This saying criticizes situations where personal relationships and favors are more influential than formal laws or rules. It implies that in practice, who you know matters more than what is right, often leading to injustice.
This reflects a long-standing tension in Chinese society between rule by law and rule by relationships ('guanxi'). Historically, officials often granted favors to kin and allies, undermining legal fairness.
Chinese people use this to express frustration with nepotism and corruption, while also acknowledging the practical reality of 'guanxi'. It signals a cynical awareness that social capital often trumps formal justice.
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