A Loyal Character Dancer

her the first time—”
     
    “What a bastard, to boast of such things to others!” Yu cut Zheng short.
     
    “He also slept around. With half a dozen girls. I happened to know one of them, Tong Jiaqing. What a nymphomaniac! Once several guys had a go at her all together, Feng, Blind Ma, and Shorty Yin—”
     
    “Did he talk to you about his plans to go to the United States?
     
    “That’s common knowledge here. Most of the men in his village are gone. Like everybody else, Feng talked about becoming a millionaire in the United States. Anyway, he’s politically finished here.”
     
    “You’re both Flying Axes,” Yu said. “He must have talked to you about his travel racket.”
     
    “I have had nothing to do with those arrangements. Feng once boasted to me about his close relationship to some of the big bugs, that’s about all I know.”
     
    “Including Jia Xinzhi?”
     
    “Jia is not a member of our organization. He’s more like a business partner, responsible for the ship. I do not remember Feng mentioning Jia. I’m telling you the truth, Officer Yu.”
     
    What Zheng had so far said could be true, Yu judged; he had revealed nothing crucial to the organization. As for a notorious scum like Feng, knowledge of some further evils in his personal life would not change anything. “I know you’ve just come out, Zheng, but I can easily put you back in if you refuse to cooperate. I need more than what you’ve told me.”
     
    “I’m a dead pig anyway. It makes no difference if you throw me into the boiling water,” Zheng said stonily. “Put me back in prison if you can.”
     
    Detective Yu had heard of gang yiqi. Still, few would be a boiled pig rather than a betraying rat. Perhaps Zheng thought Yu was merely bluffing. A Shanghai badge might mean little to a local gangster, but Yu was not anxious to call in Sergeant Zhao.
     
    The deadlock was broken by Shou’s entrance, her wooden slippers clicking on the hardwood floor. Dressed in blue-striped pajama tops and pants, she carried a tea pot and two cups on a black lacquer tray.
     
    “Comrade Officer, please have some Oolong tea.”
     
    That Shou would chose to come into the room was unexpected. Another woman would have remained sobbing upstairs, too ashamed to reappear before the cop who had just seen her naked. Now with her body concealed by her pajamas, she appeared presentable, decent, not the lascivious woman Pan had suggested. She had fine features, though worries had etched lines around her eyes. She might have been eavesdropping.
     
    “Thanks.” Taking a cup, Yu pushed on. “Let me put it this way, Zheng. Have you heard anything about what the gang may do to Feng or his wife?”
     
    “No, I’ve heard nothing. Since I came out, I’ve been living with my tail tucked in.”
     
    “With your tail tucked in? What you did last night with your tail sticking out was enough to put you back inside for years. Playing mah-jongg is a serious parole violation. Use those dead pig brains of yours, Zheng.”
     
    “Zheng has done nothing wrong,” Shou cut in. “I wanted him to stay overnight.”
     
    “Leave us alone, Shou,” Zheng said. “It has nothing to do with you. Go back to your room.”
     
    As Shou left the room, looking back at them, Yu said deliberately, “A nice woman. Do you want to drag her into trouble on your account?”
     
    “It has nothing to do with her.”
     
    “I’m afraid it has. I will not only put you back inside, but also have the bathhouse closed on the grounds that it is a house of gambling and prostitution. She will be put behind bars, too, but not in the same cell with you, I will make sure of that. The local cops will do what I tell them.”
     
    “You are bluffing, Officer Yu.” Zheng stared at him defiantly. “I know Sergeant Zhao.”
     
    “You don’t believe me? Superintendent Hong is in charge of the province. You must know him, too.” Yu said, taking out his phone. “I am calling him right now.”
     
    He dialed the number, showed Zheng the LCD display, and pressed the speaker phone button so the conversation could be heard by both of them.
     
    “Comrade Superintendent Hong, this is Detective Yu Guangming speaking.”
     
    “How is everything, Detective Yu?”
     
    “No progress, and Chief Inspector Chen calls every day. Remember, this case is of serious concern to the Beijing ministry.”
     
    “Yes, we understand. It is top priority for us too.”
     
    “We have to exert more