Local doctor defies banquet conventions

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"Eat, drink, and be merry!" This ancient saying has enjoyed practically universal appeal around the globe. Over the past few days, however, an attempted departure from this time-honored tradition has earned an obscure country doctor his fifteen minutes of fame.

On February 7, barely out of China's Spring Festival season, Xie Jinhua put up a hand-written poster that stunned his neighbors in Zhaoshan Village, Chongqing Municipality.

Xie Jinhua's poster declining banquet invitations. /Chongqing Morning News

The script on red paper pleaded, "I have a modest income and cannot afford too many banquets. From now on, except for funerals and marriages, all banquets will be declined by me. I hope all my relatives, friends, acquaintances, and neighbors can understand that. My sincere apologies. "

In spite of its less than perfect calligraphy and a couple of homophone solecisms, the poster drew attention to a burdensome and tangible cultural phenomenon.

In village communities across China, banquets have been a traditional form of socialization. For occasions such as weddings, births or funerals, people would get together for a big feast, with the guests bringing a cash gift.

However, in many communities, the harmless convention seemed to have got out of hand in recent years. According to Xie, during the weeks around the Spring Festival, he had gone through 31 banquets. Apart from four weddings, which he considered legitimate, all the rest were for minor occasions in the nature of housewarming.

Of course, Xie didn't have the time or appetite to attend all these events. But he had to send the obligatory cash gifts in each case, ranging from 100-200 RMB (14.5-29 US dollars). The sum total of 4,600 RMB (670 US dollars) spent, well above his monthly income, was unbearable for Xie, who takes care of his wife and son.

Xie Jinhua, a country doctor in Chongqing. /Chongqing Morning News

Xie explains that he is "not a crank and has no plans to be a maverick." Actually, he has always been a popular guy among the villagers, whose medical needs he has served diligently for 15 years.

While still waiting for the response of his neighbors, Xie received a phone call from his parents, who offered a dismaying lecture and called the poster a shameful, face-losing act.

However, a lot of fellow villagers, especially those in the younger generation, tend to agree with the doctor. Two days after Xie's poster, another one appeared, put up by the local village committee, to reiterate the doctor's call.

The poster by the administrators of Xie's village. /Chongqing Morning News

Over the past few days, Xie's poster reached social media and sparked a heated debate. Among the commentators, some considered it bad form and called it a publicity stunt, while lots of others approved of it eagerly.

The experience has left Xie somewhat disoriented. However, he said he would stick to his guns and carry out his declaration.

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