Grievance of the poor

This morning, when I was reading a book during the routine MTR ride to my workplace, a man in his mid 50s showed interest in my English book and spoke to me in English. I responded in Cantonese and this started our conversation. In fact, it was not a conversation at all because he dominated the speech and I was only a listener. Through the conversation, I felt the stress and plight experienced by the lower class and they badly need a buffer to vent their grievance and outrage. Here are the excerpt of the conversation.

Mr. X: "I had studied English in Wah Yan Evening School many years ago. Those Fathers were my teachers." then he told me something about his job.

Mr. X: " There are lot of bad guys in the workplace. The colleagues always badmouth me, the boss is so cunning and trying all his best to cut my pay'"

Mr.X: " I worked in a hotel in the past and the salary was better than now. I am now working in a small restaurant. A big slash in pay is the norm and job security is out of the question. I really hate the boss and my colleagues."

I didn't know how to respond and only replied in facial gestures. I skillfully ended the conversation by telling him that I had to change to Tseung Kwan O line for the rest of the ride. What I get from the weird act of this man is that people in the middle and lower classes are suffering a lot after years of economic turmoils. The downward flow along the social ladder among them is the seed of fury that may lay the foundation of social instability.