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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank my editor, Norman Christie, who has unconditionally supported my writing and research for the past ten years. His great gift of empathy and sensibility for the sound and rhythm of language has made him the first non-Chinese person that I have ever known who truly understands China and its history, culture, and people. He became a favourite friend of my family during the time of our field research in 2004 and 2005. Norman's English perspective has contributed a great deal in making this book a good read for a wide global audience.
I also would like to express my gratitude to Cambria Press, whose high degree of efficiency and professionalism has made my publishing experience a pleasant surprise. I want to especially thank editor Paul Richardson and copy editor Sharon Berger for their hard work, patience, and dedication. Sharon, along with her team of editorial experts, provided excellent advice on style and technical issues. The clarity of my argument has been greatly enhanced through their efforts.