Frog

  Gugu said that the effects of Zhang Quan’s sympathy-seeking ruse were excellent – many of the women watching were in tears. Of course, some were resentful. As women with two children and IUDs, or three without a son, had had their tubes tied, they had no sympathy for Zhang Quan’s wife. A bowl of water must be carried level, Gugu said, and if we let Zhang Quan’s wife have a fourth child, those women would skin me alive. If Zhang Quan prevailed, the red flag would be lowered, but that would be nothing compared to a halting in the progress of family planning. So I gave the signal, Gugu said, and walked up to Zhang Quan with Little Lion and Huang Qiuya. Smart, courageous, loyal Little Lion, moved in front of me in case Zhang used his club. I pulled her back behind me. The petty bourgeois intellectual, Huang Qiuya, was fine for a bit of technical help, but when push came to shove, she was so scared she nearly fell apart. Gugu strode straight up to Zhang. The language he used on me, she said, was worse than you could imagine, and if I repeated it, the words would dirty your ears and my mouth. But my heart was hard as steel then, and my personal safety was not a concern. Go ahead, Zhang Quan, call me any insulting thing you want – whore, bitch, murderous devil – I don’t care. But your wife is going with me. Going where? To the health centre.

  With eyes fixed on Zhang’s savage face, she walked right up to him. His three daughters rushed up to her, cursing like their father, the two smaller ones holding on to Gugu’s legs, while their oldest sister rammed her head into Gugu’s midsection. All three were on her like leeches, and she tried to fight them off. A sharp pain in her knee, she knew, meant she’d been bitten. Another head to her midsection knocked her flat on her back. Little Lion grabbed the oldest girl by the neck and flung her to the side; but the girl came right back at her, driving her head into Little Lion’s midsection, where her belt buckle hit her on the nose, which started to bleed. Seeing the blood on the back of her hand a moment later produced a mixture of terror and dread. As Zhang rushed to club Little Lion like a raving maniac, Gugu ran up and put herself between them. The club hit her forehead. She fell again. Are you people dead? Little Lion screamed at the onlookers. Zhang Jinya and his militiamen ran up and wrestled Zhang Quan to the ground, pinning his arms behind him. His daughters looked like they wanted to come to his aid, but they too were wrestled to the ground by Party women. Little Lion and Huang Qiuya wrapped a bandage from the medicine kit around Gugu’s head; blood seeped through the wrapping almost at once. They wrapped it some more. Gugu’s head was spinning and her ears rang; she saw stars and everything took on the colour of blood; people’s faces were as red as a cockscomb, even the trees seemed to blaze like torches.

  Hearing what was happening, Qin He came over from the river and froze when he saw Gugu’s injury. Then a howl burst from his lips, followed by a mouthful of blood. When people rushed up to help him, he pushed them away and staggered forward as if drunk, picking up the club, now stained with Gugu’s blood, and raised it over Zhang’s head. Put that down! Gugu shouted as she struggled to her feet. You’re supposed to be watching the boat. What are you doing here? Making things worse. With a sheepish look, Qin He dropped the club and walked slowly back to the riverbank.

  Gugu pushed Little Lion away and walked up to Zhang Quan, while Qin He was still howling as he walked towards the riverbank – Gugu was too focused on glaring at Zhang Quan to look behind her. The man was still cursing, but there was fear in his eyes now. Let him go, she said to the militiamen who held him by the arms. When they hesitated, she repeated herself. Let him go!

  Give him back his club! she demanded.

  One of the militiamen dragged the club up and tossed it down in front of Zhang.

  Pick it up! Gugu said with a sneer.

  Zhang mumbled, I’ll fight anyone who tries to end the Zhang family line!

  Fine! Gugu said. You’re a brave man. She pointed to her head. Hit me here, she said, right here! She took a couple of steps closer. Me, she shouted, Wan Xin, this is the day I put my life on the line! Back when a little Japanese soldier came at me with a bayonet, I wasn’t afraid, so why should I be afraid of you today?

