Chapter 29: Accusation

"Speaking of which," Wang Hongbing turned back to look around before whispering to her, "Later, when he saw me pestering him endlessly, he asked me if I was having an affair with you. I said yes. He laughed and said, 'Since she's your woman, let her go, and tell her to serve you well from now on.'"

"Why would you say that?" Caiyun asked, astonished.

"If I hadn't said that, the Secretary wouldn't have let you go. His intention was to make an example of you to warn others."

"If you say that, the Secretary must think I'm a bad woman."

"Not at all. The Secretary said you are a clever and beautiful woman, and that it would be a pity to lock you up in Swallow Cave. But if he wasn't harsh, the trend of people fleeing to escape famine wouldn't be stopped."

"Are there still people fleeing to escape famine now?"

"No one dares to, except you—you're the bold one. Where have you been for these past twenty days?"

Caiyun replied, "I went to Yangtang Market in Shoudong County."

"It seems things are much better over there than here."

"How did you know?"

"Your body told me. You've gained weight, and your complexion looks better."

"Look at how hungry everyone in the village is. Why don't they distribute all that grain at the west threshing floor?" Caiyun pointed to the people coming to the canteen for food.

"Secretary Yang said he asked for permission, but the commune wouldn't approve it. They only agreed to distribute rice and peanut seeds to each production team. The seeds allocated to our team are stored in the warehouse that was requisitioned from your home. Keep a close watch at night; if you notice anything unusual, report it to me immediately."

"No problem. Do you think we could use some peanuts to trade for oil? The canteen has been out of oil for a long time, and eating this stuff all the time makes it impossible to move one's bowels."

"No, these are seeds. They cannot be touched."

"Then can we slaughter a pig for oil?"

"The team's two pigs and one cow were stolen during the Spring Festival, and the police station still hasn't solved the case. Now the team only has two cows left, which are kept in the shed where I live, forcing me to guard them all day long."

As they neared the entrance of the village, Wang Hongbing looked around to ensure no one was nearby, then whispered to Caiyun, "I sleep alone in the cow shed at night. Come over after dark."

"What for?"

"Don't play dumb. Didn't the Secretary say he let you go so you could serve me well?"

"You're talking nonsense! I don't believe the Secretary would say such a thing."

"Then can I just have you come over?"

"No!"

"Why not?"

"No reason, it's just no!"

"Don't be shy. I know you've been a widow for a long time. I promise to make you feel good tonight!"

Caiyun thought to herself that if he could still think about such things at a time like this, it meant his household was not lacking in grain, though she didn't know where he was hiding it.

That night, Wang Hongbing waited until dawn, but Caiyun never showed up. He felt very disappointed.

Nowadays, Wang Hongbing no longer felt any of his former affection for Caiyun; all that remained was hatred and a sense of being toyed with. The reason he had fought so hard to save her was not out of love, but to keep a target for venting his hatred toward Facai, and to wash away the humiliation of being played by her. If she were willing to be his woman, however, that would be a different matter.

Caiyun didn't take Wang Hongbing's request to heart. She had no mind for such things; all she cared about was grain and how to feed her family.

Her children were crying and making a fuss from hunger all day, and Yujun was suffering from constipation and wouldn't cooperate. With no other choice, Caiyun had to use the little bit of grain given to her by Sister Liu. At night, she would get up to boil a thin porridge of broken rice in a medicinal clay pot. She gave a bowl to each of the three children, never eating any herself. Sometimes, when Yulan saved some for her, she would give it to Yujun instead.

One night, Caiyun woke up to the sound of something heavy falling from a height in the seed warehouse on the east side. She went to investigate and saw light filtering through the bottom of the partition wall. She put on her clothes, grabbed a flashlight, and went to the warehouse door. Pushing it open, she saw Wang Hongbing inside, filling a cloth bag with wheat. Upon seeing Caiyun, he was terrified, dropping the bag to the floor. He asked, "What are you doing here?"

Caiyun replied, "Didn't you tell me yourself? The warehouse is full of seeds, and I should report any unusual activity to you immediately. So when I heard the noise, I came."

"Nothing's wrong. I just came to see if there were any rats. I didn't expect you to be so responsible." Caiyun knew he was stealing grain, but as the team leader, he could simply deny it.

"As long as it's something you've tasked me with, I will carry it out diligently."

"Then why didn't you come to see me that night as I asked?"

"That's a different matter. I'll do whatever you ask, but not that."

