Chapters 1 through 4 of Part I Summary

In Chapter 1, Chiko is outside in the backyard. A tall fence makes it feel safe and private. He reads about government teaching positions that are available. His mother, Wei-Lin, calls to him to come inside. He could be spotted with that book. He wraps the newspaper around "A Tale of Two Cities" and goes inside. He tries to tell his mother about the teaching positions but she is not of a mind to listen. She is worried about his safety. Chiko is tired of hiding and worrying and remembering when the soldiers took his father away.

Chiko hurries inside and pulls on the large painting of a white elephant on the wall. Behind it is a cabinet where his father stored all his medical books, the Christian Bible, an Oxford dictionary, all his medical books...