岸的米國人能繼續維持「多買少付」的消費主義生活方式，持續刺激著全球化資本主義的畸形繁榮。
回首當年，台灣在兩蔣時代長期處於戒嚴狀況，軍事開銷佔國內生產毛額（GDP）的比例，有高達30%至50%之說。甚至有更誇張的說法指出，台灣全年的財政收入根本不足以支持五十萬大軍，必須仰賴美援以及各國借款來挖肉補瘡、艱難支撐。
在這種拆東牆補西牆的行徑下，台灣的教育經費自然年年達不到憲法規定的比例。當時全台的大學寥寥可數，每年無數莘莘學子擠破了頭，只希望能擠上大學的窄門。在每年七月的酷暑考季裡，有多少應試者肩上扛著祖宗三代的沉重壓力與期待？那些無法通過嚴苛瓶頸的靈魂，無語問蒼天, 無望地走上輕生之途。
與此同時，那些有權有勢、或者稍微有些經濟能力，能夠負擔得起大米帝國的資本主義教育高昂籌碼的家庭，莫不將子女送往國外就讀，而他們的終極目標，絕大多數劍指「大米帝國」。
然而，底層的人呢？
梅蘭記得，那時阿公阿嬤生病，家裡哪有機會和錢去看醫生？在梅蘭懂事以來的記憶中，母親阿玉三不五時就會將生薑搗碎，抹在布條上，緊緊地在额頭前後綁成一圈，試圖以此減輕她那長年如影隨形的劇烈頭痛。母親總說，那是當年在躲避空襲時，為了保護孩子，不慎被飛竄的石塊砸到頭部所留下的致命後遺症。
而秋子姐，這家裡最大顆的「油麻菜籽」，在紡織工廠當了二十年的工人。在早期那種職場安全衛生與健康條件幾乎為零的惡劣環境下，她的肺部終究被棉絮與粉塵徹底侵蝕。年輕時，秋子姐的肺部就經常不適，不時劇烈咳嗽，偶爾甚至會咳出血來。她多麼想看醫生，可是家裡有誰能有那天大的本事與能耐，帶姐姐去一趟醫院？
母親阿玉無計可施，只能用各種偏方來自家治療。梅蘭一輩子記得最清楚的一道偏方，就是母親用酸菜煮豬血，端給大姐秋子，試圖壓下那不斷湧上喉頭的病痛與血腥味。
（秋子姐, 這大時代下的油麻菜籽，在二〇一六年因肺癌過世，走完了她辛勞的一生。）
6. 是誰頂著大邊天 : 滿山滿野的的韭菜順民人礦…
那時，梅蘭的三姐考上了台北醫學院，家裡卻根本沒有錢供她去讀。甚至有長輩在旁嘲諷譏笑：「女孩子讀什麼書？」三姐無可奈何，只得選擇去讀免學費的國防醫學院。
後來梅蘭大學畢業了。那時的國際局勢在中共、台灣與美國這三方的棋盤上，正陷入一片混亂。父母年紀愈發老邁，體弱多病，而家裡大大小小，沒有人有能力承擔得起任何一張隨時可能壓垮家庭的醫院帳單。梅蘭看著自己手上那紙學士學位，深感所學的東西是那麼不著邊際，足足可以讓她成為「家裡蹲系」的高材生。
在諸多現實與無奈的因緣際會下，軍營中，從此多了一個梅蘭。
但也正因為她成為了軍官，加上三姐獲得的福利, 父母親看病可免費，家庭的重擔總算有了一絲喘息的空間。（那時的梅蘭也萬萬沒有想到，在一九九五年台灣實施全民健保之後，不但沒有如其他國家以及世界重要衛生組織所預料的那樣——遲早會因財政崩潰而夭折，反而還蟬聯數年國際醫保品質的第一名。）
時代的齒輪繼續無情地往前推進。那時候，沒有人知道這波全球化的浪潮究竟會把台灣帶向何方。一般的市井小民但求溫飽與生存，哪裡會預料到，這個全球化大巨輪在數十年後，竟然會轟隆隆地開創出當前台灣半導體與AI產業那般光鮮亮麗的科技盛世？
想從前，到如今，那些曾經被時代巨輪無情輾壓過、卻不曾為人所知的家庭，以及個人無數辛酸苦楚的故事，似乎早就如過眼雲煙般消散了。
梅蘭凝視著眼前這一大包標價二十美元、折合台幣大約六百塊錢的十一件套裝被子組。那種熟悉的、平日裡不忍輕易碰觸的悲情，再度油然而生。
