Interesting News in Hong Kong-02香港趣聞

Summary

The liquidation of Evergrande in Hong Kong has led to a humorous cultural reference to "selling salted duck eggs," reflecting the intricate and surprising nature of the situation.

Abstract

The recent court-ordered liquidation of Evergrande, a major property developer in Hong Kong, has sparked a wave of humor and cultural references among locals. The term "selling salted duck eggs," a euphemism for death, has been humorously used to describe the company's downfall. Despite the serious financial implications, the situation has been met with a mix of shock, resignation, and humor, with creditors lamenting the loss of their investments in a manner akin to burying salted duck eggs. The article details the creditors' negotiations with Evergrande, the company's refusal to cooperate, and the resulting jokes about starting a salted duck egg business as a nod to the creditors' unfortunate expertise in "selling eggs" due to the liquidation. The piece concludes with a hopeful note for the creditors to find new opportunities and for the market to regain stability.

Opinions

The author suggests that the reality of Evergrande's liquidation is more complex and fascinating than the initial public reaction.
Creditors are depicted as feeling helpless due to Evergrande's unwillingness to engage in debt restructuring discussions.
The use of the "buried salted duck eggs" metaphor reflects a humorous and subtle way to comment on the severity of the financial situation.
Some have taken a light-hearted approach to the crisis, joking that creditors could pivot to selling actual salted duck eggs as a new business venture.
The article expresses a desire for a swift resolution to the liquidation process to restore market confidence and stability.

Evergrande’s Liquidation Triggers "Buried Salted Duck Egg" Craze

My illustration “Surprised Chief”

In Hong Kong, there is a popular slang saying that when a person dies, it is called "go and sell salted duck eggs"=賣鹹鴨蛋.

One is because in the past, when the deceased was put into the coffin, a large number of "tooth ashes" were placed under the coffin, and this was also done during the production of salted duck eggs, so it was used as a metaphor.

My illustration”go and sell salted duck eggs”

Recently, the announcement of Evergrande's liquidation by a Hong Kong court has shocked the nation, sparking lively discussions and jokes. Many have exclaimed that Evergrande's predicament has truly led to the saying "gone to sell salted duck eggs"! However, the reality is far more intriguing than it initially appears, as the details behind the liquidation are more fascinating than imagined.

According to insider information from the creditors, prior to the court's announcement of liquidation, they had been actively engaged in negotiations with Evergrande, hoping to reach a debt restructuring agreement. However, Evergrande consistently refused to cooperate and engage in discussions, leaving the creditors feeling helpless. Faced with Evergrande's resolute stance, the creditors could only express their resignation, realizing that they would indeed have to "bury salted duck eggs" this time!

My illustration “A thriving seller of salted duck eggs”

You may wonder why the creditors use the term "bury salted duck eggs" to describe Evergrande's liquidation. In the process of making salted duck eggs, one method involves burying duck eggs in yellow soil, sealing them for a period of time, and eventually producing delicious salted duck eggs. This process is somewhat similar to burying a person in yellow soil, hence the humorous and subtle analogy.

My illustration “bury salted duck eggs”

The creditors now lament, saying, "Evergrande has truly buried our money in the yellow soil!" They helplessly express that faced with Evergrande as a "salted duck egg hiding in the yellow soil," their only option is to "sell eggs"! After all, when a person has passed away, what else can be done?

Nevertheless, despite the helplessness expressed by many toward Evergrande's liquidation, there are also humorous voices emerging. Some joke that Evergrande's creditors could consider a career change and open a "salted duck egg shop" since they already have extensive experience in "selling eggs"! Perhaps they could even sell some "liquidation-exclusive" salted duck eggs in the market, creating some income!

My illustration”selling eggs”

Regardless, Evergrande's liquidation has triggered a series of humorous associations and jokes. Perhaps, when facing difficulties and challenges, a humorous attitude and optimistic mindset are the best remedies. After all, life is like a salted duck egg, and sometimes you can only choose to "sell eggs" to resolve the predicament!

Lastly, we hope the creditors of Evergrande can find new hope and opportunities on the path of "selling eggs," and we also hope that the liquidation of Evergrande can be resolved as soon as possible, bringing stability and confidence to the market!

My illustration “Missiles, Duck Eggs, Easter Eggs”