Book Three, Pages 142-174 Summary and Analysis

"Book Three. The Family" begins with "Together Again, 1899." Lao's husband has mellowed somewhat with regard to the use of opium and she again allows him to live with her. When Mantze is twelve, Lao finds a young man her niece's husband who she believes will make a suitable husband for Mantze. Lao says that this is a "family marriage" and that she is at peace with the decision. When Mantze is fifteen, Lao leaves the home of her employer, the household of Ch'ien Lao-yeh, because she feels Mantze cannot learn to be a good servant for her future mother-in-law in a house where the food is provided by others and she has no need to sew or do any domestic chores for herself. Lao takes the job with Mrs. Burns and rejoins her husband in...