It all happened so fast. There was a toast, a speech and gift giving, followed by the ceremonial offering, and lighting, of a cigarette.

Before anyone could say "gandie", I had a Chinese godfather.

The crowd watching the impromptu ceremony in the banquet hall went nuts with hoots and applause, as the new family members guzzled goblets of baijiu and hugged onstage.

But what did it all mean?

Actually, this particular event, while rare and perplexing, was a manifestation of relationship norms in China that highlight how different they can be from those in the West.

I had met my gandie, who insisted he be called zhongguode baba (Chinese father) until I learned the term for godfather, on a media trip through Hubei and Hunan provinces.

Before we became apparent family, I had called him Mr Zhang. I didn't even know his given name. Someone later translated it from his business card. Zhang is general director of the Hunan provincial information office's media center and was leading a delegation of reporters on a trip through Hubei and Hunnan provinces.

I'd thought of him as an official - and as a pretty darn nice guy - until just before that moment.

Now, we were mashed into each other's sweaty bosoms and apparently related. He turned to the crowd and announced he was now responsible for the young American's life. He gave his top-of-the-line watch, which he says he's had for 10 years, as a symbol of this powerful bond.