The White Haired Girl: Synopsis

The White Haired Girl is based on the legend of a white-haired female immortal. It tells of Yang Bailao, a tenant farmer who shares his life with his daughter Xi’er. The despotic landlord, Huang Shiren, attempts to forcibly take Xi’er for himself. On the eve of the Chinese Spring Festival, Huang forces Yang to sell his daughter as repayment of the debt Yang owes him. Yang drinks bittern and dies. Xi’er is taken by force to Huang’s house and raped by the landlord.

The girl is in love with Dachun, a young farmer in her village, who tries to help her escape but fails. He goes to find the Red Army. Xi’er runs away from Huang’s house and hides herself deep in the mountains. She leads a miserable life, and her hair turns completely white. Two years later, Dachun returns to the village with the army unit he is in. He finds Xi’er and helps her get even with the hated landlord. They marry and lead a happy life after emancipation.

From Wenxue City:

Yesterday, veteran “Wenyibao” editor and cultural critic Xiong Yuanyi came to the Central China Normal University’s Hankou campus to deliver a talk on popular culture.  Xiong Yuanyi mentioned the notion that “The White Haired Girl should marry Huang Shiren” which is fashionable among young people.  For some, this means that the sympathy that used to exist for poor and oppressed people in the 1940’s has been replaced by blind adoration of money.

At the talk, the teenage student Xiao Xie stood up and said, “If Huang Shiren were alive today, he is definitely somebody with excellent family conditions.  He may also have handsome looks combined with elegance and refined taste.  If he has money as well, why not marry him?  Even if he is a bit older, it does not matter.”

Another female first-year university student named Cai from the Department of Literature caused a stir with this comment: “If I were to marry the rich man Huang Shiren, I will donate his money to charitable causes and help needy people.”

The White Haired Girl should not marry Huang Shiren

So Xiong Yuanyi concluded: “If the White Haired Girl were to marry Huang Shiren, she would instantly become the member of a different class.”

Central China Normal University Department of Literature professor Xu Zuhua said the viewpoints around “whether the White Hair Girl should marry Huang Shiren” arose out of a postmodernist world.  Purely from the viewpoint of literature, it cannot be pleasing to see the subversion of the values of a specific historical epoch.  Purely from the viewpoint of contemporary life, whether White Hair Girl marries Huang Shiren is a personal choice, although nobody can be certain whether this will bring happiness in the end.  But he does not believe that university students should make such a choice, because the value and dignity of life should be created on one’s own.

Huang Shiren

Selected netizen comments:

• I am saddened by the fact that the current education system is producing university students who hold these kinds of viewpoints.  Young people today somehow think that they are fashionable and open-minded.  How sad!
• I agree.  Never mind teenagers, but people have always yielded to money and power over time.  Who isn’t beleaguered by the needs of life?  You can’t blame The White Haired Girl for marrying Huang Shiren.
• Women nowadays want to marry money, and they don’t care who owns that money.
• This is very normal and not unique to people born in the 1990’s.  In this materialistic society, university students (especially those with social backgrounds) cannot find jobs after they graduate.  So why not find a Huang Shiren to marry?  Why condemn university students who have no social experience yet?
• I oppose because the naive dreams of these university students cannot be realized.  Who says that one is with the times only if one can endure exploitation?  No character, no faith, no persistence!
• This is normal.  When reality weighs down on and you can’t afford the housing prices, you are better off becoming a kept mistress rather than the slave of your house.  If you are slave to your house, you are the slave to the whole society; if you are a kept mistress, you are only the slave of your man.  Among these two options, you choose the easier one!
• To abandon the satisfaction from a rich spiritual life for the sake of materialistic needs turns you into a zombie.  You become no different from the lowest of animals.  When the mainstream thinking merges into an invincible spirit, your nation has hope.  When everybody wants to pursue materialistic goals, your nation has no hope.  How can a sandbox of loose particles stand proudly in the world?
• Every person can make his/her own personal choice provided it does not break any laws.  At the same time, one assumes responsibility for that decision.  When you are abandoned, you have no one else to blame.  You turned your body and youth into materialistic assets.  When those materialistic assets are consumed, it will be time for your man to find someone new.
• Can university students nowadays understand this classical story?  When the university student came up with that comment, either she did not understand or else she only knows money.
• It is somewhat naive to assume that you will be rich if you marry Huang Shiren.  First of all, it depends on whether Huang Shiren wants to marry you.  After all, he might just want to toy with you for a while only without marrying you.  Besides, even if you married him, you won’t necessarily get his money.
• This type of talk is even worse than what the White Haired Girl went through.  It should be the freedom of White Haired Girl to marry or not, but people did not have freedom and equality during that era.  This was not an issue about money at all.  It is such a sad society when people don’t even think about the simplest basics in society.
• If this person who is a mindless woman who only enjoys materialistic stuff, she should marry Huang Shiren.  There are too many such mindless women who have no thoughts of their own.  This is so sad.

