"I'm telling you again, never pretend to be drunk in the room! We've been out here hustling for so long, who can't tell that you're faking it!" A manager at Xuechuan Tea House on the 4th floor of a certain building on Guangzhou Avenue gave this reprimand to newly hired "tea artists." After investigation, reporters found out that this tea house was actually engaging in deceptive practices; while recruiting "tea artists," they were actually hiring "escort girls." Recently, after receiving complaints from reporters, the Tianhe South Industrial and Commercial Office investigated the tea house, ordering it to cease operations and imposing penalties.
### Deception
Bringing guests into rooms for selection and enduring being touched
A serene tea room, where tea artists elegantly brew fragrant hot tea under soft music—this is the impression most people have of tea houses. It was also what Xiaoquan from Hubei expected. Having just arrived in Guangzhou and urgently seeking work, Xiaoquan was captivated by a recruitment advertisement she saw in a newspaper.
On the recruitment ad shown to reporters by Xiaoquan, it was clearly stated that the tea house was located on the 4th floor of the International Trade Building on Guangzhou Avenue, named Xuechuan Tea House. The ad specified requirements: age between 18 and 28, free training for beginners, with monthly salaries ranging from 1800 to 2800 yuan. Naive Xiaoquan thought her opportunity had come. "When applying, I had to pay a 290-yuan application fee and a 100-yuan accommodation fee," Xiaoquan told reporters.
On the same day she successfully applied, Xiaoquan started working at the tea house. However, she was puzzled when she realized it was a night job. "When starting work, I felt strange; simple tea utensils, but the menu included red wine and beer. After 9 PM, the number of customers increased, many of them were drunk and singing karaoke," Xiaoquan recounted. What terrified Xiaoquan even more was that when guests entered the rooms, a senior tea artist named Baijie would bring them inside for the guests to choose from. "Before entering, we would change into more revealing clothes!" Xiaoquan told reporters. Once inside, she observed other tea artists aggressively toasting guests, some of whom took the opportunity to grope them, yet those tea artists seemed accustomed to it.
Xiaoquan said she immediately realized she had been deceived, but the manager and senior staff still encouraged them to drink with the guests. "For each room you enter, you get 100 yuan as a tip, but if you fail to make the guest drink or don’t meet the minimum consumption requirement, 20 yuan will be deducted from your tips." Xiaoquan explained that if no tips were received from the guests, they had to pay 20 yuan themselves. To receive a 100-yuan tip from the guest, one must drink with them, and sometimes even endure being touched. This wasn’t being a tea artist; essentially, they were acting as "three-accompaniment" (escort) girls.
Realizing she had fallen victim to deception, Xiaoquan left the tea house after only one day of work and never returned.
### Undercover Investigation
No tea art training, only drinking accompaniment
Based on Xiaoquan's clues, reporters visited the Xuechuan Tea House on the 4th floor of the International Trade Building on Guangzhou Avenue. Upon entering, reporters noticed dim lighting inside the tea house, with customers emitting strong alcohol odors, and "tea artists" heavily made-up and dressed provocatively. In the private rooms, reporters observed a large set of rather rudimentary tea utensils, with dice cups piled on the tables. The rooms also featured projectors, speakers, and "song request stations." At the top of the "tea water menu" were not teas, but rather expensive alcoholic beverages.
That day, reporters disguised as job seekers successfully applied for the "tea artist" position at the tea house. Initially, the manager informed reporters that the so-called tea artists were responsible for serving gongfu tea to customers, cleaning the table, and providing whatever the customer requested. He further mentioned that all tea artists must undergo training before starting their jobs. Thus, reporters paid 300 yuan as an employment deposit. However, the manager then changed his tone: "Sometimes here, we need to drink a little alcohol. If the guest wants to drink tea, they drink tea; if they want alcohol, you should drink a little too!" Even before receiving any training, reporters were asked to start working that evening. The manager instructed reporters, "When the guest asks your age, always say you are younger. If they ask if you have a boyfriend, always say no!"
An experienced "tea artist" within the establishment trained reporters, emphasizing the importance of actively toasting guests, clapping when they sing, following them wherever they go, and even informing them if you need to use the restroom...
After repeated instructions, the manager presented a small notebook filled with dozens of aliases, assigning reporters the pseudonym "Fangfang." "We once had a Fangfang here who was very charming and good at pleasing people, and one guest really liked her. There was also Zhou Yuanyuan, who earned 5000 yuan in tips in one night. As long as you please the guests well, you don’t have to do anything else—it’s easy!" The manager encouraged reporters to become such "tea artists."
Not drinking leads to fines, pretending to be drunk also leads to fines
Operating under the elegant banner of a tea house, it secretly provided KTV services. Following continuous undercover investigations by our newspaper and Southern Television's "Today's Frontline," it was revealed that this tea house, cloaked in elegance, covertly offered "drinking companionship + KTV" services.
