A Mother's Worries

Wang Xiyue had heard nothing about her elder brother's efforts to arrange her son's job transfer. A whole month had dragged by, and she simply could not wait any longer.

Just as Tong Haojing left the house, Wang Xiyue decided to go into town and ask her elder brother, Wang Xigui, how things were progressing. Almost at the same time, Tong Haojing had barely stepped out when Wang Xiyue followed him out the door.

Before leaving, Wang Xiyue did not forget to dress up in front of the mirror. She was five foot five, and in her cheerful round-necked blouse, the faint crow's feet at the corners of her eyes were thoroughly concealed beneath powder and makeup, making her look ten years younger. Her delicate little feet were squeezed into black high heels; one look told anyone that she had not worn them in a long time—they were black with mildew. Wang Xiyue took a few steps before the mirror, imitating a model, then burst out laughing at herself. Still, the perfectly placed beauty mark on her forehead left her rather satisfied.

When Wang Xiyue went out, she habitually took along her purple umbrella. Her home was not far from town, but she had to cross a bridge over the Tangdu River. She feared that bridge most of all because it had no railings, so she rarely went into town. She seldom even visited her elder brother Wang Xigui's home, only making the trip once a year to visit relatives.

Wang Xiyue met no one she knew along the way. But just as she entered the street, a police car with its lights flashing was parked at the intersection, empty inside. She did not know what had happened, and perhaps it had nothing to do with her anyway. Wang Xiyue noticed that the town had changed somewhat. Some places were being demolished and rebuilt, and many landmark buildings had become unrecognizable, leaving her unable to tell east from west, north from south.

Coming into town from the countryside, she remembered that Wang Xigui lived in a building behind the municipal compound. She looked east and west as she walked, thinking how nice the town was. The broad asphalt roads were clean and tidy, and the tall buildings made her envious. Young women dressed to the nines passed before her, unlike the rustic country girls, filthy everywhere and irritating to look at. She seemed to see her son walking hand in hand with a city girl into an office building, the girl turning back and smiling at her.

In her delight, Wang Xiyue lost her way. She reached the entrance of Minsheng Market and wandered in circles, muttering to herself, yet still could not figure out the direction. At that moment, she had no idea that a middle-aged man behind her had been watching her for quite some time. Wang Xiyue sighed mournfully and, without meaning to, revealed her family's troubles...

The middle-aged man hurried past Wang Xiyue, deliberately dropping several hundred yuan where she could see it.

Seeing that someone had dropped money, Wang Xiyue hurried forward to pick it up and shouted, "Sir! Sir, you dropped your money!"

The man turned around and patted himself down. "Oh, my money. Thank you so much, you're such a good person!"

The man grabbed Wang Xiyue's hand and thanked her profusely. Then he struck up a conversation like an old acquaintance. "Ma'am, you came into town on business, didn't you?"

The moment Wang Xiyue heard that, she wondered how he knew. Her heart tightened, and her whole body tensed. Her eyes kept sneaking glances at the middle-aged man. Wang Xiyue sized him up. He looked scholarly enough, though he seemed a little shifty on his feet. Something about him might be off. She quickly took a few steps toward the crowded area, hoping to shake him off. But he stuck close, growing more and more enthusiastic with every "ma'am."

"Ma'am, don't be afraid. I'm not a bad person!" The middle-aged man pulled an ID card from his jacket pocket.

"Look, it has the Public Security Bureau seal on it!" The middle-aged man waved the card before Wang Xiyue's eyes. In truth, Wang Xiyue saw nothing clearly; she only noticed a red stamp on it.

When Wang Xiyue heard that it bore the Public Security Bureau seal, much of her wariness eased. Her son had said he wanted to become a police officer. Police and public security were the same family, after all. This man looked respectable enough—perhaps he could even help!

"You're with the Public Security Bureau?" Wang Xiyue asked.

"Yes, I am. You're such a good person. Tell me, is there anything I can help you with?" the middle-aged man said smoothly. In his eyes, this middle-aged woman had already let down her guard, and he began calculating how to make his move.

"My son wants to become a police officer!"

"Ma'am, if your son doesn't make arrangements early, he may miss his chance," the middle-aged man continued.

"His job transfer is about to fall through. What should I do?" Wang Xiyue completely connected her son's situation with what the middle-aged man was saying. It fit perfectly.

The middle-aged man secretly rejoiced. "I have connections in the city. You may need to spend a little on greasing the wheels, just as a token. We know each other well!" He spoke with such sincerity that Wang Xiyue believed every word. She felt the thousand yuan she had brought with her, glanced around nervously, afraid someone might see, and quickly stuffed it into the middle-aged man's hand.

"Do you think this is enough?" The middle-aged man looked greedily at Wang Xiyue, laid the money over his leg, and counted it. It was neat and complete, not a single yuan short. Watching him count the money, Wang Xiyue looked so simple and guileless that one could almost pity her.

"I'm afraid this isn't enough. Why don't you borrow some more? Two thousand, and we'll settle the difference later," the middle-aged man said, testing the waters as he pushed for more.

