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≡ Re-Balzacification ≡

 
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Re-Balzacification
 
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The Friend called Four-Eyes

After Luo got over his malaria, the two characters went to visit their friend Four-Eyes. The first thing mentioned about him was his possession of a secret suitcase. The village where he was being re-educated was lower than that of Luo's and the narrator's, but he was in the same situation as they were - both of his parents had been disgraced by the authorities. When the characters met him for a second time, his glasses had just been broken by a buffalo and he was helpless as he ferried hods with sixty kilos of rice up and down the mountain in the snow. Luo and the narrator offered to help him, but at first Four-Eyes was unyielding, and later broke down and offered them one of his forbidden books in return." The author's name was Blazac." (55)


Neighborhood-fragment-design-scout-glasses-4 Valisediligence Balzac
 
The situation that they were all in was indeed dire. The re-education process had left them in the hands of peasants who could care less about them, and without any contact with their parents who were going through their own ordeals at home. Since their parents were all classified as enemies of the people, the boys had three in a thousand chances of being taken away from the mountain and back to their family. Not only that, but they were not talented enough to catch the eyes of any important Communist members, meaning that help would not come from that direction either. The only thing that they could hope for was a terminal disease that could end their misery.