Chapter 37
Zhang Yunxuan had not expected that it was so hard for a once-Kuomintang general to work under the Communists.
Ever since Zhang began to assume his office, he helped the government in food, farming and salt. He was determined to work well for the people. As the land reform and anti-reactionary campaign began, the government decided to disintegrate the old-times trade club, and replace it with a commerce chamber. A military representative also worked in the Provincial Commerce Chamber. His name was Chen Jiagen.
Chen did not like Zhang. He even belittled him. He thought Zhang was just a defeated general and had no right to talk with him in equal positions. Thus, Zhang had a sense of frustration working with Chen. He felt his soul trodden by that man.
In the spring of 1951, a famine started in
At this time Chen was busy with his second marriage. Zhang was disgusted with Chen’s way of getting the bride.
Chen chose his bride as an emperor chose his concubines. It was a task that the others must carry out.
When Chen started to work in the commerce chamber, a secretary-like young man came to his office. The man spoke with hesitation. Chen was, however, excited, asking, “How is the thing done?”
The young man replied, “Let’s talk outside.”
Suddenly, Chen cursed, “Fuck you! Why do you behave in such a timid way? How is the thing done?”
“Dear sir,” The young man replied, “I know Miss Wei Qiyun has a boyfriend through my investigation. He is Zheng Keqiang the drummer of the military band.”
Chen waved his hands impatiently, yelling, “Shit! Let me ask you: What’s the task I gave to you?”
“Sir,” the young man went on, “Miss Wei joined the army with her boyfriend as a way to fight against the feudal arranged marriage. There are many good girls in the military dance and singing troupe. Why not choose another one there?”
Chen got infuriated, yelling, “Fuck! If I were on the battlefield, I would kill you.”
The young man was scared, trembling all over. Then, Chen ordered:
“What’s the duty of a military man? Obey the orders!”
The young man saluted to Chen fearfully and left the office. Unexpectedly, Chen got Miss Wei in less than 20 days. And their wedding happened. It was held in the canteen of the troops. Many provincial and municipal leaders came to the wedding. Obviously, Chen was an influential man.
Zhang met Yan at the wedding. They ate candies together and chatted. Then, Zhang knew that Chen had a wife in his hometown in
The revolution was successful, but the decrees were strange and hard to understand. The government allowed those high-ranking military leaders who had married before 1937 to have their original marriage nullified and get another wife. This made Chen have the chance to get a young and beautiful wife.
The newly-wedded Chen was excited. He was content with his wife, over 20 years younger than him. Zhang asked Yan, “Why didn’t Miss Wei’s relatives come?”
Yan replied, “I hear that she comes from a landlord’s family. That’s why she joined the revolution.”
“Doesn’t she have a boyfriend named Zheng Keqiang, a soldier as well?”
Yan asked in surprise, “Is that so?”
Zhang replied, “I heard that in person. You can check it.”
Yan thought for a while and said, “No use. They have got married.”
The revolution was successful, and problems also occurred. The two men cracked watermelon seeds together and talked about their jobs. Zhang mentioned to Yan for the first time that he would like to resign.
Yan asked, “Do you mean you don’t cooperate well with Chen?”
Zhang replied at once, “No. I still have my own company, stores, warehouses and factories. And my former housekeeper Mr. Song is working in the government.” He cast a glance at Yan, thinking: It’s better for me to keep quiet. He got a positive response from Yan, who had a sense of guilt in his eyes. Then, Zhang went on, “Recently there have been some conflicts between the workers and management. So, it’s better for me to be responsible for solving the problems. It’s not proper for me to stay in this position. Thus, I am thinking of resigning.”
Yan was aware of the seriousness of the situation, replying, “Mr. Zhang, you’re an important member for the provincial united front work. We can give you more time for dealing with your own matters. If your problems are related to the government, just tell us. This is a special period for the Anti-American Invaders War and the anti-reactionary campaign. You’d better give a second thought to your resignation.”
Zhang understood the hint: If he didn’t do the work, the others would think that he was unsatisfied with the Communist power. But he was still determined to resign. He thought: If he didn’t do anything against the new government, the others wouldn’t hurt him.
