Beijing Morning Post, March 11, 2010

Today’s Beijing Morning Post presents two images that many of the country’s newspapers featured on the front page.

A landslide in Shaanxi Province crushed twenty-five homes and buried 44 villagers. Seventeen deaths have been reported, and eleven people are still missing. (See this gallery from Xinhua.)

The bottom of the page shows one artist’s rendering of a feathered dinosaur. Scientists announced earlier this year that they had discovered the feathers’ actual colors (see the China Daily); this rendering comes from the Beijing Museum of Natural History.

Update (2010.03.12): The New Culture View followed up on the story with two additional feature articles that culminated in the man’s reunion with his family.

New Culture View, March 10, 2010

As I was buying books at the Tongren Bookstore on Xikang Road, I saw a homeless man reading. I saw him in the mathematics section, where he was concentrating on a book and writing things down on a piece of paper. Curious, I went over to have a look. It turned out that he was reading Mathematics for Economics and was working out problems. His handwriting was neat and orderly, and some of the problems even I was unable to solve….what a surprise!

The Chinese media continues its infatuation with homeless chic through the profile of a man who spends his nights in a hallway and his days in a bookstore — gasp! — reading books!

Late last month, the rugged features and fashion sense of “Brother Sharp” (犀利哥) captivated the Chinese Internet before catching the attention of the mainstream media last week. His national fame reunited him with his family, where one hopes he’ll be protected from the prying eyes of the public.

Now the New Culture View has picked up the story of another astonishing homeless man. Twenty-four-year-old Zhang Yi (张义) of Changchun, Jilin Province, has been visiting a local bookstore for the past few months to read up on math and science, the same as any ordinary patron.

Although the story did not originate online — a student at the Changchun Institute of Technology called in with the eyewitness account translated above — the paper linked Zhang to other cases of Internet-driven celebrity through a headline that echoes a popular online meme: Don’t obsess over him; his only love is solving math problems. The Dongguan Times, which used the NCV story on its own front page, took a similar approach: “Shanzhai Brother Sharp” found in Changchun; solves problems in higher mathematics.

The Chinese reading public frequently uses bookstores as reading rooms, and Zhang is no exception:

Ms. Guo, manager of the Tongren Bookstore’s science section, said that Zhang Yi had read practically all of the books in the section. His handwriting was quite attractive; many of her colleagues had taken a look.

Manager Liu said that Zhang comes to the bookstore before 9 each morning and does not leave until closing time. He has been doing so for nearly five months, rain or shine.

“The past couple days, Zhang has seemed particularly interested in English and computer books. A few days ago he was engrossed in a Band 8 English text,” Manager Liu said.

He explained that at first, they did not let him inside because they were afraid that his improper attire would affect the other customers. But seeing him leave politely each time only to return the following morning, “we let him in a few times and found that he would read by himself and would not bother the other customers, so we didn’t stop him anymore.” Zhang Yi kept things clean. At lunchtime, he would buy a box lunch to eat in the bookstore, and when he was finished he’d throw it into a trash can before resuming his reading.

“He follows the rules and doesn’t make a scene,” said Ms. Guo. She also said that he always returns books to their proper location once he finishes with them. But whenever he’s reading, other customers keep their distance.

Zhang has a high-school education but appears to have family issues that prevent him from returning home. A reporter followed Zhang to the third-floor landing where he sleeps and pestered him about his life:

Reporter: Where do your clothes come from?
Zhang: A woman from around here gave them to me. (Without looking up, he puts on his shoes, which are too tight for his feet. He removes the laces before fitting into them.)

Reporter: So you live here?
Zhang: That’s right. (As he speaks, he retrieves a broken cigarette from his coat pocket and takes two hard drags before it burns out.)

Reporter: Have you had lunch? I’ll treat you and we can chat.
Zhang: Lunch? Oh, lunch…yeah, I’ve already eaten.

Reporter: How do you manage with food and clothing?
Zhang: Lots of people help me by giving me a little bit.

Reporter: What high school did you graduate from?
Zhang: An ordinary high school. It’s not worth naming.

