Secrets make the closest of comrades.

Simply put: China is a land of saying one thing, and preparing to do another. While law practices are nearly non-existent by western standards, and most agreements occur on a verbal, we'll-figure-it-out-later basis, I am amazed by the degree and depth in which Chinese people work out deals, often by double dealing. My observations have led me to believe that doing business in China is really the art of skirting around the rules and keeping backdoor avenues open at all times.

However, to say that this style of double dealing is unjustified would neglect one huge aspect of contemporary Chinese culture: this is how the Chinese world works. The game has been rigged for a long time, to play it noble would be to disgrace your very intelligence. So the rules say take what you can, and provide help when it comes at little to no effort on your part. You'd be amazed at how far you'd get within interpersonal relations (guanxi) and how a little favor can go a long way.

Case in point: Yesterday after being treated to what I believed was an entirely friendly and deliciously spicy meal with Brian and two other Chinese employees at Global IELTS, I soon learned of ulterior motives. For 500 yuan, which by the way is exactly double our two week food allowance(and inadaquate for even a Chinese person to live off of), I was presented with the chance to speak some English and Chinese for less than 30 minutes to what I believe (still not sure) is a rich family not involved with the learning center program. This timely opportunity to cover my food costs came with one important claus--I could tell no one at the school, not even Brian and especially not the program coordinator.

Yet later that day, when an advertisement firm from the 7th floor sent down two chinese speaking representatives who had learned of the waiguoren (foreigner) who spoke some chinese, they propositioned me to attend a wine and cheese party that night. Although the prospect of free food (I would kill for some cheese right now) and wine was appealing a declined because I had a class from 7-9pm. I offered that Brian or Bob could attend, but they said they only wanted a foreigner with some Chinese language skills (oh to be in high demand). This is where the story gets interesting--upon seeing my interaction with these advertising agents, my double-dealing friend quickly ran into my office, told the ladies to leave and told me never to partake in their activities because the coordinator would be very upset. How do you say ironic in Chinese? Oh, that's right, feng ci.

Now, ordinarily I would question such dealings, but as explained to me in the sometimes hard to understand XuZhou hua (dialect of Xuzhou), because program had not supplied me with an adequate food allowance, it was completely fair for me to take the outside cash. After all, it would help her by providing a cultural exchange service with this family (and also help her with english) and would keep me from starving. Justification enough, right? Interstingly though, this side-dealing encounter had provided the foundation for our "friendship". In a land where almost everyone knows your personal business, secrets make the closest of comrades.