Thus, he made his resignation clear to Yan. The dancing party started, and suddenly Zhang heard people laugh. He thought it was the new couple going to dance. But then he found Chen carrying his tender and pretty bride into his dormitory in a hurry.
The bride felt shy in public. Nevertheless, Chen just carried her tightly in his arms and went into the bridal chamber. He was too powerful for the bride to get away from.
“Good. Time is precious for the newly-wedded couple. What a beautiful wife you have, Dear Mr. Chen!”
Zhang turned back and found it was
One month had passed since the wedding. The conflicts between Zhang and Chen continued. Chen liked to mock Zhang as a defeated Kuomintang general, but Zhang kept silent. He learned from Yan that national interests mattered more than personal conflicts.
Chen was not what Zhang was. He had no sense of guilt for what he had done. He belittled Zhang and thought Zhang was a man for fame and fortune. He wanted to find evidence to prove Zhang guilty.
Chen was a proud and even conceited Communist. He did not care about the government policy on the importance of the united front work. What counted most to him was his own status and power. He wanted to search the Zhang’s courtyard so as to convict him.
Now the chance came. The public security workers found an American grenade outside the surrounding wall of the Zhang’s courtyard. And a worker died there.
Around
Zhang asked, “What’s wrong? Is it the spring famine?”
Chen replied, “not spring famine, but human ‘famine.’’
Zhang asked, “What do you mean by it?”
Chen walked over to Zhang, spelling, “I don’t mean anything for the time being. I will mean something later. Fuck! Let’s check your house first.”
Zhang was startled. He was worried that something bad had happened in his house. He remembered that everything was ok when he came to office. But why was Chen so angry?
Zhang took Chen and a few commerce chamber workers to his house. As he entered the courtyard, he had a hunch that something bad had happened. He saw two public security workers talking with Madame Wang, and Madame Wang just shook her head from time to time. He read from her uneasy complexions that something bad had happened.
Seeing Zhang come back, Tang felt relieved. She told the public security workers, “I have nothing to conceal. I have told you all I know.”
Zhang recognized one of the workers named Mr. Xiao. He was from the Public Security Bureau of Yunyan District. That man had asked Zhang for helping “find” an office like the Zhang’s house.
That day, Zhang was free and he talked with Xiao for some time. But Zhang was aware that the situation was complex. He had three levels of identity: old-times officer, democratic person and capitalist. He knew that it was a delicate situation. Thus, Zhang spoke in a careful way, “There are quite a few houses like mine in
Xiao laughed, replying, “We’re government leaders. The money is from the government and we work for the government. Thus, we are unable to either buy or rent such a house.”
Zhang laughed as well, replying, “That will make the deal hard.” He remembered something from history, like General Liu Bei asking to borrow the place of Jingzhou in the Three Warring States Period. He did not want to hurt Xiao. So, he said, “It’s hard to deal with the thing.”
Xiao did not think that way, arguing, “We have investigated many families. Many such houses are quite vacant. We think the donation of some of such houses could be regarded as an act of supporting the revolution. What do you think of it?”
Zhang understood Xiao’s intention. He had a sip of tea, and said, “Mr. Xiao, why not submit a report to the provincial government and ask them to confiscate some of these houses?”
Xiao laughed and replied, “You should know that revolution is a willing devotion. Why do some people want to have so much? Do they want to fight against the Communist Party and the new government?”
Zhang made no reply. Xiao left with a frightening gaze at Zhang. Zhang was sorry to find that the government had announced to protect his house but the leaders refused to implement the decision. Xiao’s acts proved this.
Now, Xiao saw Zhang come in. He did not greet the latter. Seeing all the others sit down, Xiao said, “Last night, a public security worker was killed in the lane and we picked up an American grenade there. We checked the surrounding wall of the Zhang’s courtyard and found there were traces of climbing. We have searched all the other places in the city except the Zhang’s house.”
Zhang was aware that something bad had happened. He was startled and said later, “I didn’t know anything about that. I stayed with my wife last night. Also, the surrounding wall was tall. Only those well-trained people could climb over it.”
Xiao replied, “The gates are guarded by the people of your family, and in your family there are well-trained military people.”
Zhang knew he was involved in this matter. Chen had been searching for evidence against him. And this might be a golden chance for his revenge against him. Zhang said, “Last night we had a meeting with the commerce chamber until 11 p.m. and then later I stayed with my wife. Early this morning I went to the office. You can check about this.”
