Calendar seller makes his date with despair

The ban on using public money to buy gifts is biting hard, He Na reports in Beijing.

Ren Yongjun quit smoking when his son was born two years ago. However, he has recently started again and is now smoking more than ever.

"If you'd bought a large number of calendars and greetings cards at high prices, but could only sell them to a waste collector for 1.6 yuan (26 cents) a kilogram, maybe you'd do the same," the calendar shop owner said, pointing to the boxes piled high against a wall.