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Being hosted by Melody meant we got to crash Shuguang's fete. Rather than minding, their top brass seemed genuinely pleased with our presence. In fact, they invited us with open arms to visit their facility in 2009. Needless to say, we accepted. Jiesha Hang's business card hinted at the powerful political tie-ins of any government-run company in present-day China despite the suggestive democratic undertones Westerns might associate with such an open-market economy. His titles? Vice Secretary of Party Committee. Standing Vice-General Manager. Senior Political Worker. Senior Economy Manager.

After a rousing address by Shuguang's two top guns, the restaurant started rolling out dish after dish to the 80-or-so attendees while we witnessed a core ingredient of Chinese business practice in action. In short, if you wish to conduct business at this level, you better be a stout drinker who keeps his calm under duress. Said duress comes in the form of shot glasses filled with the kind of potent rice spirit that lights up when flamed, probably runs a small engine without hiccups and delegates Japanese or Korean-style rice wine to fifth place if that.

If you detect a certain jollification factor between the opening and subsequent photos, consider that Melody's Allen Wang downed about 36 of those shot glasses while being toasted by his hosts. The custom is simplicity itself. You're being approached by your business partner or competitor and two glasses are filled and downed after exchanging pleasantries. The higher the mutual regard it seems, the greater the number of immediate follow-ups. A single encounter might have you chuck four and as the evening progresses, you're expected to exchange such greetings between a growing number of men (and women). Refusal is tantamount to losing respect and face.


Shuguang's annual get-together unwinds atop an interesting gestalt in that at least five fierce competitors -- I recognized Spark/Cayin, Melody, Sheng Ya and Opera Audio/Consonance -- celebrate together for one evening at the common well that is their mutual valve supplier. One Korean importer owing money to one electronics vendor while openly romancing another and spilling company secrets to add insult to injury quickly crossed his consumption barrier of rice brandy to become a public embarrassment. Apparently that's habitual too as during a prior year, he was recounted as having rolled on the floor in a fisticuff. That's all in a day's work.

PrimaLuna/Mystère's Dominique van den Dungen was seated at Shuguang's table and had to keep up with the boys. From what I could see from our adjacent table, she did an excellent job of it too, certainly far better than lightweight yours truly would have. If it's true that inebriation unlocks one's inner nature, i.e. reveals certain character traits which normal control hides behind lock and key, then this Chinese custom isn't just liberating but a keen tool - based on which I'd do business with the Shuguang folks any day of the week.

As was our entire trip, the evening at Shuguang's party was a brilliant example of boundless generosity and welcome. I look forward to reporting next year from Shuguang's tube manufacturing plant...