Xiao Chi An

“I Miss Mao” by Xiao Chi An
"I have good news," Fan Xiaoli told her
brother, Fan Dayi, on the phone one day in
August 2008 (the family's names have been
changed). "I've finally found someone who
can help us to send Yuanyuan to the school."
They were talking about how to get
Yuanyuan, Fan Xiaoli's daughter, into a
prestigious junior high school in Guangzhou,
China. When test results were released in mid-
July, Yuanyuan did not do well enough to
meet the school's entrance requirements.
Xiaoli was as disappointed as her daughter.
She then decided, as many Chinese people in
the same situation do, to try to find someone
who could help. Through a colleague, she got
to know a Mr. Yang, who claimed to know
"some decision-maker in government" and
said he could help get the girl admitted to the
school if Xiaoli paid him 70,000 yuan
(US$10,257). "I know it is corruption," Xiaoli
said, "but it works and everybody is willing to
do it if they can afford the money." She paid
the money and by mid-August, Yuanyuan got
an offer from the school.
"It is not so bad a deal for my sister because
she wants her daughter to go to the school and
she can afford the money," Fan Dayi said, "but
it is sad for the people in this country. There is
too much corruption. Nominally, we have all
kinds of laws, regulations and responsible
officials, but in reality, only money and
guangxi (nepotism or relations) work when
people want something done in this society."
The Corruption Notebooks, 2008
Global Integrity