state capitalism + extended families + Confucian values = most convoluted family bribery dramas ever
I hate being the judgemental foreigner sitting in my smug little niche of independence carved out on the back of luck and emotional labour/manipulation. But then again, I do appreciate always hearing "socialism with Chinese characteristics" said in colloquial conversations with a sneer.
The other night I channelsurfed onto one of the peasant tv channels when it was running an infommercial for nematodes. At one point they flashed a clip of a middle-aged man with a slightly better put together woman. The man solemnly said that his wife left him because he was poor, but he bought some nematodes after that. Then he looked into the camera and broke into a big smile. "I made a bundle and got married to this pretty young lady." She nudges him and tells the invisible audience "and I definitely wouldn't have married him if he hadn't gotten rich with the nematodes!" They both laugh happily together.
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The other night I channelsurfed onto one of the peasant tv channels when it was running an infommercial for nematodes. At one point they flashed a clip of a middle-aged man with a slightly better put together woman. The man solemnly said that his wife left him because he was poor, but he bought some nematodes after that. Then he looked into the camera and broke into a big smile. "I made a bundle and got married to this pretty young lady." She nudges him and tells the invisible audience "and I definitely wouldn't have married him if he hadn't gotten rich with the nematodes!" They both laugh happily together.
[
at Dreamwidth | comment with OpenID]