Reply #1212 acerbe's post
even the average Mainlander has more money now. 10 years ago a factory worker in the PRD area made 450RMB a month. Jobs were precious. 5 Years ago that same worker made 650RMB a month. Now that same worker can make 1,500 - 2,000 / month and it's hard to get people to accept that.
With new found wealth comes the "need" to demonstrate that wealth. Factory workers now wear Giordano, Administration and low level management staff wear Nike, and the factory owner... he wears a Rolex and drives a Mercedes.
"Flashing one's wealth" is a bit like the "performance" one occasionally sees at a restaurant in China. I have been to dinner on occasion, say a group of 10 in a private room. My host hears a familiar voice next door and slides the door back to see a friend also hosting a group. Several times during the evening the door slides open and both hosts make a big deal about wanting to pay the other's bill. Reaching for a wallet that never comes out. It's all about "face". This is quite a contrast to enjoying dinner with someone who has serious money, the bill is never even mentioned, it doesn't enter the room. You arrive, eat, leave... the paying of the bill, it all happens behind the scenes.
I guess that's the difference between new money and old money. | |
