Read Online Death of a Red Heroine [Chief Inspector Chen Cao 01] by Qiu Xiaolong - Free Book Online Page B

a few not-so-political words, words that made a little sense. That made Li somewhat different from other Party cadres.
     
    Party Secretary Li was concluding his speech: “As you all know, this case has some sensitive aspects. It calls for a careful approach. So keep all information from the press. Anything that can lead to unnecessary speculation will not help our investigation.”
     
    “I’ve got your point, Comrade Party Secretary.” Chen spoke for the first time. “With Comrade Commissar Zhang as our adviser, we will do our best and solve the case.”
     
    After the meeting, Chen stayed on with Li, alone.
     
    “I want you to do a good job,” Li said. “It may be a difficult case, but a successful conclusion will come to the attention of higher authorities.”
     
    “I understand, but Commissar Zhang—” Chen did not finish the sentence.
     
    Zhang was generally considered the most orthodox Party commissar in the bureau, a political hard-liner of the older generation.
     
    “Commissar Zhang has reached the age for retirement,” Li said, “but what with inflation, and with the rising standard of living, it can be difficult for anyone to live on his pension alone. So the Party authorities have come up with a new regulation for the old comrades. They have to retire in accordance with the cadre retirement policy, no question about it, but as long as they remain in good health, they can do some secondary work appropriate to their age. In that way, they may still enjoy their full pay. ‘Adviser’ is an honorary position—he’ll just give advice or suggestions. You have full authority as the head of the group.”
     
    “So what shall we do with him?”
     
    “Just keep him informed about the investigation.”
     
    “Ah well, I see.” Chen sighed.
     
    Chen saw only too clearly what he was in for: four or five calls from the commissar as a daily routine, not to mention the necessity of listening to Zhang’s long lectures larded with quotations from Mao, Deng, or The People’s Daily, and the necessity of suppressing frequent yawns.
     
    “It’s not that bad. At least he is an incorruptible commissar.”
     
    Depending on one’s perspective, that was a good point—or a bad one.
     
    “It’s in your interest, too, to work closely with a comrade of the older generation,” the Party Secretary concluded in a lowered voice.
     
    When Chen returned to the main office, he saw Detective Yu scanning a group of pictures at his desk. Chen took a seat opposite his assistant.
     
    “Was Guan that important?” Yu asked.
     
    “A national model worker is always important.”
     
    “But that was in the sixties and seventies, Comrade Lei Feng and all that propaganda.”
     
    “Yes, we have been brought up with these communist role model myths,” Chen said. “In fact, such a concept is not without its root in Confucianism. Only Confucian models were called sages, whereas in the twentieth century, they are called model workers, model peasants, model soldiers. And even today, I can still sing the song, ‘Learn from the Good Example of Comrade Lei Feng.’“
     
    “So can I,” Yu said. “There’s another one. ‘Be a Good Soldier to Chairman Mao.’ I was humming the tune the other day, and my son was totally lost.”
     
    These songs had been very popular throughout the nation in the early sixties. Comrade Lei Feng was a model PIA soldier who served the people wholeheartedly, helped others in need, and never cared about his own interest. The Party lauded such mythical communist models to whom the people were expected to measure up, giving but not taking, contributing but not complaining, conforming but not making trouble. After the Cultural Revolution, and especially after the summer of 1989, however, few really believed in the orthodox propaganda.
     
    “So,” Chen said, “Comrade Lei Feng may be more needed than ever now.”
     
    “Why?”
     
    “Contemporary social polarization. Nowadays, a handful