Chapter 4 Summary and Analysis

Communist soldiers attacked Wuchang, a city very close to Hankow. Jean's family made a decision to get on a boat and get to a safer place; Hankow was just too dangerous. Mother, still ailing, was taken on a stretcher down to the river. They traveled downriver, and then wanted to travel on foot to the YMCA Dodge sedan that would take them away. But Communist coolies confronted them, surrounding them and demanding the incredible sum of fifty cents per bag to carry their luggage. Jean's father was angry, but he gave them the money. They traveled a small distance, then the coolies demanded two more dollars each to finish the job. Jean's father could not abide this, and almost came to blows with the coolies (each of whom had knives), before another set of coolies loyal to the family swooped in...