這是在二十一世紀，某家美國沃爾瑪的清倉貨架上，擺設的一套因降價再打折而僅售二十美金的巨大被子組。但在這匪夷所思的低價標籤背後，到底隱藏了多少中共國體制下的勞苦大眾，此刻正重複著秋子姐那一代「油麻菜籽」姊妹們，在台灣二十世紀中晚期所經歷過的心酸血淚歷程？
在社交媒體上，三姐與梅蘭對於台灣國內的政治亂象，以及中共國對台的文攻武嚇，經常嚴厲發聲，極力抨擊那些身在台灣、心在中共的移民過客。雖然他們也有屬於他們的時代滄桑與身不由己，但此時此刻的台灣，實在經不起某些刻意政客的危險操作。
梅蘭對中共國極權統治、貪官污吏橫行的批判與嘲諷，可以說是達到了無比尖酸刻薄的程度。不過，她針對的始終是那些統治階級——他們高傲地宣稱「犧牲一兩代人的代價」，用帝王將相們的豐功偉業來妝點所謂的「祖國偉大復興」，急切地希望能與西方先進大國平起平坐，甚至武林稱霸。
這種由極度自卑轉化為過度超越的政治經濟心態，或許在歷史上有跡可循，但那座浩大無比的國家體制巨輪，如今正指向彎道飆車，這一路上被撞死、壓死、踩死的無辜生靈，到底有多少？遠的不說，光是三峽水壩開工以後那無數的孤魂野鬼、流離失所的人群，以及至今尚未得到善後補償的肉體與精神損失者，直到今天，還算得清嗎？
梅蘭看著這包十一件組的被子，深吸了一口氣，心想：「讓政治的歸政治吧！」
哪怕她對中共國的醬缸傳承與極權統治深惡痛絕，但對於那群活在底層、無權無勢且發不出聲音的升斗小民，她只有滿腹的悲憫。這群人為了生存，被迫用肩膀扛起「一將功成萬古枯」的國家大業，讓全世界享用著他們身為「韭菜」與「人礦」這些順民所生產出來的廉價產品。其間的辛勞犧牲與無可言喻的付出，是根本無法用冰冷的GDP數據來衡量的。
這一點，梅蘭是完全感同身受的。
後發國家崛起的血淚歷程——高集權的統治，低人權的『優勢』，加上以毀壞生態平衡為代價，創造出一項又一項所謂的『經濟奇蹟』 。這種金滿山、銀滿山，光鮮耀眼表象背後的普通小老百姓的無言吶喊，到底有誰聽得見呢？這種悲愴的成功路線，為何在歷史上會如此同出一轍？
7. 輾轉無明何時了?
梅蘭心裡懊惱且悲憤地想著。她一邊想，雙手一邊慢慢地、溫柔地將攤開在床上的十一件組合，仔細地一件一件重新折好。她將它們整齊地壓縮成方形，小心翼翼地塞回那個點綴著粉紅淡雅印花布的袋子裡。
她的腦海中，不由自主地想像起那些生產這套商品的畫面：是哪些正值青春的小姑娘與婦女在車位上車車縫縫？是哪些小哥與壯丁在廠房裡織織剪剪？又是哪些大漢開著卡車在漫長公路上來回運轉？是哪些在烈日下種植採棉的植工？又是哪些集中力量辦大事的官僚在其中承上啟下，以及貿易談判桌上那永無止境的殺價、殺價、再殺價……。
然後，大盤商、中盤商與零售商之間層層疊疊的利益瓜葛，最後，這套商品落到了拿著每小時微薄工資的米國沃爾瑪員工手裡。
而梅蘭自己，僅僅花了二十元美金，買到的哪裡只是一份價格根本抵不上運費的十一件大被包？她買下的，分明是那個曾經屬於台灣、而當前卻在中國瘋狂重複著的大時代的悲愴。然後呢? 緊跟著的印度，東南亞，拉丁美洲， 甚至是非洲 - 源源不斷的韭菜順民人礦, 繼續排隊，積極準備進行著新一輪的舊戲重演著 : 一如伊曼紐爾·沃勒斯坦（Immanuel Wallerstein）世界體系理論 (World-system Theory) 的劇本。在這個宏觀的戲碼裡, 經濟擴張與衰退的週期性，以及霸權強權的運作，這些勢力在不同歷史時期, 主導著國際經濟體系的角色…
想到這裡，那曾經在教室裡， 口沫橫飛地與學生討論全球化理論的場景， 歷歷在目， 而今也成了記憶的一個片段.
