Self-Inflicted Suffering: A Noir Guide to Modern Chinese Life

The People’s Daily wants young cadres to “seek suffering.” Right. Like I haven’t seen this movie before.

The Emperor’s New Clothes

Word on the street is Xi Jinping wants the youth to embrace hardship. Apparently, he thinks building methane pools in the countryside is the key to success.

Sounds like propaganda to me.

The Harsh Truth

The truth? In modern China, it doesn’t matter how hard you work. Your success is determined by who your daddy is.

Nepotism and cronyism rule the day.

A Father’s Influence

Turns out, our beloved leader wasn’t always so beloved. Rumor has it his own career stalled until dear old dad pulled some strings.

Irony, right?

The System is Rigged

I’m saying that even if you try so hard, it means nothing.

The game is rigged. Class is set in stone. You’re born to lose.

The Dog Children

And don’t even get me started on the parents raising their kids like dogs. Some Beijing idiots.

Claiming it’s “free-range parenting.”

Wealthy Idiots

These parents are just rich. They are running away from responsibilities.

They went to far. Blaming the dogs?

The Great Illusion

So, what’s the moral of the story? Efforts are worthless.

Accept the fact that you’re a cog in the machine.

Embrace the Absurdity

I’m just a cynical observer. Remember, that even if you are going to die, do not be pathetic about it.

Find the absurdity in it all and laugh.