Summary

In Chapter 14, Lucia wishes Lu Shing had forced her to stay in San Francisco instead of coming to China. When he finally comes to get her 18 hours later, he tells her his father has spent the time yelling at him about ancestors and family honor. Even his younger brothers have rebuked him. Lu Shing takes Lucia to stay temporarily in a guesthouse owned by a friend in the International Settlement. He tells her he won’t abandon her, but also that he can’t live with her.

Lucia stays in the house with Philo Danner. On their first meeting, Danner offers Lucia opium, which she takes because Lu Shing tells her not to. She asks Lu Shing to take her to bed. The next day, Lucia is thickheaded and feels heavy. At dinner, Danner tells her he will not say anything about her...