Reporter: You can do higher math. So you must have been a good student.
Zhang: My academic performance was average. I was only interested in theory and in math.

Reporter: Why don’t you go home?
Zhang: I’m used to being on my own. I’m doing pretty well, aren’t I?

Reporter: I can help you give your family a call.
Zhang: No, thanks.

Reporter: It’s just past the Spring Festival. Your parents must miss you.
Zhang: They’re always fighting. I don’t want to go home.

Reporter: When all of the shops closed for the holiday, how did you manage?
Zhang: I ate very little, but I endured it.

Reporter: You’re educated. Why don’t you find a job?
Zhang: I had a few interviews when I graduated high school, but none of them suited me.

Reporter: Are you going to live like this your whole life? Do you want us to help you find work?
Zhang: I’m fine. I’m used to it.

Then Zhang said he had to use the bathroom and made a swift exit down another stairwell. At the intersection of Dongnanhu Road and Linhe Street, Zhang Yi disappeared into the crowd….

Update (2010.03.12): The New Culture View has followed up on the story.

A reporter returned to Zhang Yi’s hallway and helped him register at the local aid station. It turns out that Zhang’ whose real name is Huang Xuran (黄旭冉), was born in 1980, attended graduated from Jilin Teachers’ Institute of Engineering and Technology, and had a history of mental illness before his disappearance on April 20, 2009. Huang went out for a walk at 7 that morning and never came back. He made withdrawals from his bank account over the next several days, but that was the last his mother knew — she worried that he had been kidnapped and sent to work in an illegal brick kiln.

The paper spoke to some of Huang’s former classmates, who described him as a good student who pretty much kept to himself and who was heavily into online gaming during his last year at the school.

The March 12 edition reported that Huang has been reunited with his family, nearly a year after he vanished.

Information Times, March 9, 2010

After speed skater Zhou Yang won the 1,500 meters short-track at Vancouver, she mentioned her parents but neglected to thank her country for supporting her in her quest for an Olympic gold medal.

Her ingratitude was criticized by Yu Zaiqing, an International Olympic Committee vice-chairman and a deputy director at the National Sports Bureau. Yu said that she ought to thank the country first.

Today’s Information Times reports that Zhou has taken the criticism to heart.

The paper’s front-page story emphasizes the involuntary nature of her do-over: “Zhou Yang offers a second thanks meeting to the leader’s standard” and “Zhou Yang follows orders and does it again” are headlines. Zhou’s second statement now thanks the country first and foremost, and puts her parents last, after her supporters, her coach, and other sports staff.

Zhou’s initial remarks after winning the gold:

This is my dream. I think that this gold medal will bring lots of changes. First of all, it will definitely give me more confidence, and it will also improve life for my parents.

Yu Zaiqing’s criticism:

There’s nothing wrong with thanking your parents, but first you should thank your country. You’ve got to put the country first, and not simply thank your parents alone.

Zhou Yang’s mother, Wang Shuying:

What Chinese person does not love their country? We raise our children to bring glory to the country! The leader’s quibbles — are they really necessary? After bringing so much honor to the country, what does such a little thing matter?

Zhou Yang’s second statement, made yesterday:

What I really want to say is thanks. I thank the country for providing us with excellent conditions, for giving us the excellent conditions for our Olympic campaign. And I thank everyone who supported us, I thank our coaches, I thank the staff, and I thank my mom and dad.

Lei Feng taking down dodgy adverts

Lei Feng’s got a microblog!

Lei Feng Diary contains the musings of the Rustless Screw forty-eight years after his death in an unfortunate telephone pole accident.

The tone is earnest, and while much of the very dry humor derives from the incongruity of a national icon commenting on contemporary pop culture and the latest social scandals, the microblog also explores what the real Lei Feng might make of a world that perceives him as both an outdated icon and a brand ripe for exploitation.

Some excerpts:

A couple days ago the company started to study “The Diary of a Bureau Chief,” but there’s only one computer, so the comrades haven’t been able to. The political instructor was at wits’ end, which I saw and took to heart. This evening I worked into the night to write it out by hand so that everyone in the company could have a copy. On the flyleaf of each volume I wrote “Lovers are not the exclusive right of the bourgeoisie. We proletarians also have revolutionary partners, and we aren’t afraid of a few more (Selected Works of Chairman Mao, vol. 4).”

