Chen Ke felt that he was more willing to engage in the legal system. Addressing the issue of female enrollment, Chen Ke invited Xu Dian, the President of the High Court, to discuss the drafting and promulgation of the "Education Law". As a legal expert in the base area, Xu Dian had made great contributions to the judicial construction.

Xu Dian was not the type who could completely hide things in his heart. After talking for a while, he revealed a look that suggested he wanted to say something unrelated to the "Education Law". Chen Ke immediately encouraged him, saying, "Whitewashing peace is inherently wrong. If you have something to say, say it boldly. We have so many areas where our current work is inadequate; it won't do to hide problems when we encounter them."

Xu Dian sighed, "In the Criminal Law, there is the crime of homicide. Intentional homicide is punishable by death. But..." At this point, Xu Dian couldn't help but sigh again.

Chen Ke's expression also sank. "Murderers die, injurers are punished." This is the traditional Chinese judicial concept and a concept generally recognized by the people. For Xu Dian to be so troubled, it seemed the matter was quite tricky.

Xu Dian did not say it directly. He sighed several times in succession before finally gritting his teeth and stating the problem he encountered, "Chairman Chen, infanticide falls under intentional homicide in the Criminal Law. But the masses have different views on these matters than we do. As soon as you mentioned the formulation of the 'Education Law' to protect the rights and interests of women and children, I thought of these things."

Chen Ke's already gloomy face became even more unsightly. "Is the situation serious?"

Xu Dian's face was no better than Chen Ke's. He said in a deep voice, "Just based on the collected information, there were more than two thousand documented cases of infanticide in the base areas last year. This is not from a special collection effort, but merely requests for information on this aspect in the reports of local courts and mobile courts. Some say that because life has improved, infanticide is being taken seriously, which is why it's reported. Others say that many infanticide cases are not reported, and the actual occurrences are only higher. I have already requested judicial departments at all levels to forbid public discussion of this matter. The comrades in the judicial department are all opposed to infanticide. Regarding how to solve the problem of infanticide, opinions are mainly divided into two categories. One category demands severe crackdowns on families where infanticide occurs, while the other believes we must solve the view on human life from the root. After all, in the concept of ordinary masses, parents have the right to fully dispose of their children."

Chen Ke listened quietly to Xu Dian's narration. He felt his vision losing focus, but conversely, he heard his own heavy breathing clearly. If it were normal times, Chen Ke would have already started racking his brain to consider solutions, but at this moment, he couldn't concentrate his attention no matter what. Chen Ke clearly felt that his mood at this moment was not anger, but a kind of sorrow. This was an emotion Chen Ke hadn't experienced for a long time.

With a momentary distraction, several sentences Xu Dian said in between passed by. When Chen Ke finally managed to concentrate, he only heard Xu Dian say, "If parents who commit infanticide are punished with the death penalty for intentional homicide, I'm afraid the masses won't accept it either. I can't think of any solution for this matter."

"Don't continue for now; I can't focus at the moment." Chen Ke waved his hand weakly.

Xu Dian also looked dispirited, but it was evident that Xu Dian also wanted to vent at this moment. So after a short silence, Xu Dian spoke again, "When I first saw this intelligence, I also felt those parents were beasts, not worth pitying if killed. Now I actually feel, who likes to kill their own child? If life can't go on, they can only do this."

Chen Ke felt Xu Dian didn't intend to say this deliberately, but the words "life can't go on" strongly stimulated Chen Ke's nerves. How miserable must life in the base area be for the masses to rely on infanticide to survive? If this was truly the case, then Chen Ke himself would be the first to blame. This indicated there were problems with the policies Chen Ke formulated.

Standing up in shame, Chen Ke felt the hair on his back stand on end. The People's Party had many policies, but it just happened to lack a public policy explicitly opposing infanticide. Chen Ke said in a pained tone, "Even if it's mending the fold after the sheep is lost, I will issue a Chairman's Order right now, requiring the base areas to prohibit infanticide."

