The rest of the townspeople sat waiting in fear. My father was on of those people remaining. People turned their heads to look at each other, wondering when their names would be called, please bring your seal forward and stamp it on this contract. Then you may leave. " As soon as I heard my afther's name being called I clinched my fist tight, and stood up so that I could see better. I couldn't breathe. My father walked up to the front for the room slowly, had he spoke to the magistrate clearly and calmly.

     "My land - - I want to cultivate it for myself so that I can make a living. Therefore I cannot sell it. I did not bring my seal with me today." Instantly, the atmosphere grew very tense.

XI.
     "What? Aren't you the county head? You of all people should be the one to folow national policy, to set a good example, and here you are, leading a secret conspiracy against the Suagr Company. This is very starge." - 76 - The policeman standing nearby started to grumble angrily. He glared at my father and pushed him roughly, but my father stood there silently without moving. Seeing how calm my father was made the policeman even angier, and he stared to shout, "Repeat what you just said to me."

     "My land - - I must cultivate my own land to make a living and therefore I cannot sell it. I did not bring my seal with me today." My father spoke calmly.

     "You Chinese pig! Lock him up!" The policeman hit my father and ordered a policeman standing nearby to take him away. The people remaining in the temple were frightened then, amd many of them did exactly what the magistarte ordered them to do. When their names were called, they pulled out their seals, stamped the paper, and left the temple quickly, without looking back. Later, I heard that only four other people had refused to put their seals on the paper, as my father had, and each one of them had been dragged away to be locked up. After watching the police grab my father, I ran home to tell my mother what had happened.

     My mother fainted as soon as I told her. Luckily, my uncle who lived next door to us ran over to help - - I think he saved mt mother's life. Mu mother did not stop crying until my afther came back, six days later. She didn't eat or drink, and could hardly sleep. She lost so much weight she didn't look like a living person anymore. The villagers in