  Zhang Jinya came up and shoved Zhang Quan. Apologise to Chairwoman Wan!

  I don’t need his apology, Gugu said. Family planning is national policy. If we don’t control our population, there won’t be enough to feed and clothe our people, and a failure in education will lower the quality of our population, keeping the country weak. Sacrificing my life for national family planning is a small price to pay!

  Zhang Jinya, Little Lion said, get on the phone and send for the police.

  Zhang Jinya kicked Zhang Quan. On your knees! he demanded, and ask Chairwoman Wan for forgiveness.

  Forget it! Gugu said. Zhang Quan, you could get three years in prison for hitting me, but I won’t lower myself to your level, and I’m willing to let you go. There are two paths open to you now. You can have your wife go with me to the health centre for an abortion, where I will personally perform the procedure and guarantee that she comes through it safely. Or I can turn you over to the police for punishment; then, if your wife goes with me willingly, fine. If not – she pointed to Zhang Jinyan and the militiamen – they will take her there.

  Zhang Quan was in a crouch, holding his head in his hands and sobbing. Three generations have had only one son each. Will I be forced to see that line ended? Open your eyes, Heaven . . .

  Zhang Quan’s wife walked out of the yard; she was weeping, and had straw in her hair. Obviously, she’d been hiding in a haystack.

  Chairwoman Wan, be kind, forgive him. I’ll go with you.

  Gugu and Little Lion were heading east on the riverbank behind our village, probably to make a report at brigade headquarters. But as they entered the lane that would take them there, the woman on the boat – Zhang Quan’s wife – came out of the cabin and jumped into the river. Qin He dived in after her, but since he did not know how to swim, he sank to the bottom. He managed to come up for air, but sank again. Help! Huang Qiuya screamed. Save them!

  From our perch in the tree, we watched as Gugu and Little Lion turned back and ran to the river.

  Wang Gan jumped nimbly into the river. Growing up on the banks of the river, we learned how to swim at about the same time we learned how to walk. The willow tree might as well have been set there for us to practise diving. I hoped that Little Lion had witnessed Wang Gan’s beautiful dive. I followed him into the river. Li Shou dived in from the riverbank. We should have tried to save the pregnant woman first, but she was nowhere in sight. Poor Qin He was right there in front of us, thrashing in the water, like a fritter rolling in bubbling oil.

  Grab his hair, Wang Gan’s father alerted us, and watch out for his arms!

  Wang Gan swam up behind him, reached out and grabbed him by the hair. He had a great head of hair. Wang Gan later said it was like a horse’s mane.

  Wang Gan was a better swimmer than any of us. He could ford the river holding his clothes over his head and reach the other bank without a drop of water on them. Being able to demonstrate his swimming skills in front of the woman of his dreams was a wonderful opportunity. Li Shou and I helped him, one on each side until Qin He was safely on the bank.

  Gugu and Little Lion came running up.

  You idiot, Gugu fumed. What were you trying to do?

  Qin He was spread out on the ground, coughing up water.

  Zhang Quan’s wife jumped into the river, Huang Qiuya sobbed. He tried to save her.

  Gugu paled. She turned her eyes to the river. Where is she?

  She hit the water and disappeared, Huang Qiuya said.

  I told you to watch her, didn’t I? Gugu angrily jumped onto the boat. You might as well be dead, she said. This is on you! Start the boat, she ordered.

  Little Lion was all thumbs as she tried to start the motor, but failed.

  Qin He, Gugu shouted, get back here and start this thing!

  Qin He got shakily to his feet, but bent over and threw up all the water inside him. He fell back to his knees
.

  Xiaopao, Wang Gan, try to save her, Gugu said. I’ll reward you handsomely.

  We looked over at the river and scoured it with our eyes.

  The surface, broad and murky, carried foam and loose grass. Li Shou pointed at a watermelon rind on top of the water. Look over there, he said.

