Recently, in Ningbo, Zhejiang, a 25-year-old new employee who had just started working at a certain unit was at the annual meeting’s banquet table. He was persuaded to drink by his unit’s leader and was forced to drink an entire bottle of red wine; it is reported that this employee usually does not drink alcohol. Shortly after being forced to drink a whole bottle of red wine that day, he felt unwell, vomited violently, and bled. Fortunately, he was rescued in time, so his life was not in danger.
In response, some netizens said that this employee was persuaded to drink by others and did so for face, but is that really the case?
In fact, “In bourgeois society, capital has independence and personality, while living individuals have neither independence nor personality.” 【1】 As an employee of the unit, the relationship between this worker and the persuading leader is a manifestation of the capitalist economic relationship acting on specific individuals, which is a relationship of dependence and subjugation, oppression and being oppressed. In reality, the employee has no real choice; it is the leaders and the bourgeoisie relying on their dominant social class position to select their subordinates—those who will not disturb their peace, who are obedient and willing to be exploited and manipulated by them. Persuading to drink is exactly like this: if the other party refuses, then in the eyes of these high-and-mighty masters, it is a matter of not giving face, not obeying them, not recognizing their authority as the rulers, and not following the social hierarchy. Only employees like the one in this news, even if they usually do not drink, must drink because the leaders and colleagues “offer” it—that is the most in line with the order of capitalist society.
Furthermore, in what era would it be the case that during gatherings, one cannot refuse to drink when offered? Of course, it is the capitalist era! The incident reflected in this news has already become a social custom in Chinese society—a culture of drinking tables. It is not just about refusing to drink when offered; even how to sit during gatherings depends on the social status and identity of the participants, with distinctions of upper and lower seats, creating a hierarchy of ranks.
What are these seat distinctions based on? Whom do they refer to? They refer to the ancient Chinese rules, to the old etiquette of the ancients; they refer to China’s past feudal society, to the exploitative classes of that society!
It is clear that this kind of culture is nothing more than feudal remnants of Confucian ritual culture! Why does it still appear in today’s Chinese capitalist society? Because the social foundation that maintains the exploitative class’s hierarchy—this old culture—is still present. The unequal relationships and statuses between people in capitalist society have not disappeared with the demise of feudalism. Therefore, some people’s belief that “since young people generally dislike drinking, the drinking culture will automatically fade away with the older generation’s passing” is fundamentally unfounded. “…One of my illusions has been shattered. I have always been optimistic, thinking that the oppression and killing of youth are mostly done by the elderly. But now I realize that it is not the elderly, but the youth who are killing the youth…” 【2】 Ultimately, as long as capitalism and exploitation persist, and the class society remains, the unequal relationships and statuses among people will continue, and the drinking table culture will not disappear!
This is the evil consequence of capitalism!
References:
【1】 “The Communist Manifesto” 1972 reprint edition, page 39, People’s Liberation Army Publishing House
【2】 “Selected Essays and Letters of Lu Xun,” 1972 edition, page 71