Don't Cry Tai Lake Read Online Free Page A

Qiao’s apology. Qiao’s Party rank was higher than Chen’s. For that matter, so were the ranks of most, if not all, of the other cadres staying at the center.
    â€œThis is the best building in our center. These are premium accommodations reserved for the top leaders from Beijing. The exact same arrangements have been made for you as would be for him.”
    â€œI am overwhelmed, Director Qiao.”
    â€œIf there’s anything else you need, let me know. We’re going to assign a young nurse to you too.”
    â€œNo, don’t worry about a nurse. I’m just a little overworked, that’s all. But I do need to ask you for a favor,” Chen said. “Keep my vacation here as quiet as possible. The presence of a chief inspector may make some people uncomfortable.”
    Chen had conducted several high-level investigations, and this place was crowded with high-ranking cadres. He had no idea what some of them would think; he wasn’t that popular in the system.
    It was not always easy to be, or not to be, Chief Inspector Chen.
    â€œYou make a good point, Chief Inspector Chen,” Qiao said. “So I won’t call you Chief Inspector in the presence of others. Our old Comrade Secretary mentioned that you have a lot of important work on your hands. Do you have anything special planned during your stay here?”
    Apparently, Qiao was having suspicions about the purpose of Chen’s visit.
    â€œNo, it is just a vacation.”
    â€œWonderful. Let me arrange a welcome lunch for you—a banquet of all the lake delicacies. I’ll summon the other executives and some local officials too.”
    â€œNo, please don’t do that, Director Qiao. You have so many things on your plate already.” Though not a stranger to lavish meals at the government’s expense, Chen shunned the prospect of spending two or three hours at a banquet table, saying things in official language that he didn’t want to say, in the company of officials he was in no mood to spend time with. He came up with an excuse. “Besides, I have a lunch appointment today.”
    â€œThen another time,” Qiao said, moving to the door. “Enjoy your day in Wuxi. There is a lot to see.”
    *   *   *
    After Qiao’s visit, Chen felt obliged to leave the villa and head out to his “lunch appointment.”
    He had planned to go to the park, but he changed his mind when he saw that it was packed with tourists. He could go there another time, preferably in the evening, when it would be less crowded. Instead he made a right turn again, following the same route as the day before.
    He noticed weather-beaten tourist attraction signs along the way, but there were no tourists walking there. At a turn in the road, a black limousine sped past him at full speed. He had to quickly flatten himself against the hillside. The road must have been built so that Party officials could enter and leave the center without having to walk through the crowded park.
    He cut through the small square and took several unfamiliar turns, but to his surprise, he found himself heading toward Uncle Wang’s place again.
    It couldn’t be because of her, Chen assured himself. The food there was not bad, he thought, trying to rationalize his return to Wang’s. Also, there was the quiet, anonymous atmosphere. He was nobody there, and there was nobody else there, either.
    As for the possible food contamination she had warned him against, it would probably be the same everywhere.
    Uncle Wang didn’t seem surprised at his reappearance.
    â€œYou’re early, Mr. Chen. What would you like today?”
    â€œIt’s not quite lunchtime yet. Perhaps a pot of green tea first.”
    â€œSure, a cup of tea to start. Whenever you’re ready to order, let me know.”
    Soon, a pot of tea was placed on the table, along with a dish of fried sunflower seeds and a light blue ashtray half full