Chapter 2: The Execution!
A bright-faced young man stepped out of the house, stretching lazily.
Jia Dongxu: “Chen Shi, how dare you hit me? Just wait, you’ll be sent to face the firing squad!”
Chen Shi didn’t respond. Instead, he walked over, grabbed Jia Dongxu like a chick, and dragged him to the door of his own room.
Jia Dongxu trembled at the sight of Chen Shi’s fist, as big as a sandbag. “Chen Shi, I’m warning you, the military representatives are here! If you dare cause trouble, you’ll be executed!”
“Chen Shi, stop fooling around!” Old Chen bellowed, his face flushed, swaying unsteadily.
Chen Shi pointed at the note pasted on the door and said coldly, “Read it!”
Jia Dongxu was so scared he wet himself, stammering, “Dreams of beating people, knock before entering!”
Fifteen-year-old Xu Damo chuckled. “Jia Dongxu, you kicked the Chen family’s door first thing in the morning. Who wouldn’t beat you for that? Did your mom never teach you anything, since your dad died early?”
Foolish Zhu snapped, “Xu Damo, shut up! Who asked for your opinion?”
Chen Shi swaggered up to Director Wang. “What’s up?”
Director Wang frowned slightly at the rebellious young man in front of her. Since becoming the military committee director of the Nanluogu Lane neighborhood office, she had disliked dealing with people like Chen Shi the most, hard to control and difficult to pin down.
For instance, just now, he had beaten Jia Dongxu. Normally, he could have been reprimanded for violence, but he had cleverly justified it with that note on the door.
It wasn’t that Jia Dongxu didn’t deserve it, Director Wang disliked Chen Shi because he was the type to become a troublemaker, the kind that was especially hard to handle.
Director Wang said sternly, “This is a new era, a new country. No matter the circumstances, violence is unacceptable!”
Old Chen coughed. “Director Wang, the boy doesn’t know any better. I’ll discipline him strictly. Please go easy on him.”
Director Wang was familiar with Old Chen. “Old Chen, if you’re sick, rest first. I’m taking Chen Shi with me.”
Old Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly. He quickly understood her meaning, this was just about watching an execution. If Chen Shi really had ties to the bandit leader, the military committee, armed and in control, wouldn’t have bothered with such formalities.
Old Chen barked, “Chen Shi, go with them and behave! If you cause trouble again, I’ll break your legs!”
Chen Shi couldn’t tell if it was his imagination, but Director Wang seemed to respect his father.
He raised an eyebrow. “Got it, old man. By the way, I remember you’ve got a pack of cigarettes in your pocket? Lend me one?”
Old Chen swung his cane. “Get lost!”
Chen Shi dodged skillfully, then turned to the military representative behind Director Wang. “Can I bum a smoke?”
The military representative glanced at Director Wang. Seeing no objection, he handed Chen Shi a cigarette.
Chen Shi stuffed it into his pocket and strode forward. “Let’s go!”
Director Wang, the military representatives, and a group of elderly women from the alley led Chen Shi in a grand procession.
Xu Damo watched curiously. “Hey, Foolish Zhu, don’t you think it’s weird? Chen Shi’s walking with the military reps, isn’t he scared?”
Foolish Zhu admired Chen Shi’s fearless stride. A real man of the capital should face the collapse of heaven and earth without flinching.
But he played tough. “Hah, unlike you, who’d piss his pants.”
“Who pissed their pants? That was your buddy Jia Dongxu, wasn’t it?” Xu Damo laughed.
Of course, Xu Damo had no idea what Chen Shi was thinking.
Chen Shi believed that since he hadn’t done anything wrong, he and the military representatives were equals.
This was a new era, a new country, one that valued democracy and freedom!
As long as he stayed out of trouble, Chen Shi was free!
He followed the neighborhood office team to Shunzhi Gate, with many from the 95th Compound trailing behind to watch the spectacle.
“Execution coming! Execution coming! Xiao Erzi, come quick! Hurry!”
“Grandma, it’s an execution! I’m going to watch!”
“Third Sister’s over there, I can’t push through, slow down!”
“The cavalry’s here, who’s getting shot today?”
“Bandit leader Wu Er-ye, the blacksmith.”
“Damn, let’s see what this guy looks like!”
The crowd surged, packing Shunzhi Gate Street so tightly that not a breath of air could pass. If there hadn’t been any wind that day, Chen Shi’s fart might’ve lingered in the crowd for half an hour.
People craned their necks, stood on tiptoes, and climbed slopes for a better view. Some clung to lampposts, eyes wide, mouths agape, all staring at Shunzhi Gate, where the cavalry, useless in battle but perfect for executions, slowly approached.
Behind the horses, a few carts came into view, packed with prisoners bound in red silk requisitioned from fabric shops.
Wu Er-ye led the procession, his face flushed from liquor, tightly bound. A sign hung from his neck: “Bandit Leader, Wu Er-ye.” He shouted:
“Eighteen years later, I’ll be a man again!”
“A chopped head just leaves a bowl-sized scar!”
“Brothers, give us a cheer!”
“Quiet! Stop the noise!”