Chapters 34-37 Summary

As Chen is leaving work in Chapter thirty-four, he is given a package from Beijing. It is a response to his letter. It is from Ling, his friend in Beijing. She has answered his plea for help by using her Party contacts and passes on a message from the Wen Jiezi, head of the Public Security Ministry, "Don't push on with the investigation until further signal. Be assured that something will be happening shortly" (pg. 390.) She also gives him a direct phone number for emergencies and informs him that she told Minister Wen that she was his girlfriend to expedite matters. Given his position, Ling has gone far beyond anything he could have expected of her.

Chen reminisces about his past with Ling. They had, in fact, had a relationship in college. It had ended both because she went to Australia...