During the two nights of undercover investigation, every evening at 6 PM, over 20 young women, referred to as tea artists, would arrive at the tea house.
The tea artists would change into formal wear, apply heavy makeup, and attend the nightly meeting at 7 PM. "Everyone needs to be stronger. If necessary, drink more water. Be proactive with the guests, toast together, don’t rely on one person alone! I’m telling you again, never pretend to be drunk in the room. We’ve been out here hustling for so long, who can't tell that you’re faking it? Next time anyone pretends to be drunk, there will be a 50-yuan fine!" Each time during the instruction session, the manager would sternly remind everyone.
Not drinking results in fines, and even earning nothing at all, which is the survival situation of over 20 "tea artists" in this place.
Reporters learned during the undercover investigation that these "tea artists" previously worked in factories or had just graduated from vocational high schools. Most of them expressed that they came here for the tea artist job.
If they were deceived, why didn't they think of leaving? "I see them quite resigned. Anyway, the money has already been paid, some are from other places and don’t even have a place to stay, what can they do?" Xiaoquan from Hubei told reporters.
However, making money as a "tea artist" in this place is truly difficult.
Reporters discovered that although the recruitment advertisement listed monthly salaries ranging from 1800 to 2800 yuan, these "tea artists" did not receive any wages; their income solely relied on tips from guests. Being chosen by a guest meant earning 100 yuan per room, but if the guest's consumption in the private room did not meet the minimum consumption requirement, 20 yuan would be deducted from the tips. "When drinking, smile. Imagine looking at the guest as if you're looking at 100 yuan, wouldn’t that make you happy?" This was the manager's catchphrase and the only incentive for the "tea artists" to diligently accompany drinking. Even if the "tea artists" managed to increase the guest's consumption, they could not receive any commission from the boss. Furthermore, "tea artists" without guests were not allowed to idle; they had another special task—"standing post." "That means standing by the window watching below, if you see police coming up, notify the manager immediately!" the supervisor explained.
During the two days of undercover investigation, many "tea artists" selected by guests repeatedly brought bottles of beer and wine into the private rooms. When they came out, they were often already drunk, hiding in the rest area crying secretly. Some new "tea artists," unaccustomed to being groped by customers, even had nightmares at night.
When the guest asks your age, always say you are younger. If they ask if you have a boyfriend, always say no!
—Senior "tea artist" within the establishment
### Investigation
Before the inspection, the tea house had already received news. The manager urgently held a meeting requiring:
Tonight, do not sit next to the guests.
Tonight, do not drink with the guests.
On October 25, reporters filed a complaint to the city’s Administration for Industry and Commerce regarding the undercover findings and agreed to conduct a surprise inspection and investigation at 8:30 PM that night.
However, the undercover reporter still inside learned that at 8:20 PM, the person in charge of Xuechuan Tea House had already been notified that the industry and commerce and public security departments would jointly investigate. "I was still inside, and the manager urgently convened a meeting, saying that the industry and commerce bureau and the police department would conduct an inspection, instructing us not to sit next to the guests and not to drink with them that night!" the undercover reporter said.
One hour after the agreed time, the enforcement team from Tianhe South Industrial and Commercial Office and Tianhe South Police Station arrived at Xuechuan Tea House. After inspection, it was confirmed that the tea house lacked the qualification to operate a karaoke business, constituting unlicensed and out-of-scope operation. However, the store manager and tea artists denied any involvement in drinking companionship or karaoke operation. Regarding drinking companionship, some tea artists even justified it as "appreciating the guests, willingly drinking." Reporters learned that the registered legal representative of the store was surnamed Li, from Jiangxi.
An enforcement officer from Tianhe South Industrial and Commercial Office interviewed by reporters stated: "This tea house has a business license, with operating scope including cold and hot drinks, alcohol, but it does not have a cultural venue operation permit, and karaoke constitutes out-of-scope operation." The industrial and commercial department immediately sealed the on-site karaoke equipment.
Facing reporters' interviews, the tea house manager repeatedly claimed that he "operated a tea house," and "there is no rule that tea artists must not drink alcohol." Regarding "singing companionship" and "drinking companionship," the manager responded: "Our company does not stipulate that they must drink alcohol, perhaps some tea artists love gambling, or they highly appreciate the guests, or it's the guest's birthday, so they drink a little, but all of this is entirely voluntary, and they (tea artists) are very happy!" When asked why they wanted to become tea artists, some tea artists hesitantly answered: "Tea artists hold a high status in society and are respected..."
Finally, the industrial and commercial department issued a penalty notice to Xuechuan Tea House, ordering it to suspend operations for rectification, sealing all KTV equipment. Other situations still require further investigation.