[Writer Writes About Writers] Pang Jin and Tong Shitang Book Review: Reading Tong Mu's "Media Tycoon" and "Overseas Chinese Leader"

Read Wan Mu's "Media Tycoon"

Pang Jin

(Pang Jin, member of the Chinese Writers Association, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Canadian Writers Association, a prolific and accomplished writer. A dragon and phoenix research expert and calligrapher.)

At the first “Han Mo Festival” held by the literature society of a Canadian university, Mr. Wan Mu, the author, gifted me his full-length novel "Media Tycoon," asking me to write some commentary after reading it. Thus, in the following days, I read the book word by word. After closing the book and reflecting, I feel three points are particularly prominent:

First of all, it opened my eyes. I worked at the Xi'an Daily for over thirty years, from the early 1980s until my retirement. During that time, I also served as the editor-in-chief of a special overseas edition for many years. I should say that I am someone who isMediaMy understanding of the industry can no longer be described as a superficial “veteran media person.” Although I was already aware that “the forest is large and has all sorts of birds” in the media world, “Media Tycoon” still opened my eyes and even shocked me—for example, reading the passage about President Yan, a “surface-level sophisticated” leader of the North American Chinese media, contracting AIDS after a “deep integration” with a certain “white pig” (oil magnate). In the preface of this book, Mr. Wan Mu wrote about overseas Chinese media practitioners, “Some of them swindle in the community, some return to the motherland for power and sex transactions, yet some adhere to the bottom line and conscience of media people...” Unfortunately, this last point is not heavily elaborated on in this book. What appears before me is mostly backstabbing, struggling for fame and profit, men lustful, women promiscuous... making me feel as if "there are no good people in Hongtong County."

Next is the revelation of complex human nature. Active in "Media Mogul,"PersonNone of them are one-dimensional or monochromatic. They've had twists and turns in their lives, complex emotions, diverse ideas, and multi-faceted relationships - they are almost all like interchanges. “They, with the freedom of North American society, have indulged human nature to its extreme.” For example, Wendy Sun, a powerful media executive in the book who could command and conquer, was a married woman. Yet, she maintained a long-term affair with another main character, Hu Li'ao, a married man hailed as “the number one Chinese media figure.” Wendy Sun's husband was aware of their affair but lived harmoniously with Hu, even allowing them to have sex in his own home. Later, Wendy Sun even engaged in a threesome with Hu Li'ao and a talented woman named Zhao.

Third is the marvel of language. While reading “Media Tycoon,” there were moments where sentences would appear that made my eyes light up and compelled me to praise them. For example: “Eyes that don't recognize the Rocky Mountains,” “Banana newspapers, yellow on the outside, white on the inside,‘ ’It's only like ”staring across the rain at Red Mansions, growing cold“,” “As long as you remain a tall evergreen, why fear the stream not remaining blue?‘ ”Yet his wife dwelled on the cold “bright moonlit night, short grave mound”," "Mountains of gold and silver, often not as valuable as one's own 'nipple mountain'." These sentences are apt adaptations of famous ancient poetry, popular song lyrics, and folk proverbs. They could not be written without a foundation of scholarship, broad knowledge, rich associations, a keen sense of aesthetics, and skillful prose.

(September 20, 2024, at Feng Hua Ge, Canada)

Reading Reflection on "Overseas Leaders"

Tong Shi Tang

(Tong Shi Tang, Professor at Wuhan University of Science and Technology.)
I read the book "Overseas Chinese Leaders" with curiosity. In my past impressions, overseas Chinese were a very special group. They were abroad, but their hearts and roots remained tied to their homeland and hometown. Especially during the Anti-Japanese War, when the nation's survival was severely threatened, many patriotic overseas Chinese stepped forward, contributing money and effort, and joining patriotic salvation actions, even sacrificing their lives. The mother of one of my university classmates was a patriotic overseas Chinese who returned to China to participate in the War of Resistance and national salvation. Overseas Chinese have played a huge and active role in China's establishment of diplomatic relations with the US, joining the WTO, restoring its lawful seat in the United Nations, as well as initiating opening up and international cooperation.

