This story is often told to illustrate that Americans have a better outlook on consumption than the Chinese; Americans consume ahead of time and enjoy life; while the Chinese work hard all their lives but do not know how to enjoy or have no time to enjoy. The story is sometimes mentioned by some scholars as an example of comparison between Chinese and Western cultures. But the sequel and prequel to this story were not mentioned.
The sequel should be like this; after the American old lady went to heaven, her children said: "We just finished the funeral for our mother, and we are going to take out a loan to buy a house again." After the Chinese old lady went to heaven, , her children said: "My mother is so kind. She has worked hard all her life and left us a new house. We must also work hard to save money and buy a house for our children." American children live in new houses bought with loans, and Chinese children live in new houses bought with loans. I moved into a new house that my mother just bought but didn’t have time to enjoy.
The prequel should be like this; when the American old lady was young, her mother passed away. Her mother had just paid off the loan before she died, and the house had been lived in for thirty years and was too old. After she finished the funeral, she went to the bank to get a loan to buy a house. She said: "I will take out a loan to live in a new house first. As for my children, when they grow up, they can take care of themselves, just like my mother did to me." Young Chinese old lady At that time, my mother passed away. She had worked hard all her life. Before she died, she bought a house and left it to her. After she bid farewell to her mother, she said: "My mother worked hard all her life so that we could live in a new house. Maternal love is so great. How can I repay my mother? The only thing I can do is to leave a legacy for my children in the future." A sum of money to buy a new house.”
After listening to this complete story, we can correctly view the differences in consumption concepts in Chinese and American cultural concepts, as well as the related differences in family ethics and social values. . The old American lady took out a loan to live in her own house and enjoy life; the old Chinese lady also has a new house to live in and can enjoy life, but she lives in a new house left by her mother (see the prequel). Judging from the continuity of the three generations of ancestors and grandchildren, the American three generations "take care of themselves" and "children and grandchildren will have their own blessings"; the Chinese three generations are "the predecessors plant trees, and the descendants enjoy the shade."
Therefore, Americans pray before eating: "Thank you Lord for giving me clothes and food." Before eating, Chinese people light a stick of incense and burn a few pieces of paper money in front of their ancestors' souls. , serve a hot meal and then eat by yourself. Americans are grateful (God’s grace) because from ancient times to the present, God is the only one who blesses everyone, so Americans respect fairness; Chinese people respect their ancestors because their ancestors bless their descendants, and “ancestors” are An ever-increasing sequence, including living people, will also become part of this sequence in the future, so the Chinese value ethical family ties. The difference between Chinese and Western consumption concepts depends on the difference in traditional culture and ethical values. With the exchange and integration of Chinese and Western cultures, Chinese people will also accept loans for consumption while accumulating wealth for their children and grandchildren. Americans will also pay more attention to family ethics. value.