As the West throws its arms up in unending party, as the rest of the Middle Kingdom remains splintered among aging warlords and the remnants of imperial rule, Shanghai sits in its own little bubble of power.
-- Narrator (Prologue)

Importance: This quote shows how Shanghai is at the center of Western and Eastern culture while establishing the time period of the novel. This is a time period where things are changing all across the world. The West and the East are extremely different from one another. Shanghai, however, is a blend of the two. The author does not say whether or not this is a good or bad thing, leaving it to the reader to decide.

White Flowers operated on chaos, on constant movements. But the climb to power was one of choice, and those who remained low within the gang did so by their own desire.
-- Alisa (chapter 2)

Importance: This establishes a key distinction between...