I had a friend when I was at grade school whose father was sent to jail for about 10 years. All he did was voice some criticism of Mao’s wife, Madam Jiang Qing at a family dinner party. Someone at the party reported him. There was no trial, no evidence presented, and no appeal. He was simply arrested and disappeared from my friend’s life for ten whole years. In the meantime, her family had to live their lives bearing the burden in being labeled anti-revolutionist family, the name for troublemakers at the time. My friend was lucky. Her father came back. Many didn’t.