Question: Do you think that the White Haired Girl should marry Huang Shiren?
40.6%: Yes — if you are going to marry someone, it should be some rich man
39.9%: No — your marital choice should not be based solely on money
19.5%: Not sure

more translations & videos at: EastSouthWestNorth

Are you a rich, evil landlord? Find your white haired girl with chinaSMACK personals!

Original Post: Chinese University Schoolgirls Would Marry Evil Rich People

Original Source: chinaSMACK

China Internet Tip: Are you blocked behind the Great-Firewall in China? Cannot reach Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter? Try using Freedur VPN.

Limited Edition "Certified By Netizens" Official chinaSMACK T-Shirts Now Available!
Help support chinaSMACK by sporting the new official chinaSMACK t-shirt designed, chosen, and produced by chinaSMACK readers!

[tweetmeme]

Early last month, we showed some previews and translated some Chinese netizen reactions to the new movie 建国大业 (jian guo da ye, The Founding of A  Republic) in the post: “Jian Guo Da Ye” Movie Celebrates PRC 60th Anniversary. Here are some more translated comments, including some thoughts from famous Chinese blogger Han Han:

As a celebration of the upcoming 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on 1 October, the all-star epic “The Founding of a Republic” will be screened tomorrow, on 17 September. The film has stirred a heated discussion on the Internet – not for the film itself, but for the nationalities of the stars.

Some news reports in August said that among the 172 famous actors/actresses and directors involved in the film, 21 hold foreign nationalities.

Well-known mainland writer Han Han (韩寒) discussed this on his blog (8/12):

…my personal opinion is that if a country can cause so many actors to change their nationality, this country has to bear certain responsibilities…

It is their personal choice to change their nationality. This is like divorce: perhaps their affection for the country has somehow disappeared, or perhaps they come across something better. We can criticize them from a certain moral stand, but there is nothing wrong with their personal character.

For normal Chinese citizens, that is, for those who cannot afford to eat well, to live well, to entertain, to make good connections, to bear children, to fall sick or to die, the key point is that they cannot afford to emigrate. Therefore, seeing all these actors fleeing the country, it is natural for them to be envious.

This blog entry has generated a staggering amount of replies. Some are very critical about it:

徐然:

If they are foreigners, why don’t they develop their career overseas but in China instead?

Totiliy:

The list only concerns artists. If we include scientists etc etc, the results may be more surprising. Wonder if businessmen like to be foreigners, I guess they would like to if they have the ability.

新浪网友:

The fact that foreigners can participate in this film shows that the administrators do not have basic principles and dignity. As a result, China is being looked down upon by others.

There are also a variety of alternative, sometimes mocking, views:

新浪网友:

Foreign stars participating in a Chinese movie, especially “The Founding of a Republic”, have came a long way to make this film for us, we, Chinese, should thank them for their hard work.

妮娜:

… Don’t be too extreme. Having a foreign nationality is not betraying our country. They are returning to make films for China, to represent China in international film festivals. They are contributing to China…

飞翔:

We do not have the right to criticize others. Each person has its own choice. Having a foreign nationality does not mean that they do not love the Chinese race.

reposted from: Global Voices

Original Post: Foreign Nationality Actors In ‘The Founding Of A Republic’

Original Source: chinaSMACK

China Internet Tip: Are you blocked behind the Great-Firewall in China? Cannot reach Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter? Try using Freedur VPN.

Limited Edition "Certified By Netizens" Official chinaSMACK T-Shirts Now Available!
Help support chinaSMACK by sporting the new official chinaSMACK t-shirt designed, chosen, and produced by chinaSMACK readers!

Heating up the Netease forums is this sorrowful story: a Guangdong husband brazenly brought his affair back home after 10 years of marriage. If that wasn’t enough, he even made love to his mistress in front of his wife and requested her to sleep with them.

This 37-year-old wife, Mrs. Xie, couldn’t stand her husband’s behavior but all her objections only brought her curses, beatings and denial by her husband. Angrily, Mrs. Xie waited until her husband had fallen asleep and snipped his penis off while he was sleeping.

