In the early 1980s, continuing political tension between mainland China and Taiwan led to her music, along with that of other singers from Taiwan and Hong Kong, being banned for several years in mainland China for being too "bourgeois". Her popularity in mainland China continued to grow nonetheless thanks to its black market. As Teng's songs continued to be played everywhere, from nightclubs to government buildings, the ban on her music was soon lifted. Teng became almost well known in mainland China to that of country's leader. Her fans nicknamed her "Little Deng" because she had the same family name as Deng Xiaoping; there was a saying that "Deng the leader ruled by day, but Deng the singer ruled by night." Shanghai Party Newspaper, "Wen Hui Bao" commented on fearing that her songs may erode the revolutionary spirit of the (Communist) Chinese.