The People’s Republic of Desire

by Annie Wang

  Hua and Beibei joined the propaganda team at a factory. Their job was to write down socialist slogans on the blackboard of the factory every day. Their salaries were low, and they had no place to live, so they had to live with Beibei's parents.

  Hua was a fiercely ambitious young man, not content to live under somebody else's roof. He recognized China 's need for English-speaking businessmen and began to spend all his time studying English. He applied for the United Nations' postgraduate program held at Beijing Foreign Languages Institute and was admitted. He slaved there for three years, and during those years, Beibei worked to support them both.

  After Hua graduated, he found a marketing job at Motorola China. Motorola has done well in China in the beeper and cell phone business. By 1997, Hua's monthly salary was 20,000 RMB – about $2,400 – twenty times the average salary. He bought a condo for Beibei and him. They moved out of his father-in-law's house.

  As the popular Beijing saying goes, "When women turn bad, they get money; when men get money, they turn bad." The word that Chairman Hua had a lover eventually reached Beibei. She refused to believe it. She was completely loyal to Hua, and couldn't imagine that he'd betray her.

  But one day she returned home early from a business trip and found the door of her apartment locked. As she stood there, perplexed, the door opened a crack, and there was Hua's startled face and stark naked body. Before either of them could say anything, a woman's voice came from the room. "Is that the food delivery? You've tired me out – I'm starving."

  Beibei burst into the room, kicking over a vase and toppling a fish tank. With an explosive crash, the living room floor was covered with tropical fish, flipping all over in desperation.

  Hua's lover was so scared that she started to leave the apartment, still not properly dressed. Hua held his lover by the waist. "Don't go. What can she do to us, anyway?"

  With Hua's support, the naked woman sat down on the sofa, crossed her legs, produced a cigarette from somewhere, and started to smoke.

  After that incident, Beibei thought of divorce. But if she divorced Hua, what would she do then? At that time, her factory was about to go bankrupt, and she needed money to be independent. She didn't want to beg her grandfather again to find her a more profitable job.

  Beibei did not get divorced. Instead, the girl who had always behaved like a princess swallowed her pride. She started spending her time tracking down old contacts, and soon she was representing singers who came to Beijing to break into the big time. She founded the Chichi Entertainment Company. Nowadays, the company is one of the most powerful agencies in town. It represents the hottest bands, like Made in China, Peasants, and Central Leadership. It also brought hot international singers such as Whitney Houston and Sarah Brightman to China, which allowed Beibei to make bundles of money.

  And every time there is a concert, Beibei gives Lulu and me the most expensive tickets. It's not just because we are her buddies – both Lulu and I work in the media. Beibei knows the importance of promotion and publicity.

  Straightforward and outspoken, Beibei is a real sharp-tongued Beijinger. She likes to be the center of attention. This, together with her extraordinary family background, means that she has been overbearing ever since she was young.

  Compared to the soft-spoken feminine Lulu, Beibei is tough and even bossy. When Lulu had her abortion after being made pregnant for the third time by the despicable Ximu, and Ximu did not once go to visit her, Beibei wanted to hire a thug to castrate him. She had even taken an exquisitely carved Tibetan knife she had brought back from Lhasa, its blade shining, and given it to the thug, hidden in an envelope. Had it not been for Lulu's repeated pleading, Ximu would have been a eunuch.

  Chairman Hua has confessed to Beibei that the reason that he sought a lover in the first place was because of Beibei's temper and arrogance. Although Hua's excuse is ridiculous and self-serving, he has managed to win a lot of sympathy from other Chinese men.

  "Most Chinese men don't like strong women," Beibei tells me. "They like servile women who suck up to them. But a servile woman who relies on her man financially can be miserable. No matter how much she has done for him, he will still underestimate her. If he abandons her, he'd say it's because she is too needy or not smart enough. But if she makes good money, he can't ever look down on her."

  Hua treats Beibei with more respect now that she has become the breadwinner at home. "But once bitten by a snake, you don't want to even come close to a rope," says Beibei. She feels things can never be the same between them, and she no longer trusts emotions. She takes her own lovers. The couple has an open marriage.

