Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, July 14, 2013
Bored by the duty-free merchandise in this impressively modern airport, I flip through the China Daily paper, something I don’t normally do in red countries where there is no such thing as freedom of press.
“Money can’t buy love and care between family members…”
Such a quote can certainly pull off some attention, most probably from those whose values are embedded in the key Chinese philosophies of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.
Having experienced the unimportance of love and care in the land of 1.3 billion, where one’s goodself is inarguably placed before any others’, it is my personal interest to see what can be discussed on the press. After all, it’s only a social issue and by no means a political stunt that decides China’s destiny. Or is it?
The article obviously provides various perspectives on an upcoming service industry in China, parent-visiting service. According to the article, there are more than 30 such service providers on taobao.com, one of China’s major online retail platforms with service fee ranging from 10 yuan (US$1.6) to 5000 yuan (US$814.30). Wow, I wonder how much my Mom would be worth in China?!?
Time is money and money is life’s holly purpose in this vast land of oversized billboards and well-lit urban centers. How on earth can “the crazy little thing called love” ever learn to fit into this pretentious, glossy wrapper of loneliness, fear, and misery? Well, now there is something called “love delivery” service, nothing but well-thought out solutions for the busy bees, love et al within a few simple clicks. Mom, isn’t that cool? Is it changing my life in any drastical way? Absolutely!
Hang on! Let me check! I am flying home in 3 days. Here’s an early farewell to all the moms and dads in China! May prayers of love from all around the world be with you until your kids return….