Today we had breakfast at the Copper Pot in Morro Bay. The owner of the restaurant is Lu Chi Fa, a Chinese orphan who wrote his memoirs. He wrote of his struggles after being orphaned at the age of three, and how he ended up coming to America. The book has been adopted as required reading by several elementary schools and also by Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for some of their class offerings. My friend Gay Morris and I selected his book for our book club.
Lu Chi Fa joined us at our table and began sharing stories of his native land. He had visited China a month and a half ago. He discussed some of the social and cultural issues of the current time, as well as some customs. Here is what I can recall.
Change to the Family Size
China had a 1-child policy that was introduced between 1978 and 1980, due to overpopulation. Some families were allowed to have one more child if the first one was a girl, and there were some exceptions granted, particularly to those living in rural areas. Although it helped to reduce the burgeoning population in China, there were some consequences which some now describe as devastating. Eventually, there were more boys than girls in China. In his words, the women called the shots. They weren’t interested in handsomeness, personality, or goodness in a man. It was the size of the bank account, whether the man had a steady job, a house, etc., that mattered. So it became hard for a man to find a wife. Some had to resort to “mail order brides” from the Phillipines or Vietnam. Because of this, the policy was adjusted to allow 2 children per family. This was implemented in 2015. However, many couples didn’t want more than 1 child, because of the cost of raising them and because the women often had careers and their priorities were different.
It’s all About Fame and Fortune
Lu Chi Fa affirmed that China has developed into a strong economic force. It was not always that way. Although some of the fundamental traditions of the Chinese people remain, the overall trend has been to a more “Americanized” attitude of financial status, acquisition of money, a high-paying job, and material goods. Typically isn’t possible to acquire out in the countryside farm with mom, dad, and other family. So young Chinese relocated from the country to the city … Not just young men, but women, too. Women were pressured by their families to “find a man, get married, and give us grandchildren.” So some women, working in the city and living the urban life, would rent a man to accompany them on a visit to their families. This would reduce the pressure on them to find a man, even if it was only a temporary solution. (I found it interesting that the women didn’t feel comfortable telling their families the truth). This is because of their cultural traditions … They weren’t “Americanized” in that way yet.
He also said that people were looking for faith; somehow over the years, that had left them. But he also affirmed that the people are warm and friendly.
The Bathhouses
He told us about two bathhouses: one in China and one in Taiwan. Bathhouses are commonplace. When he booked his hotel accommodations, he was offered the option of a room without bathing facilities. It was more economical to choose one without and go to a bathhouse, and that is what he chose.
Men and women bathe in separate sections. But aside from that, there is no modesty regarding nudity. No one cares. The cost averages $10. At the end of a working day, a grandfather could invite his son and grandson to join him at the bathhouse for some end-of-the-day winding down time. Better than a stop at the local bar, right?
There are different bathhouse “levels.” For more money, one could choose to take advantage of natural exfoliants. “VIP” bathhouses offered a level whereby the bather’s feet would be cleansed by many very tiny fish, that would nibble at the callouses until they were completely gone. He also talked to us about water temperature. Very hot water temperatures would be followed by a plunge into ice–cold water. Some bathhouses also offer saunas and jacuzzis.
His Next Book
Lu Chi Fa is working on a memoir that documents his life after he came to America. It’s over half written; we think it will be a couple of years before it’s available. He often speaks to book clubs, schools, and other groups that use his book.
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