by Mi Lei
"What's going on? Sure sounds lively," he said.
"Oh, today is Distribution Day," she replied matter of factly. "Wait for it; the men will be at it all night."
"Distribution Day?" Fang Mu recalled what the short woman had said. "Do you mean that things in your village are distributed according to need?" he halted, rephrasing. "You know, communism?"
Lu Haiyan laughed. "Once a month, food, clothing, and that sort of stuff is handed out to us."
"Oh." He nodded. He looked back at the house with its large-screen TV, then at the mink coat Lu Haiyan was wearing. Like everything else about the village, it made the hairs on his neck stand on end. "Then…the money to buy all these things, where does it come from?"
"I don't know." Lu Haiyan shrugged her shoulders. "We get what we need, so who cares?"
He was speechless. Something suddenly came to mind. "Aren't you going to get things for your family? Do you want me to help?"
"No need." A look of resignation seeped onto Lu Haiyan's face. "Someone will come by to deliver them."
And sure enough, a little while later, Lu Dachun and Lu Sanqiang came by the house carrying several bulging bags. Lu Dachun almost jumped in panic when he spotted Fang Mu in the courtyard, but he quickly caught himself and with a nod stepped forward to greet them.
Lu Sanqiang, on the other hand, was all smiles. He handed Fang Mu a cigarette and immediately started chatting.
In the middle of the small talk, Fang Mu asked, "So much stuff?" He pointed at the bags.
"Yes." Lu Dachun smiled. "With you staying in Widow Cui's home, my father instructed us to bring these. We want to make sure you're feeling welcome."
Stunned, Fang Mu turned to Lu Haiyan, but she was staring at Lu Dachun. The object of her attention purposefully avoided her gaze and signaled to Lu Sanqiang to help him carry the bags into the home. After calling out a short greeting to Widow Cui, the two turned to leave. As Lu Dachun passed Lu Haiyan on the way out, it was clear that something was weighing heavily on the young woman's mind. Fang Mu was about to give them some privacy, but Lu Dachun simply walked past her. Lu Haiyan kept her eyes fixed on his back as he walked away. With a heavy sigh she watched him disappear into the snow's haze.
When Lu Haiyan and Fang Mu returned to the living room, they saw Widow Cui already rummaging through large piles of food and everyday goods. She studied a rather large, black leather bag, clearly having no idea what it was.
"What is this? It feels heavy," she said, turning to the two of them.
"It's a laptop computer," Fang Mu explained it to her. "A Sony. It's a good one," he added after checking the brand.
"Oh, that's for me," Lu Haiyan noted, and with a disinterested shrug took the computer from her mother. After a quick look at the other things, she walked off to her room. It didn't take long for her to poke her slightly flushed head back out of the doorway. "Elder Brother Fang, do you have a moment?"
Her room was somewhat cramped, but meticulously kept. The room was dominated by a large wardrobe. There was also a desk in one corner and across from it a single bed. A Sony Walkman rested next to a pile of early '90s pop music cassettes on the bed, next to the pillow. There was also a small bookshelf on one side of the desk. It was filled with a neatly stacked library of junior high school books.
Even though it was hard to imagine anything more fitting into the room, it all looked colorless and sterile. The only splash of life was a small aquarium, tucked away on one side of the desk. The long, pinkish fish inside instantly caught Fang Mu's attention. On closer inspection, he discovered that their scales and skin were in fact transparent, revealing their soft, red intestines and white vertebrae underneath.
Noticing his interest, Lu Haiyan asked, "Pretty, aren't they?"
"Yeah, they're nice," he replied. "Why did you call me?"
Lowering her eyes, the young woman pointed at the computer. "Elder Brother Fang, would you mind helping me?"
Lu Haiyan had taken the computer out of its case and placed it on the desk. The laptop's manual and power supply lay next to it. That was apparently as far as her skills and confidence would take her. Now she only looked lost. Fang Mu quickly helped her hook-up and turn on the computer. As the screen came to life, Lu Haiyan's face lit up in excitement, but she didn't dare touch the device on her own.
