Mr. Shangkong | Private thoughts on the business of Xi and the next generation
Mainland businesspeople are grappling with change brought by the new leadership and their own children's lack of interest in the family firm
Kung hei fat choi! I wish all my readers good health and wealth in the Year of the Snake.
During the Lunar New Year holiday, I went with my parents, as usual, to visit relatives and friends, some of whom are very successful businessmen in the private sector.
Despite the positive headlines you may read in the state media, a good number of these businessmen are quite worried about the country's economic prospects and their own ability to keep and grow their wealth.
Our talk at dinner or over coffee often began with the latest political rumours from Beijing. We all know politics and the economy are much the same thing in China. If you don't understand Chinese politics, your business won't survive.
I asked the businessmen for their views on the new leader, Xi Jinping. Some were eager to share their concerns about his leadership style.
Referring to Xi's repeated orders to run a clean and humble government and cut down on the drinking and banquets many officials habitually enjoyed, one businessman friend said: "It seems Xi may be too tough - or perhaps it is not because of Xi himself but that those who are under Xi have become too nervous all of a sudden."
The new unwritten rule for officials at lunch or dinner is to have no more than four simple dishes and one soup. Chinese wines, in particular the famous Maotai, known as the "national spirit", are strictly forbidden.