A Loyal Character Dancer

from a different perspective.”
     
    “How, Comrade Chief Inspector Chen?” For the first time since they had returned to the car she looked up at him.
     
    “You would have seen a few things for yourself. Three generations squeezed under one roof, and that a single room, buses packed with people like sardines in a can, and newly married couples obliged to sleep on their office desks as a protest to the housing committee. Detective Yu, for example, does not have a room of his own—the one his family now lives in used to be Old Hunter’s dining room. Yu’s nine-year-old son, Qinqin, still sleeps in the same room as his parents. Why? Because of overpopulation. Not enough housing or even space for the people. How can the government afford not to do something about it?”
     
    “Whatever excuses you may have, basic human rights cannot be denied.”
     
    “Such as the right of people to pursue happiness?” He found himself getting heated.
     
    “Yes,” she said. “If you don’t acknowledge that, there’s nothing we can discuss.”
     
    “Fine, then what about illegal immigration? According to your Constitution, there’s nothing wrong with people seeking a better life. America should welcome all immigrants with open arms. Then why are you pursuing this investigation? Why must people pay to be smuggled into your country?”
     
    “That’s different. There must be international law and order.”
     
    “That’s exactly my point. There are no absolute principles. They are always being modified by time and circumstances. Two or three hundred years ago, no one was complaining about illegal immigration to North America.”
     
    “When did you become an historian?”
     
    “I’m not.” He tried to control himself as he turned onto a road lined with new industrial buildings.
     
    She did not try to conceal the sarcasm in her voice. “Perhaps that’s what you want to be, a celebrated mouthpiece for the People’s Daily. Still, you cannot deny the fact that poor women are deprived of their right to have babies.”
     
    “I’m not saying that the local cadres should have gone that far, but China must do something about overpopulation.”
     
    “I’m not surprised to hear this brilliant defense from you. In your position, Chief Inspector Chen, you must identify with the system.”
     
    “Maybe you’re right,” he said, somberly. “I cannot help it, just as you cannot help seeing things here from a perspective formed by your system.”
     
    “Whatever. I’ve had enough of your political lectures.” Her blue eyes were ocean-deep, unfathomable, antagonistic.
     
    It bothered Chen, who was still aware of her attractiveness despite her being so critical of China.
     
    A couplet from an anonymous Western Han dynasty poem came to his mind.
     
    The Tartar horse rejoices in the north wind.
    The bird of Yueh nestles on the south branch.
     
    Different attachments. Different places. Perhaps Party Secretary Li was right. There was no point in his going out of his way to pursue this investigation.
     
    Two thousand years ago, what was now the United States of America might have been called the Land of Tartars.

Chapter 14
     
     
    I
    t never rains but it pours.
     
    Chief Inspector Chen’s phone started ringing.
     
    It was Mr. Ma. “Where are you, Chief Inspector Chen?”
     
    “On the road back from Qingpu.”
     
    “Are you alone?”
     
    “No, with Catherine Rohn.”
     
    “How is she?”
     
    “Much better. Your paste is miraculous. Thank you.”
     
    “I’m calling about the information you wanted yesterday.”   
     
    “Go ahead, Mr. Ma.”                              
     
    “I’ve got a man for you. He may know something about the woman you are looking for.”                          
     
    “Who is it?”                                     
     
    “I have one request, Chief Inspector Chen.”              
     
    “Yes?”                                      
     
    “If you get what you need, will you leave him alone?”      
     
    “I give you my word. And I’ll never mention your name.”    
     
    “I do not want to be a stool pigeon. It’s against my principles to provide information to the government,” Mr. Ma said earnestly. “His name is Gu Haiguang, a Mr. Big Bucks, the owner   of the Dynasty Karaoke Club on Shanxi Road. He