Ezhou, Hubei Province, China POV: Tan | September 2025
The engine’s roar blended with the tireless hiss of the air brakes. The roadside was devoid of lights and people, with the looming shadows of the mountains resembling demons in the distance, far from the city. Occasionally, a car would pass by in the opposite direction. Michael Bublé’s echoed through the cabin, its lyrics piercing my heart. The song spoke of someone longing to return home, but I… I didn't want to go back. There were too many scars on my heart waiting for me there.
The dim glow from the tablet mounted on the dashboard was bright enough to reveal a young reporter from a leading Hong Kong news agency reporting from my homeland.
“Following the collapse of the grey-capital empire in Laukkai, Northern Shan State, China has proceeded to extradite cybercriminals to face severe penalties, including the death luxury… Meanwhile, the remaining suspects have been handed over to Thai authorities. Fortunately for those suspects, the Thai government has declared them 'victims' who were tricked into working and released them immediately.”
The aerial footage showed young men and women clutching computers and scamming equipment, running in all directions. What kind of "victims" care more about the evidence that could hang them than their own lives? I guessed that equipment was the hard evidence they were desperately trying to protect.
“Heh heh heh!” I let out the driest laugh imaginable. The people in power were deceiving the world with a low-class drama. Authorities were escorting those criminals like state guests simply because they were prime financial pipelines. Yet, they treated my friends—who merely opposed the draft constitution—like animals in a cage.
“Next, we are still in Thailand… A progressive politician has exposed the leader of a foreign scammer gang along with photos of him posing with a 'grey' politician. However, he has been hit with a massive 'gag' lawsuit for defamation, seeking over 50 million dollars.” The news cut to the face of a young politician, no older than thirty, being threatened by a near-retirement veteran politician in front of a swarm of reporters.
“What are you watching? ”
Tui… the man I had entrusted my life to, slid the canvas curtain aside and poked his head out from the sleeping berth behind the seats.
“Watching the news. So, the call center and scammer gangs are the 'victims,' but the politician protecting the nation is the 'casualty,' right?” I knew he would side with the government.
I had been back home for about a year after graduating from the University of Manchester, only to become a fugitive for standing in the way of the "adults."
“These kids are pitiful. They were tricked into working, imprisoned like slaves, and forced to meet daily quotas. If they failed, they were electrocuted. Some had their fingers cut off,” he replied, siding with the news exactly as I expected.
“Hahaha!” I laughed hard. “Why would 'victims' carry their equipment while running? The authorities went in to rescue them, not rob them.”
“You’re just never-endingly contrary… Why are you so suspicious? Don't be so nitpicky. The nation doesn't progress because of people like you who keep dragging it down.” He scolded me, his eyes flashing with a sharp, stern look.
So, now I was the one hindering progress…
“Don't you wonder if they’re on the same team? They release the victims, yet there are photos of the politician with the gang leader?”
“Big people can be friends. It’s not strange for people with money and people with power to know each other.” The flicker from the tablet screen reflected off his stubborn face.
“Have you ever heard the news about Chinese models going into prisons to 'provide services'?”
“What’s the point of having money if you don't use it for comfort? Anything money can buy, just buy it. Money can even buy other people's lives. Haven't you heard about people selling kidneys and organs? There is so much in this world you don't know. This world is driven by money.”
“………………” I was speechless because it was a painful truth. And this was exactly why I chose to stand by the underprivileged.
“You don't understand power. What you see isn't always what it seems. Since the lawyers say they followed the rules, then it isn't wrong. Don't go comparing the laws of other countries to the wrong place.”
I sat there watching his reflection in the rearview mirror… ‘Tui,’ a 35-year-old man whom God had unfairly sculpted to perfection. His sharp, square jawline matched his prominent nose and thick eyebrows. His tanned skin looked like it had been seasoned through countless battlefields. That brawny, muscular body standing nearly 180 centimeters tall was the product of rigorous training in the French Foreign Legion. The aura of death and discipline was still deeply embedded in every fiber of his movement.
That long, silky hair flowing down to the middle of his back didn't seem to suit a soldier’s personality at all, yet it made him look like an ancient warrior stepped out of a legend. He was the kindest "Bro," the only sanctuary when I became a cornered dog fleeing criminal charges forced upon me by the State. If not for him, I would have been swallowed by that rotten judicial process long ago.
