Death of a Red Heroine

Shanghai Metropolitan Traffic Control Bureau. Now we can welcome him back. And in recognition of his achievement, also as embodiment of the Party’s young cadre policy, we have decided that Chief Inspector Chen’s going to represent us at the National Police Cadres Conference starting tomorrow at the Guoji Hotel. It is an honor he deserves after all the hard work he has put in. We also appreciate Comrade Yu’s hard work. It is the Party committee’s suggestion that Comrade Yu be moved to the top position in our housing committee’s list. As for Commissar Zhang, he has also made his special contributions in spite of his age, so we want to express our most sincere thanks. Finally, I want to welcome Dr. Xia to today’s meeting. After the Tiananmen incident last year, some people have become shaky in their belief in our Party. Dr. Xia has chosen, however, to express to Chief Inspector Chen his intention of joining our Party. That is why we have invited him here today. Comrade Chief Inspector Chen, after the meeting, you can work out the details with Dr. Xia, and help him fill out the application form as his sponsor.”
    “Yes, I’m glad justice has been upheld, Comrade Chief Inspector Chen,” Dr. Xia stammered, looking embarrassed rather than elated. “Congratulations on your work.”
    Chen turned to look in the direction of Party Secretary Li, who nodded back at him.
    As soon as the meeting was over, Chen took Yu aside. His assistant could speak impulsively, as Chen had come to know during the investigation. They had just started talking under their breath, when Commissar Zhang moved over to join them, with an incomprehensible expression on his withered face.
    “Everything has been done,” Zhang said, “in the Party’s interests.”
    “Everything done under the sun, or not under the sun,” Yu said, “can be conveniently so explained.”
    “As long as we did our work with a clear conscience,” Chen said, “we don’t have to worry about anything.”
    “Bourgeois influences are everywhere, comrades,” Zhang said. “Even somebody like Wu Xiaoming, a young cadre from a revolutionary family background, is not immune. So all of us have to be on our guard.”
    “Yes, on guard against back-biters,” Yu said. “Indeed—”
    Their talk was once more interrupted. This time it was Party Secretary Li who came over to take Chen aside. They moved across to the end of the conference room, overlooking the busy traffic along Fuzhou Road.
    “What’s all this about?” Chen asked.
    “You know how complicated the situation is,” Li said. “You deserve the credit, but we need to think about possible consequences.”
    “It is my case. Whatever the consequences, they are mine, too.”
    “People are all aware of Wu’s family background. It is easy for some to see the case as a warning—or even as a blow—to those with a similar family background. Not as one individual case, but as a symbolic case. And you are the instrument bringing such a disgrace to the old cadres.”
    “I see, Comrade Party Secretary Li,” Chen said, “but as I’ve said so many times, I have nothing against the old cadres.”
    “There are people and there are people. What’s going through their minds, you cannot tell. Any publicity at this stage of the case won’t do you any good.”
    “What about Detective Yu?”
    “Don’t worry about him. We’ll conclude the case as the collective work of the bureau. Yu won’t get much publicity anyway.”
    “I’m afraid I still don’t understand this sudden conclusion.”
    “You will, I’m sure. You’ve done your job, so let others take care of the remaining problem.” Party Secretary Li added after a pause, “It is not just our bureau’s concern, let me tell you. Some leading comrades share our concern.”
    “Who?”
    “You don’t need me to tell you. You know—or you will know.”
    It would be useless to ask Li any more about it.
    “I give you my word,” Li promised. “Justice will be done. You will be completely occupied with the conference. We’ll keep you informed.”
    “Thank you, Comrade Party Secretary Li,” Chen said, “for everything.”
    For Chief Inspector Chen’s future, Party Secretary Li’s analysis made sense—if Chen still longed for such a future. Chen left the conference room without further protest.
    He could not find Dr. Xia, who was perhaps not too eager to fill out those Party application forms after all. His search for Yu met with no success