Winter Tea For Beijing
(roparz)
Liu Xinglong's novel is set somewhere in South China, maybe in the Hunan or Hunai region. Far from the megapoles entirely dedicated to thefree market economy, peasants live, stuck between simplicity and destitution, still followingancient traditions and their life is rythmed by seasons andthe Party's meetings. And it is during one of those meetings that one of the local supervisors, in an effort to pleasehis superiors back in Beijing, decides to offer those superiors tea that willbe gathered in the dead of winter, in the snow. This incredible decision, incredible because of its lack of common sense and understanding of tea farming, is tobe executed by farmers, with or against their will, and if failing to obey, the annual emergency funds will stop. Shi Debao, chief of one thevillages chosen to work this ridiculous decision, is designated as supervisor. Stuck between his blind obedience to his superiors and the ridiculous aspect of the mission, he will work with all to complete the task. 'Winter tea for Beijing' is a tragi-comedy like Ubu's detailing the absurdity and ridicule of an outfashioned ideology which tries to deal with the modern world and decides to familiarize the people with economic concepts of rentability, whilst maintaining absurd and defunct theories dating back to the Grand Timonier. It is the perfect opportunity to see a pathetic collection of characters, local supervisors of the Party, arrivist and smarmy bureaucrats, ready to compromize to court their superiors, themselves corrupt and stupid, and ready to do anything to accomplish their pathetic little dreams. Liu Xinglong's novel is a snapshot of the contemporary life in chinese regions, where the free market economy only benefits a portion of people, always the same ones, and forgets once again the more humble people, who are only left disappointed, poor and frustrated by the new political changes.
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