Just how many pig trotters can a Communist Party official devour?
That question was baffling more than a few Chinese people after the owner of a restaurant specializing in braised pig trotters complained that a town party secretary and town government head had racked up 700,000 renminbi, or about $115,000, in i.o.u.’s for unpaid meals.
The owner, Geng Weijie, shared his ire with the residents of Wangluo, a town in the central province of Henan, by unfurling two bright red banners on the front of his garish restaurant, Chinese newspapers reported.
Mr. Geng named names.
“In three years Secretary Han Junhong has racked up 700,000 in i.o.u.’s,” declared one of the banners, according to the Southern Metropolis Daily, a tabloid published in southern China.
That question was baffling more than a few Chinese people after the owner of a restaurant specializing in braised pig trotters complained that a town party secretary and town government head had racked up 700,000 renminbi, or about $115,000, in i.o.u.’s for unpaid meals.
The owner, Geng Weijie, shared his ire with the residents of Wangluo, a town in the central province of Henan, by unfurling two bright red banners on the front of his garish restaurant, Chinese newspapers reported.
Mr. Geng named names.
“In three years Secretary Han Junhong has racked up 700,000 in i.o.u.’s,” declared one of the banners, according to the Southern Metropolis Daily, a tabloid published in southern China.
“Wangluo party secretary and town chief, pay your bills,” said the other.
The town government responded quickly to what Chinese newspapers could label, following their habit after any scandal, “Trottergate.”
The town government responded quickly to what Chinese newspapers could label, following their habit after any scandal, “Trottergate.”
Officials scurried to visit Mr. Geng, the owner, and settle the problem.
By Friday, the debt was paid, the Beijing News reported on its Web site.
The tale of Mr. Geng and his unpaid pig trotters exemplifies some of the complaints that weigh on many Chinese people – about reckless government spending and local officials seen as bullying and venal bureaucrats.
“I made this decision only after I was left with no alternative,” Mr. Geng told the Beijing News.
The tale of Mr. Geng and his unpaid pig trotters exemplifies some of the complaints that weigh on many Chinese people – about reckless government spending and local officials seen as bullying and venal bureaucrats.
“I made this decision only after I was left with no alternative,” Mr. Geng told the Beijing News.
“I have a serious illness, my child is still young, and the family has debts.”
Pig trotters, braised with soy sauce and spices, are a popular dish in Henan, a crowded and heavily rural province.
Pig trotters, braised with soy sauce and spices, are a popular dish in Henan, a crowded and heavily rural province.
But even so, calculating how it would be possible to consume so many trotters in three years appeared daunting to many users on Sina Weibo, the popular Chinese microblog service.
Some predicted that the party boss and town chief were likely to pay for the trotters with their jobs.
“The next step will certainly be that the authorities initiate an investigation,” said one user, going by the online name Night Train.
Some predicted that the party boss and town chief were likely to pay for the trotters with their jobs.
“The next step will certainly be that the authorities initiate an investigation,” said one user, going by the online name Night Train.
“This will be a bloodbath triggered by pig trotters.”
And sure enough, by the end of Friday, the “chief responsible officials” in Wangluo were suspended and placed under investigation by party discipline authorities, according to a report from Xinhua, the state news agency.
The report did not name names.
And sure enough, by the end of Friday, the “chief responsible officials” in Wangluo were suspended and placed under investigation by party discipline authorities, according to a report from Xinhua, the state news agency.
The report did not name names.
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