Chapter 9 Summary

As Etta Heine, Carl Heine Jr.'s mother, takes the stand, the story moves back to 1934 when she is living with her husband Carl Heine, Sr.; they and their son live on the 30 acres of land where they spend their time farming strawberries. Though they are not rich, they own their own land and live a decent life.

One day, Zenhichi Miyamoto, Kabuo's father, visits Carl Sr. with a proposition to purchase 7 acres of land from him so that Zenhichi can also farm strawberries. Hearing this, Etta is distinctly against the idea of selling land to any Japanese person because she considers them a bunch of lazy, underhanded swindlers. However, Carl Sr. considers the idea for a few days and eventually decides to sell them the 7 acres, in spite of Etta's protests.

Unfortunately, everything is turned upside down when the notice comes for...