It’s an observation that’s a joke that’s a cliché: “Koi… good news?” Newlyweds across languages, cultures and geographies have been subjected to a version of this euphemism even before the honeymoon glow wears off. Now, as if the “nudge-nudge wink-wink” pressure of the overbearing family wasn’t bad enough, the paternal party-state in Xi Jinping’s China has decided to take on the role. It is making calls to young couples, and strongly suggesting that they urgently reproduce. Chinese social media has been replete with posts — they are often quickly taken down, though — of local government officials calling up women...