At this time Chen planted himself before Zhang, saying coldly, “Confess your guilt and ask for forgiveness. Don’t trick us in this way.”
Xiao did not know Chen. He said to him impolitely, “Shut up while we are looking into the case.”
Chen was infuriated. He pushed Xiao aside. Xiao asked angrily, “What do you mean?”
Chen was angry that there should be people who dared disagree with him. Thus, he tidied up Xiao’s cap, yelling, “Be careful, sir! I am sent here by Director of the Provincial Public Security Department. When I joined the revolution, you were still a baby with your ass exposed. Listen to me here!”
Xiao was scared, replying, “Sorry, sir. Please forgive me!”
Chen calmed down, but forgot where he had been going in his remarks. So he asked, “Where am I going?”
Xiao answered, “Sir, you mentioned confession and forgiveness.”
“Yes. You’re really a wordy man. Fuck!” He could not remember where he had been going in his remarks. Zhang’s gates were guarded by their own family members. So, to enter through the gates would leave no trace. But how did the murderer enter the house? Then, Chen’s gaze fell on the statue of Jesus. He asked, “What’s the use of this shabby thing?”
Xiao, Comrade Gao and even Tang stared at Chen. He pointed at the statue, explaining, “He is a poor man and a slave. He is an oppressed man in the evil old society.”
Tang praised, “Amen!”
Xiao motioned to Chen, “Sir…”
Chen did not stop saying, going on, “Why do people torture this poor man in this way? Why do you have such a statue in your house?”
Tang remarked, “Amen!”
Chen did not know what “amen” meant. It was the first time for him to meet Zhang’s wife. She was really beautiful and charming. She was calm, noble and somehow indifferent. She looked respectable. Chen did not think further on the statue. Then, he came back to the business.
The grenade matter was a good excuse to punish Zhang. Chen felt his own power and influence at this time. He thought Zhang was just a decoration or a timed bomb that people must guard against. Chen thought Zhang must be guilty. This thought made him decide to ask the public security leadership to act as he required. But Chen had no capability to work out the case.
Xiao found Chen focus on the trivialities, saying, “Dear sir, we are guarding everybody in this house. We’re investigating the case in detail. If you please, you can examine these people in person. Or we can listen to your orders.”
Chen thought Xiao’s idea right. He said, “Let’s examine the accident site first.” Thus, they left for the back of the courtyard.
Chen had battle experiences but no problems-solving ability. He only thought Zhang was guilty. They came to the back of the courtyard, which had been changed into a sand playground. There were two lines of footsteps there.
Xiao said, “These footsteps are from outside. They do not lead to the front gate but to the back front. This person must be familiar with this house.”
Chen asked, “Who lives in the back of the house?”
“Sir, President Zhang, his wife and son and live there. But a landlady and her two sons live next-door some meters away. The landlady’s husband was killed by the farmers and she came here to stay in the relatives’ house.”
Chen made no reply. He thought: The landlady could not do much against the government; the bandit came here just for contacts with Zhang. Then there came the shouts of a public security worker, “Fuck! Why do you cry? Tell us the truth!”
Chen found two public security workers questioning a woman. He realized that she must be the landlady. Chen hated man not woman. He was even sympathetic with this crying woman.
Chen thought: What the hell was the point of questioning this landlady? She could not do anything serious against the government, for she had no ability like this. So, they should focus their attention on the “big fish.” Thus, he planted himself before Dai Min, asking, “Why do you keep crying? Tell us what you know! Shit!”
Dai thought Liu must have been detected. He must have been arrested. Thus, she trembled all over. She almost collapsed. She wanted to see the last of her sons if she had to tell the truth. But now she just kept silent. She cried over and over. A tall soldier came and told her not to be scared but just tell the truth. Dai knew that she was not the target of the investigation. Thus, she cried:
“I am just a weak woman. I don’t know anything about it.”
Chen said, “Then why do we waste the time on her? I guess she has no guts to fight against the government.”
This saved Dai. Chen came back to the middle of the house. He made a surprising decision that should have been made by the organization: Zhang must pack up and stay under house arrest for the investigation.