Realizing just how alien the computer was to her, Fang Mu began with the basics. As a first step, he showed her how to use the keyboard to type Chinese characters. Lu Haiyan all but squealed in joy as she wrote her own name.
"Elder Brother Fang, you're awesome!" She was clearly impressed.
It was bizarre. This young woman had material wealth that others could only dream of, yet in every other regard, she appeared shockingly underdeveloped.
"It's a shame that you can't go online. That would really let you get the most out of the computer," he told her.
"Online? What's that?" Her eyes were blank with confusion. However, her ignorance did nothing to curb her enthusiasm.
With a small sigh, Fang Mu explained the internet to her as best he could. Lu Haiyan listened with rapt attention. Occasionally, she would gasp in surprised amazement.
"So you can learn about pretty much anything in the world, right from home…and you can communicate with other people…" For her, this began to blur into one incomprehensibly wonderful torrent of words. Suddenly, she jumped up from her bed. Her eyes swept across the things in her room. Finally, her gaze fixed on Fang Mu. With a bitter smile, she asked, "I'm living in the last century, ain't I?"
He could only offer her a crooked grin.
"Tell me more about the things out there," she requested with an encouraging smile. "I want to know more..."
To Fang Mu, "the things out there" were the facts of everyday life; for Lu Haiyan they conjured a barely comprehensible land of fantasy. Even the simplest things, like subway trains, ATMs and supermarkets were met with a wave of intoxicated excitement and wide-eyed wonder. The last decade or two had passed her little world by; in many ways, she really was stuck in the past.
It was another piece in the ever more complete puzzle of Fang Mu's suspicions. Lu Village was remote, sure, but it had no business being completely cut off from the world. And why had they never allowed Lu Haiyan to set foot outside the village? She certainly was curious enough about the wider world.
As they talked, Fang Mu used the opportunity to study Lu Haiyan more closely. Her education had been rudimentary at best, but her school books, lovingly propped up to be in constant view, as well as her questions, proved that she maintained a keen interest in learning. The skin on her hands and face was remarkably smooth and fair, making it difficult to imagine that she had seen a full day of hard labor in her entire life. The large wardrobe and many expensive clothes revealed her passion for material things; yet this laptop, as well as the cassettes on her bed, was evidence that she was far from comfortable with her simple but trapped life of abundance.
The question was: Why had she never left – or been allowed to leave – this village to see the world?
Lu Haiyan was far too absorbed in Fang Mu's words to notice his intense attention. Imagining herself in that fantastic world he described, she mumbled, "So that's why he wanted to go see…"
"Eh? Who wanted to go see?" Fang Mu asked quickly, but offhandedly.
"Oh...nobody," she hastily replied, looking up. "Elder Brother Fang, you know everything, don't you?" she asked in an attempt to change the subject.
"Hardly." He decided to drop the issue for the moment. "I have never seen fish like these," he said, pointing at the tank.
"They're called blind fish," she told him with a broad smile, pleased to know something he did not.
"Blind fish?" He had never heard of such a thing.
"Yeah." She picked up the small tank and showed it to him. "Have a look. They have no eyes."
"I'll be… How unusual." Fang Mu's curiosity was piqued. "Where did you get them?"
"Lu Dachun gave them to me."
Lu Haiyan's ears flushed as she spoke his name. "He fished them out of Dragon Tail Cave. The old people say that the fish in the river there haven't seen light for so long that their eyes become atrophied."
"Well..." He watched the fish lazily swim through their small home. "You're keeping the tank well-lit. Do you think you'll be able to restore their eyesight?"
"I don't know." Lu Haiyan gave the blind creatures a gentle look. "But I sure hope so."
It was well past 10 when they were interrupted by a knock on the door. It was Widow Cui. With a reluctant sigh, Lu Haiyan let Fang Mu leave. After he had firmly shut the door to his room, Fang Mu took out his notepad and carefully recorded all he had heard and seen in the last two days. Finished, he placed a large question mark next to "Lu Village".
It was a shame that his time to unravel this particular enigma was probably about to run out.
