Chapter 4 Summary

The silk factory required long hours from the girls. They reported for work at five thirty in the morning and were not released until seven thirty at night. They received a half hour off for lunch and infrequent breaks. Intimidated by the male managers and the sticks they carried, the girls complained amongst themselves but did not speak up to those in charge. The demanding schedule was difficult for Pei, who was seemingly dropped into that life from the protected confines of childhood. With Lin and Mei-li's help she acclimated. Over time, much of her sorrow over missing her family was replaced by the excitement of the city. The time when her pain was most poignant coincided with the yearly Dragon Boat Festival. At that festival, it was customary to eat Jong, a food Pei used to relish but now associated with the...