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People walked past but few looked over .

Those who would come over would ask, "70,000 only? Isn"t that too cheap? Are you a fake?"

"I"m not a fake! That"s how I guarantee that it"s the nation"s lowest price . Have a look at my ID if you don"t believe me," I said righteously, raising my card .

"Gou . . ?" they would usually mumble with a contemptuous look on their faces, before walking away .

I graduated last year and joined a clothes manufacturing factory that paid 3,000 a month .

My name instantly became a hot topic the moment I started work . After all, people with surnames that were not Li were extremely rare .

Within the next half a year, colleagues started asking if I was interested in becoming a surname changer .

"You"re not a Li so why don"t you do it? Gou aye, how unique! Surname changers can earn hundreds of thousands per order! It"s much better than slogging away in here . "

I kept their words in mind and left the factory after two months .

During my first month at this new job, I charged 150,000 for my surname .

That was the lowest market rate I saw at that point, but not a single grain was reaped that month .

In the second month, my teacher had me reduce the price to 70,000 .

Still no orders .

I shouted and promoted diligently, but I did not know that the problem lay in the surname itself .

I looked at my watch .  6 PM, time to knock off .

My teacher"s name is Pang Dahai .

He opened a surname changing shop in the black market some time ago .

There were 13 surname changers then, including me .

Teacher was in charge of all procedures while all we did was to seek clients .

He would rightfully take a 5% procedure fee for each transaction .

Because of the law, surname changers were only able to make four deals a year .

Full timers had a five day work week .

They would have to clock in and out of the shop since Teacher gave them a basic salary .

During that time, I was the only full-timer and I earned 900 a month .

My seniors had long reached their quota and had no desire for the meager 900 dollars .

If surname changers had a good family name, clients would automatically go to them for help . There wasn"t a need for them to advertise .

Senior Lu Qiao had the most wanted surname . Even at 4,000,000 a transaction, orders filled up within a month . When he raised his fees to 5,500,000, there were still couples who booked his service in advance and postponed their decision to have a baby .

Nevertheless, Senior Lu Qiao was kind enough to compile a list of good but unregistered names, like Lu Qiaofeng, Lu Qiaodan, Lu Qiaobusi and Lu Qiaorenliang, for his clients to choose from .  

Teacher easily sold his surname for 400,000 as well .

Senior Li Xia and Han Dong were decent, too .

I was the only poor faring one .

Not a single deal despite my constant advertis.e.m.e.nt .

I got up and walked toward Teacher"s shop .

He was looking at the computer when I entered .

I clocked with my thumbprint .

"Gou Dan is ending work," the machine sounded .

Teacher turned to me and asked, "Knocking off?"

I nodded .

"Come over here . "

"Is anything the matter, Teacher?"

"Come take a seat first and we"ll talk," he said, smiling .

I walked uneasily to the sofa and sat down .

"Do you know how long you"ve been here?" he questioned .

"A month and a half? It"s the 17th today so a month and 17 days to be exact," I answered .

"There are 13 days left to the end of the month . I"ll be blunt now so bear with me . "

"I"ll take it as a learning opportunity, Teacher," I replied, nodding .

"I"m not doing charity here . I have a wife and kids to look after . I know you"ve been working very hard but you know… it"s a fact that your surname isn"t doing well . It"s not even as likable as Li . "

"Is this because I haven"t made any deals?" I asked .

"It"s not as if I"m leaving you in the lurch . I"ve posted an advertis.e.m.e.nt on the net, selling your surname for 65,000 . There are over 80,000 views but none was willing to have their child inherit your family name . You can see the comments for yourself," he said, turning the monitor toward me .

80,000 views and 3,000 comments .

#1 There are still Gous around?

#2 No way, is this the forgotten surname of the Book of Family Names?

#3 I"d rather have my children be a Li .

#4 65,000? I won"t change it even if it"s free .

My brows were knitted but I said nothing .

"I"m not doubting your abilities, Gou Dan, but facts are facts and the people have spoken . I personally think that it"s commendable that your family has managed to preserve their name until today . I"ll pay you double this month, and you can find a better job elsewhere, alright?"

"No, no, Teacher, what if I get a deal within the next 13 days?"

"I"ve been in this shop for eight years and there were over 40 surname changers in its heyday . Of course, we had our bad days but you… you"re definitely the first and only one who hasn"t managed to clinch any deals . "

"Who"s the second?"