But that was the biting irony… the man who saved my life from a terrible law was the same man who believed in the order that law created with the most blind faith. He would protect me with his life, but he was also ready to silence me with the phrase ‘for the sake of the nation’ at any moment.
He climbed over from the back seat to sit in the passenger seat. The cold air of military discipline still clung to him.
“You saw it too, didn't you? As soon as China started moving in to crack down on those scammers in Laukkai until your 'adults' started getting cornered, suddenly, a war at our neighbor's border just erupted out of nowhere. It’s like they intentionally created a story to distract people.” I threw the question into the silence.
“It’s because of that mouth of yours that you had to flee this far,” he replied while adjusting his surgical mask. He leaned his back against the door and turned to stare at me with unreadable eyes.
“I did it for the public good…” I gripped the steering wheel tight. “The reason I had to flee is because I spoke the truth about that power-extending constitution. And look… the negative effects are starting to eat the nation away today. A day where the law clearly becomes a matter of 'double standards.'” I let out a dry laugh in my throat.
When I thought about the deep-rooted injustice—the independent organizations designed to favor their own, interpreting the law as a shield for their cronies. If someone is caught in corruption, they just snap their fingers to help each other, and the case vanishes into the wind. But for little people like us, a mistake as small as a hair can easily become a death sentence.
“Don't slander the country. Follow the adults and the dogs won't bite…” He glanced at me with a reproachful look for a moment before turning away.
I hid a smile at that gesture. I wasn't afraid or particularly intimidated because, even though he stood on the side of State power, he never used that power to opress me. On the contrary… he had always looked after and protected me like a real younger brother.
“Then look at these White Silence Pandemic control measures, Bro!” I blurted out.
“Your 'adults' who control the ministry—they stockpiled surgical masks just to hike up the prices and sell them, while the villagers outside are scared to death, waiting for a hope that isn't real.”
“He didn't do it… It was just some of his associates who got involved. Don't go generalizing everything.” He defended the system with the same old phrases I was tired of hearing.
“That exactly is the excessive use of power,” I snapped back instantly.
“Slander again… Tell me then, where exactly did he use too much power? Give me examples.” He challenged me back.
“That mask you’re wearing right now!” I burst out laughing. “Try walking out without it, Bro… I guarantee you'll be charged with undermining national security and thrown into a cell so fast your legs will tangle. Hahaha!”
“Jetdoe!...” He exclaimed his catchphrase while chuckling in his throat.
“For a global issue like this, there has to be cooperation. It’s a preventive measure.”
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His ‘Jetdoe’ wasn't a curse word; it was a catchphrase he used for every emotion. If he was excited or happy, he would draw out the sound: “Jetttdooo…ooo!” But if he was sad or disappointed, he would snap it short: “Jetdoe!” It sounded natural coming from his mouth and had become his signature.
“What’s so bad about the constitution? And why did you have to be hunted like this?” he asked while pulling off his mask, revealing a sharp face filled with curiosity.
“I was hit with a 'gag' case just like that new-generation politician, Bro… I just organized a seminar on the right to determine one's own future and did a mock referendum activity.”
Thinking back to that day, resentment surged through me uncontrollably. When I studied in Manchester, my professors taught me that the law exists to protect the little people. But once I returned to hold a microphone and educate people in my homeland, the law became a massive 'net' thrown down to cover the heads of everyone who dared speak the truth. And now it was hunting me down to take my life.
“It cost thousands of millions just to hire people to write this constitution… Isn't the country peaceful like this because of those rules?” He frowned, scratching his eyebrow deep in thought.
“Don't you find it strange? An election where the raw scores exceed the number of voters but no one can find the culprit. Or the party that the people overwhelmingly voted for as number one gets disbanded just like that…”
I was so frustrated my eyes began to sting. The memory of that day was still vivid. The State deployed swarms of crowd control units, fully armed as if going to war with a foreign enemy. My friend was shot dead in the middle of the street. Some were blinded for life. Many others were forgotten in jail without the right to bail, simply for demanding their future back. Meanwhile, the one who pulled the trigger received rewards and marched toward glory. It was truly a peace built on a pile of corpses.
“Let’s change the subject…” Whenever I poked at the truth, he chose to retreat as usual.
