The Garlic Ballads

toes on each foot.
    His wife’s heart knotted up, but Gao Yang consoled her, “You’re the mother of my children, so you should be happy. ‘Special people have special features/ Who knows, he might grow up to be a big official. And when that happens, you and I will get a taste of the good life.”

4.

    Gao Yang said, “I broke the law. How can I make it up to you?”
    His wife sighed. “You weren’t alone. Even Fourth Aunt Fang was arrested, at her age. Compared to her we’re in fine shape.”
    The baby started crying, so she stuffed a nipple into his mouth. Gao Yang leaned over to study the face of his son, whose eyes were closed. He flicked some flaky white skin off the face. “He’s getting so big,” he said. “He keeps growing out of his skin.” The baby kicked his mother’s breast with his six-toed right foot. She pushed it away. “You have to name him,” she said.
    “Let’s call him Shoufa—Law Abider,” he said after a thoughtful pause. “I don’t expect him to become a high official, and I’ll be happy if he’s a farmer who abides by the laws.”
    Xinghua felt her father’s arm, from his shoulder all the way down to the handcuffs. “What are these, Daddy?”
    Gao Yang stood up. “Nothing.”
    The baby slept at his mother’s breast, so when she stood up she gendy removed the nipple, then laid him on the table and hurriedly opened her bundle. She fished out a pair of plastic sandals (new), a blue workshirt (also new), and a pair of black gabardine pants (brand new). “Put these on,” she said. “I was worried sick when they dragged you off half-naked. I wanted to bring you some clothes, but didnt know where you were until a couple of days ago. I spent last night outside. Then this morning a kind woman opened all the right doors for me to see you.”
    “Did you walk the whole way?” Gao Yang asked her.
    “After a mile or two somebody happened by. Guess who it was. Remember that little man at the clinic the night I had the baby? He was heading to town with some ammonia, so he gave us a ride.”
    “Who bought these new clothes? Where’d the money come from?”
    “I sold the garlic. Don t worry about us. We’ve broken the law and well take our punishment, whatever it is. I can manage things at home, and Xinghua can watch the baby for me. The neighbors have been so helpful it’s embarrassing.”
    “What about Gao Ma? What happened after he scaled the wall and took off?”
    “I’ll tell you, but don’t breathe a word of this to Fourth Aunt. Jinju’s dead.”
    “How’d she die?”
    “Hanged herself. The poor girl’s legs were covered with blood. It was nearly time, but the baby never saw the light of day.”
    “Does Gao Ma know?”
    “They arrested him when he was making funeral arrangements.”
    “A waste of a good woman,” Gao Yang lamented. “She brought a melon to Fourth Aunt the afternoon we were arrested.”
    “Let’s not talk about other people. I brought some food.” She dumped the contents of a plastic bag—some dark-skinned hardboiled eggs dyed red—onto the table.
    He stuffed two of them into Xinghuas hands. “You eat them, Daddy, they’re for you,” his daughter said.
    His wife peeled one for him. He jammed it whole into his mouth, but tears were running down his face before it was gone.

C HAPTER 19

    County Chief, your hands aren’t big enough to cover heaven!
Party Secretary, your power isn’t as weighty as the mountain!
You cannot hide the ugly events of Paradise County,
For the people have eyes—
—At this point in Zhang Kou’s ballad a ferocious policeman jumped to his feet and cursed, “You blind bastard, you’re the prime suspect in the Paradise County garlic case! We’ve got you dead to rights!” He kicked Zhang Kou in the mouth, cutting off the final note. Blood spurted from Zhang Kou’s mouth; several white teeth hit the floor. Zhang Kou climbed back into the chair; the policeman sent him back to the floor with another kick. Garbled speech spilled from Zhang Kou’s lips, scaring the interrogators, even though they hadn’t understood a word of it. The chief interrogator stopped the policeman from kicking him a third time, as another man bent down and sealed Zhang Kou’s mouth with a plastic gag.

1.

    Shouting erupted in the corridor, followed by the clanging of cell doors being thrown open. Gao Yang’s was one of them. A gaunt, sharp -featured policeman stood in the doorway; he smiled and nodded. Realizing that he was