You're making good points, too, and I really like hearing from someone with first-hand experience. Most of what I read is theoretical or a news announcement about being ahead of schedule on a massive infrastructure project. It's easy for me to get a rosy picture because I'm a fan on the CPC and it's incredible to me that China can even start infrastructure and other projects, nevermind finish them or finish them ahead of schedule. It's like reading sci-fi sometimes. But the view of the ordinary worker is missing.

Do people use foodbanks in China / do you hear stories about parents going hungry to leave enough food to feed their children?