China's manufacturing barely expanded in September, reaching a 50.1 PMI after two months of contraction, signaling persistent economic troubles. Weak domestic consumption, fueled by a property market slump, exacerbates the situation. Despite Beijing's stimulus and resilient exports, China faces a high risk of missing its 4.5-5% growth target. The editorial emphasizes the need for domestic market reliance and suggests recalling Deng Xiaoping's market pragmatism to unlock potential in underserved consumers, as current policies seem insufficient for the "world's factory" to achieve robust growth.