Yesterday I went in search of a street tailor that could take up a new pair of jeans for me and so I headed to an old part of Suzhou where I often go for lunch and to buy from the local market. I asked one lady and she said that her machine was unable to sew that material but she told me of a place nearby.

The lane to the South Gate of Suzhou University is narrow and busy and this is where you will find small street stalls selling food and also my tailor. A middle aged woman sitting amongst piles of clothes and with an old sewing machine in front of her which wouldn’t have looked out of place in the 60’s.

There was a queue of students when I arrived. I asked her if she could take up my jeans and she said yes and quickly measured them and then told me to come back at 6pm and so off I went.

I returned at 5.30 and realised I hadn’t asked how much and so I was trying to come up with an amount. Maybe 20 rmb or 30rmb , I had no idea.

My jeans were lying in the chair ready for me. I asked for the bill and she said “6 rmb” I said “that’s too cheap I’m going to give you 10rmb” she said “no need” but I did anyway and she was very grateful. Behind me I could hear the other stall owners asking her what happened and they were laughing. 10 rmb is also very cheap but I often wonder how some people can survive when they charge so little.