  I have met Chairman Hua a few times. His eyes are always darting back and forth, his gaze fierce. This man is too ambitious and calculating. Beibei tends to like this type of man. Her lovers are all younger versions of Hua. But I don't think ambition is a terribly attractive characteristic in a man. I'm always more attracted to gentle, laid-back men. I can't explain why. Perhaps it has to do with my Buddhist background. Or perhaps because I am short-tempered, I need a relaxed person to balance my life.

  Since I returned, Beibei hangs out with Lulu and me every day, working out, having makeovers, and eating out, just as if she was as single and unattached as we are. Sometimes she brings along her sleek lover, Iron Egg. We all know that Iron Egg is a gold digger. Once Beibei complained to me, "Five thousand yuan pocket money a month is not enough for Iron Egg. He asks me to buy this and that for him all the time. He won't let me sleep with Chairman Hua. Tell me, is that Iron Egg a bastard or what!? He thinks because I'm older than him, he's getting a raw deal sleeping with me. I'm like his customer. I may as well go and find a xiao yazi - a little duck, a real gigolo. At least he would be honest about the fact that he loves my money."

  Sometimes I wish Beibei would divorce Chairman Hua and marry someone she really loves. But Beibei doesn't have much confidence in men. On the surface, Beibei is cynical, but I know that she desires true love just like everybody else.

  POPULAR PHRASES

  DUDOU: Sexy baby doll clothing that exposes the shoulders.

  XIAO YAZI: Little duck, a gigolo or male prostitute. Because female prostitutes are called "chickens," male prostitutes become "ducks."

  4 Tonics and Perfume

  In the last ten to fifteen years, Shengdan, or Christmas, and Qingren Jie, Lovers' Day or Valentines Day, have proba bly become the two most popular Western holidays in China. Card-making companies like Hallmark were thrilled with this for many years until recently, when e-cards on Yahoo.com largely replaced the real cards. And the Chinese people are happy, too! Isn't it wonderful to have one or two more occasions for chihe-wanle, to eat, drink, play, and be merry?

  Among Chinese yuppies, there are four popular ways to celebrate Christmas: First, go to a cathedral to observe "patriotic Catholics" perform their religious service – or just to kan renao, enjoy the crowd. Often on Christmas Eve the famous cathedral in Beijing 's Xidan district is packed like a morning market. There aren't many opportunities to sing hymns or hear the sound of an organ in China, and Christmas is a great time to have such an experience.

  Since religion is not a part of daily conversation among the Chinese, Christmas is also the perfect time to discuss religious philosophy. It's an excellent opportunity for men to impress women with their intellectual depth, tossing around words like "original sin" and "redemption." Of course, there are some English-speaking church services that are open only to foreigners, who must show their passport to attend. The government thinks it is okay for foreigners to practice religion freely as long as they don't have a bad influence on the Chinese.

  My father, Dr. Chen, is a devout Christian. He became a naturalized American citizen thirty years ago. After moving back to China, he takes part in the unofficial church service held by foreign nationals every year. He never fails to attend the service, and diligently sings all the Christmas hymns too.

  A second way Chinese yuppies celebrate the Yuletide is to attend some Christmas
parties in a foreign hotel, preferably five-star. If you manage to show up at such a party, it means that you have connections. These parties are often sponsored by big multinational corporations or prestigious international organizations. An invitation proves you travel in the elite circle. Beibei and her husband, Chairman Hua, are invited to such parties every year. Because they sleep in separate beds, it is no surprise that they go to these parties separately as well.

  A third way: Cuo yidun, have a feast. The most desirable places for such feasts are the revolving restaurants atop the Great Wall Sheraton and the Citic building, at T.G.I. Friday's in Sanlitun, or at the Hard Rock Cafe. Taking your family or your friends to those places means you have a sense of fashion as well as some money.

  Fourth: Exchange gifts that are beautifully wrapped.

  Gifts are a big deal for the Chinese. They can be very picky about gifts. Often you try to please, but you end up insulting them. I know this very well. Six months before I headed back to China from the United States, I got nervous. I was going to celebrate my first Christmas holiday in Beijing as an adult. Everybody I knew in China expected me to bring nice gifts from the States. What gifts could please my parents and grandparents and demonstrate my filial piety? I called my friend Lulu from Berkeley for advice. After all, Lulu knows everything about new fads in China.

