My very favorite story of China goes like this. It is a true story out of a collection the true-life stories of... "an old China hand".
Around 1910 an Englishman who had been working in the China Maritime Customs service found himself retiring from the service. He had lived in China for 30 years and he had his favorite man servant. Wong we shall say his name was.
In the 30 years of living in China this man, the Englishman, went to British clubs, went to British sponsored horese races, European balls, etc. He hated China. He hated the Chinese. He regarded the Chinese as "heathens, irredemibly corrrupt and lacking any vestige of humor" which he the Englishman, of course had in abundance.
At their last breakfast together Wong as usual stood behind his, the Englishman's chair, waiting to serve the Englishman his breakfast. As usual Wong was grinning as he watched the Englishman drink his tea, take a sip of water after his toast. Wong seemed to take inordinate delight in the simple fact of watching the Englishman eat his breakfast.
In this Englishman's company that morning was a medical missionary who didn't much like the Englishman, but since he was a supporter of the mission he felt obliged to attend this "farewell" breakfast for his peckish, oftentimes rude supporter.
There was Wong. Grinning. Grinning all the time just behind the Englishman. The Englishman turned his head and saw Wong with his inevitable huge grin on his face and for the first time in 30 years he wondered exactly what Wong was thinking. What was it the ?Chinese was thinking For years, for decades he had regarded Wong as....well, a piece of furniture perhaps.
Once in all those 3 decades the Englishman was curious. He asked the missionary, "Here. Ask my boy why he is smiling? Is he happy I am leaving China? Is he sad?"
The missionary spoke briefly to Wong. Wong answered. The missionary looked embarasssed and then sank into a deep silence.
"What? What? Tell me what my boy said," he asked as he looked at the missionary.
"I don't think you will like it."
"Tell me. I'm leaving this hell hole. I'm going home. I actually don't care what Wong said. He is an idiot and quite possibly a cretin and anyway he is a fool elsewise why would anybody grin like that day after day, month after month. He is a complete fool the way he is always grinning."
The missionary looked at the Englishman and he said very slowly, enunciating each word for effect, "For 30 years Wong has worked for you. For thirty years each morning when he got up Wong has pissed in your drinking water. For 30 years Wong has watched you drink your water, your tea. This has made him very happy. Each day he was in your service was a renewal of his happiness."
Published sometime inteh 1920's.
My best to you,
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