At the memorial service for my father (I am standing with my family, fourth from right). An official is reading the Party’s valedictory. Chengdu, 21 April 1975. this speech was extremely important, as it was the Party’s assessment of my father, and would determine his children’s future even though he himself was dead. Becasue my father had criticised Mao, who was still alive, the original version was ominously negative. My mother fought for changes and won a much improved compromise. The memorial service was organised by a ‘funeral committee’ of my father’s former collegues, including people who had helped to persecute him. It was carefully staged down to the last detail, and was attended by about five hundred people, according to a prescribed formula. Even the size of the wreaths was specified.