Message from karenrieger

[Anonymous]

Chapter 14

San Jiu is upset with Meyer over his attempt to pay for his medical care. Meyer is informed that he is no longer welcome at the long-standing weekly dinner date. Meyer seeks advice from Auntie Yi. Meyer shows up for dinner armed with treats and pork and all is forgiven.
Everyone is uncomfortable with change. We work so hard to adapt to the expectations of the world order we live in that change in that order is extremely uncomfortable. Auntie Yi lived through a fundamental change in Chinese society. In order for communism to topple thousands of years of tradition extreme discipline was necessary. Erosion of the measures that communism put in place is very upsetting to her. The growing status and economic division between rural and city populations troubles Auntie Yi who worked so hard to build a new order built on equity. She has staunchly supported the party through communal and then individual agricultural models, but she draws the line at corporate agriculture. Where is the patriotism in that? The advantages of the new corporate system of agriculture are obvious; increased yields, food safety, maximum efficiency, and incorporate the latest scientific advances. Farmers are free to take city jobs and have access to better schools for their children. The disadvantages for the farmers are also obvious. Currently the farmers grow their own vegetables and raise chickens for meat and eggs. The rice production provides a living wage and the rice stalks that are leftover at harvest provide heat during the year. Farmers that sign over their plots of land and trade their houses for company apartments lose these advantages.
It is obvious when an important visitor is expected in Wasteland for the small hamlet becomes a Potemkin village. Roads are improved and houses are painted. Citizens are prevented from moving about and must be sequestered during the visit.