In the Pond Read Free Page A

‘one family with power’? Comrades, we are not animals but human beings. We grew out of group marriage thousands of years ago. You know, only the reactionaries would say the Communists live together, sharing wives and husbands. In the old China I often heard that kind of propaganda on Chiang Kaishek’s radio. Perhaps Comrade Shao Bin is too young to know the malicious nature of his drawing, but obviously it has nothing to do with constructive criticism. If he was not full of reactionary intentions, he at least called us names.”
    Some angry eyes turned to Bin, who was sitting by a window. He hung his head low, dragging at a self-rolled cigarette.
    “You want to say something, Old Ma?” Liu asked the director, returning to his seat.
    “Yes.” Ma went to the front and began speaking in ahoarse voice. “Comrades, it’s true that the larger apartments each have an extra room, but it was designed for work, not for comfort. Don’t you think the leaders need a room to talk with you when you have a problem and come to see us? We can’t discuss it at a dining table with women and kids around, can we? Besides, all the leaders have large families, you know that, and we need an extra room. This is not our fault. When we were young, the government encouraged us to make babies, the more the better, and there was no family planning at the time. Chairman Mao announced at a conference, ‘Among all things in the world the most precious are human beings.’ We responded to his call, making more babies to increase our national wealth.” Some women giggled. Ma kept on, “So I say an extra room in our homes is not a privilege but a necessity.”
    Damn you! Bin cursed to himself. How about the faucet and the closets? How about taking the sunniest side of each house? How about the cement floors? I hope the hard floors will break your women’s hips.
    Ma then announced the Party Committee’s decision about the cartoon. “In view of comrade Shao Bin’s wrong, we propose a threefold solution here. One, Finance will stop giving him a bonus for six months. Two, he must write out a self-criticism and admit his wrong publicly, in front of all of us. Three, he must send a letter, without delay, to the
Lüda Daily
and explain the facts and his true intention, and ask the editors to publish anote of correction. Comrades, we believe this is the only way to restore our plant’s reputation and repair the leader’ image. Let me make it clear here: we will adopt other measures if Shao Bin doesn’t change his attitude toward—”
    “This is oppression and vengeance!” Bin bellowed and jumped up. “I won’t write a word. I will report you to the State Council in Beijing.” He flourished his cigarette.
    The room rang with laughter. Ma waved to adjourn the meeting, and people stood up, moving to the door. Bin knew there was no use arguing with the leaders, who would simply enjoy seeing him rage and wrangle, so he left the dining hall without one more word. His eyes turned triangular, glowing with anger.
    After hearing of the Party Committee’s decision, Meilan changed her mind and begged her husband to give up confronting the leaders, because there was 120 yuan involved. The loss really hurt. Without the money, they wouldn’t be able to buy a TV the next year. They had saved almost 300 yuan for that and needed the bonus to make up the total amount. But Bin refused to give in, saying he wouldn’t have to watch television and he would rather spend his time more meaningfully, studying and painting. Besides, how could he retreat now? People would think him spineless if he bowed to the leaders’ wishes.
    However, the loss of the bonus also upset him. At the least it meant they would be hard up by New Year’s. A self-criticism in front of the whole plant was out of the question; a letter to the newspaper would be impracticable as well. Apart from impairing his dignity, to retract what he had published would wreck his career as an artist, and