Spicy Sichuan

Photo by Ping

As I was preparing to come back to Beijing from Qingdao last Tuesday night, I got an urgent phone call from my director Tang.  It was late at night, but since I didn't turn off my phone, I guess it was game for him to call.

Where are you at?  He said in a somewhat panicked tone.
I'm on vacation in Qingdao, I said calmly.
President Li [of the company] wants to see you this week, they want you to get to Chengdu ASAP, Tang said.
You should just fly out directly from Qingdao to Chengdu instead of coming back to Beijing, he continued.
How soon are we talking about?  I was just curious.
How about tomorrow morning?  I'll have someone book the flight for you right now.  And he hung up.

Total Chinese business style - and this is how they get ahead of the game.  This is how they catch up to the rest of the world.  While the rest of us are resting, these people are constantly thinking ahead, and working hard to catch up.  While they are industrious, many of them still know how to relax and have a good time.  I got to see it first hand right here in Chengdu.

Chengdunese know what a good life is about.  During the weekends, they gather with their family and friends and head to the outdoors, where they can enjoy a good game of majong or cards.  They don't just play these games anywhere.  They actually get out of the city and visit farmlands to play these games.  Over the years, farmlands has turned into private parks, where there are dozens of tables set up for games.  For a relatively inexpensive cost of a refillable cup of tea, one can sit at their table as long as they want.  They will bring their kids along and let them run off and do whatever they want in the park, while the adults play their games.  Some even bring food along, similar to having a picnic except that there is a game table with chairs instead of a blanket.

Eating street food is another highlight of Chengdu.  Locals and tourists alike love things on skewers.  They are often smothered in hot sauce of some sort.  No matter where you go, people seem to be eating.  Sichuan food is not famous for nothing - their spiciness is well known all over the world.  A 'mild' here is often still considered spicy in the US.  What I didn't know is that a lot of their food is deep fried in oil, including their skewers.  I had the best fish dish in Chengdu today at a fancy restaurant.  It was a white fish so tender and juicy in a broth-like base.  I thought the broth was a bit greasy on the top, only to realize after I ate it that the entire broth was oil. 

Sichuan food is not the only thing that is spicy here.  The women here are also very spicy.  Dressed in short shorts and mini skirts on heels, they will make any Beijinger blush.  Most of them are relatively skinny probably due to their spicy diet.  Since they snack all day instead of eating big meals all the time, it probably also helps.  I noted this observation to one of the colleagues and she told me that Chongqing women dress even hotter.  In the summer time, some women would wear Chinese baby bib as a top (a diamond shaped front with strings tying the back).  I can't find an image online, but you get the idea.

I was also told that over here, the husbands cook for their wives.  My guess is that their love life is also pretty good over here.  How do I know this?  While walking around, I notice a disproportional number of underwear stores.  For every 10 stores, there is 1 underwear store, if not more.  Every store has elaborately decorated bras and undies that make Victoria Secret's selections look sparse.  Have I stirred enough interests for any of you on Sichuan women?  Ready to visit?