A haunting tale of a childhood trauma in rural China and its lifelong echoes, shared by a friend who found peace in England.
Surrey, England
Yidong Zhang
张亿东
I grew up on the field paths of rural northwest Shandong. I was shaped by the snowstorms of St. Petersburg. I found my footing, at last, in the grey drizzle of London.
Fifty years. Several eras walked through on foot. Several worlds prised open by language.
Then AI entered my story — catching every unfinished idea I had ever carried, and handing each one back as something real.
Standing under the stars of Surrey, I believe it: I can become anyone I want to be.
Surrey, 2025
1972
Shandong
1989
Gaokao
1995
St. Petersburg
1998
IT entrepreneur
2022
Surrey
2025
Vibe coder
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