As for the Chinese, most of them are sly, evasive, and won't answer direct questons

I have noticed this. It is very frustrating, to get a real answer.

Case in point, my A/C in my public middle school provided flat is on the blink. The repairman is a dimwit who wouldn't know anything about fixing an air conditioner to save his life, I doubt he is even a properly qualified electrician, even by chinese standards.

I have to the point of insanity, demanded a qualified A/C technician to recharge the gas, and do maintenance/repairs as necessary. Their answer, we will buy you a new one. My retort, when.....Chinese are masters at keeping you hanging on, you have to keep pushing back, always.