  "Chinese nowadays are obsessed with tonics. Kids want to outsmart other kids. Twenty-somethings are trying to beat stress. Middle-aged women want to postpone their menopause; middle-aged men want to be as vigorous as they were when they were eighteen. Seniors want to stop aging. It's all about yangsheng, cultivating your body. So I would recommend American ginseng. Korean gingseng's nature is hot and American gingseng's nature is cool. Chinese prefer the American one. Also, Deep Ocean fish oil is a surefire winner." Lulu gave me the complete rundown.

  Before I could find out where to buy Deep Ocean fish oil, Lulu e-mailed me again, "The new fashionable tonic is lecithin. It's good for high blood pressure. Forget about fish oil – it's totally passe now."

  Four weeks later, I got another e-mail from her. "Apparently, even people like me can be outdated in this fast-changing world. Lecithin is not cool anymore. People are talking about the powder of crab shells, and ginkgo biloba. They are good for the brain. Everybody tries to get this stuff from the United States. I'm told the prices here are triple the prices in the States."

  I had waited for a month. Receiving no new updates from Lulu, I bought these tonics made in the U.S.A., though Americans don't seem to care about them as much as the Chinese.

  I'm not a fan of tonics – they are for older people. I wish to buy cooler stuff for friends. So I e-mailed Lulu again. "What about CDs, DVDs?"

  "Don't mention CDs or DVDs. We have everything here on the streets. Remember, don't buy anything that says 'Made in China.' Find things saying 'Made in the U.S.A. ' or 'Made in France.' " Lulu would have gone on for much longer if I had the time to listen…

  I drove to shopping malls. From shoes, bags, and toys to jackets and blouses, almost everything I saw is made in China. No wonder people say that China has become the workshop of the world. I was frustrated. Lulu hinted in her e-mail: "Owning foreign perfume or having a small collection of foreign perfume is fashionable nowadays. But remember, brand names are important."

  I eventually decided to buy cosmetics from Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, and Estée Lauder, and returned to Beijing with a suitcase of tonics and perfumes.

  My mother Mei is thrilled to see me. On Christmas Eve, she holds a big dinner party at her million-dollar house in Riviera Villa near the Airport Road to celebrate Christmas as well as my homecoming. My whole family comes: my stepfather Big John and his children, my half-sisters, Dad and my stepmother Jean Fang, my grandparents, Nanny Momo, Nanny Momo's family, and my friends Lulu and Beibei.

  Mom has prepared Chinese dumplings and American turkey. I'm so lucky to have a great cook as my mother. With her cooking skill she won my father's heart many years ago when they first met in California. I distribute my gifts after the gourmet meal, as everybody picks their teeth or burps. Old relatives get tonics; young friends get a bottle of perfume. Everybody is happy.

  I have learned that Nanny Momo has become a rock 'n' roll granny ever since she reached sixty. She likes to listen to disco music, learn English, go to pop concerts, go bowling with her grandkids. To please an old lady with a young heart, I give Nanny Momo both tonics and a big bottle of Estée Lauder eau de toilette.

  Momo shows much more interest in Estée Lauder than the tonics. She wears her reading glasses and reads the English on the bottle of natural spray carefully. She points her finger at the words "eau de toilette," "This word, 'toilet,' means bathroom. I learned it last week from my English teacher." She says excitedly, "See, Americans are so rich. They put such beautiful bottles and nice-smelling water in their bathroom, I wonder what their living rooms and bedrooms smell like!"

  POPULAR PHRASES

  CHIHEWANLE: Eat, drink, play, and be merry.

  SHENGDAN: Christmas. More of an excuse to eat and spend time with family than anything having to do with Christianity or Jesus.

  QINGREN JIE: Lovers' Day – Valentine's Day.

  KAN RENAO: Enjoy the scene.

  CUO YIDUN: Have a feast.

  YANGSHENG: Cultivate one's body to keep its balance and health.

  SANLITUN: A neighborhood in Beijing that offers many entertainment places like cafe shops, restaurants, and bars; a place where young people love to hang out.

