Forbidden City

Alex is beginning to feel frustrated at school, which is held six days a week and is equally vigorous on weekend meetings. He and his classmates are only afforded a ten-minute break during the school day and “teachers here are revered. No one challenges them, even on an opinion” (56), which is hard for Alex to wrap his mind around. His usual high school experiences back at home include mocking nicknames for teachers and plenty of downtime.

Back at the Beijing Hotel, Ted and Eddie are hard at work, writing and discussing events. Lao Xu arrives, looking deeply agitated. When Eddie asks why, Lao Xu tells them about an editorial that appeared that day in the Community Party’s newspaper, asserting that the students occupying Tiananmen Square were getting out of hand. Lao Xu tells Eddie and Ted that he is afraid “things will deteriorate” (57). Alex isn’t sure what Lao Xu means by this is, and he is equally unsure whether or not Lao Xu is being helpful or playing the spy at this moment. Alex notes how upset Lao Xu is and decides that “no one is that good an actor” (57).