"Beicheng, didn't it say nine o'clock? It's half past nine." I helplessly went to the car and stooped to murmur at the man inside.

He stared at me, pushed the door down, took out his cell phone and dialed a number. A moment later, a uniformed worker rushed out of the prison. He panted forward and said, "What's wrong, Mr. Ye?"

"I'd like to ask why Fellow City, the prisoner released today, hasn't come out yet?"

"Oh, he, he has let it out."

I was shocked: "What? Has it been released? When did it happen?

"About 8:30 in the morning."

"It's not nine o'clock!"

"It used to be nine o'clock,...