Death of a Red Heroine

Meiling said. “I’ll find them.”
    “Congratulations. Chief Inspector Chen—oh no, Director Chen,” Old Hunter said as he examined the impressive office furniture. “Everybody says you are doing a wonderful job.”
    “Thank you, Comrade Old Yu. It’s my second day here. As a new hand, I need your valuable help.”
    “I’ll do whatever I can, Director Chen.”
    “You’ve worked as a traffic officer. So one of the problems you must have noticed, I believe, is the problem of traffic accidents. These accidents cause not only casualties, but also serious traffic jams.”
    “That’s true,” Old Hunter said, casting a curious glance at Meiling, who was kneeling on the floor, busily searching in the drawer of the tall file cabinet.
    “I believe it is partially because more and more people are driving around without a license.”
    “You’re right. Driving has become a fashion. Everybody wants to have his hands on the wheel. Driving school is way too expensive, and takes a long time, so some people go without a license.”
    “Yes, this is really dangerous.”
    “Exactly. Those young people—quite a number of them— seem to believe they’re born drivers. Totally irresponsible.”
    “That is why I want you to do something—a sort of experiment. Choose one particular area, station yourself there, and look out for those licenseless drivers. If you have a hunch, stop the car for a checkup. Don’t just give a violator a ticket, take him into custody—no matter who he may be.”
    “Good idea,” Old Hunter said. “As that old saying goes, you have to use a strong drug for a desperate disease.”
    “And report to me directly.”
    “That’s fine. Like son, like father. Where are you going to put me?”
    “What about Jingan District? As for a particular street, you pick one. My suggestion is to start with Henshan Road.”
    “Oh, Henshan Road—yes.” Old Hunter’s eyes sparkled. “I see, Chief Inspector Chen—no, Director Chen.”
    “It’s an important task,” Chen said earnestly. “Only a veteran like you would be up to it. So I’d like to appoint you as our special adviser. You will have a couple of police officers under your command.”
    “No, you don’t have to create a position for me, Director Chen. I will do my best anyway.”
    “Meiling,” Chen said, turning to his secretary, “when you find the compensation regulation, send Adviser Yu the money in accordance with it.”
    “I’ve already got it,” Meiling said, “A check can be cut right away.”
    “That’s great. Thank you.”
    “No,” Old Hunter protested in embarrassment. “I’d rather be a volunteer.”
    “No, you will be paid, and you will have your men, too. That’s your authority. I just want to emphasize one point: Do whatever you are supposed to—no matter whose car it may be—with a white plate or not.”
    “Got you, Comrade Director Chen.”
    Chen believed he had made himself clear to Old Hunter—in Meiling’s presence.
    Old Hunter should be able to detain whoever drove the white Lexus—at least for one day. If anything went wrong, Old Hunter was no more than a traffic police officer carrying out his responsibilities. So there was one thing Chen was now able to do about Guan’s’ case.
    The result came faster than he had expected.
    On Thursday, he attended a field meeting in the morning. The mayor inspected the project connecting the banks of the Huangpu River by the Yangpu Bridge. Once it was completed, the bridge would also alleviate the traffic congestion in the area. Chen had to be there too, mixing with a group of cadres, walking back and forth along the bridge.
    When he returned to the office, Meiling pointed her finger at his closed office door with a slightly puzzled expression on her face. Approaching, he could hear a high-pitched voice inside his office. “It’s no good denying it, Guo Qiang!”
    “It’s Old Comrade Yu talking with somebody in there,” Meiling said in a subdued voice. “He wanted to bring the man into your office. For an important case, he said. He’s our adviser. So I had to let them in.”
    “You did the right thing,” he assured her.
    They overheard Old Hunter saying, “Why are you trying so hard to save someone else’s ass, you sucker? You know our Party’s policy, don’t you?”
    “Comrade Adviser Yu is right.” Chen opened the door upon a sight he had foreseen: Old Hunter stood like a Suzhou opera singer talking dramatically to a man slumped in the