In the bustling city of Hangzhou, a 25-year-old man, grandson to a high-ranking Chinese government official, found himself deeply absorbed in the card game Guandan, known locally as “throwing eggs.” Despite the official warnings labeling the game as an addictive waste of time, the young man was not swayed by the negativity surrounding it. The game had swept through China, captivating millions with its blend of strategy and social interaction. Even in his late twenties, the man found solace and camaraderie in the cards, much to the chagrin of his grandfather, who had always valued hard work and discipline.
One evening, the elderly official, after observing his grandson’s devotion to Guandan, was suddenly transported back in time to his youth during the Cultural Revolution. He remembered his own days of intense labor in Anhui Province, where he was sent as part of the government’s efforts to re-educate intellectuals through farm work. Despite the harsh conditions, the young people of the village found joy and relaxation in the game of Guandan. They would gather in the shade of mugwort, drying under the hot sun, and engage in spirited rounds of the card game. It was a rare moment of respite and human connection amidst the rigors of their daily lives.
The old man’s heart softened as he reminisced about those days. He saw in his grandson’s obsession not just a lazy distraction, but a continuation of a tradition that had brought people together in the past. Curiosity piqued, he approached his grandson with an unexpected request.
“Would you teach me how to play Guandan?” he asked, his voice tinged with nostalgia.
The young man, surprised by his grandfather’s request, eagerly agreed. As they sat down to play, the generational gap between them seemed to narrow. The grandfather, once a stern advocate of hard work, found himself enjoying the game just as he had in his youth. The grandson, in turn, gained a new respect for his grandfather’s past, realizing that even in the midst of hardship, there was room for joy and leisure.
This interaction between grandfather and grandson highlights the enduring nature of cultural practices and the way they can bridge generations. While Guandan may have been criticized as a waste of time by some, for this family, it became a way to connect across the years, bringing together the past and the present in a shared moment of play.
China’s ‘throwing eggs’ card game wins fans and official censure
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