Instead, Xu Dian advised, "Chairman Chen, don't blame yourself too much. Even if a policy is explicitly formulated for such matters, it's impossible to say it will be strictly enforced. First is the issue of administrative costs. Additionally, the usefulness of persuasion and education is actually limited. If we punish too heavily, I'm afraid the common people will sympathize with those families who commit infanticide. I believe that, generally speaking, infanticide incidents in the base areas are becoming fewer and fewer."

Chen Ke thought what Xu Dian said made sense. That people do many things in suffering does not equal people loving to do such things. It was just that the news of infanticide brought too strong a shock to Chen Ke; he couldn't free himself from this mood of self-loathing for a while.

Perhaps seeing Chen Ke's self-blaming emotion, Xu Dian suddenly said, "Chairman Chen, we of the People's Party are dedicated to saving the country and the people. Unswerving and with a clear conscience. It cannot be said that the existence of any ugly phenomenon in society is all our responsibility."

"The fact that we haven't formulated the 'Protection of Women and Children Law' until now is indeed our responsibility," Chen Ke replied. "This shows our attitude is unclear and our stance is not distinct."

Xu Dian smiled bitterly, "Chairman Chen, I used to think the law was absolute, supreme. Back then, you criticized me, saying the law is the manifestation of the ruling class's will, not that everyone should unconditionally obey it after it's enacted. In these past few years, I've finally figured out that I was wrong back then. If the law itself were supreme, the Manchu Qing wouldn't have been overthrown. The Manchu Qing's laws clearly stipulated that treason is a grave crime punishable by lingering death (lingchi). But so what if there are legal provisions? We didn't implicate the nine relations of the Manchu Qing ruling class or put them to lingering death, simply because we believe our revolution is not for slaughter. It's not that we can't do it, just that we don't want to do it."

Hearing Xu Dian express such sentiments, Chen Ke genuinely felt somewhat surprised. One must know that Xu Dian's attitude of legal supremacy was very strong back then. "What happened?" Chen Ke asked.

"Our comrades in the judicial department knowingly violate the law, making countless jokes in the understanding and application of the law during trials. Saying they knowingly violate the law isn't quite right; they simply haven't figured out what the law is for. What exactly is the purpose of these legal provisions." Xu Dian finished speaking and sighed helplessly.

"What exactly is going on?" Chen Ke felt very surprised.

Now it was Xu Dian's turn to look guilty. He said regretfully, "The specific matters are terrible and ridiculous. I was also troubled for a long time. But recently I've figured it out. Among our comrades in the judicial department, those who want to transform the world through revolution, who want to create a better future by opposing evil old systems and customs, even if they make some mistakes, it's just a matter of personal level. At most, you can say they are impulsive and emotional in sentencing, but you absolutely cannot say their sentencing deviated from the original intent of the law. But those who were like me before, thinking they are the embodiment of the law, holding the great power of law and justice in their hands, thinking they are the 'Blue Sky Grand Master', not a single one hasn't made major mistakes in these past few years. I am to blame for these matters; many of those comrades were ones I once admired, and I even conducted a lot of ideological education for them."

"Then what do you plan to do?" Chen Ke asked.

"I don't plan to take the blame and resign. At least until these bastards in the judicial system are all weeded out, I feel I have to keep working in the judicial system." Xu Dian revealed a resolute look on his face.

Chen Ke was amused into a bitter smile by this display. "Does that mean, Comrade Xu Dian, you have decided to be a tendentious revolutionary rather than a non-tendentious neutral bureaucrat?"

Hearing Chen Ke's words, Xu Dian nodded hurriedly, "Yes! That's it! I am now willing to be a revolutionary who smashes the old system. I no longer want to be a judicial officer who pretends to be impartial and only knows how to interpret legal provisions. In this world, there are only standpoints based on different classes; there has never been anything impartial to everyone."

