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Mr. Chiu

The protagonist and a university professor returning home to Harbin from a two-week honeymoon trip with his new bride. Mr. Chiu is a respected lecturer at the university in Harbin, and he is looking forward to teaching his next term’s classes and giving a presentation at an upcoming conference. He is thirty-four years old and starting to show some signs of age, including lines around his face. He is not in good health, and his unjust incarceration as a saboteur does nothing but exacerbate this. While in jail, he worries somewhat about the state of his health and falling behind on his work, but his bride does not enter into his thoughts very often. 

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The Chief

The antagonist and the chief of the Muji Railroad Police, he informs Mr. Chiu that he will not be released unless he signs a forced confession admitting he is a saboteur. The chief is bald and slender with a scholarly air. When he is in his office, he is attended by several assistants, including an aide whose face resembles that of a donkey and a younger man who acts as a scribe. His manner when dealing with Mr. Chiu seems to be all business, as he presents the piles of evidence seeming to indicate Mr. Chiu’s guilt. Like the policemen, he is not afraid of any possible repercussions from the law or the media over his actions. 

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The two policemen

The two officers of the Muji Railroad Police who throw tea at Mr. Chiu and his bride before arresting Mr. Chiu during the ensuing conflict. The policemen are not afraid to use brute physical force when apprehending Mr. Chiu and use both their fists and their weapons to hit him. Later, at the police station, the older of the two policemen makes a face at Mr. Chiu as he is being brought upstairs to meet with the chief. 

Fenjin

A former student of Mr. Chiu’s, now a lawyer with a small law firm, who is recruited to assist Mr. Chiu while he is in jail. 

The Bride

A rather timid, sheltered woman with little experience with the world’s more unpleasant realities. She is Mr. Chiu’s new wife.

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