In 2023, one day, the author went to a rural market to buy some green beans. Stopping at a stall, he noticed that the beans had more insect bites, indicating a lower pesticide residue. The seller quickly explained that he used fewer chemicals, making his produce greener and healthier.
The seller then whispered as he opened his phone, “I’ll tell you the truth, our village government buys from me under contract for their canteen without pesticides, so the beans grow like this. You’re a discerning person, my vegetables are good despite their appearance. Trust me.” Concerned that the author wouldn’t believe him, the seller showed records on his phone of supplying the village government canteen.
Possibly unintentional remarks had significant implications: Is it possible that even the village government officials are enjoying special privileges in their meals?
This unique shopping experience sparked the author’s curiosity about government canteens, prompting him to search online for more information.
A quick online search on “government canteens” revealed numerous headlines:
1. “Government canteens: “How luxurious are they”, 3 RMB for unlimited beef, lamb, and pork, meals without repeats for seven days!”
2. “Government canteen benefits, abundant dishes at low prices, unavailable to the general public.”
3. “Government canteens: Three meat, three vegetable meals, with meal subsidies, costing only a few RMB!”
4. “Government canteen menu standards: Meat dishes start at 3 RMB, including fish, shrimp, and roasted duck.”
5. “Government canteen menu ‘leaked’, 3 meat, 3 vegetable dishes for a few RMB, netizens: the food is good!”
6. “This is how a government canteen looks! Seafood for 2 RMB, with meals not repeating throughout the day.”
7. “I had a meal at a provincial government canteen, thinking of resigning to take the examination!”
8. “Why are so many people keen on taking civil service exams? Just look at the canteen menu!”
9. “Hidden benefits in government canteens, meat and vegetable combos for 2 RMB, and you can even take the leftovers.”
10. “Unveiling the county-level government canteen, would you come for a 3 RMB lunch?”
11. “Visiting Qingdao government canteens: officers can help themselves to 7 dishes and 7 main courses for 1 RMB.”
12. “Government canteens: Three meat, three vegetable dishes, fish, meat, and meals for two RMB.”
13. “For just five RMB, eat whatever you want. In the Guangdong government canteen, it’s the happiest planet for dry rice people!”
14. “Three advantages of government canteens, eating a meal for a few RMB, different dishes every day!”
15. “Unveiling a certain town’s government canteen! I’m thrilled just starting a new job.”
16. “Real photos of various government canteens, what do institutional people eat every day? Some gain 20 pounds!”
17. “What do civil servants eat for lunch? After seeing canteens from different places, 90% are sour about it.”
18. “Government canteens share menus, an average meal costs a few RMB, netizens find it worth it!”
19. “Government canteen food exposed, four meat, three vegetable dishes without repeats, netizens: suddenly the takeaway in hand didn’t seem tempting.”
20. “Exploring government canteens, why is the food so delicious in officers’ canteens? Canteen staff reveal the truth!”
After reading these headlines, one could almost smell the aroma emanating from government canteens, making appetites whetted, if not drooling.
In 2016, an article published by Netease asked, “What do civil servants eat for lunch? After seeing canteens from different places, 90% are sour about it.” Let’s see why from the internet users’ perspectives.
In Shaanxi’s Xi’an Street Office, people served themselves with a variety of dishes, meat, vegetables, and fruits, all for just one RMB for three meals a day. Similarly, in Zhejiang’s Street Office, despite the lower quality of food compared to Xi’an, everything was free.
From grain pancakes, pickled vegetables, and seafood to lobster in Guangdong, this was the lunch at the local tax bureau, costing only 2 RMB. With meal subsidies, it practically came free.
At Yunnan’s county-level tax bureau canteen, the dishes showcase Yunnan’s flavors, with spicy elements like chicken feet, beef, fried potatoes, Yunnan pickles, and fruits, all for 80 RMB a month for two meals, less than 4 RMB per day on weekdays.
After detailing dining conditions at four canteens, the article suggested that generally, civil servants receive meal subsidies each month. Any remaining money can be spent at the unit’s convenience store, with many instances where the meals are free.
The author focused on grassroots civil servants’ canteens. The situation at higher levels, up to central ministries, remains unknown. Logically, higher-ranking offices with larger budgets likely have more diverse and quality meals.