"Second? He"s a Tu . He left after two years . It was hard for him as well but he made six deals at least . Alright, I"ll let you stay if you can secure a deal before the end of the month . "

"Really?"

"Just to be clear, I"ll extend your stay by three months if you manage to get a client in this month . In my honest opinion, though, this job isn"t suitable for you . "

"I"ll work harder . You can forfeit my salary if I don"t make any deals this month . It"s alright, Teacher," I said .

He shook his head . "It"s my fault for signing you . "

"No, no . It"s my fault for not working hard enough . "

"You must be tired . Go home and rest," he finished with a wave .

I exited the shop and walked home .

"What"s so bad about having Gou as a surname?" I wondered on my way back . I even felt proud of my unique name when I was a kid . Of course, kids teased and mocked me but I did not think much of that .

This was the most lucrative job so how did I manage to screw it up?

Different thoughts ran through my mind . Dad is a Gou, Grandfather is a Gou . I became curious as to how the Gou clan had managed to exist for this long .

I lived in a rented apartment and Dad had no idea that I had left the factory .

I did not discuss my new job with him since he had always warned me to stay away from it .

I started to suspect that he might have suffered the same fate as me years ago .

Of course, the collapse of our name started only during Grandfather"s era .

My mind was overloaded by the time I got back . I was getting desperate and I was tempted to ask Dad for advice .

I decided to find out more about our family history .

I turned on the Internet search engine and keyed Gou in, and was surprised to find some available information .

There was a Gou clan in Henan, but the Gous were actually Jings, to begin with . Their people served as the emperor"s chancellor for five generations . Once, a chancellor angered the king and was executed . Instead of killing the whole of the chancellor"s family, however, the king changed their family name from Jing to Gou . Such an occurrence wasn"t uncommon across history . Wu Zetian, too, had a.s.sa.s.sinated a king and changed the king kinsmen"s surname to Fu . In 2010, the Chinese government had converted all Gous back to Jings .

Could we have been forgotten by them? Could I change my surname before selling it?

Gou and Jing?

Would Jing bring sales?

The streaming thoughts left me tired and I fell into a deep sleep .

The next morning, a call from Teacher woke me up .

"Come, quick . Your name"s been sold . "

