4 ms·

This exact scenario with police was prevalent in NYC and Los Angeles in prior times. It didn’t stop there, of course. Everything old is new again. I personally

This exact scenario with police was prevalent in NYC and Los Angeles in prior times. It didn’t stop there, of course. Everything old is new again. I personally experienced a modern anecdote of this while I worked for a public works project in northern CA. This project was estimated to bring a significant amount of economic activity to the area so we were all “bribed”. Even now in the US it’s a lot about who you know.

cutemonster 6y ago
That sounds different. In your case, they happily bribed the officials, to make more money later? Compare with: > When I approached the restaurant staff and expressed my intention to pay, they were horror stricken Here they instead fear something bad would happen, if they don't pay (offer the food for free)?
- beaunative 6y ago
  Those at restaurants or whoever offered the meal are definitely not coerced, or under the impression of such.
- powerapple 6y ago
  if they sees him as the guest, it would be shocked to see he is asking to pay. The host of dinner won't be happy if they allow guests to pay. Part of culture. I won't read too much into it, especially in Beijing. Of course, in rural areas, the chief could be king. Still, many times they have to pay for the meals, the only difference is that they are allowed to have a tab. The corruption is not taking free meals from restaurants, it is actually using government funds to pay for these meals. He will go to jail if the restaurant owner reports him if he does not pay for many times.
- perlwle 6y ago
  I can imagine that It's far cheaper to make friend with the police chief by giving him a free meal. Just in case the restaurant need special attention from the chief for situations like local gangs ask for protection money(probably very rare) or fight with drunken eaters. You never know. It's still norm to bribe local officials so they will go easy on the businesses, such as speedy things up when dealing with the local gov, not enforcing laws when the business wants to pay less taxes.. etc.
- SZJX 6y ago
  They were "horror stricken" because the guest asked to pay, which was something totally unimaginable in terms of Chinese customs (not to mention the guest was a foreigner), especially in 2001. If the host didn't pay for a meal he'd lose all his face for all future interactions. Don't know what impression the OP got out of it but it sounded like you/the OP got some misunderstanding out of it.

cutemonster 6y ago

That sounds different. In your case, they happily bribed the officials, to make more money later? Compare with: > When I approached the restaurant staff and expressed my intention to pay, they were horror stricken Here they instead fear something bad would happen, if they don't pay (offer the food for free)?

beaunative 6y ago
Those at restaurants or whoever offered the meal are definitely not coerced, or under the impression of such.
powerapple 6y ago
if they sees him as the guest, it would be shocked to see he is asking to pay. The host of dinner won't be happy if they allow guests to pay. Part of culture. I won't read too much into it, especially in Beijing. Of course, in rural areas, the chief could be king. Still, many times they have to pay for the meals, the only difference is that they are allowed to have a tab. The corruption is not taking free meals from restaurants, it is actually using government funds to pay for these meals. He will go to jail if the restaurant owner reports him if he does not pay for many times.
perlwle 6y ago
I can imagine that It's far cheaper to make friend with the police chief by giving him a free meal. Just in case the restaurant need special attention from the chief for situations like local gangs ask for protection money(probably very rare) or fight with drunken eaters. You never know. It's still norm to bribe local officials so they will go easy on the businesses, such as speedy things up when dealing with the local gov, not enforcing laws when the business wants to pay less taxes.. etc.
SZJX 6y ago
They were "horror stricken" because the guest asked to pay, which was something totally unimaginable in terms of Chinese customs (not to mention the guest was a foreigner), especially in 2001. If the host didn't pay for a meal he'd lose all his face for all future interactions. Don't know what impression the OP got out of it but it sounded like you/the OP got some misunderstanding out of it.