Li Xiaolin, CEO of China Power International Development and daughter of former prime minister Li Peng, visited China Power International Yao Meng Electric Company (Yao Electric) on August 14. Xinhua published several photos of her touring the factory in a blue work uniform, but an image of her dining with factory workers is what really piqued netizen interest.
Xinhua reports [zh], “Standing up after her meal, Ms. Li did not forget to instruct her entourage, ‘Pack the leftovers. We shouldn’t waste them.'”
Netizens have called out Li’s public declarations before, like when she spoke of her “sacrifice” in having only one child. This time, Weibo users found humor in the contrast between Li’s frugality and telling details in the photo:
陆家嘴中心绿地的猫猫: Look carefully at the picture! The person in the lower right corner has one dish, one soup, and one rice; the person in the lower left has two dishes, one soup, and one rice; the two in the upper left corner have two dishes, one soup, and one rice. She has five dishes and one soup, okay? She can barely finish the rice, okay? Nobody would have finished all that! Anyone would have had leftovers! The media should write a few more lines: Li Xiao-X went to inspect Yao Electric, and she didn’t even eat one mouthful of rice.
仔细看图！右下角那位一菜一汤一饭，左下角那位两菜一汤一饭，左上角那位两菜一汤一饭，她是五菜一汤好哇！！都吃不了下饭了好哇！！换谁都吃不完啊，换谁都打包啊！！媒体应该再写几句：李小X赴姚电公司调研，饭都没有吃一口。
This netizen calls Li “Li Xiao-X” (李小X) to avoid censorship of his/her comment. “Li Xiaolin” was blocked from Weibo search results in July, one week after her “sacrifice” comment.
上海航运经纪人俱乐部吕明: I’m remembering that photo of her in designer clothes and handbag. That was even more ridiculous.
回想一下她穿大牌服装、拎名牌包包出席人代会的照片，更觉可笑。
Li wore a pink US$2,000 Emilio Pucci suit to the 2012 National People’s Congress.
lasssmile: Somehow, it smells like News Simulcast.
怎么有股子新闻联播的味道。
phymon: How many box meals could you buy with that chunky necklace? That suit is so rough that it’s chafing Master Li’s neck. Outrageous! Next time we should have a Chanel suit made.
项链好粗，可以买多少盒饭呢？工作服太糙，胳得李总脖子疼，不像话，改天让香奈儿定制一套一套！
In the photo, Li is wearing a pink towel on the back of her neck.
ShawnCF: We should give you an award for best actress. It’s a pity that you didn’t go into theater!
给你颁个影后的奖吧，不去演戏亏了！
Wen Jiabao was the first to be called a movie star for his appearances among the people.
lucky琨: It’s great to have a good dad; even boxing up your leftovers is news.
有个好爹就是好，吃饭打包还能上新闻。
荣剑2010: Here we have a living Lei Feng from the Li family. She is the model of frugality. She boxes her leftover food and wears work suits instead of big brands.
李家出了个活雷锋，艰苦朴素当标兵，剩菜打包回家吃，不穿名牌穿工衣。
旷小明律师: Unsolicited flattery may be the omen of a fall.
没来由地吹捧，或许是跌倒的先兆。
Read more responses at CDT Chinese. Translation by Mengyu Dong.
