For Li Yung-ping, it meant that he had to get closer to real life--to add new details. He quit his "ivory tower" job as an assistant professor at Chungshan University and set up shop as a freelance translator amidst the hustle and bustle of Hsimenting.
對李永平來說，這需要更貼近真實的生活面向；再加上其他因素，他辭去遠離「人間」的中山大學教職，靠翻譯蝸居在眾生龐雜的西門町裡。