Quote:
Originally Posted by
Zakanara0312
Bro, hard working huh?
Err…. Doing MBA in SBF??? (Just joking)
I would be a very happy person if my Prof can approve a thesis on SBF! Hahaha!
Time passes by quickly - it has been 3 weeks since I settled into the factory. The salary is still credited weekly, even though I have already submitted the proposal to credit it monthly a week ago. They sure work really slowly around here.
I could understand also PA Shen’s reluctance to pop over my apartment more often by now. Chinese women are very interesting. They can be very open when they are alone with you, away from others, but the fear of giving negative impressions to those about them is always on their minds. I attribute it perhaps to how the Chinese tend to think in terms of the collective, and the fear of ostracization is likely to be constantly on their psyche.
I must admit, though, that I really enjoyed the 2 visits she made - using the pretext of discussions. I tried to summon her over less often, as I began to understand her anxiety over the other administrative staff and factory workers seeing her entering and exiting my apartment. It was also the reason why I did not ask Xiao Wang over - for her to come from her quarters would invite even more gossip than PA Shen.
On Thursday (I remembered it was a Thursday, because it was 2 days before payday!), Mr Li, now the man I address as Li dong (the ‘dong’ honorific is used to address a board director), took me to a KTV to introduce me to the other GMs in his other factories. This outing is supposed to be a monthly bonding affair, and till today, I understand that all GMs attend, even if they are sick. It is a matter of face given to their boss, and no one in his right mind will miss a party anyway.
The KTV was at some faraway place again. The Chinese seemed not to mind long distance travelling to reach good places. Dinner was held at a restaurant in the same building as the KTV (same boss - and he happened to be a friend of Li dong…guanxi runs deep in China indeed).
All Chinese dinner are the same. The host will make a long boring speech, which the guests have to respond to with intermittent claps, cheers and “good!” (the last only if you are on par in terms of position, never do that as a junior). The GMs had all mastered the art of looking interested and engaged in long speeches. It would take me a while, but I also understood the need for the claps and the cheers. They help to keep one awake!
Lots of food would be served by pretty waitresses. In China, there are so many people desperate for jobs, with little legal laws to protect them, that many are truly hired for their looks. Such hiring would never have passed equal opportunity hire in the States.
And when I said lots of food, I really meant it. I am always very amazed at the amount of wasted food at each meal. To the Chinese, wasted food is part of the dinner entertainment. It is a symbol of the generosity of the host, and the “modesty” of the guest at not being gluttonous.
My first experience with Chinese rice wine was not pleasant. Imagine drinking vodka neat and you would get what I mean. I could smell the fumes from the drink held at arm’s length. It is likely wonder that liver failure is common in China. If you do not believe how powerful that thing is, try pouring the wine over a slab of meat. The cooking process begins immediately.
All of us, by then half-drunk, went up to the KTV upstairs. We were presented with a flesh parade, as the mummy put up a line-up of beauties for us to pick from. There were too many of them to choose! I believe I picked one with boobs that looked like they were spilling out from her dress. It is unfortunate that I could no longer remember how she looked like - I suspect my half-drunk mind picked her on the basis of her mammaries.
There were no English songs! I had to struggle with all the Teresa Teng songs I could remember, as Li dong and the other GMs cheered me on with singing. Yeah, I was the one entertaining them, being the newbie. In future trips, I would learn that singing is not a primary activity at KTVs. It was a good thing my Chinese is good, otherwise I would have been a clown there. But there again, I was in China precisely because my Chinese is good!
As the liquor began to flow, and everybody got even more drunk, the party got more interesting. My hostess, for example, began to exchange kisses with me (she took the initiative!), which really got me wanting more. There were no protests as I groped her breasts, slipping into her dress from the neckline, past the dress and past the bra. There were no protests as my other hand slipped past the hemline (already short!), to grope her thighs and to finally remove the panties.
It was the same with the other managers. One of them actually took off the top of his girl. Mine was wearing a dress, and she resisted a bit when I tried to peel the spaghetti straps off her shoulder. I left it at that (the straps hanging off her arms), something I would not do nowadays. I think I was a lot more “naive” then, and could not grasp at the concept of “getting my money’s worth”.
The singing (and groping and kissing) session ended at 2am, and by then we were all really drunk. Li dong paid for the liquor, as well as tips to the girls, the mummy and the xiaomei (“little sister”, the waitress in charge of the room who also picked the songs for us). It was really good money for these girls, equivalent to an entire month’s wages in some poorer provinces, where they inevitably come from.
I was expected to still work the next day, so I slept on the way back in the van, and needed to be woken up and escorted by the driver to my apartment. The Chinese partied hard but they work hard. I was still expected to work the next day, hangover or not. I suppose such “work ethics” separated the managers from the workers, the latter whom drinking would create a total wreck.
And indeed, the hangover the next day made me wonder if coming to China was such a good idea after all.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
warbird
You mean u didn’t fxk the KTV gal?
Heh, maybe I should write that in the next time!
Quote:
BTW, a PRC MM who used to work in a KTV in South China told me that 100% of KTV gals in China can 打炮. I told her (168cm) I liked tall n chio SYTs n she replied that there were many, many taller n prettier gals than she incuding some uni students. Wonder if this is true in other parts of China such as BJ, XM n SH?