Yesterday, Dongwan No. 1 Court of Law sentenced Mrs. Xie 10 years of prison for her crime. After the judgment, Mrs. Xie could not stop crying and said, “I could always think about when we (me and my husband) worked hard together. I am very worried about my 3 children. I owe them.”

The aggressive behavior by both husband and wife triggered a huge discussion on the internet. Many netizens did not agree with the court’s judgment, arguing that the conviction was too heavy.

网易北京网友 [johnson176]:

(The court) Condemned too strong. Just divorce them is okay.

网易广东网友:

Well-cut.

网易浙江杭州网友:

This incident was real? If it is, then the court judged too heavy. Did the husband just have an affair? He even brought his affair back home and had sex in front of his wife, can I ask, who can withstand this? 10 years? Can I please ask how the court finally decided on that?

网易江苏无锡网友:

The genital was cut. This is grievous bodily injury. A sentence of prison is needed; but it is forgivable, the court should give a light judgement.

网易广东网友:

If that was me, I would feed the dog with his penis!

Some others went a step further, pointing out that the husband should be judged too because of having affairs openly.

This man should be under the charge of pruriency. Why didn’t the court judge him? What the hell is this court?”

“How about that man? No laws against him?”

We feel very bad for Mrs. Xie and hope that this kind of incident will not happen in the future. What would you have done if confronted with a husband who cheated right in front of you?

Comment below or at: Shanghaiist

Original Post: Guangzhou Wife Cuts Off Cheating Husband’s Penis

Original Source: chinaSMACK

China Internet Tip: Are you blocked behind the Great-Firewall in China? Cannot reach Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter? Try using Freedur VPN.

Limited Edition "Certified By Netizens" Official chinaSMACK T-Shirts Now Available!
Help support chinaSMACK by sporting the new official chinaSMACK t-shirt designed, chosen, and produced by chinaSMACK readers!

BlockBerry Storm 9500, “Obama’s blackberry, my BlockBerry storm 9500.”

Created by HAFF-COMM ( 哈佛通信，“哈佛”also the Chinese translation of Harvard), a copycatting smart phone named “BlockBerry” together with its poster is all over China’s internet; distinguishing it from the rest is U.S. president Obama’s image as “spokesperson”.

In the poster of “Storm 9500, pure flat touch Internet smart phone”, Obama wears a smile. The sentence below reads “Obama’s blackberry, my BlockBerry storm 9500.” The copycat’s appearance is also highly similar with the original BlackBerry Storm, but with a Windows Mobile system inside.

The original BlackBerry Storm 9500 series vs. its Chinese copycat BlockBerry Storm 9500.

There’s been no detailed information of this HAFF-COMM company, which apparently doesn’t exist at all, and definitely has no relation with Harvard University. The company appears to be a made up Brand form a factory in Shenzhen.

Picture of a poster in a Shanzhai (copycatting) electronic products mall in Shenzhen.

Worth mentioning is that the Obama poster has drawn international attention, which was probably expected by HAFF-COMM. The Wall Street Journal says that the picture of Obama is obviously reversed by the clumsy designer; the U.S. flag badge appears on the right side of his suit, and is also confused by the two sides. “We haven’t confirmed with Robert Gibbs, the White House Press Secretary, but it’s off authorization from our guesstimate. ”

From Africa to China

The fake Obama endorsement phone didn’t occur recently, as soon as he swore in in January, the first shanzhai phone called “Obama” was out in the market in his hometown Kenya, Africa.

No doubt this is just another work of one China copycatting company. This copycatting mobile phone adopted the same strategy as the new BlockBerry, using Obama as the spokesperson with a giant picture of him on the poster.

While HAFF-COMM copied BlackBerry, the African version copied the Nokia 5300 XpressMusic; HAFF-COMM takes advantage of the fact Obama likes to use BlackBerry, while the African version printed the campaign slogan “Yes, we can” on the cell’s back cover.

“Obama” mobile chills other Shanzhai product makers

Few companies in the world dare to be as bold as HAFF-COMM. The case has made many Shanzhai companies in Shenzhen very nervous of legal retribution.

There have been several Shanzhai mobile cases exposed recently, including India’s expulsion of China Shanzhai mobiles. China’s Shanzhai culture has got a pretty bad reputation the world over, to the point where other Shanzhai manufactures complain: “copycatting shouldn’t be so unscrupulous; law breaking can’t be that obviously extreme. HAFF-COMM forces all of us into the international spotlight.”

Selected Chinese netizen comments from Sina, translated by littleredbook:

Sina netizen:

If you can’t find the factory, what can you find? A group of stupid journalists.