此刻， 梅蘭小心翼翼地把這十一件組被子安放在床邊，再度仔細端詳。
那瞬間，這套粉紅碎花的被子在她眼裡，就像是一本極其親切熟稔、卻溢滿了悲痛與蒼涼的故事書。
原來，梅蘭買回來的，真的不只是一套被子。而是一波又一波在資本主義與全球化浪潮下，被廉價價格所惡意掩蓋了的 - 無明人生。
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English version:被子套組 ( A Comforter Set )
May 24, 2026
1. The Legend of Walmart
Today, May-lan went to Walmart to buy some daily necessities and cat supplies but accidentally walked into the aisle in the clearance area. She was just skimming through, but perhaps she still occasionally looked forward to moments of amazement—like encountering something affordable, good, and practical. Items in the clearance area are often discounted at 50% or 75% off. These items are basically due to seasonal inventory handling, customer returns, minor defects, or quick cleaning to reduce space usage. She noticed that there wasn't much on the clearance racks today, probably due to the whole unkind economic climate? Inflation was intensifying, and many people were probably walking along the clearance area, buying items that, even if not urgently needed, would still be useful for stockpiling.
Given May-lan's current financial situation, she was no longer a good candidate for strolling along the clearance aisle. But today, how could she involuntarily walk into this area?
Maybe this stems from a subconscious planted in childhood? Since she as a child, May-lan had never known what it felt like to ask her parents for necessities. On the contrary, when she was little, one of her elder brothers often borrowed some amall money from her. That little money was saved bit by bit via small chores, like wrapping candies, hammering cement on old bricks, selling cardboard for moon viewing during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and other odd jobs. She never had winter or summer breaks after school. Since elementary time, she would always be "called" up to help out at sister Teruko's stall selling hot and cold food next to the theater. In addition, she did anything that child labor could do, such as cleaning cosmetic bottles and jars at Max Factor Cosmetics' Taiwan factory and doing contract work for pressing powder foundation for earning a tiny income. But the elder brother mentioned above, was someone who tended to borrow or ask for money. After graduating from university, May-lan became an officer amid family and a national crisis. From then on, to ease her mother's worries, which stemmed from her brothers' financial conditions, the money May-lan spent on them was no longer a small sum—even the salary of a military officer was actually just enough to eke out basic needs.
Now, standing in front of the Walmart shelves, May-lam recalled that when she was in elementary school, some classmates would buy reference books to review their homework. Back then, she really envied classmates who had them. Each lesson in the reference book was neatly edited into a well-organized and in-depth format. More importantly, it includes various exercises and mock exams at the end, along with answers and detailed explanations. Her favorite book in elementary school, besides the necessary textbooks, was the reference book. But textbooks are essential for compulsory education, while reference books are a different story.
As a child, May-lan always thought that maybe only some classmates from well-off families deserved to have reference books. At that time, her desire for reference books was almost overwhelming. As the class leader, she had to maintain her grades to be among the top. But she seldom mentioned school to her parents, let alone asked for reference books. Even if she did mention it, their illiterate parents wouldn't understand what it was for.
