The shy ape
- Source: Global Times
- [22:35 December 13 2009]
- Comments
The T-shirts spell out Bu Xu Lian Xiang – “Don’t Guess” – the name of Wang Xiaofeng’s blog. The design imitates and satirizes the cover of a Hong Kong book The Art of the T-Shirt by Maki and employs one of Wang’s trademark naughty words.
A student interrupted his recent speech in a Zhongshan University lecture hall in Guangzhou several times to lambaste his work and insult Wang Xiaofeng.
This was the first time the blogger came face to face with one of his countless critical "chimpanzees", the moniker he applies to those who follow or even comment on his work.
Chimps who yearn for a similar fiery encounter with the caustic online commentator might be a tad disappointed to meet this peaceful, leisurely gent in the flesh sipping a coffee with double milk in the Passengers Cafe of the Nanluoguxiang alleyway in central Beijing.
"I'm an introvert," he tells the Global Times, staring down into the cup's reflection of a sunny winter afternoon.
In this world away from lengthy online monologues, Wang admits he is not much good at speaking and prefers "quiet most of the time."
Nobody here appears to recognize Wang, one of the most cynical, attractive modern writers the nation's capital has ever produced.
His "Don't Guess" (Bu Xu Lian Xiang) blog receives about 60,000 hits a day from 27,000 IP addresses across the nation. Many visitors check his blog a few times a day, probably due to his legendary productivity of four or five items a day.
"I mean I knew there were people who disliked me, but I just had no idea there were so many," he says.
"Sometimes people can't stand my wording just because I speak like a normal human being and some can't tolerate a free spirit."
Wang grew up in the countryside, in a village of Jilin Province in northeast China. He only moved to the capital when he was 13, and 30 years later, he still dreams of snow-white dandelions matting the hills and plum, peach and pear trees blossoming in spring.
