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"That's not how it's done, silly! Slower than that."
Zimo hesitated. "I know what I'm doing! You're the one who needs to be more patient!"
This time he wound the wire around the form more slowly, hoping she wouldn't notice that he'd taken her advice. "There. See? Perfect!"
Shi Qi laughed. "Not bad for a slow learner. Want to get something to eat? I'm starving."
"Ha! I'll show you slow learner! Sure let's go. But first, check this out. I think you'll like it."
Zimo dove a hand into his pocket and pulled a small box out. "We've been through alot together, and I want you to have this."
Shi Qi's eyebrow raised. "You're not going all weird on me, are you Chen Zimo?"
"Ha! Just look at it! You tell me."
Shi Qi opened the box. Inside was a locket shaped like a valentine, with silver filagree around the edge. A delicate necklace wound its way around the box and through the loop. Bad timing for a cliche romantic advance. She needed a friend more.
"What the?! Seriously?"
"Just open it. I'm not like that. I love you to death, but we're friends first. Even if your dad IS a pawn of the state, Qiqi!" Zimo made a funny face and they laughed.
"Ok, but no funny stuff. I'll open it."
"Go ahead."
Inside, Shi Qi expected to find a picture, or a lock of hair. Instead, she found a message written on white paper, under clear plastic.
On one side, it said: "A friend lets you be yourself. Thanks for being my friend." On the other side it said: "Freedom first, Chen Zimo."
Shi Qi squeezed back a tear. This guy she'd met at the prison mine protests was maybe all he seemed. Time would tell.
"It's beautiful. I don't know what to say. Thank you so much." Shi Qi gave Zimo a quick hug, then quickly changed the subject. "So..about that lunch.."
"How can you hang out with that kid?"
Shi Qi's father was very upset. "When you hang out with unsavory people, you cast a shadow on your entire family! I'm a senior party member. Your infatuation with this troublemaker, is going to cost us more than you could possibly know. If you saw his social score, you'd die of shame!"
"Daddy, he's my friend. Who cares about his social score? He's got a bold spirit. What's wrong with that? You're always telling stories about your younger, crazier days!"
"Please, find another way to act out, Shi Qi. This can't go on."
Brow furrowed, she nodded without thinking. "I'm sorry, father. I'll be more careful next time. I'm going to bed now."
"Good night, Shi Qi. You're still my precious daughter, you know. Always."
"I love you too, Dad. Good night."
It wasn't. It was a sleepless night.
A senior party member's underlings scour their lives like airplane mechanics, searching for hairline cracks in one's party loyalty. It's the more predictable of the party's expectations.
Then there are a thousand other ways, for those so inclined, to compromise a hard-won position. Anything for a new hole in the hierarchy. Power, in a system where the individual has become mostly powerless and invisible, is everything. Anything to be somebody.
He'd earned his position over decades, and wasn't inclined to give it up. You adapt to the system you live in; become a part of it, upon its insistence. Rank wasn't simply about a job well done. More a potentially short-lived victory in a hunger games of power. When society homogenizes individuals and makes them like it, few do like it. Most can fake it, though.
To have authority here, was akin to being a gold medalist. You're a symbol of national success. That's a heavy mantle to wear, and it didn't matter what Shi Qi thought. He'd been an idealist too. He'd made bold statements and spoken out, just as she had. In the end, it had only brought trouble. And besides..she'd become distant over the years. Where was her power of persuasion now? Only in his memories. She was never around.
A knock at the door brought him back to the present. "Yes? What is it?"
"Good afternoon, sir. Thought you'd enjoy hearing that the Zabuye facility has apprehended the insurrectionists and finally restored order to the mines!"
There was no hiding a grin. His superiors had been riding his ass for a month about the chaos in Zabuye. Lithium was high profile these days, and being the official in charge of mining operations had brought more power, but at the cost of being thrust into the bureaucratic spotlight. 'Things are back to normal', was exactly what he needed to hear.
"Good news! It's about time! Damned traitors don't care how many lives they've affected with their selfishness. Any suspects yet?"
"Yes, sir. At least a dozen were sent for interrogation and re-education last week. Details have been emerging."
"Excellent! How we'll turn backstabbing trash into model citizens is a mystery. Let's hope they set an example with the ringleader of this nonsense."
"Agreed. Anything else, sir?"
"Just keep me updated. And.." He smiled more broadly this time. "Thanks again."
She returned the smile, and as the door closed, he saw the smile get wider. Morale was sure to pick up around the place.
Late Monday afternoon flew by. By early Tuesday morning, he was exhausted and ready to go home. Then came another knock on the door. Zimo looked up. "Enter."
A head popped around the door. "Yes, Ying Yue?"
"Sir? You asked for updates on Kabuye. A courier package just arrived. It contains something I think you'll find interesting."
