‘Mei Fung, they are calling you,’ Mei Lin nudged Mei Fung gently.

Mei Fung who was immersed in her own thoughts stood up, worried. Everyone in the hall looked at her. Everyone looked tense.

‘Today you ate the peanuts which were given to you for sowing. Our supervisor saw you. True or not?’

Mei Fung’s face turned pale. She stood still for a while and then cast her eyes down.

‘Yes I did. Only a handful. I was hungry. I –’

‘It may be one or a handful. That was the seed for production. You have obstructed the process of production. It is a crime equal to treason. This is reactionary.’

Mei Fung stood with her head down. She looked as if all the blood had been sucked out of her face.

‘For your first crime as a refugee, we will not punish you. But three days of food coupons will be deducted. You also have to stand here and face denouncement and apologize. Come over here.’

Liang’s face had hardened. Before Mei Fung could go to the dais, he stood up and said, ‘She is pregnant. Please forgive her. Just for a fistful of nuts –’

‘A fistful of nuts? A fistful of seeds! What do you want to say – Mei Fung has not committed a crime?’

‘It is a crime. But think of her physical condition, sir. Even in this state she has been working. She has not said she won’t work. At such times, women feel like eating different things. That is why –’

The hall fell silent. Everyone looked at him with surprise and fear. The faces of the leaders had become stern. They talked amongst themselves and then looked at Liang. ‘Safeguarding a criminal is also a crime. You will receive equal punishment for encouraging reactionary activity.’

‘I have not committed any crime, sir. Mei Fung is my wife. It is my duty to protect her and my unborn child.’

The leaders looked at Liang in disbelief. A refugee was protesting!

‘Hey, why don’t you go up? Hey reactionary, capitalist roader!’ someone from the local group shouted.

The faces of most of the locals brightened. A foreign devil was going to be punished. Now they could say whatever came to their minds in the name of denouncement.

Three men came down and pushed Liang to the dais.

‘Kowtow. Kneel. Touch the floor with your head and ask for forgiveness,’ one of the leaders thundered.

Liang’s eyes turned red and his face turned stiff.

‘I won’t. I won’t kowtow.’

‘You won’t kowtow? How dare you!’ With one punch, Liang was pushed back.

Another person pulled him by the chest. After a few slaps and punches they forcibly made him kneel, pushing his head down to the floor. The locals started denouncing him. After some time, one of the leaders pulled him up by his hair and dragged him to a side.