May-lan's best solution was to visit her classmate - Zhang Fu-yo's home. The Zhang family ran a wholesale grocery business. May-lan did not know if Fu-yo's reference books were at her request or if her parents just knew how to buy for her. In short, the fact that owning reference books already made Fu-yo with considerable status in May-lan's eyes. But classmates also knew that May-lan was a good student and was the class leader. Even without reference books, May-lan status was no ordinary person in the class.
Therefore, whenever May-lan had free time, she would always go to Fu-yo's house, using the excuse of doing homework together, which made Fu-yo naturally enjoyed it. When the two of them did homework together, May-lan always completed fast. While accompanying and helping Fu-yo continue writing, she quickly flipped through Fu-you reference books, memorizing the essential points in her mind or briefly copying them onto her own paper. By the time Fu-yo finished her homework, May-lan had probably absorbed most materials needed, and only then did she bring it home to review. This repeated process created a unique and subtle interactive relationship between May-lan and Fu-yo.
2. How to render the fleeting life?
May-lan has now retired from her teaching career. She carefully saved money needed so that her monthly disposable income was more than enough.
However, whenever mobile groups and social media are flooded with sharing knowledge about elderly care, wellness, and health, even talking about things like "Life is short, after gathering nectar from a hundred flowers, who do you work hard for and for whom?" May-lan always falls into deep thought. Indeed, after a lifetime of hard work, the principle is to enjoy your later years—eat when you should eat, play when you should, and don't be reluctant to part with it. But for May-lan, knowing is easier than doing it! The cautiousness and hard work developed since childhood are ingrained in her bones; money must always be spent wisely when it matters most.
May-lan recalled when she first entered the workforce, jobs in Taiwan were quite unstable, and the chances of saving money were slim, let alone spending money. Besides her stable job as an officer in Taiwan (she also worked as an English tutor at a cram school, congressional assistant, governmental researcher, and journalist, though these jobs rarely exceeded two or three years), she was fortunate to find teaching opportunities abroad. But, what a job!! She didn't teach in Taiwanese or Mandarin but competed entirely in English. What made her even more anxious was that these students were highly exceptional of this type of educational institution. The challenges at the teaching site truly made it feel like "a world apart from the human world, " absolutely different from what she experienced as a student or instructor in Taiwan.
What's even more challenging is that she did not teach math, physics, or computers — the hard science of “sound, light, chemistry, and electricity”—which could be explained clearly and efficiently using numbers and equations. What she taught were social sciences, which were truly a ‘knowledge jungle’. Students' family backgrounds, religious beliefs, and economic situations varied greatly. To put it nicely, it's 'a gathering of diverse groups,' but to put it bluntly, it's a mix of all kinds of “dragons and snakes”. The latter describes May-lan teaching at a two-year college of technology. The former, on the other hand, is the norm at four-year regular universities.
The field of social science has never been as clear as the black-and-white "1+1=2" system; rather, it is a vast chaos formed by the mixing of different schools, theories, and ideologies from ancient times to the present. Moreover, the “Empire” is one of the most religious countries in the Western developed world. If the teaching content was unrelated to politics or religion, it often felt like a spring breeze, with both instructor and students enjoying themselves. But once it involved a sensitive topic, May-lan was like forcing herself to dance on a taut plush string—one wrong move and she could be doomed.
May-lan had saved up a pension through those years of hard work. This job was hard-earned; she got the full-time teaching position in her forties, after fierce competition with over 300 Caucasian job seekers, failing the first time and then a comeback the following year. She knew well that her teaching tenure would not be very long, and the benefits she could obtain were extremely limited. Moreover, at that time she was still a "veteran student," walking alone through the long nights of her studies. Without a job for saving money, how could she complete her studies? Thus, she had to burn the midnight oil while teaching and force herself to save money.
In this empire fueled by consumerism, the average household savings rate used to be as high as 8%, but now it is generally only 3.6%. In other words, an average household spends 50% of their income on essential needs such as food, clothing, housing, transportation, insurance, utilities, and other essential needs; 30% is used for entertainment, travel, and other desires; Only 20% remains for debt repayment, mortgages, retirement savings, and savings. Think about it: after allocating this 20%, how much can you actually save? According to recent Federal Reserve data, the median overall mobile savings of U.S. households (including checks, savings, and money market accounts) is only about $8,000 (approximately NT$240,000). This is the typical financial reality of a "wealthy country" that people talk about.