  The rind glided along, occasionally rising out of the water on soggy strands of hair atop a head and neck.

  Gugu sat down heavily on the side of the boat and breathed a sigh of relief. Then she burst out laughing.

  Before we could dive in to make the rescue, she shouted, No hurry!

  Can you swim? she asked Little Lion.

  Little Lion shook her head.

  Apparently, serving as a family-planning worker not only required being hit with a club, but swimming as well. She laughed as she pointed to the watermelon rind. See what a good swimmer she is? She’s using the technique the guerrillas employed against the Japanese.

  Qin He came on board, bent at the waist. He was soaked, his hair was a mess, his face was ghostly white, and his lips were blue.

  Start the boat! Gugu ordered.

  He turned the crank. Still woozy, he swayed and coughed a couple of times before spitting out a bubbly mouthful.

  We let go of the ropes.

  Climb aboard, Gugu said.

  I could imagine what was going through Wang Gan’s mind as he sat on the side near Little Lion. His hands were on his knees, all ten fingers quivering. I could see his heart beating under the wet undershirt stuck to his chest, like a caged rabbit banging against the bars. His body was so tense not a hair moved. Chubby Little Lion was oblivious to what was beside her, for her eyes were glued to the floating melon rind.

  Qin He turned the bow away from the pier and the boat slipped forward, hugging the bank, its motor purring. Li Shou stood beside him studying his movements like an apprentice.

  Go slow, Gugu said. That’s right, now even slower.

  When the bow was about five metres from the melon rind, the motor was slowed to just above the point of shutting down. Now we could all see the head of the pregnant woman under the melon rind.

  She’s good, Gugu said. Five months pregnant and still swimming that well.

  Gugu sent Little Lion into the cabin to use the loudspeaker. The girl got up and slipped into the cabin at a semi-crouch. A void seemed to open up next to Wang Gan; a look of agony and loss showed on his face. What was he thinking at that moment? Had Little Lion already received the letter that showcased his prodigious talent?

  My thoughts were all over the place when the loudspeaker erupted, scaring me, even though I’d known it was coming: The Great Leader Chairman Mao tells us we must control our population . . .

  The pregnant woman pushed the melon rind off and showed her head. Startled into turning to look behind her, she quickly dove back under the surface. With a smile, Gugu told Qin He to keep the speed down. I want to see, she said softly, just how good a swimmer this Dongfeng Villager is. Little Lion emerged from the cabin and went up to the bow to gaze anxiously, and heaven answered Wang Gan’s wish, as she moved close to him. I actually felt a tinge of jealousy. His skinny frame was right next to her. All that prominent solid flesh. I could imagine what he was feeling, sure that he could sense the warmth and softness of her body, that he could . . . With this thought my heart began to thump wildly, and I felt nothing but shame for having such dirty thoughts. I quickly looked away from them, thrust my hands in my pockets, and angrily pinched myself on the leg.

  Her head! Little Lion shouted. There’s her head!

  The woman broke the surface about fifty metres from the boat and looked back as she stretched out and began swimming fast along with the current.

  Gugu gave a sign to Qin He, who increased speed and began catching up with the pregnant swimmer. Gugu took a flattened pack of cigarettes from her pocket, removed one and stuck it between her lips. Then she thumbed her cigarette lighter until it lit. With her eyes half closed, she blew out a mouthful of smoke. A wind blew across the river, raising a series of turbid waves. I knew that no one could swim faster than a boat with a twelve-horsepower motor. A Hunan folk song in praise of Chairman Mao spewed from the loudspeaker: The Liuyang River bends nine times for ninety li to the River Xiang . . .

  Gugu flipped the cigarette butt into the river; it was almost immediately snapped up by a gull that flew away with it.

  The loudspeaker died out; the record had finished. Little Lion looked at Gugu, who said there was no need for more.

  Geng Xiulian, Gugu shouted, do you think you can swim all the way back to the East China Sea?