Sina netizen (from Ordos, Inner Mongolia):

I just don’t understand. Is there anything Chinese don’t dare to do? As a Chinese, don’t you feel ashamed? People even cheer for this. It’s enough those Shanzhai factories lose face domestically, why even be disgraced in the international market? What’s left besides money in your Shanzhais’ eyes? “Upper lip touch to the sky, the lower lip to the earth, no need of face”. As a Chinese I feel ashamed for you. Are the Ministry of Industry and Information people all useless? Shanzhai is so rampant, shouldn’t you make a self-criticism???

Sina netizen (from Guangdong):

You always say how Shanzhai harms China’s credits. Don’t you think why Shanzhai is growing? Without need, why would it be produced?

Sina netizen (from Hebei):

Such smart Chinese, why not do something that credits our country?

Sina netizen (from Guangdong):

HAFF mobile sir, do you dare to print the pictures of boss Hu and boss Wen (Chairman Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao). Then I will admire you!

Sina netizen (from Dalian, Liaoning):

Different people have different views toward the news. I think understanding from any level has its reason. Not to mention the rational, publicly recognized right thoughts. To digest from the other side, Shanzhai indicates a passive influence for eagerness for instant success and quick profits, but indeed helps to promote China to the outside world.

Sina netizen (from Beijing):

No wonder why many foreigners doubt “made in China”, it’s all resulted by those short sighted businessmen who ruin their self images, only focus on the short term interests, and thus make a uncountable long term loss.

Sina netizen (from Chuzhou, Anhui):

Take it as entertainment everyone, don’t be too serious, although the company has no innovation, it does have some creativity, haha.

Sina netizen (from Zhengzhou, Henan):

Fake ones can also be used, and also cheaper. Chinese are just realistic, I myself don’t support any foreign stuff!

Sina netizen (from Shanghai):

So shameless!

Sina netizen (from Zhejiang):

Shanzhai is also a way China’s companies walk into the world.

Sina netizen (from Zhejiang):

That would be so wonderful if there is a Shanzhai petrol, then petrol won’t be so expensive like crazy!

Sina netizen (from Zhejiang):

Shanzhai mobile is an epitome of the disrespect for intellectual property rights, and it shows how Chinese rush for instant success and quick profits.

Sina netizen (from Beijing):

There are many products use Mao Tse-Tung’s image in other countries.

Sina netizen (from Shenzhen, Guangdong):

If the U.S. makes fake endorsements of China’s leaders, how would Chinese react?

Sina netizen (from Guangdong) @ Sina netizen (from Shenzhen, Guangdong):

Obama often joke himself in his promotional video, not to say Americans. They are not like us that can’t take any joke, easy to magnify a problem to be a question of principle or ideology and even harmony.

more info & translated comments at: littleredbook

The Wall Street Journal/China Journal article mentioned above is here.

Original Post: Blockberry Shanzhai Phone Ad With Obama Divide Chinese

Original Source: chinaSMACK

China Internet Tip: Are you blocked behind the Great-Firewall in China? Cannot reach Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter? Try using Freedur VPN.

Limited Edition "Certified By Netizens" Official chinaSMACK T-Shirts Now Available!
Help support chinaSMACK by sporting the new official chinaSMACK t-shirt designed, chosen, and produced by chinaSMACK readers!

[A] 13-year-old Chinese girl gave her single dad a box of condoms as the “ultimate gift for Father’s Day.”

According to Netease, the father who received a box of condoms as a present from his daughter on Father’s Day posted a photo of the letter that his daughter wrote (with the condoms next to it) online:

“Dad,

First of all, Happy Father’s Day! I am going to give a very special present today; I hope that you will not be mad at me! Hehe! (Pig head)

I know that you have been working hard in and outside of our house. You have to go on business trips often while taking good care of me. For your health and happiness in life, I bought the newest style of condoms for you! I have seen the same brand that you bought before in your drawer! (Heart)

I hope that you understand my heart! Haha~ Again, Happy Father’s Day! I also hope that you will find a pretty girlfriend soon! Hehe~ Relax, I won’t tell mom!

Your well-behaved daughter, Wenwen.
June 21st.”

Since the photo has been posted online, many netizens have expressed their feelings towards this incident. Some of them resented that the father did not respect his daughter’s privacy and posted the letter online; some others are surprised that the child is so precocious. However, most of the people are approved of what this lovely daughter did for her dad,

Your daughter is very understanding of you! She is afraid that you are lonely and asks you to find a girlfriend, very caring.

