Ren Wenbing is struggling to accept the closure of the factory where he spent years assembling furniture. The company's move to Southeast Asia for cost-cutting reasons has left him and many others without jobs and owed significant redundancy pay. He reflects sadly on the changes in China's economy, which is shifting away from traditional manufacturing.

For Ren and his fellow workers, finding employment in China's evolving economic landscape is challenging. The country's focus on high-tech industries like solar panels and electric cars requires specialized skills and automation, contrasting sharply with the labor-intensive sectors that once dominated China's economic boom.

Ren's story reflects a broader trend of workers migrating from rural areas to urban centers like Dongguan, known as the "factory of the world," in search of better opportunities. Many, like Ren, have sacrificed family life for economic survival.

As China transitions, old industries like clothing and electronics are struggling, while new sectors like green energy and technology emerge as global leaders. This shift has implications for global trade dynamics and has drawn criticism from Western nations for allegedly unfair economic practices.

Meanwhile, Dongguan is attempting to reinvent itself as a high-tech hub, with initiatives like the Huawei campus and science parks. However, this transformation requires new skills and expertise that pose challenges for workers like Ren, who lack the necessary qualifications.

Ren's determination to provide a better future for his children drives him despite the hardships. He hopes that his sacrifices will pave the way for his children to lead easier lives, even if he struggles to explain his absence to them.