  No answer from the woman, who kept churning her arms, though she had slowed down considerably.

  I wish you could be a little understanding, Gugu said, and come aboard so we can take care of things.

  Stubborn resistance will get you nowhere, Little Lion steamed. Even if you can swim to the East China Sea, we’ll be right behind you.

  At that the woman began to cry, her arms still churning, her movements getting slower and slower.

  Worn out? Little Lion laughed. Go ahead, swim if you’re up to it. Kingfishers dive, frogs leap . . .

  The woman’s body was getting lower and lower in the water, and a stench of blood seemed to rise in the air with each breath she released. Gugu leaned down to get a good look. Uh-oh, she shouted. Hurry, get past her, Gugu ordered Qin He. Then she told us to dive in. Hold her up!

  Wang Gan was first in the water, Li Shou and I were right behind him.

  Qin He leaned the boat into the space beside her.

  Wang Gan and I swam up to her. When I grabbed her left arm, she swung it over like an octopus tentacle and pushed my head under the water. I tried to shout and swallowed water. Wang Gan caught her by the hair and began towing her towards the bank. Li Shou grabbed her shoulders and lifted her up so I could come up for air. Everything was a blur as I was racked by violent coughs. The boat was just ahead of us. Qin He slowed down. My shoulder bumped against the hull; so did the woman’s body. Gugu and the others leaned over the side, either catching hold of her hair or her arms, while we pushed her up by her bottom and legs. Everyone was shouting, and together we managed to get her into the boat.

  Her leg was bleeding.

  You boys don’t need to come up. Just swim over to the bank. That said, Gugu spun around and said to Qin He, Quickly, turn this thing around and get moving. Fast!

  In spite of the best medicines and finest treatment, Geng Xiulian died at the health centre.

  6

  The brigade leadership sent me an urgent telegram, informing me that Wang Renmei was pregnant again. I was told in no uncertain terms that as a Party member and a cadre, and with a certificate proving that my one child was a daughter, for which I received a monthly subsidy, my wife should not be pregnant with a second child. The news hit me like a bombshell. I was ordered to return home without delay and make sure the pregnancy was terminated.

  My unanticipated appearance at home shocked everyone. My two-year-old daughter hid behind her grandmother and looked at me fearfully.

  What are you doing here? Mother asked anxiously.

  I’m on assignment and this was on the way.

  Yanyan, this is your papa, Mother said as she pushed the girl towards me. Day in and day out you say you want your papa to come home, and now that he’s here, you’re afraid of him.

  I reached out for her arm to hold her, but all that did was make her cry.

  Mother sighed. We’ve been in constant fear, she said, and we tried to hide it. But the truth came out anyway.

  How did it happen? I asked unhappily. Wasn’t she fitted with an IUD?

  She didn’t tell me until she began to show, Mother said. When she knew you were coming home for a visit last time, she went to Yuan Sai and had him remove the device.

  That bastard Yuan Sai! I cursed through clenched teeth. Doesn’t he know that’s against the law?

  Don’t report him, Mother said. Renmei begged
him over and over, and even sent Wang Dan to plead her case, before he’d do it.

  What a chance she took! Yuan Sai castrates animals. How could he have the nerve to remove one of those? What if something had happened?

  He does it for lots of women, Mother said, keeping her voice low. Your wife said he was very skillful, that he plucked it right out with a metal hook.

  Shameless, that’s what it is!

  Don’t be so sensitive, Mother said. Wang Dan went with her, and Yuan Sai wore a surgical mask, dark glasses, and rubber gloves. He sterilised the hook first in alcohol and then by a flame to make sure it was safe. Your wife said she didn’t even have to take off her pants. He just cut a little hole in the crotch, and that was it.

  That’s not what I meant.

  Xiaopao, Mother said sadly, your two older brothers both have sons. You’re the only one who doesn’t, and that worries me. Why not let her have the baby?