It is not necessary to hate or envy coal mine owners.

Many Chinese will never hesitate to associate the catchphrase meilaoban (coal mine owner or boss) with wealth and luxurious lifestyle. This is because they have often heard too many stories or reports about how these coal mine owners squander their money on limousines and lavish wedding ceremonies.

That is also the reason why I could not wait to open the book Meilaoban when it reached my desk. It is a fictional account, but if only it were non-fiction, based on interviews of many such people!