We were all shocked. Xiao-cheng’s father was standing in the first truck. He was wearing a tall dunce cap covered with red X’s, the sign for a criminal. His wrists were tied together behind his back, and his arms were lifted high behind him. His head had been forced down so that we could not see his face. Around his neck was a heavy wooden sign: CAPITALIST EXECUTIONER SHAN YI-DAN. The name had been written in black ink and crossed out in red paint.