Your daughter wants you to find her a mother.

Don’t scold your daughter! She is so cute!

People seem to like what the girl did for her father. However, in most cases, Chinese still have doubts about condoms — the condoms can surely prevent STD and pregnancy, but does approving condom using mean to support premarital sex?

more information at: Shanghaiist

Note from Fauna: Here are some more translated comments:

网易广东广州越秀网友 [joycesun96]:

I used to treat them like balloons. One time, I found one in a pile of garbage, and I really washed it clean and played with it like a balloon. It was only after I got married and saw my husband use it that I finally realize what they were. However, kids these days are probably not as stupid as we were back then. Actually, 13-year-old kids should know about these things at their age. As parents, we should be calm and at ease [about these things].

网易山东济南网友 [guoairong010]:

I feel like this is a soft advertisement, or an advertorial, for some condom brand, or that website is intentionally making fake news/playing a hoax.

网易浙江台州温岭网友[1111] ip：61.153.*.*:

China National Pig Brand [pun for Chinese National Football Team]. Can go 90 minutes without shooting.

网易山东烟台网友[2009的反对] ip：221.214.*.*:

Forward-thinking. Maybe in the future it will develop to the point where she helps her father put it on?!

网易江西景德镇网友 [hua1204] 的原贴:

[Responding to above] Your heart is perverted/abnormal, aren’t you promoting incest here? Truly mentally retarded.

网易广西南宁网友[天山] ip：116.10.*.*:

[Responding to above]

是避孕套时，对内使用；是安全套时，对外使用。

When it is used as a contraceptive, use it with insiders; when it is used to protect against STDs, use it with outsiders.

In Chinese, there are two names for condoms: 避孕套, bi yun tao, and 安全套, an quan tao. The above comment is a joke using these two different names and purpose for condoms.

Original Post: Daughter Gives Father Box Of Condoms For Father’s Day

Original Source: chinaSMACK

China Internet Tip: Are you blocked behind the Great-Firewall in China? Cannot reach Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter? Try using Freedur VPN.

Limited Edition "Certified By Netizens" Official chinaSMACK T-Shirts Now Available!
Help support chinaSMACK by sporting the new official chinaSMACK t-shirt designed, chosen, and produced by chinaSMACK readers!

On the evening of June 18, CCTV’s and reported on Google.cn carrying pornographic and vulgar information (see video.sina.com).

On the same day, netizens began to question quickly. Search engines frequently offer likely search terms because these are popular with other users. As such, the search engines are not responsible because they are only reporting what users are “voting” on with their searches. Thus, when Google.cn proposes certain relevant search terms, they are merely informing you what other netizens are most commonly searching for. They are reflecting the facts of life, and it shows that Google.cn is being fair and objective. Rather than blaming the search engines, we should be blaming people for wanting to look up pornography which proliferate on the Chinese Internet.

Similarly, other search engines such as Baidu and Bing contain the same kinds of pornographic information, but CCTV completely ignores them. Netizens made screen captures to show that Baidu is no less vulgar than Google.cn …

Explanation: When ‘mm‘ (which is the shorthand for ‘young woman’) is entered into Google.cn, the search engine recommends ‘mm naked in bath,’ ‘mm sex,’ ‘mm bathing,’ ‘mm8mm8,’ ‘mm entire process of bathing,’ ‘mm bathing video,’ ‘mm apartment’ and ‘mm expose.’ When ‘mm’ is entered into Baidu, the search engines recommends ‘mm super-sexy see-through underwear,’ ‘mm sex positions in bed,’ ‘mm entire process of using sanitary napkin,’ ‘mm sexiness in bed,’ ‘mm pretty picture,’ ‘mm sexy breasts,’ ‘mm sexy,’ ‘mm pictures,’ ‘mm pretty breasts’ and ‘mm changing clothes.’

Baidu image search results for ‘mm’.

Chinese Internet celebrities such as keso and William Long point out that CCTV’s attack against Google.cn is designed to justify the notorious Green Dam software as well as benefiting Baidu which had paid 40 million RMB to sponsor CCTV’s …

…

Our question is that if Google.cn also ends up donating money to CCTV eventually, then this is blackmail/extortion. But who in China dares to discuss the law with CCTV?

This afternoon, sharp-eyed netizens noted from the Xiaonei website that the so-called righteous university student Gao Ye interviewed by CCTV was actually a worker from CCTV’s program! [On the show, Gao Ye spoke about a fellow student who became absent-minded after viewing some pornography on the Internet.]

