Spring Well Village

Spring Well Village is Li-yan’s home and where most of the novel is spent, even after she finally leaves for the outside world. It is a small village that begins the novel with houses made of bamboo, split down the middle between the men and the women’s sides. The Akha people within the village believe in omens and many things supernatural. They often do things, such as cleansing ceremonies or meticulous birthing procedures, to scare off spirits. At the edge of the village is a spirit gate, carved into the image of two naked people - a man and a woman – with accentuated private parts. Those in the village revere the spirit gate, and consider it a bad omen if anyone touches it. Later in the novel when tea becomes a bit seller, they can build more magnificent homes with indoor plumbing, electricity, and...