Whether discussing this was truly the reason behind such a ‘chitchat’ during Zhao’s vacation to Shanghai, however, Chen still hadn’t the slightest idea.

He had heard of a fierce new struggle unfolding at the pinnacle of power inside the Forbidden City, with Zhao’s name mentioned in the background. At such a critical juncture, it did not make sense for someone like Zhao to take a ‘fresh air vacation’ out of Beijing.

Nor was it so likely that upon arrival in Shanghai, Zhao would have chosen to summon Chen over to the hotel for a chitchat.

‘Unfortunately, the air quality here in Shanghai is not that good either, I know,’ Zhao went on, sipping at his tea reflectively. ‘I’ve recently read an Internet joke about a starved bird falling from the sky to the rice paddy in Qingpu County, Shanghai, because there’s no food visible at all through the darkly murky air.’

‘It is a problem.’ Chen felt compelled to say something earnest in response. ‘For several days, school children here are not supposed to go to school, or to step out in the open. The air pollution warning applies particularly to the sick or old people, as announced in the Wenhui Daily.’

‘Yes, the problem is serious,’ Zhao said, sort of echoing. ‘In Beijing, the AQI index is read as unhealthy for more than six months in a year, and occasionally, even more dangerous. Far more smoggy and smoky than here, unsuitable for any activities in the open. It’s quite understandable that people are complaining about it, and about the corruption too, but …’

There was always a ‘but’ in Zhao’s talk; Chen knew that only too well. Zhao paused, taking a leisured sip at a cup of tea again – Before-the-Rain tea – before continuing, and lighting a Panda cigarette for himself. For once, Zhao did not offer one to Chen.

‘But the situation should not be politicized. The current problem is a result of complicated, historical factors, in spite of the strenuous anti-pollution efforts made by our Party. It takes time to tackle the problem, you know, especially for a still fast-developing country like China. Having said that, people’s concerns under the smog-smothered sky are not that unjustified, which we have to acknowledge. In short, it’s an issue that needs to be addressed at a higher level, a different level.’

To Chen’s alarm, this was sounding less and less like a ‘chitchat’. Not from someone like Zhao. Chen hastened to pull himself together, trying to think in a whirl of confusing thoughts before he responded, speaking circumspectly.

‘If it’s more often than not, as in accordance to an article I’ve read, that our people have to breathe in foul air, drink contaminated water, and eat toxic food, how can they not complain?’ Chen went on, seeing no disapproval in Zhao’s expression. ‘Last week, I watched a “political star scholar” arguing on a TV forum for the stratagem of having “no smog in the heart as the solution to the smog in the air”, but that’s no solution.’