Relatives Coming Out of the Woodwork: Quan Hongchan's Rise to Fame Exposes Dark Side of Chinese Family Dynamics
The recent surge in fame of Chinese Olympic diver Quan Hongchan has brought with it a flurry of attention from unexpected quarters. Relatives who had previously been out of touch with Quan's family have suddenly reappeared, asking to borrow large sums of money. Some have even requested as much as 200,000 to 350,000 yuan, seemingly expecting Quan's mother to acquiesce to their demands.
17 August 2024
Quan's mother, who had been married into the family for over 20 years, expressed her surprise at the sudden appearance of these distant relatives. "I didn't know we had so many relatives in the family," she said, highlighting the absurdity of the situation.
The incident has sparked a lively discussion on Chinese social media platform Weibo, with many netizens expressing their outrage and disgust at the behavior of these distant relatives. "It's so realistic, isn't it?" wrote one user. "When you're poor, no one cares about you, but when you're rich, you have relatives coming out of the woodwork."
Another user echoed this sentiment, writing "穷在闹市无人问，富在深山有远亲" ("When you're poor, you're ignored in the city, but when you're rich, you have relatives coming from afar"). This phrase has become a popular saying in China, highlighting the societal phenomenon of people only seeking to associate with those who are wealthy or influential.
Some users also referenced an ancient Chinese proverb, "人穷莫走亲，富贵不还乡" ("When you're poor, don't visit your relatives, but when you're wealthy, don't forget to return to your hometown"). This proverb highlights the societal expectation that those who have achieved wealth and status will use their resources to help their relatives and community.
However, not all users were sympathetic to Quan's family. One user wrote, "荒唐" ("Ridiculous"), seemingly criticizing Quan's mother for not being more generous with her wealth. Another user shared a cryptic message, "除了生病以外，你所感受到的痛苦都是你的价值观带给你的" ("Except for illness, the pain you feel is brought to you by your values"). This message appeared to suggest that Quan's family was somehow responsible for the stress and pressure they were experiencing.
In response to these criticisms, one user wrote, "呵呵哒，真是远亲不如远离" ("Ha! It's better to keep distant relatives at arm's length"). This user pointed out that when Quan's sister was ill and needed financial assistance, none of these distant relatives were willing to help. Now that Quan has achieved success and wealth, they are suddenly appearing out of nowhere, expecting to benefit from her good fortune.
The incident has sparked a wider discussion about the nature of family relationships and social expectations in China. Many users expressed their frustration with the societal pressure to prioritize family ties and obligations over personal relationships and individual well-being. As one user wrote, "内心一旦平静，外界便鸦雀无声" ("Once my heart calms down, the outside world is completely silent"). This phrase suggests that true peace and happiness can only be achieved by looking inward and ignoring the external pressures and expectations of others.
In conclusion, the story of Quan Hongchan's relatives asking for loans has sparked a lively and nuanced discussion about the complexities of family relationships and social expectations in China. While some users have expressed outrage and disgust at the behavior of these distant relatives, others have highlighted the need for individuals to prioritize their own well-being and values in the face of societal pressure.
