Editor’s note: On July 23, the writer Zhang Wumao published an essay called “In Beijing, 20 Million People Pretend to Live” to his public WeChat account. Titles include plays on the original essay’s title, such as “In Beijing, 20 Million People and “In Beijing, 20 Million People are Bravely Living,” and even direct digs at the author, such as “Mr. 在北京，有2000万人假装在生活In Beijing, 20 Million People Pretend to Live1北京没有人情味. On what basis can you be like an old Beijing uncle, playing with birds, playing chess, listening to operas, and drinking tea? Then, they will come live with us in that shabby old house, or start all over again, struggling to buy a house.