The most difficult thing is to describe Chinese people.
For instance, corruption, do Chinese people like corruption? Of course, no! Every Chinese person hates it so much, so they grind teeth with bitter hatred the moment they hear the word. Even those who bribe or accept bribes may not really like being corrupted. Who would risk official positions if they were already making good money without accepting bribes? Who would give their own money away as a bribe if everything was done properly?
Most people do not like corruption, but they cannot live without it. In fact, the first thing that comes to their minds once they come across problems is to 'knock on the back door', which means to use personal connections and offer people banquets and presents. If there are officials who never accept banquets or presents, perhaps some people will feel empty, lost and disappointed, since they do not know whether their problems can be solved. Therefore, anti-corruption must be done but it can’t be overdone. The best solution is to limit the quantity of banquets and presents, everyone will be happy then.
Do you think people are forced to do all these things? Not necessarily. For example, everyone hates and opposes spending government funds on eating and drinking. However, if you invite people who have never been invited, probably they would be pleased to go and feel flattered. So it seems, if they are involved they will not oppose it. If they are not involved, they will definitely oppose it.
Obviously Chinese people have too many principles and rules of conduct, as a result they contradict each other. Please note it is not suggesting that Chinese people do not keep their word, or they do something different behind someone’s back. For instance, ancestors earnestly instructed us that a person should 'be ready to help others for a just cause', or 'help others when there is no justice', meanwhile they also warned us to 'mind our own business', 'only sweep snow in front of my door, do not mind frost on an other's roof'. In that case, should we help or not? Oh no! You cannot understand it, can you? To help or not, it depends on whether it is an important matter. If it is, do help; if it is not, do not help. Therefore, 'help others for a just cause' is right, 'watch with folded arms' is also right. There is an old Chinese saying: grandpa claims his reasons, grandma claims her reasons ALSO! In other words, whether it is reasonable, not just depends on explanations, also depends on who you are, grandpa or grandma.
As a result, it becomes troublesome for people who study Chinese 'national character' or 'nationalism', you can never come up with one or two words or a couple of sentences to summarize Chinese people. For instance, Chinese people are honest but slick, sincere but shrewd, skeptical but credulous, rigid but flexible, self-serving but loyal, sophisticated but inconsiderate, neutral but extreme, frugal but ostentatious, old-fashioned but fashionable, low maintenance but dreaming of fortune, superstitious but not religious, team-spirited but competitive, picky but mediating, rumorous but not nosy, understanding the value of time but advocating 'take things slowly', etc., etc.. Irrespective, China still has vast territory and abundant resources, a long history and splendid culture of 5,000 years. It was the first rich nation in world history, and then it became poor and was conquered due to being backwards. Anyway, it is not that easy to understand Chinese people. Not only do foreigners not understand, but also Chinese people themselves may not be able to explain clearly.
Actually it is not even proper not to be able to explain it. If you summarize Chinese people like that, surely someone will oppose it immediately by saying, 'Not be able to explain it? Why? I can explain it.' Then this person starts talking systematically in full detail, surely sounds clear and logical, until listeners nod their heads. However, does it matter? No, they will nod whoever they listen to, because whoever explains it is right. If you think each person who explains it has the same point, you are wrong. Their points are just opposite, because one claims grandpa's reasons, the other claims grandma's reasons. Nevertheless, nodding does not necessarily mean 'agree' in China (of course it does not necessarily mean 'disagree'). It perhaps shows that people are listening, or polite, or it is just a habit.
Chinese people's stories are really difficult to tell.
In terms of eating, Chinese people love to offer guests a banquet. South China and North China are the same, but how to eat and what to eat are not the same. Northerners always order many dishes to pile up on the table. Those dishes often are very solid, such as an entire chicken, a whole duck, or an entire leg of pork or lamb, it can be summarized as 'drink wine from big bowls and have big chunks of meat'. Southern dishes will be much smaller and have less amount on the plate, can almost be finished in one mouthful, but there is more variety. They can cook chicken and fish in different ways. So northerners look down on southerners, and think southerners are stingy. Southerners also look down on northerners, and think northerners are stupid. The funniest thing is that they both believe the other side is hypocritical. Northerners say, ‘Such a small amount of food, people dare not to touch it. What is the point of inviting people for a banquet? Are they just pretending to be nice?' Southerners say, 'obviously too many dishes to finish, but keep bringing more, is it a show or a meal? Are they bluffing!' In the end who is hypocritical? In fact, no one is. Northerners think that there should be plenty of food for people to enjoy if you sincerely invite people. Southerners think that you do not need to waste a lot to show that you are sincere, 'just enough' will do, what is the point of having too many dishes? Will you waste a lot if eating with family members? No! Furthermore, people are not ‘rice buckets’! It is better to prepare just the right amount. It is so-called 'act in a way that defeats one's purpose'. Both of them are considered to be hypocritical even though they are sincere.
You see, they are both Chinese people, but northerners and southerners are different. Chinese people are difficult to describe.