Daughters of Shandong

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses domestic violence and the termination of a pregnancy.

The women arrive in Taiwan, which is ruled by Chiang Kai-Shek. The immigration officer welcomes them to the Republic of China. Hai sees other families reuniting and perceives how “Love permeated the air as people knitted back together, beginning to heal the anguish of months or even years of separation” (294).

Uncle Jian greets them. When Mom is grateful, Jian says he is only doing his family duty. Jian laughs at Nai Nai’s sneakiness when Mom tells him of the letter they received from her. He says Father is no longer dating the nurse. Hai thinks, “Like old clothes, or broken bowls, a lost woman could be replaced with a new womb or, worse, a new love” (299). Jian says their father wanted to go back for them but was unable to exit the island. Hai thinks he simply did not care enough to try.

Hai thinks of them as Nai Nai’s hungry ghosts as they arrive at the house. Their father welcomes them. Hai barely recognizes Chiao, who is now a young man. She wonders if they are still refugees, if that status will ever go away.