I read Karl Marx’s Das Kapital Vol.1.

In China there is a famous sentence by Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba group. “Working 9-9-6 is the good fortune of your generation, cherish it.” This sentence was so famous because first, it was spoken by one of the most successful entrepreneurs in China, and to some extent, the 9-9-6 theory is true (9-9-6 theory stands for starting work at 9am, finishing work at 9pm, working 6 days a week). How it comes to be true? Well comparing the previous generations, comparing our ancestors, especially during the darkest times in China, which was the last 150 years, our generation has better working environment, better social welfare systems, higher salary, etc. It is common sense that hard-work and endeavour leads to one’s success. We often use “enterpriser” or “entrepreneur” to describe Jack Ma in China, and I admire him. Hard work does lead to success. But here is the problem. I do not know whether I am correct or not, but Jack Ma matches the definition of a “Capitalist”.

I feel sorrow and desperate because both Jack Ma and Marx are correct. hard-work and endeavour could lead to your success, but without hard-work and endeavour, you will get absolutely nothing. It is common sense. From my childhood, my parents, my teachers have taught me that you need to study hard to go to a good university. Then only by working hard could you enter a good company, have good salary, have a good wife, and form a family. But Marx tells us that capitalists are everywhere. The moment you enter a huge company indicates your becoming the smallest element, a worker to the capitalist society.