Cigarettes: the local currency

Today we have the great privilege to be visiting one of the less liked places in Linfen. And i am not talking about public toilets!! This is the headquarters of Linfen police. Not only that, but this is also the place that decides if i stay or go. Before we continue, just a couple of things to remember when going to apply for a visa or permit. Always have sufficient money with you. Always have the correct paperwork, letters of recommendation, bank statements and of course your passport. And last but not least, a couple of ID photos. Preferably black and white and also colour photos.... the requirements often change?? But there is one more thing you need to remember in China... a packet of cigarettes. Even if you don't smoke, this is the day you do!!

With all the necessary paperwork me and my friend Lifei head towards this monstrous building. This building is a work of art!! It is fairly new and inside it looks more like the foyer of a luxurious hotel. Upon entering you almost find yourself waiting for the porter to assist you with all your luggage. Something makes you think the police in this country have too much money. Well, with a bit of corruption anything is possible. With the biggest coal mines in China being in Linfen, thus the reason for all the pollution, you are bound to find some thick envelopes being passed under the table by some big illegal coal miners. But, it is not coal we are after and the only thick envelope we have is the one with all my paperwork.

Behind the desk we find this older man, the kind that is just there for the money. He is really not too happy to be there. "Neither am i" i think to myself. Without him making any eye contact we take a seat in front of his desk. At the desk next to his there is another older man sitting in front of his computer playing solitaire. My friend Lifei extends himself over the desk and kindly offers the deskman(the guy behind the desk) a cigarette. The deskman receives it well, Lifei lights the cigarette and the deskman starts punching some numbers and letters into his computer, cigarette hanging out the side of his mouth similar to the mafia. Lifei also offers a cigarette to the solitaire man, but he is not interested... too distracted by his game of solitaire.

Me sitting there looking around and counting teeth. The deskman every now and again asking us some trick question in Chinese while me and Lifei figure out what the right answer will be. Me and Lifei started talking about life, dreams and taking pension. He pokes me in the side and with a humorous smile says to me "he should be on pension already". Good thing the deskman couldn't understand any English, or so we hope!! With some more punching of the keyboard and a couple of cigarettes offered by Lifei, our work is done. Now for the wait!!

Hopefully the cigarettes paid off... the only question i now have is how far can we go with a whole packet of 20 cigarettes. And then of course a box?? These might just need to remain speculation.
(Linfen, Shanxi Province, China)