"I want you to do exactly that, and I want you to come over now." As he spoke, he grabbed and kissed her wildly.

"Team Leader Wang, don't do this."

"Little darling, as long as you serve me well, I'll let you off the hook." Wang Hongbing hugged Caiyun and headed toward his cow shed.

"If you do this again, I'll scream!"

"I won't force you. Come find me when you've made up your mind." Wang Hongbing put her down and left.

One night, as Caiyun walked past the cow shed, she was caught off guard and pulled inside by Wang Hongbing.

Caiyun screamed in terror, "Team Leader Wang, let me go!"

"You finally came!" Wang Hongbing had heard footsteps outside; thinking it must be Caiyun, he had opened the door and pulled her in.

Fueled by pent-up desire, he hugged and kissed her frantically. He thought that if she were willing to be his woman, he would let bygones be bygones and make her happy. If she refused and was only paying lip service, he would proceed with his plan.

Caiyun pushed him away and said angrily, "Team Leader Wang, please have some self-respect."

Sensing the shift in tone, Wang Hongbing became stern and demanded, "Then why did you come here?"

"Who came here? You were the one who pulled me in."

"I saved your life. How do you intend to repay me?" he challenged.

"From now on, whether it's public or private business, as long as you give the order, I will not say a single word of 'no'!"

"I don't care for that. I want you to come serve me every night! I want you to be my woman willingly."

"I can't do that!"

"You can, and tonight, I'll make sure you do." As he spoke, he pinned Caiyun to the bed and began tearing off her clothes.

"Team Leader Wang, if you do this again, I'll scream!"

"Go ahead, scream as loud as you want."

"Help! Someone help, a hooligan!" Caiyun, now past the point of caring, shouted at the top of her lungs.

"I'm telling you, you could scream until your throat gives out and it wouldn't matter. No one is coming to save you."

The crazed Wang Hongbing stripped her naked. Fearing a repeat of the incident at the west threshing floor, he used a rope he had prepared to bind her hands and tie them to the head of the bed. He then pressed his weight down on the frail woman. Exhausted, Caiyun had no strength left to struggle and was forced to submit to his abuse.

From then on, Wang Hongbing raped her repeatedly, ignoring all her pleas.

Once, after he had finished, he continued to torment her. Unable to bear it any longer, Caiyun went to see Secretary Yang at the brigade office the next morning to report Wang Hongbing.

"Secretary Yang, last night Wang Hongbing tied me up and raped me."

"Is that so?" the Secretary asked, surprised.

"You can call him here to confront me face-to-face."

"First, tell me what happened."

After hearing her account, he sent for Wang Hongbing to face her.

"Wang Hongbing, Zhang Caiyun has accused you of raping her. Both of you are here now; please recount what happened last night in as much detail as possible. Caiyun, you go first." The Secretary took out a notebook to record their statements.

Caiyun retold the events from start to finish. As soon as she finished, Wang Hongbing stood up and pointed at her. "This is a frame-up! It's biting the hand that feeds you."

"Sit down, don't get excited. Tell me carefully what happened last night," the Secretary said.

Wang Hongbing said, "Last night, Caiyun came to my shed voluntarily. She said she couldn't repay me for saving her life and could only use her body to show her gratitude. Because we had a relationship before, she said she always felt held back by fear when Facai was around, but now that he's gone, she's liberated. She said she wanted to serve me well and have a wild time tonight. I didn't expect this woman who lost her man to go crazy like that..."

"Secretary Yang, I can't listen to this anymore. If you believe him, I'll go to the police station to file a complaint," Caiyun interrupted.

"Caiyun, don't be impulsive. If you go to the police, you'll lose your life. This matter started because Wang Hongbing pleaded for you when you fled to escape the famine. If the commune leaders find out, both he and I will be reprimanded, but you will certainly be locked in Swallow Cave. Within a few days, you'll be nothing but a pile of bones. Have you thought about what would happen to your children? Besides, if you bite the hand that feeds you, who would ever dare to help you again?"

"He's being outrageous. He's making it all up; there's not a word of truth in it," Caiyun said.

"Alright, I have a general understanding. Let me give you my perspective: Caiyun, you say he tied you up and raped you, but I have my doubts. Wang Hongbing has been pestering me to plead for you, even going so far as to expose his own private affairs and admitting to an affair with you, begging me to let you off. Why would he do all that just to rape and torment you? It doesn't make sense..."