  5 Royal Desire

  Since settling in Beijing, I've found that making friends is effortless here. With a cell phone in my pocket, I receive phone calls and invitations to parties and dinners almost every day. But the friends I've made are mainly single girls like me. Meeting men of quality is so much more difficult than meeting women of quality in Beijing. But after getting out of a messy relationship back in the States, I am in no hurry to enter another one.

  My new best friend besides Lulu and Beibei is CC. Like me, CC is also a returnee who has lived quite a long time overseas. Many Chinese think of her as a Chinese royal-to-be.

  It's true that communism is supposed to advocate egalitarianism. It's true that the last emperor of the Manchu dynasty was driven out of the Forbidden City at the beginning of the twentieth century and ever since China has been a republic. It's also true that the Chinese desire for royalty has never died out. A privileged minority can always enjoy royal treatment. Some political scholars describe Mao as a royal peasant. If you turn on Chinese TV, any channel, you will be bombarded by endless soap operas that depict life inside the imperial palace, mainly stories about the Manchu royal families. Princess Pearl (Huanzhu Gege), Emperor Kangxi, Emperor Qianlong Going South Uncovered, the Empire of Kangxi, and so on. Books about ancient emperors sell millions of copies. An author named The River of February who specializes in royal families is now the richest author in China. It seems that people just can't get enough emperor stories.

  As Deng Xiaoping said, "It doesn't matter whether the cat is black or white; as long as it catches rats." Some Chinese have recently got the first taste of being rich. They are China's xingui, the new aristocrats, who not only want to live like royalty, but also want to be royalty – or at least as close to royalty as possible. They wear Rolex watches and Jimmy Choo shoes. They send their kids to private schools and hire private tutors for them, hoping the children will become little emperors and princesses.

  CC is such a Chinese princess.

  CC's parents are originally from a Guangdong village. During the Cultural Revolution, when class struggle was so much more important than growing crops, many of the villagers died in a famine. CC's parents, young and full of dreams and the yearning to make something of their lives, planned to sneak into Hong Kong, which was not far from their village, though the island city was a wholly different world back then. Although they knew how to swim, it was dangerous to swim across the Hong Kong border. The young peasant couple bought an
enamel basin and immersed their faces in the water every day for a year to practice holding their breath. Eventually, they were ready. In those days, the government religiously patrolled the waters along Hong Kong to prevent this sort of treachery. CC's parents were dressed all in black, and even painted their faces with makeup to prevent themselves from being seen. Because they chose a night without a moon, and they were completely camouflaged, it was impossible for them to even see each other from a few feet away as they swam across. To make sure they didn't get separated in the choppy waters, they tied themselves together with a length of rope around their waists. They crossed the South China Sea successfully. The two began as a waiter and a waitress at one of Hong Kong 's fast-food restaurants. Not long after, they started their own fast-food restaurant. With hard work and ambition, the pair became rich in ten years.

  By the time CC was born, her parents were full-time golfers and drove around in chauffeured Mercedes. However, Hong Kong followed the English closely. Because of their humble background, her parents were still looked down upon by Hong Kong society. Their biggest dream was to upgrade their own status by making their daughter the equivalent of royalty – if not by blood, at least by marriage.

  At the age of two, CC was sent to study at a private school in London. Now this Oxford-educated Hong Kong girl could speak English with a perfect Oxford accent. She also spoke fluent French, some Spanish, and some Chinese and played both the piano and chess with skill. She was also at times a ballet dancer, a violin player, and an opera singer.

  Because of CC's Western upbringing, and because she is more internationally educated than my other friends, she has her own style, which is distinctively un-Chinese. In this day and age, the "fashionable" Chinese women try to be as Western as they can. Stiletto heels, low-rise jeans, dyed hair, and name-brand jackets are all a must. While this look may be considered high status and tasteful by many of China 's elite, to CC it is boring and uncreative. CC has a petite body and delicate bones. Although the Chinese think whiter skin is the more beautiful, she tries to get a suntan. Her style is something of a mixture of East and West, just like she is. Her clothes are much less flashy and in-your-face than what is normally seen on the streets of Beijing or Shanghai. It is not uncommon for CC to be seen in tight American jeans, with a Shanghai Tang silk Chinese jacket. CC's mixture of fashion is an unconscious metaphor for her confusion over her own place in Chinese society.