63 pages • 2 hours read
China in Ten Words
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Chapter 8Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 8 Summary: “Grassroots”
Yu Hua discusses the concept of “grassroots” in China. He begins by sharing the story of a wealthy “blood chief” who rose from humble origins to immense affluence by organizing peasants to sell their blood. Yu Hua emphasizes that this blood chief’s success was not an isolated incident but rather a reflection of the broader entrepreneurial spirit that has fueled China’s economic growth.
Drawing from his own childhood memories, Yu Hua recounts his encounters with a local “blood chief” who exercised authority over blood vendors in his community. He describes how this individual cultivated respect and loyalty among the vendors by understanding their needs and offering them a sense of security. As times changed and blood banks faced shortages, this savvy blood chief adapted to the new circumstances, organizing large-scale blood-selling expeditions to other regions where prices were higher. Yu Hua marvels at the logistical feat of coordinating and controlling such a large group of people, likening it to a military operation or a religious pilgrimage.
Yu Hua expands on this theme by discussing the emergence of various grassroots “kings” in China’s rapidly evolving economic landscape. He cites examples such as the “garbage king,” the “button king,” and the “paper napkin king” (167), among others, to illustrate how individuals from modest backgrounds have managed to carve out lucrative niches by specializing in seemingly mundane products or services. Yu Hua argues that these success stories are emblematic of the fearless spirit and opportunism that have driven China’s economic miracle. He suggests that the country’s grassroots entrepreneurs have been able to exploit loopholes and seize opportunities that others might overlook, propelling themselves to wealth and prominence in the process.
However, Yu Hua is quick to point out the precarious nature of such success, noting that many grassroots tycoons have also experienced dramatic downfalls. He cites numerous examples of individuals who have been arrested or forced to flee due to various crimes and misdeeds, ranging from financial misconduct to bribery and conspiracy. He highlights the case of Huang Guangyu, once hailed as China’s richest man, who was subsequently sentenced to prison for a range of economic crimes. Yu Hua suggests that these stories of rise and fall have become so commonplace that the annual list of China’s wealthiest individuals is often jokingly referred to as the “Pigs-for-Slaughter List” (168), underscoring the vulnerability of those who achieve success through questionable means.
Shifting his focus to the period of the Cultural Revolution, Yu Hua recounts the story of Wang Hongwen, a factory security guard who experienced a meteoric rise to become one of the highest-ranking officials in the Communist Party. However, just as quickly as he ascended, Wang fell from grace and was eventually sentenced to life imprisonment as the Cultural Revolution came to an end. Yu Hua reflects on how the labels of “revolutionary” and “counterrevolutionary” were often assigned arbitrarily, with yesterday’s heroes becoming today’s villains and vice versa.
To further illustrate this point, Yu Hua shares an anecdote about a local rebel leader who gained prominence during the Cultural Revolution by organizing public readings of Mao’s quotations. This man, once meek and unassuming, found purpose and power in his new role, proudly displaying his seal and leading the community in ideological study sessions. However, his fortunes took a drastic turn when he accidentally dropped his precious seal into a cesspit. Accused of being a counterrevolutionary for this mishap, he spent his days sweeping the streets in shame, seeking to atone for his perceived transgression. As the Cultural Revolution ended, this man faded into obscurity, forgotten by the very community he once led.
Yu Hua concludes the chapter by reflecting on how both the Cultural Revolution and the subsequent economic reforms have provided China’s grassroots with unprecedented opportunities to seek redistribution of political and economic power.
Chapter 8 Analysis
Yu Hua explores Irreverence Amid Oppression when he relays the way economic reforms gave birth to grassroots “kings” who have amassed wealth and influence through opportunism and entrepreneurship: “So it is that our economic life is full of kings: the Paper Napkin King, the Socks King, the Cigarette Lighter King, and so on. In Zhejiang there is a Button King who oversees a button range so extensive it boggles the mind” (167). In each case, he pairs a lofty title with a quotidian item, hence using bathos to ridicule the serious economic circumstances. The description of the “button range” is particularly satirical since it treats a simple object with mock admiration.
Furthermore, Yu Hua’s account of the Cultural Revolution highlights the absurdity and arbitrariness of political labels such as “revolutionary” and “counterrevolutionary.” He describes how these designations could be easily manipulated and reversed. The story of the local rebel leader who gained prominence by organizing public readings of Mao’s quotations, only to be branded a counterrevolutionary for accidentally dropping his seal in a cesspit, illustrates the capricious nature of these labels. This once-respected man became a repentant outcast overnight, wearing “a papier-mâché dunce cap on his head” to forever atone for his mistake (179). This is just one example of anecdotes that narrate rapid rises and falls throughout the book, reflecting the fast pace of change in China.
This irreverence is juxtaposed with the high stakes of the political climate he describes. Yu Hua emphasizes the precarity of grassroots success. He cites numerous examples of grassroots kings who have faced arrest, imprisonment, or disgrace due to criminal activities or political missteps. The case of Huang Guangyu, once China’s richest man, who was sentenced to prison for financial misconduct, serves as a cautionary tale: “Judging by the Hurun Rich List, during the past ten years there have been no fewer than forty-nine grassroots tycoons who have either been arrested or have fled to avoid arrest” (p. 169). This topic of precarity underscores the volatility of success in a rapidly changing society.
Despite the tumultuous political and economic changes that have shaped modern Chinese history, Yu Hua’s account ultimately celebrates the resilience and adaptability of the human spirit. The grassroots individuals he describes, from the blood chiefs to the rebel leaders, demonstrate an ability to navigate adversity and seize opportunities in the face of overwhelming odds. Even in moments of disgrace or defeat, they find ways to derive meaning and purpose from their experiences. This resilience, Yu Hua suggests, is the driving force behind China’s transformative changes at the grassroots level.
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