Start Walking
Written and photographed by Lin Hsin-Chen
I couldn’t see Bao Zheng( an outstanding government official and statesman in the northern Song Dynasty( 960-1127) when I was in Kaifengfu. Instead, I saw an old woman, sat beside a Chinese bass drum, selling cloth shoes.
The temperature is 8 to 9 degrees in October out there.
Every stitch of all the cloth shoes was stitched by her hands.
“You made all of these by yourself?” I asked.
But it seemed she couldn’t understand what I was talking about.
Thanks to people around for helping me translate.
The old woman made these shoes only for grandsons.
After many years of experience, she now makes these shoes for people.
“How much are the shoes?” I asked her again.
“18 Chinese Yuan for a pair. The shoes for summer is thinner, they only 9 Chinese Yuan.” she said.
My mind was full of curiosity. “I wanted to have one of her stitched shoes by her hands!” Then I gave her 18 Chinese Yuan.
I looked closer at the shoes; they were all by hand stitches except for the four studs on the shoes.
The material she used was flannelette, cotton cloth and cotton, etc.
I was totally amazed and touched by this!
18 Chinese Yuan shoes are full of kindly feelings! Worn on children’s feet, but warm in mother’s hearts.
Even though she can’t earn much money, I saw her gave the soles to other people in person. Obviously, she gives a lot more than she sells. What a kind heart she has!
Every pair of soles was stitched by hand; even every layer of it was sewed by hand.
I ventured to ask people in Taiwan, are you willing to sew shoes like this?