Summary

At the opening of “On the Sleeping Mat” Young-sook and Mi-ja go to the dock and see Jun-bu, Yu-ri’s brother and Dosaeng’s son. Young-sook doubts that he is the man who her grandmother chose for her, because she does not believe Do-saeng would want her as a daughter-in-law. Young-sook is also worried that she is unworthy for Jung-bu, since he is a scholar, and Young-sook does not even know how to read. When Young-sook expresses her anxiety to Grandmother, Grandmother tells her she should never doubt her worth, stating, “You are a haenyeo! Never for one moment believe you are not worthy” (123). The next day, the family holds an engagement meeting where they exchange gifts, and the following morning Young-sook and Mi-ja say goodbye, for Mi-ja needs...