In contrast, May-lan's compulsive saving behavior (she never understood or had time to think about investing) was definitely seen crazy if her colleagues found out. In this capitalist world that values material enjoyment and is dominated by consumption, the term "saving money" sounds so pedantic, even puzzling.
3. Back to the main topic – The Comforter Set
But May-lan forced herself to invest a huge share of salary in every possible way. This can be described as "the rabbit digging several holes," continuously pushing a sense of security into the holes. During those more than ten years of teaching, she steeled herself focus on just a few things: teaching, paying taxes, saving money, and completing her degree with perseverance!
This probably echoes the little May-lan from the past—living as a little person whose palm always sits downward, neither knowing nor able to seek help, but living solely caring about others. Especially her mother, Ayu who worries about her sons’ financial difficulties all year round, so May-lan could only financially do the best she could to ease out mother’s anxiety. If she were to write about these stories, it might be far more than the daughter in 'Oil and Vegetable Seeds', right?
Back to the introduction, these past moments seem be able to explain why, when May-lan went shopping at Walmart today, she accidentally walked into the clearance area...?
Back to the main topic: So, what exactly happened today at Walmart that made May-lan record her feelings for this long writing?
Here's what happened. Walking down the empty hallway, May-lan immediately spotted two pretty floral bags of comforter sets on the upper shelf, each about the size of a medium-sized suitcase. May-lan's gaze naturally drifted toward the price tag—$20.
"That's unlikely, right? Is it a defective returned item?" May-lan thought to herself. She carefully examined the instructions on the packaging, calculating in her mind: this kind of duvet set is usually a three- or five-piece set, including a quilt and a complete set of sheets. But above the instruction manual, a bright red number "11" was boldly displayed.
What is 11? She looked closely—wow, it was actually an '11-piece comferter set'—including a quilt, decorative pillowcases, bed skirt, two pillowcases, and a six-piece sheet set! Isn't this just too much?
Thinking back to over ten years ago, she also bought a three-piece duvet set during the same big sale. Now it's long faded and the edges are untangled, it's truly too old. But she just could not bear to replace a new one, especially as an environmentalist who always prides herself on energy conservation, carbon reduction, and waste reduction, and never lets materialistic desires drive or deceive her. Unfortunately, she recently saw someone on Facebook listing a replacement schedule for household items, stating that bedding should be replaced every 3 to 5 years. Maylan has never believed in these consumerists' "thoughtful wise words," but getting an 11-piece set for just $20 is simply unbelievable. Even if there were some flaws, there would be at least one or two usable pieces, and it would be worth the price!
Thinking about how severe inflation is now, and you can buy such a large package for just 20 dollars, she convinced herself: "This shouldn't be called greedy materialism or bargain shopping!" "Just lucky." Thinking this, May-lan reached out and picked up the set from the shelf. It was heavy, almost filling most of the shopping cart's space.
After arranging her things at home, she went back to her room to examine the large comforter set. May-lan didn't expect to have 11 pieces; at least the thick quilt visible outside was worth 20 dollars. With the wrapping so neatly, the blanket itself should be fine. Next, May-lan took off the tightly wrapped and elegantly designed large tote bag and pulled out the comforter folded into a cube. However, at first glance, it seemed like nothing was seen except for the comforter.
She thought to herself, “Forget it, at least this quilt was enough to cover the price”. But when she opened the comforter, inside was suddenly a nicely compressed, neatly folded piece of fabrics, probably the remaining ten pieces.
May-lan began to ponder in her heart: "How can it be sold so cheaply? Be careful, cheap goods never get good quality." At that moment, the words "Made in China" naturally came to mind.
Just as expected. She thought, this China-US tariff barrier battle isn't over yet, and at this price, it's not even enough for shipping.
Suddenly, a wave of bitterness surged in her heart.
