The train carriage was stifling, the air thick with a mixture of smells.
Shen Zhiwei huddled by the window. The glass was cracked open just a bit, but even the wind that came through was hot.
She gripped tightly the small cloth bag containing her proof documents and a little change. The train rattled along with a clatter, and the oppressive heat made it hard to stay awake.
As the train jolted, a thin figure bumped into her, a hand darting toward her pocket but it found nothing.
Shen Zhiwei grabbed the wrist firmly, her eyes sharp. “Comrade, your hands aren’t clean, are they?”
The thief froze, struggling, only to realize that this woman was strong!
Nearby passengers turned to watch.
Shen Zhiwei didn’t wait for him to react and shouted loudly, “Train attendant! There’s a thief here!”
Startled, the thief yanked his hand away, cursed under his breath, and slipped into the crowd.
By afternoon, the sun had bleached the dirt road white-hot.
Shen Zhiwei dragged her tired feet, stepping unevenly, until she finally reached the Hexi commune office.
As her mother had predicted, the stubborn old village chief, Sun, scowled at her the moment he saw her introduction letter and divorce application. His wrinkled face stretched in disapproval.
“Divorce?” He drooped his eyelids, tapping the table with his calloused fingers.
“Shen family girl, I’m not saying this lightly, but why divorce at all?
“Marry a hen, follow the hen; marry a dog, follow the dog. Quarrel a bit and you want to divorce? What kind of nonsense is that! Our commune doesn’t tolerate this kind of bad example! It’ll set a poor precedent!”
Shen Zhiwei suppressed her anger and explained calmly. “Village Chief Sun, I am not here to ask for your permission.
“This is a divorce application approved by the military district organization department, along with documents requesting the street office to issue a certificate of cooperation.”
She pushed forward the papers stamped with the official red seal. “If you insist on refusing, I’ll wait right here and apply for the military authorities to communicate directly with your superiors. Let’s see if the Hexi commune wants to get called in for a ‘tea meeting.’”
Sun’s expression changed. He picked up the papers and examined the seal carefully.
He could ignore the complaints of a young girl, but he dared not openly defy an official military document.
His face shifted repeatedly. “I really don’t know what’s come over the city girls nowadays… no sense of propriety, only climbing for higher branches. Our commune’s reputation… sigh.”
He muttered under his breath and waved to the female cadre beside him. “Wang Xuemei, handle this! Quickly now. Don’t let anyone see.”
The female cadre, about thirty, with a delicate face, picked up Shen Zhiwei’s documents and examined them carefully.
“Village Chief Sun,” she said in a gentle but clear voice, “I see that Comrade Shen Zhiwei’s documents are complete. According to regulations, our street office should issue this certificate.”
Sun glared at her. Already embarrassed by Shen Zhiwei earlier, he was further irritated. “Wang Xuemei! Since when did it become your turn to speak?”
The deputy village chief Wang Xuemei efficiently signed and stamped the certificate, then handed it to Shen Zhiwei, whispering, “Don’t take what Village Chief said to heart.
“Looks like a big rain is coming. If you can’t catch the bus, you’re welcome to stay at my place tonight.”
Just as Shen Zhiwei and Wang Xuemei left the commune office, dark clouds rolled overhead, and a torrential downpour began.
On the way to Wang Xuemei’s home, Shen Zhiwei noticed a few rough-looking young men hanging around nearby. The leader, lazy and unkempt, gave her a lecherous look.
Wang Xuemei whispered, “That’s Village Chief Sun’s son, Sun Laizi. He’s idle and mischievous. Try to avoid him.”
Wang Xuemei’s home was smaller and more modest than Shen Zhiwei had imagined.
Three mud-brick rooms, walls covered with yellowed old newspapers, and plastic sheets patched on the roof to keep out the rain.
Yet inside, everything was clean and tidy. The earthen floor was swept free of dust and grass, and the few pieces of old furniture were polished to a shine.
“Come in quickly, sit on the kang! You must be frozen!” Wang Xuemei moved efficiently to stoke the fire, and warmth gradually filled the room. “Don’t worry my husband works in the county, usually it’s just me at home. Stay here without concern.”
Shen Zhiwei carefully placed her cloth bag on the dry spot at the head of the kang and finally exhaled.
“I really owe you today, Sister Wang,” she said sincerely. “Not only did you help me out of trouble, you also took me in.”
Wang Xuemei smiled. “It’s nothing. I was a sent-down youth myself; I can’t stand seeing people bullied. As for Village Chief Sun… he’s old-fashioned. Don’t take it to heart.”
By evening, the rain poured harder.
Wang Xuemei was cooking when a commotion suddenly came from outside.
Several villagers braved the rain to stand at the door, worry on their faces. “Deputy Village Chief Wang, we heard a woman seeking a divorce came to our village.
Could this bring bad luck?”
“Yes, Sun Laizi said she went to the city to seduce an officer and was kicked out…”
Wang Xuemei’s expression darkened. She went to the door and called out loudly, “Fellow villagers, don’t believe rumors! Comrade Shen Zhiwei is here to handle legal procedures and is protected by law. Sun Laizi is idle all day can you trust his words?”
The villagers exchanged glances, somewhat convinced, but a few muttered, “But Sun Laizi said…”
“What he says isn’t necessarily true!” Wang Xuemei’s tone became stern. “I’m the deputy village chief. I can clearly tell everyone that Comrade Shen’s documents are completely legal. Besides, divorce is a citizen’s right. This is a new society why cling to old feudal superstitions?”
Only then did the villagers awkwardly disperse.
Back inside, Wang Xuemei sighed. “The countryside is like this small matters spread like wildfire.”
“Thank you, Sister Wang, for speaking for me,” Shen Zhiwei said.
“It’s nothing. It’s what I should do,” Wang Xuemei waved her hand, then lowered her voice. “Actually, I’ve been wanting a chance to straighten out the behavior of the Sun family.
This is just the right opportunity.”
While Wang Xuemei cooked, Shen Zhiwei quietly took out the Spiritual water and sipped a little. Instantly, much of her exhaustion from the past few days melted away, and her mind cleared.
She remembered the contact information Gu Yanzhou had left and asked Wang Xuemei, “Sister Wang, does the commune have a phone? I want to call the city.”
Wang Xuemei nodded. “Yes, there’s one in the office. But with this heavy rain, we can’t go now. Tomorrow morning, I’ll take you.”
She smiled and sat down, taking time to look around the small room.
Besides a few yellowed educational posters on the wall, the most eye-catching feature was a collection of small notes pinned with thumbtacks, scribbled in pencil.
“Aunt Li’s family is short three jin of grain coupons”
“Uncle Zhang’s roof leaks and needs repair”
“Second girl at the village head’s school still short two yuan fifty for tuition”
All were the villagers’ small but urgent requests.
“Deputy Village Chief Wang, these…” Shen Zhiwei couldn’t help but ask, looking at the notes.
“No choice. Someone has to handle the village’s many small matters children going to school, neighbor disputes, applications for fertilizer, repairing canals.” Wang Xuemei paused.
“The village chief doesn’t think about these; he’s always thinking how to benefit himself.
“Getting that useless son of his into the commune, running around doing all the legwork and talking to everyone that falls on me.”
Once she started, her words poured out, tinged with long-held frustration. “Our village is far from the commune, the roads are bad, and villagers have a hard time getting things done.
“Look at this rain the stone bridge at the village entrance is practically dangerous, and the village chief doesn’t care…”
Before she could finish, urgent knocking came from outside the yard.
“Deputy Village Chief Wang! Open the door! My child’s stomach hurts so bad he’s rolling on the ground!”