Drawing from personal military experience in the Chinese army, the author explained that army canteens are categorized by grade. In this hierarchy, the best-quality meals are reserved for the Air Force officers, surpassing other categories.
However, there are exceptional canteens, referred to as privileged canteens, reserved for division headquarters officers and even more select canteens for regimental commanders, offering superior meals. These exclusive canteens function under the motto, “No standards, leadership satisfaction equals standards.”
This setup in the military likely extends to civil service canteens, where at a certain level, officials indulge in special privileges far removed from typical dining experiences. This luxuriance relies heavily on substantial financial backing.
This article sheds light on a stark reality: Civil servants with their coveted jobs not only enjoy hefty salaries and system-benefits but also receive low-cost or even free meals three times a day. This paints a picture of civil servants who, despite luxury dining, penny-pinch, a paradoxical behavior.
In one account, a colleague at Guizhou Daily suggested that to buy a house, one should eat from the canteen. The sentiment echoes a netizen’s wistful desire to be a servant, basking in the universe’s happiness.
As of 2016 based on Ministry of Human Resources data, China had around 7.17 million civil servants. While the figure may seem comparable to Western countries, including the US and EU, the scope of civil servants varies, significantly impacting cross-country comparisons. Indeed, the number only accounts for national agency civil servants; when extending to all public sector employees financially supported by the state, it reaches around 50 million.
Fast forward to 2023, local government employees had surpassed 80 million, constituting 5.66% of the national population. Internal staff accounted for 2.56%, while external staff stood at 3.10%, excluding retirees.
The author shared an anecdote about a security guard at the Changping District Government in Beijing, who mentioned eating in the government canteen at a nominal fee. This narrative highlights that even those peripheral to civil service enjoy subsidized meals, stressing that 80 million state-aided individuals pose quite a number.
What does 80 million signify? France’s projected population in 2023 hovers around 66.739 million, making the state-supported group significantly larger.
Legal service platform Zhaofa offers expert legal consultation. Despite a query on conditions for government canteen operation, whether all organizations can run canteens, received no response in 2021. Even later inquiries in March 2023 on the legal basis for employee canteens garnered vague responses, indicating that there may not be clear legal grounds for government canteens in China.
This lack of legal foundation for civil service canteens in China indicates systemic and institutional corruption within the Communist Party’s top-down public governance. It reveals internal officials misappropriating public funds, accruing illicit earnings beyond legal stipends, sharing benefits among members, and operating a ‘privileged canteen’ system supported by substantial finances.
A classic quote from the movie “Soldier Zhang Ga” encapsulates the sentiment where one character asserts their privilege by declaring they dine at exclusive establishments for free. The Communist Party’s manifestation of a similar attitude through systemic abuses reflects a mafia-like society enabled by their authoritarian regime.
A comparison with Japan’s Tokyo Metropolitan Government canteens offers an enlightening contrast. Situated in Shinjuku, the Tokyo government canteens are accessible to all, offering Japanese-style meals at affordable prices to both local and foreign civil servants.
New recruits in Tokyo typically start with a monthly income exceeding 15,000 RMB, reaching 30-40,000 RMB before retirement. Canteen offerings include a main dish, side dish, soup, and rice, with a typical curry rice priced at 400-600 Japanese Yen, equivalent to 24-36 RMB.
Many Tokyo government employees opt to dine in the canteen. Group gatherings are common, with officers combining tables, setting up screens for privacy. Whether dining alone or in groups, individuals foot their own bills.
Chinese netizens observing the Tokyo government canteen scene contrast it with their own, expressing a mix of envy, jealousy, and resentment – admiring Japan’s progressive approach while lamenting China’s Communist Party disparities.
Conclusion:
During the Great Leap Forward in 1958, the Chinese Communist Party’s disastrous policies led to the deaths of around 40 million people. Despite this dark period and the enduring slogans of “serving the people” and putting “the people first,” one may ask the Party officials, “Have you eaten?”
As the authorities continue boasting about serving the people and portraying themselves as public servants and leaders for the people, it prompts the question: “Have you eaten?” – a question meant to remind them of the stark contrasts between their lavish dining experiences and the hardships endured by ordinary citizens.