Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
to a deputy of township security named Peng Zhizhong, Peng had
three hired thugs beat him severely:
Against Ding Zuoming's protests, Peng said to the three men, “The lout
has no manners. Too spirited. Soften him up a bit.” Then he retired.
The three men knew what was meant by “softening up.” One of the
menpresent,Zhu,hadbeenDing'sclassmateinhighschoolandnow
sneaked out to avoid a personal confrontation. But he knew that Boss
Peng would never be satisfied unless they could break Ding, so before
leaving, he suggested that the other two try the “horse's walk,” one of
their cruellest forms of torture.
Ji and Zhao dragged Ding Zuoming from the cell into an unused
reception room to do the “horse's walk.” Of course Ding resisted.
Despite having spent twelve years in school, Ding was no pale scholar.
Having been toughened by years of farm work, he was more than a
handful for Ji and Zhao, who could hardly subdue him, not to mention
doing the horse's walk. Just then another security man, Wang Jinjun,
came in with a club. Ji and Zhao clamoured that Ding Zuoming was
attacking them, so Wang raised his club and struck Ding right and left.
Ding tried to defend himself, but was hit repeatedly on the arms and
the back. Although he was groaning in pain, he would not give in. Ding
resisted the “horse's walk,” and Wang beat him mercilessly with the
club. When the club split, he kicked Ding and used an electric prodder
to get him to a kneeling position. When Wang, exhausted, stopped the
beating, Ji picked up the stump of a broken shoulder pole and continued
where Wang had left off.
By now Ding Zuoming had stopped moaning. He was filled with
shock and fear when he realized that as long as he did not “soften up,”
these thugs would kill him. But he still would not give in. Glaring at Ji,
Zhao, and Wang, he shouted at the top of his voice, “True, I accused the
village cadres. They are bleeding the peasants. It's against Party policy.
Kill me, but I won't give in. If you kill me, my ghost will haunt you all!”
Ji looked up and met Ding Zuoming's bloodshot eyes and the piece of
wood slipped from his hand. This enraged Wang, who screamed hysteri-
cally, “You spineless bastard! Afraid of him! How dare he talk big in this
place!” Goaded, Ji picked up the stump andwent after Ding again. Mean-
while Zhao took a dirty rag and stuffed Ding's mouth. The three men
continued hitting Ding for another twenty minutes. (Chen 2006, 15-16)
Ding Zuoming died of his injuries the next day. Seven men involved in
his death were captured and severely punished. Wang Jinjun, who
wielded the club, was sentenced to death. Ding Zuoming did not die
in vain because his case led to the significant reduction of peasants'
tax burdens.
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