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Cries of “No” echoed through the cavern

“They tell us to leave our land to take jobs in factories, but how can hen they’ve all been shut down for inefficiency, corruption, and pollution?”

The croas right with the lieutenant

“These things are an illusion the government uses to trick and entice us They offer us money to et there? When the mud sinks to the bottom, the river becomes clear”

“They promised me three thousand yuan a head for ,” a ot there I was told I’d have to drill one hundred et water I don’t have a drill, and water is abundant here I caain”

“They talk about the good life that awaits us somewhere else, but why should we leave when this is our ancestral ho inquired

The voice from the alcove thrus that no longer have huhts”

“The fat rats will have to pay for their sins,” Tang interpreted

“See how they sarettes, how they drive fast cars, how they drink foreign liquor,” Xiao Da intoned “All of these things are an abomination to those who are reverent”

This last caused a break in the ser as the adherents took up the chant of “Be reverent, be reverent, be reverent” The lieutenant joined in, letting his strong tenor reverberate through the cave When his voice lowered, so did those of the followers, until finally there was quiet again

“We have all heard of the corruption that spoils the purity of our river and its people,” Tang said “What about the local officials who have added the na their faerated reports filed by fat rats to the govern lost? Bashan officials have inflated the size of the town by twenty-five percent They’ve filled their pockets with the difference between the real value of the land and the reported value of the land These atrocities are common in all towns to be inundated The fat rats lie and steal froovernment… and from you”

“Why don’t we petition the central government to overnment will remedy the situation”

“What is a piece of paper but a way for the government to hunt you down?” the lieutenant asked “What is a deovern civil unrest? We all knohat happens to troublemakers in our country”

“Then what can we do?” For the first time the speaker was a woman

Xiao Da answered, “Combine docility with boldness It is the fifth of the Nine Virtues”