Chinese Interviews

[DaShi]

Not interviews in Chinese, although they were originally. These are interviews with elderly Chinese people in Hangzhou that were published in this October's issue of MORE magazine (don't feel bad, if you've never heard of it ). The interviews are conducted casually on the street by Gareth Bibby, an Englishman working here in Hangzhou. There are 6 in total and I'll try to add a new one every now and then.

Zhong Zhenming

79 years old
He has been teaching martial arts all over China his whole life. Now he is living in Hangzhou, and he goes to the hill behind Gulou to teach martial arts everyday. His students are different ages and have different jobs, but they are there, the same place and the same time, everyday.

How long have you lived in Hangzhou?

Originally, I am from Jiaxing, I came to Hangzhou three years ago to teach martial arts and Tai Chi. Most of my life has been spent traveling all over the east coast of China teaching people ancient arts.

How is your mandarin?

To be honest, my Mandarin level is not very good, and I can’t speak Hangzhounese at all. Thankfully, the difference between my local dialect and the dialect of Hangzhou isn’t so large, so I don’t have many problems here.

What do you miss most about old China?

All of my life I have concentrated on studying different martial arts and Tai Chi styles, nothing else has ever been important to me. I became absorbed in wushu as a small boy, and it is my whole life now. You ask me what I miss about old China? Nothing, I still have my wushu.

What changes have you seen in your life time?

When I was younger many things happened that made life become very difficult. I didn’t understand why they happened, and I still do not understand now. After the revolution, times became even harder, but I am most angry about how much was lost during those years. Many things that were essentially China were lost and that was wrong.

When did your life start to improve?

Deng Xiaoping was the greatest of all our leaders; it was he who made life good once more. He made the country strong again and brought us up to an international level: now no other country will try to bully China.

Tea or coffee?

Tea, I’ve never drunk coffee.

Beer or Baijiu?

I hate baijiu and never tough the stuff. Beer is my favourite drink, in particular West Lake beer.

Do you smoke?

I’ve smoked all my life and have never had any problems. If you lead a healthy life and exercise, smoking is not such a big worry.

[Mao]

On another note, SiHoo beer sucks ass to me...pleh

[FrustratedPoet]

All of my life I have concentrated on studying different martial arts and Tai Chi styles, nothing else has ever been important to me. I became absorbed in wushu as a small boy, and it is my whole life now. You ask me what I miss about old China? Nothing, I still have my wushu.

[DRoseDARs]

For an Englishman, his English is atrocious... oh, wait...

"Heavens, [the English] don't so much speak the language as [they] chew on it and spit it out." -- Stewie Griffin

[Ecthy]

Wushu

But what is this thread all about?

[DaShi]

It's a slice of Chinacana.

[DaShi]

He Haixiao
81 years old
He noticed us when we were looking for some interesting people to talk to, so he walked toward us and said, "You want to interview people? You should interview me." We were so surprised when we heard he was 81 years old--he only looks 60.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up on Zhongshan Middle Road, but that house went a long time ago.

And now?

My new house is not so far from my previous house, I live very close to Wushan Square. However, it's not the same without my family; most of them moved to Taiwan in the forties.

How is your Mandarin?

I always speak Mandarin. I'm from Hangzhou, but I can't speak any Hangzhounese except for a few simple words. For years I worked in the army, so a lot of my life has been spent outside my hometown. I even spent some years in Korea, so as you can see I've always had to speak Mandarin.

What is the biggest change between old and new Hangzhou?

Development is happening very fast; this city is totally different now. Hangzhou has always been a famous city, but it never used to be a rich city. When I was young there was poverty everywhere, but now life is much more comfortable and stable.

What do you miss most about old Hangzhou?

I miss very little: all I remember from my childhood is how poor everybody was. What I miss though is the spirit of the years fighting hardship. Times were extremely difficult, but the spirit of the people was so warm, and everybody did their best to help others. Yet, after time passed people began to change, and now everybody seems to lie all the time.

What do you like most about new Hangzhou?

China is freer and much more open to new ideas, but it's still not perfect. I hope that there can still be more change.

What has been the biggest change you've sen in your life?

The internet phenonmenon has appeared so fast! Nobody even knew what it was a few years ago, but now it os the most important thing! Everybody has to understand it!

Tea or coffee? Beer or baijiu?

I've always drunk more beer than baijiu, and recently I've begun to drink coffee more than tea too.

Do you smoke?

You know, I've never been sick even once in my life. Never. Of course, I can't say that cigarettes aren't bad for your health, but I've been smoking since my schooldays! Actually, I would like to give up smoking but it's probably too late now. These days I can make one packet last three days.

[DaShi]

Zhao Wenzhen

69 years old

She was very shy in the beginning when she heard we wanted to interview her. But after a while she became much more relax and talked a lot, especially when we asked about her hobbies: she told us she loves disco, and she immediately began to show us how to dance.

Where did you grow up?

I used to live by a place called Tongqiang Bridge, but that whole area has been changed now. My new ouse was given to me by the government, a nice place on Yinchuan Road.

How is your Mandarin?

Of course I understand Mandarin! I understand what you're saying right now, dont I?

How is your Hangzhounese?

I speak Hangzhounese 90% of the time; local people should speak the local language! I have three grown children, and they all speak to me in Hangzhounese. I love that show on TV...the man who speak Hangzhounese so beautifully...I watch it everynight! A Liu Tou, that's his name!

What do you miss most about the old Hangzhou?

I don't miss anything. To be honest, I can't even remember very much about the old days; I'm getting old myself. However, I still remember that the West Lake was beautiful then, and it's still beautiful now.

How is your life today?