Posted at 00:52 on March 4

Yesterday the company notified me that I was to go give my regards to a welfare household, and that the media wanted to do a report. This year, the house that pensioner Grandpa Ding had lived in for fifty years was finally deemed to be an “illegal structure.” Grandpa Ding gave me a warm reception, but I was awkward in front of the camera and the director kept scrapping the takes, so Grandpa Ding had to give me a warm reception 58 times. He said, “Lei, your ‘nail spirit’ has always been an encouragement to me!” Later I found out that Grandpa Ding’s household was a nail house.

Posted at 00:52 on March 4

One of the masses suspects that what I just posted was an ad for Naobaijin. But I’m not able to do advertising. True, I have done ads in the past, and there are pics that show that it happened. But then a brand called Nai-ke something-or-other asked me to endorse them. The slogan they came up with was “Just Lei It!” But then they misprinted it, and it ended up as “Just Lie It!” which was blatant slander against the image of party members, and from then on SARFT blacklisted me from doing ads, just like Comrade Tang Wei.

Posted at 02:45 on March 5

Two days ago I was still depressed over not having received notice from my superiors to attend the Two Meetings. But now I’ve come to terms with it: the party’s arrangements have a rational basis. The sessions’ opening clashes with Lei Feng Day, so to better serve the people, I have to be with the masses. Without me, the Two Meetings will still be a great rally, a victorious assembly, but I cannot be absent from Lei Feng Day. Ah, the true Lei Feng is among the people, not in the Great Hall of the People. Helping others is helping yourself. Happy Lei Feng Day!

Posted at 03:17 on March 5

This morning when I went out for drills, I ran into Yu Luoke downstairs, who at that early hour was already listless. I asked him what was wrong. He was depressed: “Lei, you’re famous, and today everyone remembers that it’s your memorial day, but no one knows that it’s also my memorial day.” I said, “So what if they don’t know? People’s memories are bad these days, but there’s always the Internet. Go online and try Sougou, and in that way you can find the both of us.” After listening to me, Yu was no longer unhappy.

Posted at 09:12 on March 5

Further reading: Lei Feng Diary is quite similar to a short-lived 2006 blog. Perhaps the parodies are more easily sustained in microblog format, and we can look forward to reading more of the Fengster’s updates in the future.

Liaoshen Evening News, March 8, 2010

The Anshan (鞍山) edition of the Liaoshen Evening News is celebrating International Women’s Day by detailing:

• What to cook for a woman on this day (which has the headline “It’s not dinner I’m making, it’s affection!” 老公做的不是菜, 是爱心, a parody of the World of Warcraft “brother” and “legend” catchphrase).
• All women need on this day is to feel important: the article begins by talking about women schoolteachers who can’t take the day off, and goes on to describe how some women will spend the day － shopping with their boyfriends etc. It ends with a nod to “girls” 女生, who’d rather not celebrate it because of the word for “women” 妇女, used in Women’s Day (三八妇女节). “Old women”, 老太太 might also think that they don’t fall under the category of “women” (妇女), despite that all women over 18 should be included.

The interestingly-designed front page poses many questions: Do you know that you have a half-day holiday today? What to do if you can’t enjoy holiday with pay? What are their real feelings? What have men prepared for them during this day? What are men thinking on this day? Are they happy purely because they get a holiday? Where do full-time housewives get their happiness? Presumably some of the answers can be found in the two features mentioned above, on A11 and B13.

Readers can also call in to reflect their views on the topic.

Chongqing Economic Times, March 6, 2010

How to maximize the declining value of newspapers as an advertising medium must be a challenge faced by all advertisers, but the editors at the Chongqing Economic Times seemed to have found one answer.

The big image on the front of the March 6 issue shows the charismatic Premier Wen Jiabao wearing his gold rimmed glasses as he delivers a speech before the National People’s Congress. The image is captioned with his inspiring words, “Let people live more happily and with more dignity; make society more just and harmonious.”