Fang Mu put down his notepad and walked to the window. The snow was falling lightly and looked like it would stop soon. Shining through the thin curtain of snow, the lights of the small houses seemed to twinkle and burst. This night was nothing like the night he had arrived. This night, Lu Village was alive. From all around, Fang Mu could hear the festive voices of the men. Straining to detect any smell, he could even pick up the faint aroma of wine and meat mixed with the fragrance of perfumes and scented powders.
It was a strange night in a strange village.
CHAPTER
16
A Pact of Silence
A corridor stretched before him. Standing close to a wall, Fang Mu hesitated. A long forgotten terror had returned to his body, holding him back. But then there was the voice; he couldn't hear it yet, but it beckoned him onward. He had no choice. He had to fight his fear, clear his mind, force himself forward, one step at a time.
The corridor was filled with a thin fog, obscuring his vision. Everything was right before him and somehow still infinitely far away. The walls were covered in scars, riddled with bullet holes and splattered with blood. He could have been back at the Baixin Bath Palace, confronting the slaughter within.
Fang Mu strained not to see those tightly shut doors, pretended not to hear the soft noises from the other side. He would not imagine what lay hidden behind them.
But the noises grew louder. Legions of hands clawed at every door as wailing cries for help rose to a crescendo.
He tried hard not to let it affect him too much. He rushed to the closest door and pulled with all his strength. The door didn't budge. All the scratching and all the screaming were beyond that one door. As the terrible noises became a deafening roar, every door in the corridor began to shake and rattle. In the midst of the thunder, Fang Mu could almost hear fingernails snap and wood crack. He understood now: They were suffering on the other side—suffering unimaginably. Cold sweat soaked his clothes as his perspective changed and twisted. He needed help. He had to find someone, something. But beyond its cold, bleak walls, the corridor was empty. As he fell into despair, everything was illuminated and all noise vanished.
The beam of light was soft and shone bright, dispersing the fog. It was all so clear now; Fang Mu had to follow that light. Drawing ever closer, he felt his mind calm. An ancient burden was lifted as his long, tiresome journey ended. He had returned to his perfect home.
The light was coming from an open door.
Through the door, Fang Mu could see an imposing white hall. Everything inside was suffused with a soft glow. A large dining table stood in the middle of the hall. Several silent figures were seated at the table, their heads downcast.
Fang Mu cautiously approached the table. To his surprise, he recognized some of the faces.
Liao Yafan, Pei Lan, Lu Lu.
Amazed, he opened his mouth to ask them why they were there, but before he could speak a word, he heard a familiar voice from behind say: "You've come? Sit down."
Fang Mu turned around and his eyes widened. It was Mi Nan.
She was holding a tray. There was something unknown on it. He could only guess that it was food.
Gracefully, Mi Nan walked around the table, serving food to those gathered. Then, she turned to Fang Mu, who was still staring in confusion.
"Sit down. It's all right," she said with a smile.
He couldn't feel himself think. Obediently, he pulled out a chair and sat down. Soon, there was a plate of warm food in front of him. He couldn't make out what it was, but its aroma was tantalizing.
He hesitated, unsure if he should go ahead and eat. Suddenly, a flurry of footsteps approached the door. Fang Mu turned in his chair as the fog lifted from his mind.
It was him, standing in the door—Xing Zhisen. And he was cradling the limbless Xing Na in his arms.
Old Xing's face was a mask of grief. He staggered forward, his eyes fixed on Fang Mu. With every step he mumbled, "Help, help…help, help…"
Fang Mu got up and ran toward him. One step, two steps, and then he saw the dark shadow behind Old Xing. It was holding a gun and slowly lowering the barrel to Xing Zhisen's head…
He knew that silhouette…
Fang Mu had no time to think. Ever so slowly, fire blossomed from the barrel of the gun…
Bang!
Fang Mu shot upright in his bed, gasping for air like a fish out of water. The dull sound of the gun echoed in his ears and the afterglow of its flash danced before his eyes. It took him a good while to realize that the dream was over.
Drowsily, he licked his parched lips and pushed himself out of bed. His throat was aching for water. On the way to the kitchen, he was surprised by the flicker of flames in the courtyard. And then there were shouts and screams.
