“Music means everything to me.”

— said Chen Liangjun, Children’s Park’s equipment repair engineer

Helen Deng

IF you see a bearded man singing on a Roller Coaster in Children's Park before 10 a.m., there is a nine in ten chance that he is Chen Liangjun, the park's equipment repair engineer.

In yellow work suit and straw hat, Chen, in his early thirties, checks and maintains the 14 machines at the Children's Park each day. "I love my job. I'm passionate about it," said Chen, who obtained the job in August after working in Shenzhen as a security guard and then as an electric equipment repair man.

But unlike most engineers, Chen is also a self-taught musician. He has spent his meager savings on a set of musical instruments that include an electric organ, a 69-yuan (US$11) earphone, a 25-yuan microphone bought from Huaqiangbei, a four-channel audio mixer, and a second-hand computer. So far he has composed three songs, including "I'm a Drop of Water," which was used by a water-conservation Web site. He is often invited to sing at parties, and even held a Christmas solo concert at his company's gathering.

"Music means everything to me," said Chen.

Chen's music dream began at the age of nine. He broke his knees when riding a bike, and was bed ridden for months. While lying there, he was touched by his neighbor's guitar playing.

Chen was born in a small village in Hunan Province, the eldest of three children. He dropped out of school at 16 to help his parents support the family.

Chen's first job was as a bus conductor in his tiny village. At the age of 22, he became an electrician at a construction material company in Shaoyang, Hunan. Eight months later, he had risen to the position of chief technician. But the company soon went out of business and he had to return home. From 2006 to 2008, he worked as a machine operator in Guilin Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. "I dared not return home without having achieved anything," he said. During this period he divorced. Unable to sleep at night, he would wander the streets, singing sad songs and playing guitar.

Once when Chen was singing on the street, an old lady gave him an egg, saying he was "too thin." Later Chen learned that the lady, who made a living from polishing shoes, had two children with hemophilia and a maneally ill husband. "In spite of this, she was always smiling," recalled Chen. "Her story was very humbling," he said.

From then on, he decided to always face the world with a smile, no matter what life threw at him. During the day, he worked as a machine operator, and at night, he composed music in his dormitory.

Chen came to Shenzhen in 2008. "A friend of mine told me that my talent woud be more appreciated in Shenzhen," he said. His first fulltime job here was as a security guard at University Town in Nanshan. In his spare time he taught guitar at an arts training center. Six months later, he joined an electronics company as an equipment repairer. He soon acquired the certificates to become a senior technician and equipment engineer, as well as a college degree. In August this year, he became an equipment repair engineer at Children's Park.

"I've been through many ups and downs. But I am a lucky man because I have a good job and a fulfilling hobby," said Chen.

Chen always finds time to play music no matter how busy he is. He would sing on a farm, in a forest, and even in the washing room. "Sometimes when I sing in public, strangers call me a madman," said Chen. His roommates would not allow him to play guitar at home because he is "no superstar," he said.

But these obstacles are not going to stop Chen's pursuit of his musical dream. "Because a good life must involve hacing a dream," he said.

Chen said his next targets were to obtain a senior engineer certificate and promote his music.