Plot
Set after the Cultural Revolution when the Communist Party was advocated the idea that all citizens were equal, Mr. Chiu is a recently married man from Harbin (in Northern China). For his honeymoon, he chose to go to Muji City, located three hundred miles away. The story opens with Mr. Chiu eating lunch with his bride in the square near Muji Train Station, just as his two-week honeymoon is ending. Mr. Chiu is concerned about his acute hepatitis that he had suffered from three months earlier and is afraid of a relapse. A policeman throws tea in their direction while they eat. Their feet get wet and an altercation begins and Mr. Chiu is unjustly arrested. He asks his wife to catch their train and have someone get him if he does not return by tomorrow.
Mr. Chiu arrested for sabotage, but the police are prejudiced against him for being a Communist Party member. Mr. Chiu refuses to acknowledge guilt and proclaims his innocence. While in jail, he asks a guard to provide him with medical attention for fear that his hepatitis has flared up again. He warns them that they will be responsible if anything were to happen to him. The guard does not heed his warnings or his concerns. Mr. Chiu is terrified of the bugs, but is amazed to find that he doesn't miss his wife a lot. He made up his mind that when he got out he would write about his experience and expose the police force.
He remains in jail throughout the weekend. On Monday morning, Mr. Chiu spots Fenjin tied in the courtyard of the jail. Mr. Chiu realizes that Fenjin was the rescuer sent by his bride and because he had called the chief a bad name, Fenjin was subjected to a punishment. In return for the release of Fenjin and himself, Mr. Chiu signed a statement acknowledging his "crime" and promises to never do it again.
When the two men were released, Mr. Chiu and Fenjin eat at several restaurants near the police station, eating no more than two bowls at any of them. Mr. Chiu keeps wishing he could kill all of his punishers. "Within a month, over 800 people contracted acute hepatitis," six died, including two children.