Recently, Bella’s family put their grandfather into a nursing home. It was a
painful decision. In traditional China, caring for aged parents has always been an
unavoidable duty, but times are changing. Bella’s ambition? ‘I want one day to put
my parents in the best nursing home’ – the best that money can buy, she means.
‘When she told us that’ Bella’s father says, ‘I thought – is it selfish to think she will
be a dutiful and caring daughter and look after us? We don’t want to be a burden
on her when we get old. This is something my daughter has taught us. Once it
was parents who taught children, but now we learn from them.’ The family can
buy many more things these days, and when they go shopping, Bella makes sure
that the ‘right’ western brands are selected. (Pizza Hut is her favourite restaurant.)
She also teaches her parents the latest slang.