“Oh! Then let’s talk broadly, Bro… between Democracy and Dictatorship, which one do you think works better?” I tried a new topic that seemed softer.
The former French Legionnaire gave me another stern look, but it was more endearing than scary. In truth, he was a kind man and very steady in love. He loved and worshipped my aunt more than anything. And that was the 'ultimate weapon' I always used to keep him in check.
“Aside from politics, can't you talk about anything else?”
“This is the fun part, Bro.”
“Fine, let’s talk neutrally then…” He gave a faint smile, and the tension in the car began to thaw.
“Alright, Bro. Bring it on!” I smiled, accepting the challenge willingly.
“Look… in both these systems, the meaning of the word 'Nation' isn't the same. For Democracy, 'Nation' means the land where all of us live together, without dividing by religion, skin color, or status. But for a Dictatorship… 'Nation' means 'Mine.' This land belongs to them alone.” He spoke with a calm face as if reading from a textbook.
I was starting to enjoy this. “Then what, Bro?”
“In a Democracy, no one has privileges over others. But a Dictatorship often creates a feudal class. Just look at the country of Eswatini in Africa!” He dragged an example from across the vast ocean.
“The upper class has more access to resources, setting all the rules to suppress the people below until extreme inequality occurs. Even to find a wife, the girls have to line up for miles just to be chosen!”
“Wow… that’s advanced, Bro.” I was secretly impressed by his knowledge. “But… isn't Eswatini a Monarchy? We’re talking about Dictatorships, Bro.” I pretended to be confused and challenged him, even though I knew full well that this system is the ultimate father of dictatorships in this world.
He laughed heartily like a winner. “An Absolute Monarchy is the root of a dictatorship disguised as a deity. It’s a form of government that doesn't need votes but holds absolute power through bloodlines… forgetting that stupidity or madness can be inherited through DNA, but wisdom and ability cannot be copied.” He brushed his hair back, pulling his nose like a sage.
“Respect, Bro… I really respect that!”
I felt an indescribable pride. Outside, dim lights from villages were beginning to appear. Soon we would be out of these winding mountain curves. But then I heard the next sentence… and my heart dropped to the floor of the truck instantly.
“Which our country… is a Democracy like that.”
“What?!” I jumped at the conclusion that was incredibly fishy.
But my boss kept going with full confidence. “As for Dictatorships, the budget gets skimmed off the top in levels, starting from the peak of the pyramid where the minority resides, yet they get more budget than the majority at the base of the pyramid.”
He brushed back his long, silky hair and said something beyond expectation. “The expenses they embezzle—if that money were used to pay tuition for students, it could help millions of kids. It could create so many high-quality personnel.”
I began to feel that the man beside me was like a piece of art painted so randomly by an artist that its type couldn't be identified. He was smart in some ways, yet completely blind in others. So I poked a little more for clarity.
“If you say our home is a Democracy… then North Korea must be a Democratic paradise too, Bro.” I spoke calmly but filled with sarcasm.
I was beginning to understand that the ruin of a nation doesn't start from ignorance, but from 'incomplete knowledge' combined with a love for debating on behalf of the power groups until forgetting the reality one faces.
“Don't you go comparing North Korea to our country. North Korea is a blatant dictatorship!” He began to raise his voice, shifting his body to face me fully, his eyes determined to win.
“Give me a reason then, Bro… How exactly is North Korea a dictatorship? They have elections. They have the Workers' Party. Whenever the leader goes anywhere, people welcome him in droves. It’s warm and joyful as hell.”
Tui made me see clearly once again… that being born first doesn't mean knowing everything. Especially in a world where AI filters information, those who access it certainly know deeper.
“Jetdoe! Having only one Workers' Party—you call that a democracy? Ridiculous!” He curled his lip in disdain. “On election day, you have to wake up early to queue for a ballot. And on that ballot, there is only one name—the leader’s! There is no 'Abstain' or 'Vote No' box. More importantly, you have to mark the ballot in front of the officials too.”
I nodded and hid a smile. He was gesturing as if he were the one holding that ballot himself.
“They have booths to mark the ballot just like the international standard! But if anyone dares walk into the booth, the officials will watch them like hawks. Secret police will tail you, and not long after, you’ll be declared insane or mentally deranged… If that isn't called a dictatorship, then what is!”
“But they still get to choose their leader, Bro,” I held back a laugh and threw in one last jab.