Life is wonderful for me. I have three children and many grandchildren, I have a pension ever month, and the local authorities are always arranging outing and activities for us. And I love dancing-- especially disco! It's fun and it's a good way to exercise; I love disco! Watch! (proceeds to give us an impromptu demonstration of her disco dancing skills)

What are the biggest changes you have seen in your lifetime?

Hangzhou is even more beautiful than it was before, and I'm happy to see people coming from all over the world to look at the beauty of the West Laek. Some changes are difficult to understand, so I have to watch the news on TV to help me understand them.

Beer or Baijiu?

Neither, I love yellow wine. I started drinking yellow wine when I was 18, and I've been drinking it all the time ever since.

Tea or coffee?

Neither, I told you that I only drink yellow wine!

[Barnabas]

I bet Liu Tou is a handsome dude

[Mao]

Speaking of attractive people, where the hell are all these beautiful girls Hangzhou is supposed to be famous for?!!??! wtf? I've yet to see one that's really wowed me. Produced concubines for the emperors my ass...

[Ted Striker]

Come on dog you can't post Chinese interviews unless Ted Striker is interviewing CHINESE LADIES.

DUH

[DaShi]

Ted Striker: Hey baby, how's the rice?

Chinese Girl: Shenma?

Ted Striker: Yeah, this is all muscle baby.

Chinese Girl: Ni shi naguoren?

Ted Striker: Yeah, some jealous people have been spreading that rumor about me. Mostly old girlfriends. Don't listen to them, I'm all man.

Chinese Girl: Shagua! walks away

Ted Striker: Yeah, you go get some more hot asian mama's and we all have a little revolution together. Giggity!

[DaShi]

He Qiyan

80 years old

Mr. He speaks great English. His father used to own the whole of Zhongshan South road. We were so shocked when we saw his house. It looks like some kind of castle hiding in the corner of the city, the wall full of plants, but you can imagine how spectacular it was back in the old days.

Where did you grow up?

My family moved to this house on Zhongshan Road when I was four years old. It was much larger back then, this section was actually part of a dowry package between my family and the family of Hu Xueyan (famous Qing dynasy merchant). After the revolution, the other buildings were taken by the government and converted into other residences and a hospital. This is all that remains now.

How is your Mandarin

I speak Mandarin, but my firsts language was Hangzhounese. It was difficult to learn standard Mandarin in those days because it wasn't so widespread. There were no radios or cassettes to help us listen to Mandarin, only a huge gramophone which wasn't so clear. When I was at school, the government once sent some teachers from Beijing to teach us Mandarin, but it didn't really prove effective.

What do you miss most about old Hangzhou?

Zhongshan Road has always been my home, but it has changed so much. At one time the street was so narrow with only rickshaws going along it, and people seemed to be much more relaxed with no quarreling. Before it was tranquil, but now it is gone forever.

Anything else?

One of my first memories is of the peddlers who would walk down the street in the mornings selling red bean cakes, crystal cakes, and other local cakes that you don't see anymore. We never had alarm clocks back then, so every morning I would wake up to the sound of cake sellers signing local songs as they sold their wares.

What has been the biggest change you've seen in your life?

There have been many changes and new inventions, but one really stands out for me. I remember when I first discovered what a doorbell was, and we had one installed at our house. I felt so important when I rang the doorbell for the first time and saw somebody running over to open the door. My father was so angry with me at the time for showing off.

Do you smoke?

I used to smoke all the time, but I finally succeeded in quitting some a few years ago.

[Ted Striker]

Originally posted by DaShi

[Mao]

Liu Chunhua

66 Years Old

She had a hard time when she came to Hangzhou, especially with her mother-in-law. Of course, girls' lives were not easy at that time. Now her children all have good jobs, and she and her husband have traveled to Beijing, Hainan, Shanghai... She has begun to enjoy her life.

Where did you grow up?

My hometown is in north Jiangsu province, I only came to Hangzhou when I was an eighteen-year-old girl looking for work and marriage. The first room I had when I arrived was so dirty and crowded that it was just like a pigsty! My home now is near the West Lake, but it's a little too small for my liking, I'd like to move to a larger apartment.

How is your Mandarin?

I speak both Mandarin and Hangzhounese. These days, I can even say a few English words: "W-T-O"! That means World Trade Organization!

How did you use to pass the in the old days? Now?

We had no money to do anything back then except for work and sleep. Sometimes, in the summertime, the roadside cinema would come to town, and I would sit naked with all the other children watching the black-and-white screen. It was free so it was the only thing we could do. When I was a little older, there were many dance halls where we could dance for free, but I never really liked them. Nowadays, I climb these mountains everyday and practice Tai Chi in the mornings.

What do you like most about modern society?

Today's progress is all thanks to Deng Xiaopeng, and it was him who made us Chinese friends with people from around the world. Friendship is good: we have so much we can share with the rest fo the world, like traditional medicine for example.

What has been the biggest change in your life?

All change is good, but the best change has to be air-conditioning. In the old days, everybody was forced to sit outside fanning themselves by hand, but air-conditioning has made things much much better. The washing machine has also made life easier for my family and me.

Tea or coffee

I used to drink coffee a lot; I never used to drink anything else. Since I'm getting too old to drink it now, I've had to convert to green tea, otherwise I'm awake all night. I only drink coffee now if my daughter buys it for me.

Beer of baijiu?

Baijiu is one thing I will never want to drink, but I do drink West Lake beer on special occasions. I once bought a bottle of red wine because I liked the free bottle opener which came with the package.

Do you ever eat foreign food?

My daughter took me to KFC once but I hated it. I tried some chicken... it was between two slices of bread... it just wasn't good. Some people like the potato strips that KFC sells, but I thikn they're bad for your health. Anyway, it's too expensive for somebody on a pension.