Underneath, a headline reads: “Presbyopia sufferers, we remind you to wear a pair of next generation adjustable multi-focus reading glasses.” Very subtle, indeed.

A video by Janek Zdzarski for See China: HerStory (Nüshu 女书) is a dance piece inspired by the secret women’s writing system, choreographed by Helen Lai, recently performed at at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing.

People’s Daily
March 6, 2010

March 5 marked the opening of the Third Session of the 11th National People’s Congress.

Opening Day varies little from year to year. The politburo makes its entrance. Wu Bangguo emcees. Wen Jiabao delivers the annual work report while everyone else follows along in their print copies. Then during the break-out sessions, Hu Jintao presents some important remarks to a provincial delegation (Jiangsu these days). Then on March 6, the People’s Daily publishes a newspaper that is practically indistinguishable from years previous.

Well, not this year. Today’s People’s Daily features a front-page that makes some innovative layout choices.

Vertical composition is passé in 2010, so the paper features a horizontal headline over a row of photos. Hu Jintao’s remarks have been shifted to the bottom left, leaving the upper right free for news bites from the NPC and CPPCC. And the lead editorial returns to the front page after a two-year absence.

For the past few years, bloggers and forum commenters have ridiculed the People’s Daily’s unchanging March 6 layout. Has someone been listening?

Who needs variety? Top: 2004, 2005, 2006; Bottom: 2007, 2008, 2009

Chongqing Evening News, March 5, 2010

While most of the nation’s newspapers are busy covering the legislative sessions currently underway in the capital, the Chongqing Evening News features a front page with no direct mention of the “two meetings” (两会).

True, the lead headline, in which mayor Huang Qifan describes taking to his cooperation with party secretary Bo Xilai as “a fish to water,” is taken from an interview conducted at the sessions, but the rest of the page is a rundown of rougher news items:

• Who’s got the guts to dump into the Yangtze?: Dump trucks, at a rate of 40 per hour throughout the night, poured gravel into the Yangtze River. “We’re constructing a landing,” they said. The Waterway Bureau called the project illegal.
• “If anyone says the Lei Feng story is made-up, I’ll fight him like hell!”: Hu Rong’ao, who knew Lei Feng back in the army, talks to the newspaper about his experiences with the model soldier. Lei Feng helped him learn to read and taught him “The Clear-The-Fuel-Circuits Song.”
• “Beat him! I’ll accept responsibility!”: A branch party secretary included an overloaded tractor in his niece’s wedding procession and got stopped by the traffic cops. He was not pleased: “You dare conduct a traffic stop on my turf?!”
• Man falls 10 stories and only breaks his ankle: Looking for the bathroom, a man stepped into an electrical shaft and fell ten stories. He was discovered six hours later when clanging pans in the kitchen next to him allowed rescuers to pinpoint his location.
• Spicy Chongqing girls get hurt easily: Zhou Xiaoyan, a “marriage expert” and a professor at Chongqing Normal University, says that women in Chongqing share four traits that increase their risk of getting hurt: (1) They’re too forthright and unguarded; (2) They’re too pretty and stylish; (3) They’re too impulsive, a result of Chongqing’s spicy cuisine; (4) They’re too open and ambitious and want to get rich too quickly.

Trucks lined up to dump their load into the Yangtze River

Pledging to follow the Fengster

Lei Feng Day, March 5, is a time for the mainstream media to stage gimmicky stunts that somehow illustrate the decline of the Lei Feng Spirit of selfless dedication in contemporary society.

The Chongqing Economic Times sent a reporter out to help people at the local train station, where he discovered that people today are suspicious of strangers who offer them unwanted assistance:

Yang Xiaoli piled up her luggage on a spot just outside the entrance and then lifted up her one-year-old son before sitting down on the pile like so many other fellow travelers waiting for the train. Yang’s oldest child was just three or four and would not settle down. “Don’t run around. Obey!” Yang looked a little haggard as she watched her two rambunctious children. But when the reporter stepped forward and offered to help look after them, Yang brusquely refused: “No, I can look after them myself.”