I am sure there are, just that I have yet to come across them. Sometimes I wonder if I am in the right forum in the first place! Hahaha!
Busy indeed, but more importantly - writer’s block. I ran out of good ideas. Give me some time, and hopefully I can get some creative juice flowing.
Buried in work, meetings and studies. Getting the stamina to write a story is harder than I thought!
[Warning: No sex involved.]
It is amazing how a mere General Manager of a factory in China could take on many other roles, beyond that of his job. As the “little lord” 小霸王 of the factory, he was expected to solve disputes, “protect” his workers and so on. I learnt, after 3 months on the job, that I was expected to also be a judge and executioner as well.
My workers, by now, had become used to my daily walks around the factory compound. Apparently, General Managers in China stay in their ivory towers all the time, and workers hardly get to see their “lord”. I liked to walk around. It allowed me to see things were getting on, and kept the supervisors on their toes.
And so it was, that passing by the security office, I came across a crying woman with an infant in her arms, tangling with two security officers - one of them my Chief of Security! They let go of the struggling woman, and they saw me approach. The Chief of Security was visibly upset at seeing me.
“What is the matter, 队长 Chief?” In China, the title is normally used rather than names, even last names. It can get very, very formal, even when someone higher up addresses his juniors.
“Chen
zong
, I…”
At hearing his address to me, the woman immediately flung herself at my feet, still holding on to the infant! I could tell that the Chief was very, very anxious by now.
“Chen
zong
, please be our judge! My useless man has not been sending money home for two months! How is my daughter and I going to eat? I have no money at all! Whatever money I have has been spent on my journey here…”
She started sobbing, and she was loud. I tapped on her shoulder and motioned for her to get up. I waved Chief over and announced loudly to his deputy, “Please take over the security right now. I need to talk to someone in my office.”
His deputy beamed visibly. I could not be sure it was because of the honour of having the GM tell him to take over, or because he saw a promotion on his cards, with a possible removal of his Chief over a scandal. Yes, in China, anything that makes one lose face terribly is a big scandal, and to the Chief, having his wife come all here was a terrible loss of face, not just in front of his staff, but most importantly, in front of his superior.
PA Shen did a great job of comforting the crying baby (she took the girl out) as I listened to the sob story. My Chief of Security had not sent money home for over two months, and the family was very dependent on his salary. So what was the problem? My mind began to think of all the possible vices. Gambling? Women? Drink? I could not think of any of them as possibilities, knowing my Chief of Security. It was weird.
I looked to him, and he sheepishly started talking. Apparently, my Chief of Security has started taking an interest to really expensive cigarettes (中华 Zhonghua brand - they are not the most expensive, but are priced beyond most workers), and has been smoking his salary away. I could only shake my head - what had gone into his head?
And so I did the charade of berating him in front of his wife, and did what I felt was a masterful piece of work at saving the face of everyone involved. In front of his wife, I threatened to dismiss him, because I have always believed in the importance of the family, and how could I trust someone who could not take care of his family, blah, blah, blah.
Both of them were sobbing by now, and his wife knelt in front of me in another display of drama, as she begged me to forgive her husband, that he was actually a very good man. I summoned the most “Justice Bao” look I could give, and stared at him.
“Chief, your wife has asked me to forgive you. Your records have been very good, and it was not a major vice you have committed. I am going to give your wife 2 weeks’ pay in advance, so she could at least take it home to feed your girl. I will not be so easy on you the next time. And please, if you want to smoke your lungs away, at least get something that fits your budget!”
By now both of them were thanking me profusely. And since the paymaster is not here (this is not Saturday), the 2 weeks’ pay comes from my own pocket first. Not a big deal, it is probably a night out to me, at my pay scale.
The bigger problem, which I could not resolve, was the loss of respect among his staff. No show I can put up could help him this time. The next few weeks would be crucial for this man, in order for him to overcome the loss of face of having his wife make a scene at the factory.
I think I am starting to enjoy my time here!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MetaSinz
Good content and good storyline which is not too unbelievable. It is sad that I will not be able to experience it because I belong to generation Y ( wonder if I got that right
)
Yes, the China of today is much more sophisticated compared to 10-20 years ago, but I still think it offers much more than life in Singapore. I really enjoyed interacting with the Chinese, finding out how entertaining (both official and personal!) works here, and so on.
Even for a Gen Y fellow, I would suggest at least 2-3 years in China, to experience a different life here - one less cloistered, less “safe” and definitely more exciting than the stale and structured city state whose passport I hold on to.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bonkingmachine
Good story and good reminder of my visit to China. The average factory worker earns about 700 to 1k RMB per month which is what we would play for a bonk here.
At the time of the story, getting RMB700 is not for an average factory worker - it’s for a
very
lucky factory worker!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
adamantite
good story! carry on !
I’ll be going over Shenzhen to head a branch office there soon. Hope I’ll have the same treatment as you from my co-workers!
You may be surprised how likely this can happen, but I would advise you against it. 中国女人不好搞。最毒妇人心。
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SpIkEY
I should be posted from guangzhou to shanghai this year end ..hopefully we could meet up ?
Sure, no problem.
And for my fans who missed my updates, the length of time between my login would tell you where most of my energies are going on right now (the real world!). If I ever get the inspiration again, like how something sparked me to write the story, I will continue.