"Comrade Xu Dian, you are essentially a revolutionary. It's just that you originally thought there was impartiality that treated everyone equally in this world," Chen Ke replied calmly. "I also made this mistake recently. After you talked with me today, I know where I went wrong. Women's liberation is itself a revolution. I precisely treated this matter as something that could advance naturally. I was waiting for women to revolutionize themselves, waiting for women to take the initiative to overthrow the old system oppressing them. Waiting to give them a hand in the process. I was really wrong."

Xu Dian heard Chen Ke criticizing himself like this; he wanted to say something, but in the end, said nothing.

When the Central Committee meeting convened again, the comrades didn't expect that Chen Ke would temporarily not mention the female enrollment rate issue, but instead raised the matter of infanticide. Infanticide caused great stimulation to Chen Ke, and it had the same great stimulation to the comrades of the Central Committee. Zhang Yu was considered one of the more "cold and gloomy" members of the Central Committee, but hearing the infanticide data, a look of unease and intolerance also appeared on his face. As for Hua Xiongmao, he had already stood up in a rage, pacing around the conference room.

Chen Ke said with a cold face, "I'll tell everyone a joke that isn't a joke. I originally thought that many comrades aren't married. The grassroots comrades are a bit better, mostly in their twenties. Most of us in the middle and high levels are thirty. But after getting married, one has to live a life. If the family is noisy, it also delays work. I was originally considering everyone's marriage issues, so I sought out Comrade Xu Dian, firstly to talk about the 'Education Law' issue, and secondly to talk about the 'Marriage Law' enforcement issue. Only then did I know about the infanticide matter. I was really scared. I can't figure out why this is; how can one lay a hand on their own child?"

Since the Central Committee was in Hubei, Hubei Provincial Party Secretary Lu Huitian automatically became a member of the Central Standing Committee. He replied, "Chairman Chen, I have heard a little about it. Our base area kills human traffickers; special notices have been issued for this. In the past, if a family couldn't support a child, the parents would sell the child if possible. If they couldn't sell it, then came the infanticide. After the major killing of human traffickers, I'm afraid that's also a reason..."

"You're farting!" Hua Xiongmao was already very irritable. Hearing Lu Huitian point the finger of blame at the Central Committee's policy, he couldn't help but curse loudly.

Lu Huitian slapped the table, *Pa*. "Comrade Hua Xiongmao, I understand your mood, but listen to me finish first!"

Hua Xiongmao turned his face away and kept silent for the time being. Although other comrades didn't curse out loud, the looks they cast at Lu Huitian could absolutely not be called friendly.

Lu Huitian continued with a gloomy face, "After eliminating the human trafficker system, the adoption system hasn't been established. The people are giving birth to and raising many now. Although the state bears a large part of the living costs for infants and juveniles, the pressure of life is still great. In the current policy of three mu of land per person, we encourage dividing up the family. So it is still very difficult for parents alone to support several children. It's okay in economically developed areas, but in economically underdeveloped areas, this pressure is too heavy."

After Lu Huitian finished speaking, Hua Xiongmao didn't continue to curse. He sat back in his seat, grinding his teeth in silence.

Zhang Yu usually loved to "sing a different tune" from Lu Huitian, but this time he didn't say anything. Although his lips were tightly closed, the high bulge of his cheek muscles proved that Zhang Yu was grinding his teeth just like Hua Xiongmao.

Chen Ke said, "Comrades, let us still strive to promote women's liberation. We comrades of the People's Party have all received physiological hygiene education and know what having children is all about. If women cannot resist, if they cannot decide whether they want to have children or not, this is liberation not being thorough enough."

When these words were said, the comrades were quite surprised. Lu Huitian was stunned for a moment, "Chairman Chen, is this decision of yours a bit rash?"

Chen Ke replied decisively, "This is not a decision of mine. I am formally raising this topic now to discuss with comrades. The feudal set of clan power and husband power must be broken. If it's not broken, the child problem cannot be solved. We comrades, as men, instinctively hope to have control over women. When we mention gender equality, most just think we should treat women a bit better. But we don't really want to liberate women, because liberated women are completely independent people. They have their own will, their own power, and can even stand up to men as equals. They, like men, are equal human beings. They have the power to refuse everything men impose on them. If it doesn't reach this level, women cannot be discussed as truly liberated. Like you comrades, I am a man. I want to ask comrades, has everyone's revolutionary attitude been firm to this degree? To thoroughly liberate women who must rely on men in tradition. Let them stand together with us as equals."

