Chapter 4 Summary

After Grandfather's death, Mother does not speak, but just works frantically. Sookan feels that her mother has become a ghost, and worries that perhaps Mother's spirit went away with Grandfather's. Sookan thinks that God must be punishing her for hating Captain Narita. To make up for Mother's absent-mindedness, Sookan and Inchun work hard too, helping make, sort and fold socks. One day, Captain Narita comes to the factory and asks to speak with Mother. He tells Mother that the factory is not producing enough socks, and so the factory workers should "voluntarily" offer their services relieving the Japanese soldiers at the front. Sookan does not understand, but she is shocked when Mother instantly comes back to life, and begs Captain Narita not to take them. Mother promises that their productivity will go up, and Captain Narita says that he will be back to...