This book, "Overseas Chinese Leaders," with the city of Oak in North America as its setting, offers a unique perspective to meticulously observe the social phenomena occurring in overseas Chinese communities today, some of which are not widely known to the public. After reading this book, you will be able to gain a deep understanding of the changing social atmosphere within overseas Chinese communities, which can alter your worldview and make you lament the decline of ancient virtues. Through detailed observation and analysis, the author shares a wealth of information and interesting stories, making this a worthwhile and valuable read for overseas Chinese, international students, and those preparing to study abroad or immigrate. It offers a realistic portrayal of the overseas Chinese community and serves as a highly referential resource.

The work meticulously observes overseas community leaders in different sectors. The communities referred to here are specific groups categorized by industry, such as news, law, poetry societies, trade, and catering. The heads of these communities are referred to as overseas community leaders. The book "Overseas Community Leaders" realistically portrays several leaders with highly representative characteristics. They are often self-centered, willing to abandon basic moral standards and principles for petty gains. They scheme against each other, undermine one another, and feel no shame in abusing power for personal gain, engaging in power-money, and power-sex transactions. Some overseas community leaders even collude with local opportunistic officials and merchants, deliberately damaging the reputations of others and harming the national interests of both their home country and their country of residence. A very small number of embassy and consulate staff, by potentially misjudging candidates when selecting overseas community leaders, have further fueled the arrogance and highhandedness of certain leaders. Ultimately, all of this damages the image and interests of overseas Chinese and their home country.

The characters are vividly portrayed with distinct personalities. Luo Ergeng, Niu Hui, Run Lili, Li Shengli, and others represent overseas Chinese leaders from different communities. Among them are established university graduates with higher education, some of whom were leaders in domestic government departments (Luo); or children of high-ranking officials with extensive influential connections (Niu); or journalists who control public opinion, maintaining improper romantic relationships with corrupt high-ranking officials domestically, and possess great influence within the overseas Chinese community (Run); and there are also former stowaways who obtained permanent residency as refugees but, after years of struggle and initial accumulation, have amassed significant financial strength in the overseas Chinese community and ultimately became dominant community leaders (Li). Of course, in immigrant countries, to get things done, one also needs connections with local bureaucratic and business circles who collude and work together. Jason is a typical representative of such locals who navigate the overseas Chinese community and gain advancement through Chinese affairs.

“Overseas Leaders” portrays the social chaos of mutual exploitation, open and covert struggles, deception, coercion, bribery, and sex-for-power deals among overseas leaders through various stories, resembling a romance and revenge saga of Oak Overseas Leaders. If you are inexperienced and interested in learning how to guard against villains, you might want to read Chapter 15: “The Beijing Fox Hooks Up with the Foreign Fox” in this book; if your career is going smoothly and you absolutely do not want to capsize in a ditch, you might want to read Chapter 17: "The Media Chairman Stares Blankly in the Basement."

After reading this book, my perspective on the lives of overseas Chinese in today's society has completely changed. When interacting with them, I naturally feel a greater sense of care. In this regard, "Overseas Leaders" is a worthwhile read that generously provides readers with rich information.

Wanmu Profile:

Wan Mu is a Chinese-Canadian writer, political commentator, and media editor. He is a full-time commentator for radio and television and a columnist for multiple media outlets. He currently serves as a director of the Canadian Chinese Writers Association.
Wan Mu has received numerous domestic and international research awards. A large volume of poetry, prose, criticism, and academic articles have been published in Canadian, American, and Chinese newspapers and magazines. Some of his poetry has been selected for university textbooks, and his political commentary has been recommended for high-level research and discussion in Beijing. He has published eight books of literary and socio-political research, including "Hometown Moon, Foreign Frost," "Overseas Leaders," "Media Tycoons," and "Discussions on the Lake" (Volumes 1 and 2).

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Wan MuOverseas Literature SeriesThe work is available at the Sino-Canadian Book Store in Toronto. Friends are welcome to visit.

Address: 9033 Leslie St, Richmond Hill, ON, Canada

Chen Xiang Ji Bookstore ; Address: 457-459 Dundas St W · Toronto, ON Canada

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