Here, people used phones for everything: taking the bus, shopping, buying attraction tickets, even purchasing a sausage or a drink at a site.
What really got them was when Tawana, at Yuanmingyuan, tried to buy a Coke with a 100-yuan note, only for the shopkeeper to sheepishly say they couldn’t make change.
Why no change? Because they had no cash.
Why no cash? Because nobody uses it, bloody hell!
The shopkeeper, being kind, just gave her the bottle for free.
By chance, a child nearby, under her parents’ watchful eyes, went to the shop alone to buy corn on the cob. Though she had no phone, she paid with a smartwatch on her wrist.
The barrage of comments from Canadian netizens exploded, “Our government claims China’s awash with fake money. I’d love to know how fake money circulates in a country where you can’t even see real money?”
A flood of others chimed in, “Those warnings about China? Just treat them as friendly survival tips for our own country or the US next door. Oh, and add one more: watch out for Canada’s streets covered in human waste!”
Canadian netizens promptly began mocking themselves.
What era is this, still smearing others daily, and with claims so far off the mark it’s laughable?
When Tawana, exhausted, ended the broadcast and returned to her hotel, the internet was ablaze with discussions about her stream.
Chinese netizens were, of course, even more enthusiastic, unanimously supporting Tawana, showering her with praise and gratitude for defending China’s image.
Back in her room, scrolling through the overwhelming online support, she was thrilled. The support from Chinese fans also proved, in a way, that Ye Chen must approve of her actions.
As long as she could earn a bit more of Ye Chen’s favour, it was all worth it.
Her manager stormed in, exasperated, “Tawana, can you please discuss things like this with me first next time? Attacking Britain’s history so directly today will really hurt your commercial prospects there. Don’t forget, we’ve got a tour in the UK this year!”
Tawana, caught up in the moment, spun around carefree and laughed, “Doesn’t matter. Worst case, we cancel all the UK shows.”
Then, her energy surged, and she declared loudly, “Yes! Cancel them all, every single one! I won’t explain a thing. I’ll let my actions show my stance!”
Her manager’s head throbbed, about to persuade her, when Tawana’s phone pinged with a voice message.
She checked and saw it was from a British male singer she was quite friendly with.
This singer, a well-known songwriter in the UK and globally, wasn’t as famous as Tawana but wasn’t far behind.
In the message, he said gravely, in a northern British accent, “Tawana, as an old friend, I think your comments about Britain in the stream were deeply unfair. You shouldn’t attack Britain like that. It’s really disheartening!”
Tawana’s competitive streak flared. She chuckled and replied, “Oh, really? As an American, we’ve never shied away from our history of oppressing Native Americans. At least we gave them reservations and benefits. We don’t exhibit their scalps. You lot not only refuse to return looted Chinese artefacts but even display Egyptians’ ancestors. And you’ve got the nerve to call my comments unfair?”
After sending that, she fired off another, “Let’s block each other. I don’t want friends who can’t tell right from wrong!”
