Wang Er Mazi was a well-known scoundrel in the village, named for his pockmarked face. His family had been poor peasants for generations. He loafed around all day doing nothing, loved to drink, and after a few cups, would harass the married women in the village. He'd been beaten up more times than anyone could count.
He was always boasting about his "poor peasant" status, claiming he came from the purest revolutionary stock. Whenever anything happened in any household, he'd show up uninvited to eat and drink for free.
[During China's revolutionary era (1950s–70s), "poor peasant" was considered the most politically reliable class status. People from this background were seen as inherently loyal to the revolution, while those from landlord or rich peasant families were viewed with suspicion — not just because they were wealthy, but because the regime labeled them as "class enemies" who had exploited poor peasants through rent and high interest. During land reform, their property was confiscated and redistributed, and families were stigmatized for decades, barred from Party membership, military service, and higher education.]