May-lan also remembered the last time she bought a very exquisite stainless-steel spoon, with instructions printed in Italian, French, English, and other languages. If this were in a high-end department store, it would be labeled at least five or six dollars, or even ten dollars or more, but May-lan only spent two dollars. Later, she looked closely at the label, and sure enough, it was made in China again. At that moment, the sadness in her heart only deepened.
She suddenly remembered when she was an elementary student. During the summer break, she took her younger sister and walked for over half an hour every day to work at a factory specializing in handbags and travel bags for the foreign brands. From early morning until afternoon, they earned child labor wages. With a daily’s workload, less than a few New Taiwan Dollars were earned (or less than one US dollar).
Although it was just a small amount of money, her mood at the time was warm —having income, even if it was just two, three, or five dollars. Meager payment was a huge deal for her at the time.
4. The giant ship of multinational capital—the alternation between MIT and MIC
At that time, Taiwan was in the midst of its economic takeoff, an era dominated by light industry and OEM manufacturing, and an export-oriented economic system.
May-lan;s sister Akiko had no choice but to join the then-booming textile industry after graduating from elementary school. She worked hard in the factory from child laborer to long-term laborer, working tirelessly until she was twenty-six. Given the social climate of the time, at her age, she was close to being labeled a 'leftover woman,' so she had no choice but to accept fate, find someone to marry, and thus ended her factory work. However, this was merely a step that led her into another lifelong factory under the name of a "marriage license."
At that time, countless ordinary people at the bottom stratum, of Taiwan were passively drawn into the so-called "second wave of globalization." This export-oriented international trade has gradually elevated Taiwan to become one of the "Four Asian Tigers," making economic growth a vital lifeline for Taiwan's survival. It also means countless cheap goods labeled "MIT (Made in Taiwan)" are flooding major shopping malls across the United States.
Immediately after, Kissinger and Nixon's "ping-pong diplomacy" opened a new chapter, and China's reform and opening-up policy ignited an uncontrollable economic flame. Taiwanese and Hong Kong capital, especially Taiwanese international trade talents, expertise, and technology, have flooded into China; Subsequently, the Clinton administration further pushed for its inclusion in the World Trade Organization (WTO). At this point, the giant machine of this world-scale factory began to rumble wildly.
"MIC (Made in China)" has ultimately replaced "MIT." This has kept Walmart's golden business rule—"Buy more, pay less"—standing firm for decades.
But what kind of price is silently supporting this golden rule behind the scenes?
In all matters under heaven, where there is profit, there must be drawbacks. As the wave of globalization is on the rise, researchers and observers from various countries have already issued various warnings and critiques. They have conducted profound theoretical, practical, and societal reflections on the negative impacts and risks brought about by the 'globalization process.'
The core viewpoint of this anti-globalization movement points out that transnational capitalism has created severe wage inequality both domestically and internationally; The outsourcing economy has led to the hollowing out of domestic industries; Capital flows recklessly internationally, profoundly shaking the global political and economic system. In addition, the massive consumption of renewable energy and the resulting carbon emissions, devastating ecological destruction, the strong impact of globalization on local cultures, the excessive pursuit of efficiency in talent cultivation, and surging unemployment rates in various countries have all triggered varying degrees of turmoil around the world.
The economic system dominated by transnational capitalism continues to undergo dramatic changes, exerting profound structural impacts on the politics, economy, and society of various countries. Although globalization claims to improve human living standards and promote economic development, existing research data and harsh criticism profoundly show that the tangible and intangible costs humanity has paid far exceed the visible productivity brought by globalization on the surface.
5. A heart drifts endlessly
Taiwan/ROC and China/PRC—one MIT and one MIC—two generations of factories continuously provide high-quality, affordable materials to the world, especially The Empire. They have drained their own sweat and hardship (of course, the working-class people participating in this globalized industrial chain are not just Taiwan and the Chinese Communist Party), reducing inflationary pressure in the Empire, so that WE-The People across the ocean can continue to maintain a "buy more, pay less" consumerist lifestyle, continuously stimulating the distorted prosperity of globalized capitalism.