Ying Yue placed a manila envelope on the desk, then waited, a curious half-smile pasted across her mouth.
"Is that all?"
"Almost, sir. You also have a call from Chairman Liu waiting."
"Probably to congratulate me", he thought to himself. "Very good. Thanks again, Ying Yue. That will be all."
She grinned as she left. "Yes, sir! Hope to see you tomorrow."
Zimo switched over to the Zoom app and greeted his boss, while reaching over to grab the envelope.
"Chairman Liu! I hope you're having as good a morning as I am, sir."
"Do I look like I'm having a good morning?" Zimo quickly looked at the screen, as he finished pulling the package in front of him. The Chairman continued, "Why would I be having a good morning, when I'm hearing rumors that you might know more about these lithium stoppages than you're letting on?"
Zimo gulped. Timed stopped. Where was he? What was going on?
"Sir? I have no idea what you're talking about, yet. Please help me understand."
"Don't play dumb with me! If you think setting yourself up to look like a hero is going to help your career, you've.."
"Sir! Never! I have no idea what we're talking about right now, I assure you. I would never betray the Party! Please fill me in on the details so I can make sense of this conversation. Please, sir. I apologize for the interruption. Forgive me."
On screen, a puzzled look flashed briefly across the Chairman's scowling face, before being replaced with the stern countenance of a dad who thinks he's caught a whiff of pot coming from his kid's room..maybe.
"Alright. We'll play this game for now. But just so you know, I've been watching you like a hawk since you were first promoted. Don't think the Party's forgotten about the trouble you got into when you were younger."
Zimo winced. The Chairman was right. He'd come to realize that those reports and the low social scores of his youth would probably keep him from getting any higher in the Party. But was his past about to obliterate his future?
"I assure you sir, I am more than grateful to the Party for overlooking my childhood foolishness and turning me back from my crazy notions! I would never betray the Party, sir! Ever!" Zimo's heart raced in his chest. This was surreal. Why was the Chairman so angry?
"Be that as it may, I have it from reliable sources, that your name came up in connection with the labor disturbances at Zabuye." He punctuated the sentence with a raised eyebrow. "Well?"
"Sir, I have no idea how my name came up! I assure you, I'm as dedicated as anyone to ending the Zabuye matter. It must be a mix up! I would never betra.."
"Yes, I know..'never betray the Party!' I hear you, but should I believe you? Do you know how important these next few years are?" Zimo braced for the lecture.
"The world's eyes are upon us since the yuan became the new fiat currency. Exports are up, now that the Americans have destroyed themselves with their so-called 'civil' war. The Committee is growing impatient, refinancing America's stupid, crumbled infrastructure, just to keep sending them the garbage they like so much. Still, we can't afford to flounder now. The beast is almost slain. Do you understand me?!" The Chairman's fist shook as he spoke.
"Yes, sir. I understand the nature of our position and will settle this. You can remain confident in my loyalty to the Party, sir."
"I will be conducting my own investigation. Rest assured." The Chairman's face softened. "Hopefully your loyalty is as true as you say."
"Thank you, Chairman. You can count on me."
The call ended. Zimo stared blankly at the screen. Not the praise he'd expected. He so needed a bath. Rising to leave, he first picked up the envelope and dumped it. The color drained from his face. Hands trembling, he made another call.
"Transportation? Yes, this is Chen Zimo speaking. I need to arrange a flight to Zabuye, immediately." He looked at the object on his desk. "Yes, I can be ready in an hour. Thank you."
Picking the locket up, he ran his fingers across the filagree, recalling the last time he'd seen it; remembering his friend, Shi Qi.
The institutional lines of the rehabilitation center sent chills down Zimo's spine. Last time he'd been in a place like this, his legs were shackled. What felt like descending into Hell, had begun his road to recovery and success in the Party. Still, this wasn't a homecoming, and his stomach turned at the memory.
Near the gate was a well-dressed man, who gestured him inside. "Chen Zimo, I presume?"
"Yes, and you are.." He looked at the ID. "Wen Li. Nice to meet you. Were you briefed on my reason for visiting?"
The smile melted from Wen Li's face. "Yes, about that. I'm afraid I have bad news. The prisoner you asked for didn't make it. She was very uncooperative. I hope you understand."
"She's dead?" Zimo stared in disbelief. "What? How?"
"She refused to eat or drink. She'd struggle when we tried to feed her; throwing it back up anyway. A week we put up with that nonsense before disposing of her. That was the day before you called. What's your interest, anyway?"
"I just wanted her to clear my name. The Party needs to know that I have no association with this person."
"Ohhh! Don't worry about that, comrade. It was a coincidence. All coincidence. Whenever we asked about the locket and 'Chen Zimo', she'd say the same thing: 'He was a friend who died a long time ago.'"
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