People walked past but few looked over . Those who would come over would ask, 70,000 only Isn 39 t that too cheap Are you a fake I 39 m not a fake That 39 s how I guarantee that it 39 s the nation 39 s lowest price . Have a look at my ID if you don 39 t believe me, I said righteously, raising my card . Gou . . they would usually mumble with a contemptuous look on their faces, before walking away . I graduated last year and joined a clothes manufacturing factory that paid 3,000 a month . My name instantly became a hot topic the moment I started work . After all, people with surnames that were not Li were extremely rare . Within the next half a year, colleagues started asking if I was interested in becoming a surname changer . You 39 re not a Li so why don 39 t you do it Gou aye, how unique Surname changers can earn hundreds of thousands per order It 39 s much better than slogging away in here . I kept their words in mind and left the factory after two months . During my first month at this new job, I charged 150,000 for my surname . That was the lowest market rate I saw at that point, but not a single grain was reaped that month . In the second month, my teacher had me reduce the price to 70,000 . Still no orders . I shouted and promoted diligently, but I did not know that the problem lay in the surname itself . I looked at my watch . 6 PM, time to knock off . My teacher 39 s name is Pang Dahai . He opened a surname changing shop in the black market some time ago . There were 13 surname changers then, including me . Teacher was in charge of all procedures while all we did was to seek clients . He would rightfully take a 5 procedure fee for each transaction . Because of the law, surname changers were only able to make four deals a year . Full timers had a five day work week . They would have to clock in and out of the shop since Teacher gave them a basic salary . During that time, I was the only full timer and I earned 900 a month . My seniors had long reached their quota and had no desire for the meager 900 dollars . If surname changers had a good family name, clients would automatically go to them for help . There wasn 39 t a need for them to advertise . Senior Lu Qiao had the most wanted surname . Even at 4,000,000 a transaction, orders filled up within a month . When he raised his fees to 5,500,000, there were still couples who booked his service in advance and postponed their decision to have a baby . Nevertheless, Senior Lu Qiao was kind enough to compile a list of good but unregistered names, like Lu Qiaofeng, Lu Qiaodan, Lu Qiaobusi and Lu Qiaorenliang, for his clients to choose from . Teacher easily sold his surname for 400,000 as well . Senior Li Xia and Han Dong were decent, too . I was the only poor faring one . Not a single deal despite my constant advertis.e.m.e.nt . I got up and walked toward Teacher 39 s shop . He was looking at the computer when I entered . I clocked with my thumbprint . Gou Dan is ending work, the machine sounded . Teacher turned to me and asked, Knocking off I nodded . Come over here . Is anything the matter, Teacher Come take a seat first and we 39 ll talk, he said, smiling . I walked uneasily to the sofa and sat down . Do you know how long you 39 ve been here he questioned . A month and a half It 39 s the 17th today so a month and 17 days to be exact, I answered . There are 13 days left to the end of the month . I 39 ll be blunt now so bear with me . I 39 ll take it as a learning opportunity, Teacher, I replied, nodding . I 39 m not doing charity here . I have a wife and kids to look after . I know you 39 ve been working very hard but you know it 39 s a fact that your surname isn 39 t doing well . It 39 s not even as likable as Li . Is this because I haven 39 t made any deals I asked . It 39 s not as if I 39 m leaving you in the lurch . I 39 ve posted an advertis.e.m.e.nt on the net, selling your surname for 65,000 . There are over 80,000 views but none was willing to have their child inherit your family name . You can see the comments for yourself, he said, turning the monitor toward me . 80,000 views and 3,000 comments . 1 There are still Gous around 2 No way, is this the forgotten surname of the Book of Family Names 3 I 39 d rather have my children be a Li . 4 65,000 I won 39 t change it even if it 39 s free . . . . My brows were knitted but I said nothing . 39 I 39 m not doubting your abilities, Gou Dan, but facts are facts and the people have spoken . I personally think that it 39 s commendable that your family has managed to preserve their name until today . I 39 ll pay you double this month, and you can find a better job elsewhere, alright No, no, Teacher, what if I get a deal within the next 13 days I 39 ve been in this shop for eight years and there were over 40 surname changers in its heyday . Of course, we had our bad days but you you 39 re definitely the first and only one who hasn 39 t managed to clinch any deals . Who 39 s the second Second He 39 s a Tu . He left after two years . It was hard for him as well but he made six deals at least . Alright, I 39 ll let you stay if you can secure a deal before the end of the month . Really Just to be clear, I 39 ll extend your stay by three months if you manage to get a client in this month . In my honest opinion, though, this job isn 39 t suitable for you . I 39 ll work harder . You can forfeit my salary if I don 39 t make any deals this month . It 39 s alright, Teacher, I said . He shook his head . It 39 s my fault for signing you . No, no . It 39 s my fault for not working hard enough . You must be tired . Go home and rest, he finished with a wave . I exited the shop and walked home . What 39 s so bad about having Gou as a surname I wondered on my way back . I even felt proud of my unique name when I was a kid . Of course, kids teased and mocked me but I did not think much of that . This was the most lucrative job so how did I manage to screw it up Different thoughts ran through my mind . Dad is a Gou, Grandfather is a Gou . I became curious as to how the Gou clan had managed to exist for this long . I lived in a rented apartment and Dad had no idea that I had left the factory . I did not discuss my new job with him since he had always warned me to stay away from it . I started to suspect that he might have suffered the same fate as me years ago . Of course, the collapse of our name started only during Grandfather 39 s era . My mind was overloaded by the time I got back . I was getting desperate and I was tempted to ask Dad for advice . I decided to find out more about our family history . I turned on the Internet search engine and keyed Gou in, and was surprised to find some available information . There was a Gou clan in Henan, but the Gous were actually Jings, to begin with . Their people served as the emperor 39 s chancellor for five generations . Once, a chancellor angered the king and was executed . Instead of killing the whole of the chancellor 39 s family, however, the king changed their family name from Jing to Gou . Such an occurrence wasn 39 t uncommon across history . Wu Zetian, too, had a.s.sa.s.sinated a king and changed the king kinsmen 39 s surname to Fu . In 2010, the Chinese government had converted all Gous back to Jings . Could we have been forgotten by them Could I change my surname before selling it Gou and Jing Would Jing bring sales The streaming thoughts left me tired and I fell into a deep sleep . The next morning, a call from Teacher woke me up . Come, quick . Your name 39 s been sold .