"Who? Who's causing trouble here?"
Several students pushed against the flow of the crowd, looking furious. The one leading them was a tall, thin young man with glasses, his eyes sharp behind the lenses.
"It's him!" Someone pointed at Jiang Cheng and shouted, "I saw it all. This portly fellow shouted for traitors to be severely punished and for China to be blessed. He did a great job, but this man stopped him and dragged him out of the line. Then they started whispering about something here, acting all shifty. He's definitely a lackey sent by those Japanese devils, trying to divide us!"
"Seize him!" someone yelled, raising a fist. "Avenge Mr. Ke!"
The words were like a spark in a powder keg. The scene descended into chaos as red-eyed people surged toward Jiang Cheng. It looked as though they intended to beat him up first, then parade him through the streets.
The crowd closed in quickly, leaving no chance to escape. Jiang Cheng and the portly man tried to explain, but their voices were drowned out by angry shouts. Just as it seemed the doctor was about to suffer an undeserved beating, the portly man, frantic with worry, shoved his way through the crowd and grabbed the doctor, shielding him beneath his own body. Fists rained down on him, and Jiang Cheng, pinned underneath, felt the blows shudder through him.
"Stop hitting him!"
"Stop! This portly fellow is a good man!"
The men leading the group shouted for everyone to calm down. At last, they managed to disperse the furious crowd with a combination of shoving and shouting. Even a fool could see that the two men were close. Perhaps there really was more to the story.
A little later, several of them sat around a crude tea