Getting by China takes quite a bit of patience, willingness to waste time, not to ask too many questions, like why. Why are things so inefficient, why are there guaranteed delays on flights, why do people smoke two to three cigarettes at a time with one hand, why is duck neck a popular delicacy, why do people throw trash everywhere, why is it constantly necessary to be spitting.
I had my travel gin flask with me just in case these questions pop into my head, the flask courtesy of our neighbors, Mulholland Leather. Just small enough to board planes.
To avoid drinking the worst alcohol known to mankind called Bai Jiu白酒， I treated the local Party Secretary (V I Position) and some other government officials to my gin one night. They’ve never had gin, but thought it smelled like the oil of juniper trees. I said, precisely…. Tea people really have taste buds despite all the cigarettes. Such important local government officials are all close family members of Mr. Lin so needless to say, whatever he needs to get done, will get done. Why did he give up his medical practice, I asked? The village is not populous enough, everyone’s healthy, he had little business as a doctor, he said. All the tea drinking meant little work for a doctor? Incredible.
