‘It’s an important gesture for Comrade Secretary Zhao to have you as his tourist guide in Shanghai,’ Qiang said, breathing slowly into the fresh-brewed tea. ‘A symbolic gesture of his trust in you from the Forbidden City.’

‘I’m just trying to do my job here in Shanghai. A lot of things in Beijing are totally beyond me.’

‘You don’t have to say that.’ Qiang paused before changing the subject. ‘I’m going to retire. Nothing really matters that much for me any more, but you still have a long way to go. It won’t hurt to be careful.’

That sounded like a signal. Inspector Chen immediately put himself on high alert.

‘In addition to your long poem about Tai Lake, you’ve recently published an article about judicial independence, haven’t you?’

‘Yes?’

‘People came to the foreign liaison office about it.’

‘They’re interested in my writing?’

‘You’re a talented writer, everybody knows, but some could be just curious, asking all sorts of questions, about the article, about your working here for the association, your meeting and talking with Western writers here.’

‘When did they come to you with these questions?’

‘Several months ago.’

‘But I’ve been so busy of late. The last time I met with any visiting Western writers in the association here was more than half a year ago. So they may have been disappointed.’

‘Exactly. I told them little they might be interested in. They mentioned your modernist poems, of course, and I said I’m no literary critic. I also said you’re not only a productive writer, but also an exemplary Party-member cadre, doing all the volunteer work for the association.’

‘Thank you so much, Director Qiang!’

By now, he knew for sure Qiang did not want him down here simply for a cup of tea, though the old man kept talking in a roundabout way.

‘Somebody even mentioned an American woman cop who once worked with you here in Shanghai, but that had nothing to do with those activities at the association. You’re such a celebrity, Chief Inspector Chen, people cannot help being so curious about you.’

‘There’s an English proverb: curiosity killed the cat,’ Chen said, without knowing what else to say for the moment. Sometimes old proverbs could turn out to be helpful just because of that.

‘It may be just part of their routine work.’ Qiang rose and drained the cup of tea, then added, ‘For the future promotion in store for you, you may have to go through the process under the Party Central Discipline Committee.’

‘I don’t know anything about that.’

Chen took it as a far-fetched interpretation, or a cover for the hidden message.

‘But I know you’re busy, especially with Comrade Secretary Zhao in Shanghai, so I’d better not take up too much of your time. Again, thank you so much, Chief Inspector Chen.’

‘Thank you, Qiang. Let me know the date when there’s a retirement party for you at the association.’

‘I will, bye.’

Peiqin found herself stepping into the Wenhui building on the corner of Shanxi and Weihai Roads.