Chinese Woman Sparks Debate by Renting 6-Square-Meter Office Bathroom for $7 a Month

Yang explained that she chose to rent the bathroom because she couldn't find a suitable and affordable apartment in the city. She pays 50 yuan per month for water and electricity, which she insisted on paying despite her employer's initial willingness to waive the fee. Some netizens have suggested that Yang could have lived in the store's exhibition hall, but she claimed that it was too empty and made her feel scared. The company has an office, but it doesn't have a door, which made her feel insecure. Yang has set up a folding bed in the bathroom and keeps some personal belongings and daily necessities there. She even cooks noodles and other snacks in the bathroom at night.

While some people have questioned Yang's decision, she emphasized that she is not trying to make things difficult for herself. She said, "I just want to have a place to live, and I don't want to spend a lot of money renting a house. I'm only 18 years old, and I don't want to spend 800 yuan per month on rent." Yang's employer, Xu, has defended her decision, saying that Yang is indeed living in the bathroom and not trying to seek attention. The company plans to install a door in the office, and Yang will move in once it's done. For now, she doesn't plan to rent a house outside the company.

The debate surrounding Yang's decision has sparked a wider discussion about the struggles of young people in finding affordable housing and the creative ways they find to cope with the challenges of urban living. Some believe she is being overly frugal and that her parents would be heartbroken if they knew about her living situation. Others argue that she is setting a bad example by being too extreme in her pursuit of savings. The woman's landlord has come to her defense, stating that she indeed sleeps in the bathroom and is not using the situation to garner attention or publicity. The controversy raises important questions about the cost of living in urban China and the lengths to which young people will go to make ends meet, with many internet users expressing concern about the young woman's well-being and the implications of her living arrangement. As one commentator noted, "While it's admirable to be thrifty, there's a fine line between being frugal and being reckless. Is this really the kind of lifestyle we want to promote?"