Here are the netizen condemnations over at Gao Ye’s blog [Xiaonei profile].

It does not matter how much you emphasize that you did not mean what you said on tv, you must sooner or later be held responsible for fooling the people.

You are going to be held responsible sooner or later.

I only want to ask what happened to your absent-minded friend. Has he installed Green Dam? Is he no longer absent-minded after installing Green Dam?

I came here purely to watch.

What didn’t you speak of Baidu?

The dedicated successor of a totalitarian regime.

…

So you were on !

He he, that’s it!

So you are a insider. So interviews their own worker who pretends to be a university student … “fifty-cent gang” … you are one of the legendary fifty-cent gang member.

Pure fifty-cent gang member …

I watched and I listened to your righteous enumeration of the crimes of Google.cn. I got curious and I visited Google.cn. I ended up being unable to sleep all night.

Lying in front of the entire Chinese people. Disgusting!

Virgin???

Fifty-cent gang member.

You are red-hot popular now. Do you feel absent-minded?

Don’t do that again. It is not right.

I am sorry. I only came here to watch.

Yes, you have really gotten your absent-minded friend in trouble.

You are really unethical. Every filthy-minded Chinese man knows that your buddy is absent-minded!

more information at: EastSouthWestNorth

Original Post: CCTV Attacks Google Porn Links, Fake Interview Exposed

Original Source: chinaSMACK

China Internet Tip: Are you blocked behind the Great-Firewall in China? Cannot reach Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter? Try using Freedur VPN.

Limited Edition "Certified By Netizens" Official chinaSMACK T-Shirts Now Available!
Help support chinaSMACK by sporting the new official chinaSMACK t-shirt designed, chosen, and produced by chinaSMACK readers!

The massively discussed “Green Dam – Youth Escort” Censorship Software is the hottest topic on Chinese Internet during this week.

Spoofing is a very classical Chinese Internet culture. Netizen absolutely won’t let the disgusting Green Dam off. Thus, the “Green Dam Bitch” has been created by netizens.

The “alpaca” in the pictures refers to the “Grass Mud Horse“, a very popular dirty pun on China Internet.

The “crab” logo in the pictures refers to “harmonize”, a term directly derived from President Hu Jintao’s regular exhortations for Chinese citizens to create a harmonious society. In spoken Chinese, “river crab” sounds very much like “harmony”, which in China’s cyberspace has become a synonym for censorship.

15 more pictures & info at: IN2marcom

More information also at:

• Hecaitou – 80后之漫画逆袭：绿坝调教 (Chinese)
• The New Yorker – Decoding Chinese Humor (English)
• Danwei – Green Dam Girl (English)

Original Post: Green Dam Girl: Chinese Netizens Use Art To Ridicule

Original Source: chinaSMACK

China Internet Tip: Are you blocked behind the Great-Firewall in China? Cannot reach Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter? Try using Freedur VPN.

Limited Edition "Certified By Netizens" Official chinaSMACK T-Shirts Now Available!
Help support chinaSMACK by sporting the new official chinaSMACK t-shirt designed, chosen, and produced by chinaSMACK readers!

From China Car Times:

“Chinese netizens comment on Sichuan’s Hummer purchase.”

The big news of the day is of course, Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company’s purchase of Hummer from GM. The New York Times were the first to break the story, but GM soon released a press release which confirmed earlier reports. The Chinese automotive press were naturally all over the story, and Chinese netizens were busily commenting on the story all day which CCT has summarised below.

Sichuan Tengzhong have reportedly already put down a 100 million USD deposit on the Hummer brand, and the deal will be reportedly complete by September 2009, making the iconic American brand a wholly owned Chinese company.

Sichuan Tengzhong’s plans for Hummer are not immediately clear, they do plan to keep the Hummer factories in place in the USA, and with 3000 workers in place.

Chinese netizens were very vocal in their comments on the story, here are some from the Auto.Sohu channel:

If it’s for technology, then 1 billion is worth it, if it’s for the brand, then it’s their loss

Oh! Really sad! Why are other countries brands worth so much? Why do Chinese people like to buy in foreign goods? Look at history, which Chinese brands were successful?

This deal will most certainly lose money

Hummer branding maybe worth 1 billion, but can it be made back?

What are you doing buying rubbish? Sichuan people have too much money

The king of oil consumption, not on the same level as Great Wall Motors though

When are we going to buy Boeing?

