Chen said that it could be difficult explaining to people fresh out of prison what they would have to do to succeed.
"The most important thing is your mind and your thoughts," he said. "I share with them what I have been through. But it depends on them whether they want to change. I'm willing to teach them everything, but if they can't control themselves, all my help will be a waste of time."
Chen has been putting in 16 hours a day at the new restaurant and says he has little time to enjoy his favorite pastime of table tennis.
Chen is also learning to cope with pressure, and the prospect of tough choices ahead.
"There are times I want to give up; the ideal and reality are different," he said. "So if I can't keep up the school and work at the same time, I will put work ahead of school. I only study in school, but I get valuable experience here. I can rest for a year and then go back next year."
Chen said that this time, he hasn't been in contact with his old friends from the gang. When asked if he has considered going back to the old life, he replied, "Impossible. Impossible."
"I've learned that it's not a road that should be traveled," he said. "It's not what I want now."
RSS