A Thwarted Search for Information

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The local legislator tried to calm the crowd. "The death of your children was an act of God," he said unpersuasively in a country whose government is officially atheist. "Why are you talking to the media? You will only embarrass the government."

Zhou Siqiang, whose 15-year-old daughter died in the collapse, challenged him. "We are not acting against the government," Zhou said. "We just don't want our children to die in vain. We want justice."

Li stood silently next to him.

"We want to find out who constructed the school building and if there is any corruption," Zhou said. "The economic losses are limited but the psychological losses are endless. Our suffering will not be relieved for the rest of our lives."

Li said he had no interest in politics. But he allowed reporters to watch as he squatted in a rescue tent, his head in his hand, with his daughter's teacher, Huang Min.

The teacher picked up a red telephone and called Yi's classmate and best friend, who was rumored to have seen her after the quake. But it turned out to be a false lead.

"Sorry," the teacher said. "No."

Researcher Liu Songjie contributed to this report.