The sun and moon revolve.

Author: Gan Yang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: In the novel, Yuan Xiangqun, the Party Secretary of Panshui Township in Huoyuan County, appears as if he is on a long-term assignment, carrying a suitcase and a wheeled trunk as he hurries toward the bus stop by the side of the highway. Yuan Xiangqun is short and looks gaunt, with short hair and a neat appearance, resembling a college student at first glance. He was once the youngest Township Party Secretary in Huoyuan County, possessing a rare postgraduate degree among township cadres and was recognized as a political rising star in the county's cadre circle at the time. In today's world where academic qualifications are paramount, he should have been full of vigor, but his eyes are filled with melancholy, and his face is etched with exhaustion.
A few people have already gathered under the bus stop sign in the distance, and more are still coming from even farther away. A car sputtering like an old man's cough echoes from behind. Yuan Xiangqun glances back and quickens his pace. It is an aging bus long past its service life. It roars past Yuan Xiangqun, kicking up a cloud of dust before swaying unsteadily to a halt beneath the faded bus stop sign. Yuan Xiangqun quickly picks up his suitcase and sprints. He doesn’t notice his wife, Xin Xin, inside the bus, and Xin Xin doesn’t see him either.
Xin Xin, Yuan Xiangqun’s wife and a classmate from his university days, is now the Deputy Director of the Agricultural Bureau in Huoyuan County. She has come specifically from the county to Panshui Township to meet Yuan Xiangqun. The passengers on the bus are farmers returning from the city. Xin Xin, dressed in rural attire, stands out among them. She is not conventionally beautiful but exudes a womanly charm. Her glossy hair is tied in a ponytail at the back of her head, and her oval face, framed by sharp phoenix eyes, has a slightly high forehead. Her skin is neither pale nor dark but very delicate. She has a curvaceous figure, and her clothes fit snugly, radiating an aura of maturity like steam.
At this moment, she is eager to get off the bus, but unexpectedly, two troublemakers on the bus reach out and grab her rounded buttocks. Xin Xin doesn’t even look back before slapping one of them hard. The one who got hit is about to retaliate, but the other troublemaker quickly steps in to restrain him. The driver also shouts at them, “What are you doing? Get off! What do you think you’re doing, Hu San? Do you want to go back to prison?”
The crowd at the bus door thus blocks the exit. Those who haven’t gotten off yet are forced to squeeze onto the bus, while those who have already boarded begin to push forward. Just as Yuan Xiangqun is about to get on, he spots Xin Xin. He immediately realizes her purpose and quickly turns away. The troublemaker named Hu San still tries to stir up trouble, but his accomplice kicks him hard in the buttocks. Hu San gets angry and fights back, causing more chaos on the bus. Xin Xin seizes the opportunity to get off.
Seeing Xin Xin walking toward the township government office, Yuan Xiangqun, who had been hiding nearby, immediately runs to the bus door. Xin Xin overhears one of the troublemakers telling Hu San, “You don’t recognize her? Yuan Secretary’s wife.” Hu San asks, “Which Yuan Secretary?” The other troublemaker says angrily, “Which Yuan Secretary do you think? Yuan Xiangqun.” Hu San’s voice changes in shock, “The Yuan Xiangqun from our township?” The troublemaker asks Hu San, “Do you even know another Yuan Xiangqun?”
Xin Xin, who had been walking quickly, was about to turn back to see the troublemakers’ expressions when she spots Yuan Xiangqun struggling to board the bus. She quickly turns around and walks back, waving her hand and calling out, “Yuan Xiangqun, Yuan Xiangqun.” The two troublemakers turn to look and immediately see Yuan Xiangqun struggling to get on. They rush over, blocking the door and pushing the farmers who are desperately trying to board down. They say menacingly, “You dare squeeze Yuan Secretary? Get off, all of you, let Yuan Secretary board first.”
Upon hearing that the Secretary is boarding, the driver stops his harsh urging of the farmers and quickly moves to the door, trying to maintain order. He says, “Move inside, move inside, make room for the seat by the door.” Yuan Xiangqun throws his luggage onto the seat and pulls the troublemakers aside. He says, “Hu San, get out of here. If you don’t listen, I’ll call the police.” Hu San nods and bows, saying, “Secretary Yuan, hello, hello. I see these people don’t have eyes.”
At this moment, Xin Xin walks over and whispers to Yuan Xiangqun by the window, “Yuan Xiangqun, where are you going?” Yuan Xiangqun looks at her and says, “On a business trip.” The troublemakers spot Xin Xin and quickly get off the bus. Xin Xin is completely uninterested in what’s happening around her. She looks displeased as she asks Yuan Xiangqun, “Why were you hiding from me?”
Yuan Xiangqun says, “I wasn’t hiding from you.” Xin Xin asks, “Didn’t you see me get off the bus?” Yuan Xiangqun doesn’t look at her and says, “Would I get back on if I saw you?” Xin Xin says, “Well, you see me now. Let’s go.” Yuan Xiangqun says, “I really am on a business trip.” Xin Xin asks, “Where are you going on a business trip?”
Yuan Xiangqun says, “To the provincial capital.” Xin Xin says, “Perfect, you can take me to the county first to see Secretary Tong.” At this point, someone on the bus gets impatient and says, “Are we leaving or not?” Many others start making a fuss, shouting, “Let’s go, let’s go, or we’ll get refunds.” The driver turns around and roars, “Shut up! Anyone else shouts, and I’ll throw you off. Do you even know who this is? This is Secretary Yuan and his wife.”
A farmer from another township says, “What’s wrong with Secretary Yuan? Even he can’t make planes or trains late.” The driver shouts back at him furiously, “Then get on a plane or train! Don’t get on my beat-up bus.” Another farmer says, “He often gets free rides on this bus.” Everyone on the bus laughs.
Yuan Xiangqun tells the driver, “Drive, drive. Don’t delay everyone.” But the driver couldn’t care less and says, “Not in a hurry. Not in a hurry. You can talk when you’re done.”
By this time, Xin Xin has finally managed to board the bus. Everyone on the bus gets up to give her a seat, but Yuan Xiangqun quickly holds them back. The driver says to a young man beside Xin Xin, “Don’t you have eyes?” The young man stands up nervously. Xin Xin, however, looks at Yuan Xiangqun with displeasure and says, “I don’t dare to sit.”
P1-4