Part II: Chapter 8, Party Factions Summary and Analysis

After the pneumonia she suffers, Cheng's health in general deteriorates. She starts to have difficulty eating and starts to discipline herself with mental and physical exercises to keep herself sharp and alert. One of her favorite activities is to pick a fight with the guards. Although they never realize it, starting a fight with the guards was an excellent way for Cheng to release frustration and keep her mind sharp by engaging in a verbal battle with them.

The political environment changes yet again and Cheng's interrogations resume. She is given a roommate, which is an ominous sign for her. The poor girl spends her entire time trying to bait Cheng into saying something negative. Cheng never takes the bait and rebukes her for saying things against the Cultural Revolution and the government...