Just doing big business, but won’t make big money

Nobody has ever heard of Sichuan Teng Zhong brand, never mind the Hummer brand. In one bite they have become a fat man, I strongly support our national enterprises opening new boundaries. Could it be said that we’ve found yet another area of economic development?

What does China lack the most? It’s not technology, its branding. Technology needs one generation, craftwork takes three generations, but branding takes generations of history to build.

This is great, they [Hummers] will soon be made in China.

So we’ve sent more money to the USA?

So much money, why didn’t they just make their own brand?

So it seems that just from this small sample of comments that Chinese netizens aren’t really behind Sichuan Tengzhong buying Hummer.

from: China Car Times

A Chinese police vehicle.

Original Post: GM Hummer Brand Purchased By Chinese Company

Original Source: chinaSMACK

China Internet Tip: Are you blocked behind the Great-Firewall in China? Cannot reach Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter? Try using Freedur VPN.

Limited Edition "Certified By Netizens" Official chinaSMACK T-Shirts Now Available!
Help support chinaSMACK by sporting the new official chinaSMACK t-shirt designed, chosen, and produced by chinaSMACK readers!

In Guangdong, a suicidal man was pushed off a bridge by a man who made his way past authorities to climb onto the beams. Xinhua has more details:

Chen [Chen Fuchao 陈富超] wanted to kill himself because he was in 2 million yuan of debt following a failed construction project.

After knowing the situation, Lai [Lai Jiansheng 赖健生] volunteered to talk with the Chen to persuade him. After denied by the police, he broken through a police cordon and climbed up to where Chen sat.

Lai first greeted Chen with a handshake, and then he pushed him off the bridge. Chen fell 8 meters onto a partially-inflated emergency air cushion, damaging his spine and elbow in the fall.

“I pushed him off because jumpers like Chen are very selfish. Their action violates a lot of public interest,” Lai said.

From Guangzhou Daily, via sohu, selectively translated by CDT:

Lai Jiansheng explained to his wife that after he approached Chen Fuchao, he asked “Brother, what are you doing?” “I’ve investment debts, people owe me money.” Lai said: “You know making investments is risky; don’t disturb public order just because of your own selfish interests.” He recalled that after negotiations, Chen Fuchao clearly did not have any interest. After this, Li Jiansheng silently decided to move his hand and “use hard methods to provoke a response.”

Lai later told his wife that he didn’t think there would be any serious harm, as there was an air-filled cushion below.

According to the report, there are three possible reasons for Lai’s actions:

Reason 1: Mental illness

61-year-old Liang Yi [Lai's wife] said that after the time of his enlistment in Hainan, Lai Jiansheng has had mental problems. He has had to take medication for the past 40 years.

Reason 2: Honor

According to reports, in early 2006, Lai Jiansheng saved a youth blocking the road on Luoqi Bridge. After the incident, local authorities awarded him with “having boldly done a righteous act,” 10,000 yuan, and a certificate of merit. “Let him receive society’s affirming sentiments.”

Family members reckon that that day, “his mind must have definitely relived that moment,” and wanted to have Chen Fuchao safely come down and let traffic return to normal.

Reason 3: Righteousness

The journalist interviewed the Lai’s neighborhood, the Guangzhou Motorworks dormitory area. Community members all said the same thing: “He was a very candid person, really carried a sense of justice.”

Chen is currently recovering in a hospital; the fees are estimated to be very costly.

Some [Sohu] reactions to the story:

This man dropped stones down a well [precipitated Chen's already low estate], truly a muddled old man.
这样大年纪了还做落井下石的动作,真是的,老糊涂了.

[Fauna: I do not think this translation is correct. It should be: "Still kicking people while they are down/adding insult to injury at such an old age? Truly old and muddled."]

A good heart doesn’t make a good action [Lai had said he had a good heart, but had done a bad thing]. It’s not like he brought intentional harm. In today’s society, it’s hard to be good. It’s typically good enough to just buy soy sauce [slang for onlookers] and mind your own business.
好心没办成好事，不像有伤害的故意。现在的社会，好人难当，平时还是多打酱油少管闲事的好。

[Fauna: "It looks like he had good intentions but failed to do a good thing, it does not look like he had the intention to do harm. Today's society, it is hard to be a good person. Usually, it is better to go buy soy sauce [pass by, minding your own business] and not get involved in other people’s business.”]

You pushed someone else, now it’s your turn to jump. This old man is truly crazy!
你推别人下去,现在轮到你自己跳下去了,这种老头简直就是精神病！

I agree that his criminal and civil record should be investigated; he has given the government a lot of additional trouble. His behavior is a bigger menace to society.
同意追究他的刑事责任和民事责任,他是给政府添乱的人.他的行为社会危害更大.

