I say, "Gong Li seems to always play strong-willed women who have the courage to reveal their fervent sexual desires. Her characters are not fake. Perhaps that's why she is so well liked internationally. But in real life, I don't see many Chinese women like the Zhou Yu character, whose love is so steadfast, without material aggrandizement. For example, she didn't get any gifts from the poet except poetry. I have seen and interviewed so many girls who always enjoy men buying them Fendi bags or nice expensive jewelry."
"Yes!" CC agrees. "They even envy those young women who marry old ugly men simply because the men are rich."
"That's why strong women like us are left single." CC sighs. "I've found it is so difficult to find a good man in China. It's either that they think I'm too aggressive as a woman or vice versa."
"So that means aggressive women and men don't click? Does a man of power have to find a weak, mild woman? Can a strong woman fall in love with a strong man, like the Clinton couple?" I continue the debate.
Beibei speaks. "This American model doesn't apply here in this culture. That's why poor Zhou Yu has to die at the end of the movie. I think the director chooses such an ending because he knows that Zhou Yu is too noble for this shallow era we live in. In my humble opinion, women in Asia have three choices. First, to be cute and dumb, hoping to find a rich daddy to take care of them. Second, to be single forever or to leave China before it's too late. Third, to be like me, strong, rich, and tough. I'm just like a man who has the power to buy lovers."
"What about love and passion?" I cry out.
" You're still single because you think like that," Beibei says, not just to me, but to everyone. Her words are a proclamation of bloody honesty, but I am a hopeless romantic. I replay the love scene from the movie in my head. I feel like crying. Bravo, Zhou Yu.
72 A Woman Warrior or a Demure Bride?
The depressed economy is making everyone at Lulu's workplace nervous. A new policy has been introduced, requiring workers to evaluate each other's performance regularly. Suddenly, the atmosphere in the office has changed from friendly to antagonistic.
Everyone pays attention to what time others start work and leave the office and who they talk to or don't talk to.
Office politics don't bother Lulu. She tries to stay above it. She is a high-calibre editor, a quick writer, and a first-class interviewer. After the magazine's editor is forced to retire at fifty-five, the rumor mill says that Lulu may be promoted as the new editor. She also feels confident that she is the best choice. But to her disappointment, it turns out that Jenny, who is junior to Lulu, is named editor-in-chief.
Everyone in the office speaks privately in support of Lulu, saying the owner's decision is unfair. The truth is, nobody likes Jenny.
She is relatively new but arrogant. She talks only to those whom she thinks are useful, and she treats her subordinates coldly.
One of the colleagues, Little Ma, tells Lulu, "Do you know how Jenny got the job? I've heard she is the owner's mistress."
"I can't believe it. I'll go and ask her!" Lulu says in anger.
"Are you out of your mind? She is your boss now. She can hire you or fire you. You can't just march into her office and ask her this type of question. If you dislike her, bide your time-a little sabotage here and there-and give her a hard time, but not so she notices," Little Ma says.
"I can't do things like that. I have to find out why and hear it from her own mouth," Lulu says.
"You got the subsidized apartment and she gets the editor-in-chief job. So why do you have to make her hate you? You should come to terms with life," Little Ma says.
Lulu ignores Little Ma, and rushes off to Jenny's big corner office with glass windows facing Beijing 's Avenue of Eternal Peace.
Jenny looks at Lulu. "You come in without even knocking! What's so urgent?"
Lulu, clearly in a huff, asks directly, "Is it true that you and the owner are lovers?"
Jenny doesn't show any surprise or irritation with such a provocative question. She answers calmly: "We're good friends. I know what you are thinking. You can say I got the editor position because of our friendship, but it doesn't matter. Nowadays, corporate culture demands emphasis on end results. How you get these results is not the priority."
"But you're married. Does your husband know?" Lulu asks Jenny, who replies: "He's broad-minded and understanding."
Jenny's audacity makes Lulu think of the Chinese saying sizhu bupa reshui tang:dead pigs aren't afraid of boiling water.
"I'd rather you cover it up. It seems to me that you don't really care if your coworkers know about this scandal," Lulu says as she throws her arms up in frustration.
Jenny smiles again. "I can't really seal their lips, can I? Gossip is their right. After all, maybe it's not too bad for them to know, so they won't mess with me. If they don't like me or care for my work style, they can take a hike. One thing China doesn't lack is people."
Lulu listens with growing disbelief and anger. "Jenny, I guess with the owner's support, you have a free hand. In that case, I quit."
"No. I didn't mean you," Jenny immediately replies. "You can't quit. I really like you. I plan to give you a forty percent raise. Lulu, don't go sour on me. I'm your friend. Unlike others, you're a real treasure. I'll do whatever I can to keep you." Jenny softens her tone. Bossy and sympathetic at the same time, she certainly knows how to use both carrots and sticks.
Before Lulu can respond, Jenny adds: "Lulu, don't rush your decision. Take a few days to think clearly and then come back to me. I really think you'll like working with me." Jenny smiles like a boss. Lulu sees that smile, and immediately thinks of a crocodile.
Lulu nods, ready to leave.
"Wait." Jenny stops Lulu. "Now as a true friend, I want to give you some womanly advice."
"What?" Lulu almost feels like crying. This is so humiliating.
"You're smart and beautiful. You could easily win the world if you wanted to."
"Win the world? How?"
"Make use of what you have to get what you don't. Remember, you won't always be this young." Jenny sounds like a mother.
"I guess I can never be as talented as you are," Lulu says, and leaves Jenny's office, muttering "You bitch" under her breath. She is not in Jenny's league when it comes to office politics. Should she accept Jenny's condescending offer of the 40 percent raise or should she just quit? If she quits, who is going to support her and her mother? Neither of them has a husband to rely on. Luckily, she had already bought the subsidized apartment and it was a done deal.
She calls me. "Should I make husband searching my fulltime job or should I get the book How to Succeed in the Dirty Games of Office Politics? "
"Be a woman warrior instead of a demure bride," I say firmly.
SIZHU BUPA RESHUI TANG: Dead pigs aren't afraid of boiling water.
73 The Soap Opera Business
Lulu quits her job.
In the following weeks, her life has changed dramatically. She unplugs the phone, declines all invitations to parties and dinners, and hides at home. I take a few days off and spend time with her. We rent soap operas from Blockbuster. With a bowl of instant noodles and a cup of coffee on the stand next to her sofa, we watch the videos around the clock, living in a fantasy world that takes Lulu away from reality.
Yes, soap opera is Lulu's way of escaping. First of all, there is no more bombardment with news of devastating wars or terrible diseases. Second, instead of getting herself into real cat-fights, dirty tricks, office politics, or heartbreaking relationships with men, she watches other people suffer. Their torment makes her feel not too bad about her own situation.