Five Spice Street

During her previous reeducation, Ms. B had offended her, which was entirely in the public’s best interests. That reeducation was absolutely correct. Without it, she wouldn’t be a representative today, nor would she be the wave of the future. Not only shouldn’t she bear a grudge against the women’s reeducation movement, she should be grateful. These women had fought hard for the honor she received today. They had helped her greatly but received no advantages for themselves. This alone should spur her to make the speech, unless she has no conscience at all. Everyone had helped make the fire, yet she alone enjoyed its warmth. This was unfair, and anyone with a conscience would feel uneasy about it. All along she had acted only for herself, yet now honor and position had dropped upon her from heaven, making her a revolutionary hero. She must make up for this. Ms. B would have been very much ashamed had it had been she.

Ms. B discussed these principles as she washed the beans. She washed them so earnestly that Madam X was touched, and because she was touched she listened. Finally, she understood the woman’s words and answered that she was very moved by being elected representative and receiving such a high honor. However, it would have been good if they had sought her out earlier. At one time, she had wanted the honor of being the representative and had wasted a lot of energy over it. If she had become the representative then, she would certainly have given countless profound speeches. Unfortunately, now it was too late. Time had rolled on, and she was middle-aged. Her heart was like dead ashes. Not only did she not want to be the representative, but it was difficult for her even to see people. For example, just now, if Ms. B hadn’t helped her wash beans, she wouldn’t have seen a man and a woman enter her shop, nor would she have heard what the woman said. Ever since she gave up the idea of being the representative, she had become deaf and blind. Why did they want a cripple like her? What use was it? If she were shoved up to the platform to make a speech, she would certainly fall down and make a spectacle of herself. No, she was definitely useless to them. They must have made a mistake and gotten everything mixed up. She-the representative? That was too funny. It could not happen. If they pushed her into it, she would bark like a dog on the platform and do somersaults.

As Madam X went to dry the beans in the sun, she crushed Dr. A’s instep, and he let out a frightening scream.

‘‘Why hasn’t this man left yet? I can’t see him at all,’’ she said.