Looking back, Taiwan was under martial law for a long time during the Chiang era, with military expenditures accounting for as much as 30% to 50% of GDP. Some even exaggerated claims claim that Taiwan's annual fiscal revenue is simply insufficient to support a 500,000-strong army, and it must rely on U.S. aid and loans from various countries to repair wounds and barely survive.
With this kind of robbing Peter to pay Paul! Taiwan's education funding naturally failed to meet the constitutional threshold year after year. At that time, universities in Taiwan were extremely rare, and every year countless students would scramble to squeeze into the narrow gates of university. During the scorching summer exam season of every July, how many candidates carried the heavy pressure and expectations of three generations on their shoulders? Those souls who could not pass through the harsh bottlenecks, desperately walking toward the path of suicide.
Meanwhile, families with power, or financial means, which could afford the high capitalist educational expenditures, tented to send their children abroad to study, and most of their ultimate goal was the 'Empire.'
But what about those at the bottom?
May-lan remembered that when her grandparents were sick, how could the family have the chance to pay for a doctor? In May-lan’s memories since she was young, her mother Ayu would occasionally crush ginger, spread it on a cloth strip, and tightly tie it around her forehead in a loop, trying to ease the severe headaches that followed her for years. Her mother always said that it was a fatal aftereffect from when she was struck on the head by a flying rock while trying to protect her child while evading air raids.
Sister Akiko, the largest “scattered seed” in the family, had worked in textile factories for over twenty years. In the early days of workplace safety, health, and health conditions were almost minimal, her lungs were eventually affected by cotton and dust particles. When she was young, her lungs often felt uncomfortable, with frequent severe coughing, and occasionally even coughing up blood. She longed to see a doctor, but who in the family was able to bear the medical bills for her to visit hospital?
Mother, Ayu, was helpless and could only use various folk remedies to treat Akiko at home. The remedy May-lan remembered most clearly in her life was her mother boiling pig's blood with pickled vegetables and serving it to the elder sister Akiko, trying to suppress the pain and bloody smell rising in her throat.
(Sister Akiko, passed away from lung cancer in 2016, ending her long and hard-working life).
6. Who is holding the sky: Mountains and fields full of “chive and mineral people”...
At that time, May-lan’s third elder sister had been admitted to Taipei Medical College, but the family simply couldn't afford her studies. Some elders even mocked and ridiculed nearby: "Girls, study, nonsense!" With no other choice, the third sister chose to attend the tuition-free National Defense Medical College.
Later, May-lan graduated from university. At that time, the international situation was in chaos on the chessboard of the Chinese Communist Party, Taiwan, and the United States. May-lan’s parents are getting older, frail and often ill, and with no one in the family being able to afford any hospital bills. May-lan looked at the bachelor's degree in her hand, deeply feeling that what she was learning was so extraordinary—enough to make her a top student in the jobless market.'
Amid many realities and helpless encounters, the barracks gained a new May-lan.
But precisely because she became an officer, her parents could now get medical care for free, giving the family a bit of breathing room to bear the heavy burden. (At that time, May-lan never imagined that after Taiwan implemented universal health insurance in 1995, not only did it fail due to fiscal collapse as other countries and major health organizations had predicted, but it would instead remain the top international medical quality provider for several consecutive years) .
The gears of the times continue to push relentlessly forward. At that time, no one knew where this wave of globalization would lead Taiwan. Ordinary people seeking only basic needs and survival could never have imagined that decades later, this global giant would roar to create the dazzling technological era of Taiwan's semiconductor and AI industries.
Looking back to the past, to now, those families that were once mercilessly crushed by the tides of the times but never known to others, along with countless personal hardships, seem to have long since vanished like fleeting clouds.
May-lan stared at the large package in front of her, priced at twenty dollars, which is about six hundred Taiwan dollars for the eleven pieces of comforter set. That familiar sorrow, one she usually wouldn't dare to touch lightly, arose once again.
This is a huge set on the clearance shelves of a Walmart in the US., set in the 21st century, sold for only twenty dollars due to further discounts. But behind this bizarre low-price label, how many hardworking, invisible people under the CCP system are, now repeating the hardships and tears experienced by people in Taiwan like her sister Akiko, the "oil-sesame-scattered seed" of that generation during the mid-to-late twentieth-century period?
