Turino! Disparaging written references literally do not exist! EVERY written reference commends the subject. If the employer agrees to write a reference for a former / soon-to-be-former employee, it WILL be praiseworthy. And this phenomenon is not limited to China. Most Asian people will allow / accommodate / initiate face-saving measures.

For a chance, but not a guarantee, of a realistic appraisal, a phone call to the writer of the reference is necessary.

A couple of years ago I participated in a summer camp. At the end of the camp, 5 or 6 of the 10 foreign teachers asked for references so the camp organizers decided to give every F.T. a reference - an identical reference. We were all camp leaders, we all performed beyond expectations, we all provided fun and interesting lessons .....