The Yang family wanted to find Yang Xue a husband and marry her off, thinking that once she was married, had a family, and had children, she would become sensible.
Yang Xue was unaware of her mother's plans. After returning to her room, she sat there blankly, thinking about what had happened recently.
She studied for two years but failed the university entrance exam; she didn't even qualify for a junior college. She simply didn't have the courage to continue studying. Her father found her a job, but she wasn't motivated to work there. She only went for it sporadically, and eventually, she stopped going altogether.
There were a few people in the compound in similar situations to her. They played together a few times and gradually became familiar with each other, spending their free time together.
Later, someone suggested learning ballroom dancing. They found it novel, especially after watching pirated foreign movies. Seeing people on the screen wearing formal attire, drinking foreign liquor, and dancing, they felt that was the real life.
She was like she was possessed, unable to listen to anything anyone said, her mind only focused on dancing, on making her body move with the music, and the thrill of a man's hand accidentally brushing against her waist, making her heart race.
However, when a group of police officers burst in that day, it was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head, instantly sobering her up.
Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar people around her, their equally terrified eyes, and the disdainful gazes of the group of middle-aged women, she felt as if she had been stripped naked and thrown on the ground, surrounded by a noisy murmur of pointing fingers.
Yang Xue curled up in bed, wrapping herself in the blanket, which made her feel safe.
The Yang family quieted down for a while, but the other families in the compound were making a lot of noise.
Yang Xue and three other girls were arrested together; three were unmarried and two were married. One of the married girls went with her husband; they were a group of people of similar age and seemed to be having a lot of fun.
Yang Xue and her group didn't do anything else; they just danced in close proximity. Therefore, none of them were detained, just given a lecture, and their families pulled some strings to get them released.
Boys have it a little better; at most, they'll get a beating or a spanking from their families. Girls, on the other hand, have it much worse. Their families feel ashamed and wish they could marry them off to a distant place.
Especially for married women, their in-laws are furious, thinking they're so indecent, going out dancing, and being improper.
"How am I being irresponsible? I went with Lin Qiang, and he danced too, so why is it only my fault?"
"How can that be the same? Lin Qiang is a man, so people just say he's not doing anything productive. But what about you? What will your neighbors say about you tomorrow? They'll say you're having affairs and aren't a decent person..."
Although the woman was indignant, she felt that she and her husband went together and did nothing else but dance, so how could that be considered improper?
The young wife, utterly perplexed, returned to her room in frustration. Her husband hesitated several times before finally saying nothing. The two lay down back to back, neither of them speaking.
"Look, it's her. She's only been married a short time, and she can't stand being alone, so she's out fooling around with other people."
"Really? I heard that the dancers are all sticking together, men and women hugging and cuddling. What serious things can they be doing?"
...
As soon as Lin Qiang and his wife Qu Jing came out, all sorts of noises rushed into their ears, making them feel extremely embarrassed.
"You're talking nonsense. I didn't. I went with Lin Qiang. We didn't dance together. We danced proper ballroom dances."
Qu Jing rushed over to argue with them, but no one listened to her.
"Hey, let's go, don't let her touch me, I think it's dirty."
"That's right. Go home and warn your children to stay away from people like that and not let them be led astray."
"I really don't know how her parents raised her to do such a scandalous thing."
...
The people walked further and further away, but every word they said reached Qu Jing's ears.
"Lin Qiang, why didn't you tell them that I just went dancing and didn't do anything else?"
"Qu Jing, calm down. They just love to gossip. What can you possibly say if you argue with them? As long as we're upright, we don't care what they say."
Lin Qiang tried to comfort her, saying that these gossipy women only got more excited the more you talked to them. He now regretted taking Qu Jing to dance and making her suffer like this.
Qu Jing wiped away her tears and turned to walk back to the factory.
Compared to Qu Jing's experience, Yang Xue's situation is much better. She doesn't have to go to work, and although staying at home is boring, it's much better than going out and being gossiped about by a bunch of aunties and older women.
As the New Year approaches, dancing has gradually been forgotten, and fewer people talk about it anymore. Everyone is busy buying New Year's goods and making fried food, and doesn't have much time to gossip outside.
"Oh dear, it's been a long time, these aunties and grandmas have finally quieted down."
Sanqi handed the soy sauce bottle to Aunt Xiang and told her about the situation outside.
"That's right. Once these people start talking about something, they won't let it go. They talk without any regard for the facts, spouting nonsense without distinguishing truth from falsehood."
I heard this many times when my older sister went out to buy groceries. She quickly left. Killing someone is just a matter of a head falling to the ground. It's not a big deal. Why keep talking about it?
"They don't care about those things, they just want to have a moment of pleasure and get their tongues out."
There have been many similar cases in later generations. Many people who wanted to commit suicide were just having a momentary lapse in judgment and never actually intended to jump.
But the onlookers, always eager for drama, chimed in with their comments and even egged them on. Their cacophony of voices often proved to be the very thing that could break a weak will, easily ending a life with a gentle push.
Bonnie thought about some reports she had read before, and there were so many similar examples. She hoped that this matter was really over and there would be no further developments.
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