Chapter 22 Summary and Analysis

The middle school children, those aged sixteen and up, were sent to the country where they were to live with the peasants. Mao's goal was "Thought Reform Through Labor". Adults were also sent to country camps, far from the cities. Jung and her little sister were sent to Ningnan and Chang Shou-yu is sent to Xichang in Miyi County. Ningnan peasants are poor and the children are to have difficult lives. Water is carried some distance, it's a long way to wood supply, and the children are supposed to work in the fields. Jung is immediately ill with vomiting, diarrhea, and a rash and can barely work. She says that she doesn't quite want to get well because it would mean that she was giving in to her situation. An overseer sends her back to Chengdu where she's given medicine.

Her...