"I don't know anyone here. What am I supposed to do?" Wang Xiyue looked at the middle-aged man in disappointment. Then she suddenly remembered her elder brother, Wang Xigui.

"How about I go find my elder brother? But I can't find his home right now. He lives in an alley behind the government compound."

"I'll take you there!" Seeing that Wang Xiyue had completely dropped her guard, the middle-aged man became utterly fearless.

The middle-aged man quietly gave Wang Xiyue a set of instructions. The matter was not to be mentioned to anyone, including her family and her elder brother. Keeping it secret was the key; otherwise, if others found out, it would be exposed, and her son's job would fall through.

Thinking that someone was helping with her son's matter and that the chances were now much better, Wang Xiyue agreed without hesitation. "I'll keep it absolutely secret!" A contented smile appeared on her face.

The middle-aged man led Wang Xiyue down a street behind the bank. After passing through an alley, they reached the city government square. Wang Xiyue immediately remembered the way to her elder brother's home. Just as she was marveling at it, the middle-aged man had vanished.

Wang Xiyue suddenly realized what had happened. "Oh no, a swindler!" Her face turned ashen. Instinctively, she chased after him for a few steps, but it was useless. Wang Xiyue felt too ashamed to make a scene over it. She could only swallow her suffering in silence. Turning a corner, she left the alley in terror.

Perhaps this was what it meant to desperately seek any remedy when one was frantic over her son's affairs. Now she could only go find her elder brother. Fortunately, she could finally remember the way to his home.

Wang Xiyue passed through the municipal compound, turned a corner, and went through a dilapidated alley before reaching Wang Xigui's residence. It was on the first floor and very dark. Wang Xiyue knocked, and a light came on inside. She called out to her elder brother several times. Wang Xigui heard her, sat there dazed for a moment, then rose from his chair, slipped on a pair of cloth slippers, and slowly opened the door.

The first time Wang Xiyue saw her elder brother, she was startled. The flesh on his face had thinned by a full circle. She had nearly failed to recognize him.

Wang Xigui knew why his sister had come. He turned away and lowered his head, afraid she would see his face. Then he dropped onto the living room sofa, propped his cheeks in both hands, and sat there in gloomy silence.

After being swindled outside the bank, Wang Xiyue still had nowhere to vent the anger in her stomach. Seeing the expression on her elder brother's face, she forced herself to act as though nothing had happened and could not help asking, "Brother, what's wrong?"

Wang Xigui looked utterly miserable. "Sister, I've let you down!" As he spoke, he began to sob.

Wang Xiyue had never seen a grown man cry like that. Something serious must have happened. She pretended to stay calm. "Whatever it is, tell me!"

Wang Xigui said mournfully, "Sister, it didn't work out. The Civil Affairs Bureau leaders said Tong Haojing's matter had to be put on hold!" Wang Xigui repeated Director Zheng's exact words.

Wang Xiyue asked anxiously, "What does 'put on hold' mean?"

Wang Xigui said, "It means it's fallen through. It's all because your brother is useless and messed things up!"

Wang Xiyue's head began to spin. She did not know how things had turned out this way. Could her son's future be ruined because of her? She did not know how she could tell him. Her son still knew nothing. The fact that the job arrangement had been delayed for so long must surely have something to do with this. She was beginning to despair. Thinking of all this, she could no longer control her emotions and began to weep bitterly with her brother.

"What are we supposed to do? What are we supposed to do?"

She did not tell her elder brother that she had been swindled. In these days when misfortune came one after another, she could only endure it. She had no choice but to swallow her bitterness.

Wang Xiyue was overwhelmed with grief. She wanted to call her son, but she could not remember his phone number. Besides, she was too ashamed to go back and face him. She decided to stay at her elder brother's home for two days before leaving.

Three days later, the morning was clear, with a light mist in the air.

Wang Xiyue got up very early. She had not slept at all, and her elder brother, burdened by guilt, had not slept either. Zheng Benli's phone suddenly rang. "Hello, is this Wang Xiyue's elder brother? This is Uncle Mumu." Standing nearby, Wang Xiyue recognized Uncle Mumu, her neighbor, by his voice on the phone.

In fact, when Uncle Mumu saw Tong Haojing being taken away by West City Police Station that day, he had followed them there. The police officers questioned him, took his statement, and then let him go, but Tong Haojing was kept at the station. Uncle Mumu was frantic with worry and hurried home to find Tong Haojing's mother. But Wang Xiyue had gone to Tangdu, and it was not until the third morning that Uncle Mumu got in touch with Wang Xiyue's elder brother and made the call.

"Yes," Wang Xigui said.

"Let Wang Xiyue answer the phone." Wang Xigui handed the phone to Wang Xiyue.

"Uncle Mumu, what happened?" "Tong Haojing was taken away by West City Police Station. Hurry and go get him. He was catching bad guys..." Before he could finish, the line went dead. Wang Xiyue called back, but no matter what she did, the other side would not answer.