Only this time, he was awake.
He stepped out the front door and was instantly dizzied by the fires' bright glare. Still struggling to make sense of it all, it took him a few seconds to realize that he was looking at Lu Tianchang and a retinue of villagers. They were all holding torches and clubs. Had it not been for the very real rage in their eyes and his complete isolation, the village mob might have looked almost comical.
But they weren't looking for him. In fact, Lu Tianchang appeared not to notice him at all. The village head was carefully studying something in the snow, perhaps tracks. Bent forward and with his head down to the ground, he had the look of a very large, very mean hound.
Widow Cui was standing close by, together with Lu Haiyan. Both women were still in their nightgowns, with nothing but sandals on their feet, yet the two seemed oblivious to the cold. Mother and daughter were staring at Lu Tianchang, their faces full of fear and despair.
Fang Mu wanted to ask them what had happened, but he only made it a few steps before two villagers blocked his path. Their open hostility convinced him to stop. Fang Mu turned toward the village head and shouted, "Lu Tianchang, what's going on?"
There was no answer or reaction.
A moment later, Lu Tianchang had found whatever it was that he had been looking for on the ground. "Let's go," he commanded, pointing up the Dragon Tail. "He's back and I bet he went up that way."
As the villagers filed out behind Lu Tianchang, Fang Mu rushed up to the village head and grabbed his arm. "Tell me, what is going on here?"
Lu Tianchang brushed his hand aside. He looked nothing like the cordial man that had greeted him to the village. Illuminated by the flickering light of the torches, his face seemed to burn with cruel determination.
"None of your business! Go back to sleep." His voice was cold. "We'll get you out of here by dawn."
Without another word of explanation, Lu Tianchang turned and strode off.
Fang Mu remained behind in the snow, unsure what to do. He was no closer to a decision when he heard screams from behind him. Spinning around, he saw that Widow Cui and Lu Haiyan had collapsed into the snow. Fang Mu rushed to help them up and take them inside. As he bent down to Widow Cui, he noticed that she was out cold. Lu Haiyan was conscious, but dazed.
Back in the house moments later, Lu Haiyan stumbled about aimlessly, a torr
ent of tears bursting from her eyes. Fang Mu got her a chair and then laid Widow Cui down on the sofa. A few pressure point presses roused the old woman. With a long, drawn-out sigh, her eyes fluttered open. She, too, began crying uncontrollably.
Fang Mu made sure that she was unharmed before turning to Lu Haiyan. "Tell me what happened."
"My little brother..." Lu Haiyan blurted between tears. "My brother…killed someone."
"What?" He arched an eyebrow. "Killed someone?"
His question stirred Widow Cui and she began to wail. A moment later, she fainted for a second time. After regaining consciousness, she just lay limply on the sofa, quietly crying.
Fang Mu brought her a glass of water and then asked Lu Haiyan, "Give me the details. How did it happen?"
"My brother… A few days ago, he went to the city. The village head had them looking all over for him…" Choking on her sobs, Lu Haiyan's voice broke. "Then, the village head came knocking on our door. He said my brother…my little brother killed someone..."
Her tearful explanation left Fang Mu with more questions than answers. If all her brother had done was go to the city, why had they been after him? And why had it led to a killing?
With a jolt, his eyes widened. He grabbed hold of Lu Haiyan's arm and hastily asked, "Is your brother's name Lu Haitao?"
"Yes!" For a moment, surprise stopped her tears. Shock was soon burned away by a manic fire that flared in her eyes. "You know my brother? Where is he?" she shouted.
Fang Mu stood in silence. Why hadn't he seen it earlier? How very stupid he'd been. Lu Haitao, Lu Haiyan; the naming pattern alone should have tipped him off, and then what she had said yesterday…
But now things were clearing up. There could be no doubt; this killing was intertwined with the village's secrets.
He raced to his room and threw on his clothes. As he headed back, he found Lu Haiyan blocking his way to the front door.
"Where are you going?" She glared at him.
"I'm going to find your little brother." Fang Mu didn't stop. "You and Auntie wait here."