On social media, the third elder sister and May-lan often speak out harshly about the political chaos in Taiwan imposed by the CCP regime’s verbal and military intimidation, fiercely criticizing those immigrants who live in Taiwan but have hearts with the CCP. Although they also have their own era of hardship and powerlessness, Taiwan at this moment simply cannot withstand the dangerous maneuvers of certain deliberate politicians.
May-lan's criticism and mockery of the CCP's totalitarian rule and rampant corrupt officials can be described as extremely sharp and mean. However, she has always targeted the ruling class—those who arrogantly declare the "sacrifice of one or two generations," embellishing the so-called "great revival of the dynasty" with the “great achievements of emperors and generals”, eagerly hoping to stand on equal footing with Western advanced powers or even dominate the martial world.
This type of political and economic mindset, shifting from extreme inferiority to excessive transgression, may have traces in history. But now the vast national machine is unleashing its power for the sake of National Rejuvenation. How many innocent lives have been hit, crushed, or trampled along the way? Not to mention the distant past, just the countless lost souls and displaced people after the Three Gorges Dam began, and the physical and mental damage who have yet to receive compensation—can we still count them up to today?
May-lan looked at the bundle of comforter set, took a deep sigh, and thought, "Let politics be politics!"
Even though she deeply despised the legacy of the Chinese Communist Party's stale and authoritarian rule, she felt nothing but compassion for those ordinary people living at the bottom, powerless, and voiceless. To survive, these people are forced to shoulder the great cause of the nation—a nation that 'one general's achievements will wither for eternity'—allowing the whole world to enjoy the cheap products produced by the obedient people as 'chives' and 'human mines.' The hard work, sacrifice, and ineffable contributions along the way cannot be measured by cold GDP data.
May-lan could fully empathize with this.
"The bloody journey of latecomer countries' rise—highly centralized rule, low human rights 'advantages', and at the cost of destroying ecological balance, they have created one so-called 'economic miracle' one after another. Who can truly hear the silent cries of ordinary people behind this glamorous facade of glittering gold? Why has this tragic path to success been so similar in history?
7. When will Avidyā (無明) end?
May-lan thought to herself, filled with unspeakable irritation. As she pondered, she slowly and gently folded the eleven pieces spread out on the bed one by one. She neatly compressed them into a square and carefully stuffed them back into the bag adorned with elegant pink flora printed fabric.
In her mind, she couldn't help but picture the scenes of making this product: Which young girls and women in their small spaces, sewing things together. Which young and old men cutting and weaving in the factory? And which burly men drive trucks back and forth along the long road? Which farmers plant cotton under the scorching sun? And which bureaucrats concentrate their efforts on major matters of commercial treaties, and the endless bargaining of businesspeople...... at the trade negotiation table.
Then, the layers of interests among wholesalers, middlemen, and retailers arose, and finally, the product ended up in the hands of Walmart employees in the U.S. who earned meager hourly wages.
But May-lan herself spent only twenty dollars and bought this large comforter bag priced nowhere near the shipping cost.
What she bought was clearly the tragedy of that era that once belonged to Taiwan but is now wildly repeating itself in China. And then? Following closely are India, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and even Africa—a steady stream of 'chives' and 'mines' continues to line up, actively preparing for a new round of old dramas to be repeated: just like the script of Immanuel Wallerstein's Globalization, World-System Theory . In this macro-drama, the cyclically economic expansion and recession, as well as the operation of hegemonic powers, have dominated the international economic system at different historical times...
Thinking of this, the scene of once passionately discussing globalization theory with students in the classroom is vivid in May-lan mind, and now it has become a fragment of her memory
At this moment, May-lan carefully placed the comforter set by the bedside and examined them again carefully.
In that instant, the pink floral set looked like an extremely familiar storybook yet filled with sorrow and desolation.
It turned out that what Meilan bought was really more than just a set of comforter. Instead, wave after wave of Avidyā (無明) is cruelly masked by cheap prices amid the waves of capitalism and globalization.
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