[Fauna: "I agree with investigating his criminal and civil responsibility. He is someone who brings trouble to the government. His behavior is a bigger social harm."]

from: China Digital Times

Original Post: Suicide Jumper Pushed Off Bridge By Old Man Passing By

Original Source: chinaSMACK

China Internet Tip: Are you blocked behind the Great-Firewall in China? Cannot reach Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter? Try using Freedur VPN.

Limited Edition "Certified By Netizens" Official chinaSMACK T-Shirts Now Available!
Help support chinaSMACK by sporting the new official chinaSMACK t-shirt designed, chosen, and produced by chinaSMACK readers!

Deng Yujiao, a waitress in Hubei Province stabbed an official to death and injured another in resisting their sexual advances. Comments on the internet showed no sympathy with the dead official and generally support the 21-year-old girl, acclaiming that she is another Yang Jia who acted in response to an injustice.

The dead man, Deng Guida, is the chief of county investment promotion office. He came with his two colleagues to the entertainment venue Dream City for a massage, and met the waitress there. They asked for ’special service’, meaning sex service in China, but were refused.

It is alleged that Deng Guida took from his pocket a wad of money and hit the waitress on the head with it. Humiliated by the action, Deng tried to leave the room but the victim twice pushed her onto a sofa as she attempted to do so. The waitress found a knife, stabbing at the victim’s throat, killing him and also injuring one of his colleagues.

The waitress later called police and surrendered.

The news immediately triggered a public discussion after it was revealed. At first it was about whether the girl’s action should be regarded as self-defense. Though legal experts agreed she is likely to be charged, some in Xing-Dao Daily, a Hong Kong newspaper, argued,

The official had requested Deng to offer ’special service’, but was refused! He violently pushed Deng onto the sofa twice, an action that could well be seen as an attempted rape. The infringement on Deng’s rights was an ongoing one and may well have severely injured Deng. Therefore her stabbing was an act of self-defense and given the emergency….she should face no criminal charge!

Many netizens spoke highly of Deng. Yi Li in Tianya commented on the news, saying,

Deng Yujiao, you are good. I admire and support you, and will learn from you. Best regards.

jy_xyp said:

I would be content if I could marry a girl like this.

Virginity is very important in China, and there are numerous stories on how women defended their honor. The sentiment of admiring a girl for defending her virginity, is here combined with a hatred against corrupt officials in the case.

In People.com, a blogger Sun Xiaobo questioned:

How come that these officials have so much money? During the dispute the victim hit the girl on the head with a wad of money. How could a public servant on a salary have so much to spare without any thought or scruple? Was it public funds or embezzled money perhaps?
How could they visit entertainment venues so frequently and are obsessed with ’special service’ so much?

Bloggers, netizens and intellectuals are taking action to support Deng Yujiao. A public letter calling for people to send their words of comfort to Deng, who is now imprisoned, appeared on the internet saying Deng is a heroine. Many still worry though that the police may manipulate the evidence to help the court rule against Deng.

In a preliminary assessment, Deng was identified as having a mental condition. Also, the police allege that the weapon Deng used was actually a fruit knife rather than the nail clipper that Deng used in her job of clipping nails for customers. On this point, blogger Zhou Zhongming wrote an article:

First, the police don’t mention the wad of money at all!

Second, they allege the weapon was a fruit knife, not a nail clipper! This is no small difference because if it is a nail clipper, it shows that the girl was defending herself in a panic with a tool right at hand. If it is a fruit knife however, it implies that the girl took the knife from somewhere else and killed the official on purpose rather than in simple self-defense

Further, they allege that medications for a mental condition were found in the girl’s bag. How vicious a trick to protect the officials’ reputation! They can even put the girl into a mental asylum. Everyone knows it is far worse to be in a State madhouse than being given a death sentence.

The blogger gave a possible scenario of the police conclusions: that the girl, because of her mental condition and persecution paranoia, stabbed the two officials with a purposely prepared knife.

more information at: Global Voices

Original Post: Waitress Stabs Government Official Trying To Rape Her

Original Source: chinaSMACK

China Internet Tip: Are you blocked behind the Great-Firewall in China? Cannot reach Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter? Try using Freedur VPN.

Limited Edition "Certified By Netizens" Official chinaSMACK T-Shirts Now Available!
Help support chinaSMACK by sporting the new official chinaSMACK t-shirt designed, chosen, and produced by chinaSMACK readers!