Many young people now identify as "old-school humans", embracing a lifestyle intentionally distanced from mainstream trends.
They skip the latest bubble tea craze in favor of thermoses filled with herbal tea. They prioritize warmth and comfort over glamorous outfits, caring more about whether their thermal leggings are cozy than whether they're fashionable. They show little interest in photogenic, meticulously plated dishes, preferring instead the honest comfort of homely meals from local eateries.
So, what defines an "old-school human"? At its core, the concept stands in deliberate contrast to what is considered "trendy". While trend-chasers relentlessly pursues novelty, sensory stimulation, and rapid change, the old-school mindset values practicality, durability, and a deeper, more enduring sense of comfort.
Yanting, a college junior, has little interest in artfully arranged food. She would gladly take multiple bus transfers across town just for a satisfying bowl of malatang, or spicy hotpot, from a time-honored shop she trusts.
The place is modest, with only six or seven tables. During the lunch rush, strangers naturally end up sharing tables. Once, an auntie waiting for her order pulled a newly bought knitted sweater from her shopping bag and turned to Yanting with a warm smile. "What do you think? Does it look nice on me?"
Yanting did not find the interaction awkward at all. On the contrary, she found such unscripted, friendly exchanges genuinely relaxing.
Then there's Tianyu, a "post-95s" who holds a deep passion for "old-school pastries", especially taosu, a Chinese traditional dessert. Every bite transports her back to childhood visits to her great-grandmother's home. The elderly lady would carefully break the dessert into small pieces, store them in glass jars, and dole them out as precious treats when the children visited.
For Tianyu, these traditional flavors are far more than mere snacks. They are edible vessels of memory, tangible links to the past that feel profoundly more reassuring than any exquisitely crafted modern dessert could ever be.