Monday 15^th June, 2020 1745

I live in what is, according to the internet, the poorest province in the whole of China. As long as I am personally not poor I don't really care. Now that may sound selfish and harsh but it is not meant that way. I think everyone looks after number one first but a few also try to help others and Lord knows I have helped people financially here, albeit in small ways.

The reason I bring the poorest province into the equation is because I have just spent the day listening to stories of puppies found in the street and taken home, puppies that ran away and never came back, likewise with kittens. I also heard stories of fathers buying new oxen. One girl related how the father paid 1,600¥ for a piglet and she was supposed to look after it. She forgot to feed it and so in the grip of hunger it made a dash for freedom. It was so young she was frightened to grasp it when she chased in case she broke something but the family dog came to the rescue. She never forgot to feed it again.

Another spoke of how she found a sheep laying down in the field in distress. She alerted the family and Grandpa came to fix everything. The ewe was having a difficult labour and was in danger of dying so the old boy delivered three lambs by shoving his hand up unmentionable places. Apparently my student doesn't think watching it happen means she would be able to do it herself in future but she is quite happy to play with the fluffy little things as they grow up – in this case for their wool rather than their meat.

A big percentage of my lot live in rural towns and villages and many on farms. Some rear livestock, others grow corn, rice, vegetables and suchlike. When I was a young lad my father used to deliver to a farm that had cows, pigs and chickens and that was where he got his eggs to vend from the van. Sadly the chickens were battery hens but at that age and in those days I never realised the cruelty of it all. I loved going into the sheds, the chickens who had been quiet until I appeared would then all start clucking – maybe they thought I was bringing food even though they had automatic dispensers.

In the middle of all this I had “The Interview” for the project at lunchtime. I was expecting Wang Dandan and a boy with a camera but oh no, three boys with cameras and one to translate both ways! Let's not forget the curious onlookers who in the fullness of time had to be asked to leave what is after all a public area due to the background chattering.

I have no idea what the final video will turn out like. It was a bit like being interviewed by a chat show host without the benefit of being given the questions beforehand!

I don't think I disgraced myself (at least I hope not) and I have no idea what it will be like but readers here will – unless I look like a complete and utter Charlie – judge for themselves in due course when I have it and upload it to YouTube. If I come out as Mr Bean then it ain't gonna happen!