He puffed out his chest and snapped at me. “They only get to mark the box as ordered! No matter how many elections, it’s always the same family… Jetdoe! It’s a blatant military dictatorship. How is it the same as our home?” His eyes were dead serious, refusing to back down, while he pulled his nose in frustration.
“And have those excess ballots and missing ballots been found yet? Who did it? Heh heh heh.”
“You really are a rebel in your thoughts!” He pointed at me loudly before letting out a long sigh and shaking his head slowly…
“Remember this, Tan. The law is sacred for those who know how to choose their side.” He paused, the look he gave me filled with pity mixed with contempt. “The fact that you’re suffering as a fugitive right now—you can’t blame anyone. Blame yourself for choosing the wrong side.” Those words were like ice-cold water splashed in my face until I went numb.
He wasn't calling me stupid; he was telling me that 'right' doesn't exist. Only the winner writes the rules, and I was the loser who was arrogant enough to stand and challenge power.
“Haha!” I masked the bitterness with laughter. There was no point in arguing further; I'd only get hurt.
“Tell you what! Do you know the full name of North Korea, Bro? I’ll give you a guess… between 'Republic of Korea' and 'Democratic People's Republic of Korea.'”
“Jetdoe! That’s easy. The name says it all… Republic of Korea, obviously!” He puffed out his chest and called it with 100% confidence.
“Wrong… The one you called a blatant military dictatorship? Its full name is the 'Democratic People's Republic of Korea.' It has the word 'Democratic' right there, Bro. Exactly like you said our home is a Democracy!”
“Really?” His voice softened instantly, but his posture remained arrogant as ever.
“So, are you going back to protest more? I want to know what the new generation is thinking.” He circled back to my case again. His gaze was very pressuring.
I had tried to deflect to North Korea because I didn't want to touch the old wounds that still hurt.
“I’m not going back, Bro… I don't accept this kind of guilt. I still believe that expressing basic rights shouldn't lead to prison. The things those corrupt adults do are far worse than what I did, yet they aren't punished.”
“Ah, here we go! Not finished, not finished!” Round two of the argument was beginning.
“The White Silence pandemic measures failed so many times. I didn't see anyone take responsibility. They advertise anti-corruption every day, but when someone reports news, they become 'nation-haters' and get arrested themselves.”
“Even four-legged animals can stumble; even sages can err. Don't go making a big deal out of small things.” He shot back with a weak excuse, clearly siding with them.
“Just you watch! I’m going to steal the Tame 30 vaccines for the underprivileged. I believe if we send them to the State, the adults will just use them to help their own cronies first.”
“Don't you dare! You have to trust our leader.” He snapped his face away dismissively.
“People are waiting for the vaccine with hope. You can bet your life your adults will stockpile it for their cronies again.”
“You really love slandering the leader, don't you?” He gave me another stern look.
“Sima Qian once said that good politics is following the people's desires, leading the people toward benefit, and educating them in morality.” I poured out my deepest feelings, reciting the words of the sage I respected to soothe my despair. “Bad politics is threatening and intimidating the people. And the worst kind… is harming one's own people.”
He looked over a few times before spitting out, “No wonder! That’s why China became communist until today. Does your Sima-whatever help anything? As a kid, you have to listen to adults!”
I was getting thoroughly annoyed. “If the voice of the new generation has no meaning, who is going to raise this country in the future? When old people are increasing every day, while your adults are changing the laws for their descendants, not for our future.”
“Jetdoe! So many ideologies. Win the protest first, then I’ll watch… unintentionally.” He mocked me with a deadpan face.
“Seriously, who did you memorize those words from?” I felt my blood boil as if a whistle had gone off in my brain. “Don't look down on the new generation, Bro. We have our mottos too!”
“Oh really! What’s the motto then?” He drew out his voice in a mocking, irritating tone.
“If you don't plan to run to the finish line, why waste time tying your laces?” I puffed out my chest and stood my ground.
“…………” Stunned, aren't you, Bro? You just met my golden quote.
“Jetdoe!...!” He shot back instantly.
“If you don't plan to masturbate, why waste time watching porn?”
“…………”
The fighter for democracy like me was left completely silent.
“Jetdooooooo!...” I shouted at the top of my lungs in the truck out of pure frustration.
………………………………………………………