When the reporter then disclosed his identity and intentions, Yang revealed her worries: “There are too many people at the station. A stranger may offer to help, but if his motives aren’t good, if he’s a trafficker or a swindler, how will I be able to chase him down while carrying two kids?” Yang said that she refuses all help from strangers out of fear of getting cheated.

Xue Yu, who hails from Yunyang, was going to Beijing in search of work with sixteen people from the same town. The lively group had twenty or thirty bags among them, so this reporter went over to help carry them. But the attempt was unanimously rejected. After an explanation, Xue cheerfully agreed.

Later, he said that was a little afraid of a stranger offering to help: “You’re not wearing a volunteer uniform, so how do I know you’re not a cheat?” Xue said that he would not readily accept help from strangers who weren’t dressed in the uniform of Beijing Railway Station volunteers.

Of course, gimmicks aren’t restricted to the press. The power of the brand appeals to movers and shakers in the business community, as illustrated by this Guangzhou Daily report on Lei Feng’s new use as a totem:

Yesterday, the “Guangdong Hugs for Presidents” group formed by thirty-odd “corporate managers” went to Yuexiu Mountain to hold their first “show” of the new year. For the oath-taking event, “Follow Lei Feng and be a spiritual tycoon,” the managers wore red caps and white t-shirts, and everyone carried a red placard.

Under the leadership of Mr. Lin, the organizer, the members stood before a large poster of Lei Feng and shouted a several-hundred-word oath until they were hoarse. The managers then came up one by one to deliver energetic personal statements. After presenting their family background, they shouted the slogan, to which the assembly yelled in unison, “Yes.”

The exercise reached a climax following the oath-taking when the “managers” took a step back, turned around to face the Lei Feng image, and then fell to their knees to demonstrate their “utmost respect and fervor for the Lei Feng spirit.” They then got to their feet and bowed three times before the image. Then they distributed red caps and t-shirts to passers-by, urging them to “follow Comrade Lei Feng” in order to turn the Lei Feng spirit into their own “spiritual wealth.”

“Other people worship the God of Wealth at the New Year. We worship Lei Feng,” said Mr. Lin. In contemporary China, with its widespread worship of money, Lei Feng may be the poorest of the poor, he said, but from a spiritual perspective, Lei Feng is incredibly wealthy. He knew happiness and contentment in his heart, and in a very real sense was a ’spiritual tycoon’.”

Turning to more serious forms of altruism and selflessness, the Zhongshan Economic Daily points out that while individuals can choose to emulate Lei Feng’s example, groups of people aren’t generally permitted to band together to do good works:

Another year, another March 5 “Follow Lei Feng” day. But tens of thousands of Zhongshan’s grass-roots volunteers who want to “follow Lei Feng” have faced the same problem over the years: their public service organizations are not recognized by the government, so their good work must be conducted without a legal identity.

This reporter found more than ten private public service websites and teams in Zhongshan whose volunteers number more than 30,000. As they quietly go about their volunteer work, their one hope is that they can be acknowledged with formal recognition by society.

The Zhongshan Youth Associations (Self-Organization) Coalition was established on the evening of January 28. Comprising more than ten private public service organizations organizations like Zhongshan Qingfeng Outdoor Travelers Public Service, all of which operate outside of the system, the ZSYAC represents a step toward legality at last. This reporter learned that our city is contemplating lowering the threshold for private service groups, and if that policy takes effect, the public service websites mentioned above may soon achieve formal recognition.

The Qingfeng organization was started by a group of outdoor sports enthusiasts who began getting involved in charity projects such as assisting schools in poor areas. For the better part of a decade it has attempted to register as an authorized non-profit organization with official government sponsorship, but all of its applications were turned down. Members continue to conduct their charity activities outside the law.

Legally recognized charities in China are currently required to be attached to a sponsoring institution (主管单位) within the government. The policy change mentioned in the article seeks to replace that with a system of “steering institutions” (指导单位) that will eliminate many of the obstacles to registration.

What will change apart from the terminology is not made clear in the article. For the foreseeable future, it appears that Lei Feng followers must remain either loners or outlaws.