No one answered immediately. The sense of justice and revolutionary impulse that had boiled up because of the infanticide incident seemed to fade quickly. The comrades looked somewhat bewildered.

Chen Ke laughed, "What's wrong? Can everyone not understand, or do you feel unwilling? Let's take the simplest example. Comrade You Gou is a liberated woman. Who among you dares to impose your will on Comrade You Gou? Stand up and make a statement."

At the mention of You Gou, the expressions on the comrades' faces became quite unsightly. Usually, indeed no one dared to do anything to You Gou. Likewise, no one was really that close to You Gou.

After a while, Lu Huitian said, "Chairman Chen, none of the comrades want to discuss theory with you. We also know we can't out-talk you. Moreover, on these directional issues, we don't want to argue with you either. Since you say this, you should have specific execution methods. Speak them out for discussion."

"Such a big matter is tantamount to turning the sky over. You asking Chairman Chen to tell the specific execution methods is nonsense. I think we should be the ones to propose solutions." Zhang Yu, as usual, sang a different tune from Lu Huitian.

However, this time Lu Huitian did not refute, and the comrades did not speak. Chen Ke's mind moved; there was a rather strong hint in Zhang Yu's statement. At least Chen Ke felt there was some attitude in this statement that he could not ignore.

When the meeting discussed until adjournment, Chen Ke called Zhang Yu to the small conference room. He asked, "Comrade Zhang Yu, do you want to work at the local level?"

"That's right." Zhang Yu answered quite readily. "I think the Propaganda Department is very important work, but I personally hope to work at the local level. If the organization can agree, I am willing to work in Henan."

Given the current situation in Henan, if Zhang Yu went to Henan, he would formally become the Secretary of the Henan Provincial Party Committee. Chen Ke didn't think Zhang Yu was unqualified, but he felt somewhat uncomfortable in his heart.

"Comrade Zhang Yu, I identify with your work ability, but within our party, we must stress unity after all." Chen Ke said.

"Chairman Chen, if you are referring to my dispute with Comrade Lu Huitian, or think I want to show myself through the dispute with Comrade Lu Huitian, then I feel it is unfair to me. I have always been like this. Moreover, I do not agree with some of Comrade Lu Huitian's views and practices. Since I don't agree, I say it publicly. I believe this conforms to the party's organizational principles."

Chen Ke very much identified with Zhang Yu's statement. Actually, Zhang Yu's object of struggle was originally Chen Ke. In the party, Zhang Yu had always been the number one person who dared to question Chen Ke straightforwardly. "I will consider this appointment. However, before the appointment is issued, Comrade Zhang Yu, you cannot relax your current work."

"I understand." Zhang Yu replied straightforwardly.

The women's liberation movement firstly is to completely break clan power and husband power. Although Zhang Yu explicitly "sang a different tune" from Lu Huitian, in Chen Ke's view, the depth of these two people's view of problems was actually not different. Lu Huitian was very similar to Xu Dian, the legal bookworm, in some aspects. Both didn't understand revolution much, and neither opposed promoting social development by violent means. But both were essentially closer to bureaucrats rather than revolutionaries. So Lu Huitian once proposed "to carry out a new round of strikes against the landlords and gentry who have already been overthrown". This was because Lu Huitian indeed also saw that there was a force continuing to oppose the People's Party in the rural areas. However, he was trying to carry out hard strikes against the opposition forces like a bureaucrat.

Asking a group of men to sincerely liberate women was indeed forcing them to do something difficult. After the meeting, the matter of liberating women was still diluted a lot. The Central Committee first issued a document requiring all localities to launch propaganda firmly opposing "infanticide". And to publicize the issue of letting girls go to school.

Under Chen Ke's strenuous promotion, although the women's liberation issue suffered certain influences, it did not stop.