Chengdu, Sichuan

5. Bernice Buys a Basket

China is a land of free enterprise. While they call themselves Communists, the government sector is stagnating and the private sector is flourishing. The government is attempting to unload the unprofitable businesses it controls to the private sector. Many hundreds of thousands of people are going into business for themselves. It is 1984 and foreigners are still objects of curiosity in areas not on the tourist routes. While Bernice negotiates a purchase another couple want to see what the "Long Nose" wants to buy. All Americans are politely referred to as Long Noses, in the Chinese language, so as not to offend you. Generally you end up paying about 1/5 of the initial asking price.