Dahai (Shanxi)
Dahai is the de facto workers' representative at a privatized coal mine. Angered that the village remains poor while local officials grow rich through lying, bribery, and embezzlement of funds from the mine's operation, Dahai confronts the village chief, who dismisses his grievances. He goes about the village making his intentions to report the officials to the Central Committee in Beijing known, and is alternatingly met with quiet support, indifference, and annoyance.
Dahai's crusade comes to a head when he confronts the Jiaos, the owners of the mine, in front of the villagers. His demands are ignored and he is attacked by one of the Jiaos' hired thugs, making him the subject of ridicule. He is then visited by the Jiaos' representatives in the hospital, who compensate him with hush money.
Dahai visits his sister in a nearby town, reaffirming his vengeance against the officials. After passing by a Shanxi opera rendition of the story of Lin Chong, he retrieves a shotgun from his house and goes to the village accountant, attempting to extract a written confession regarding the chief's misdeeds. When the accountant calls him a coward, Dahai shoots him and his wife. Dahai continues his rampage, killing a lackey who ridiculed him, the village chief, a man mistreating his horse, and finally Mr. Jiao himself. Covered in blood, Dahai smiles as patrol cars approach the village.
Dahai's story is based on that of Hu Wenhai, who in 2001 went on a killing spree in response to alleged corruption in his village.
