http://www.danwei.org/business/a_true_story_of_a_soy_sauce_ma.phpNanchang, the capital city of Jiangxi is known for being the cradle of the Chinese communist revolution. During my stay there from 2004 to 2008, I often heard locals proudly referring to their city as the "city of heroes". Though I had reservations about such a cliché, nothing prevented me from exploiting this soft spot to gain local favors. It seems to me, flattery is always the first strategy to find friends.
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/eric-mu/15/943/b51
There is no way in hell that the same Eric Mu should be lying about where and when he attended a university. If he has lowered himself to this level of lying, what else is he lying about, especially in the Bitcoin/cryptocurrency space?
Much of the contention surrounds my two degrees. As someone suggested, I have two degrees. I didn't forget to mention my first on my Linkedin page. I did it on purpose and for what I thought was a good reason.
I went to Nanchang to do my undergraduate from 2004 to 2008. Prior, I had been on sick leave for two years due to Hodgkin's Disease. With what I have gone through, I was not expecting much - just needed a place where I could read and write in peace. Turned out that much you just couldn't get - I chose not to go to some classes because I thought they were useless to me and I could make better use of my time by studying what interested me in the library - Looking back, it seems that my encounter with cancer gave me a new sense of urgency with life.
That got me into trouble - I couldn't get the degree initially because those classes that I didn't go to.
I was lucky enough to meet Jeremy Goldkorn. I first came across his website, thought it was interesting idea, and sent him the first email in 2007. He was curious about my motivation behind writing and decided to try me by asking me to contribute to Danwei. When we first met in the summer, he offered me a job without asking to see my degree, which I didn't have at that time.
During my career, I never had the situation when I needed to show my degree to get employed. It is always the work that I have done - When I do translation for someone, they would usually ask me to do samples.
When I was told that a small bribery could get me my degree, I had my hesitance and even consulted my first boss if it would be necessary. He thought I might have use for it someday and suggested me get it.
Eventually I received the piece of paper - not very proud of what I did, but if you are Chinese and want to accomplish your goal without letting the system getting in your way, that is the price to pay. So there is a good reason that I never liked the school.
I never go around telling everyone about the story, because I never think they would be interested. When I did the Linkedin page, I wasn't paying as much attention as I probably should. I just used the only photo that was recent and I took it because my previous employer requested it - the photographer applied a lot of makeup on my face, which explained the youngish look. Not because I was vain, just because I chose to respect the way they do things they own way.
In 2010, I went to Hong Kong to study creative writing - met some good teachers there - Xu Xi and Robin Hemley
Robin is the American writer who championed immersion writing. He did some of his books by immersing himself in a life that is not normally his - he went to the kindergarten he attended and high school for his book Do Over. That was my first inspiration - every writer is motivated to write a book never been written before, and I thought I could write a great book about my involvement with Bitcoin - the kind of immersion memoir.
Sure one reason I got hired by HaoBTC was because my English skill but there are other reasons as well because I am quite honest and Wu Gang himself is an honest man and appreciate a bit honesty from others - also, it is pragmatic, every big Chinese BTC company has someone doing international communications like me.
Wu is not the evil guy who try to manipulate the media. He might have regretted having hired a creative writer who doesn't mind putting his dirty laundry out in the open.
As for the team photo, it was taken before me joining the company.
I wasn't paid much - I didn't ask for much, and I was definitely not paid to do anything evil.
