The old man with the red armband is easy to overlook when walking for the first time down the narrow, twisting alleyways of a hutong just north of the Forbidden City. The gray walls of the traditional Chinese homes overshadow his small frame, and the noise from shops and teahouses distract from his quiet demeanor.
Each turn, leading deeper into the hutong, brings about a narrower alley, another set of eyes, another red armband signifying a neighborhood watchperson, and more questions about whether or how reporting in China can lead to meaningful answers.
