Summary

Chapter 15 goes back in the past to Lina’s years in college. There, she finds independence and intellectual stimulation. During summers back home, she and Wei court and get to know each other, both emotionally and sexually. She is attracted to his ambition and kindness. In the meantime, she and Qiang continue to correspond by letter, developing a deeper friendship. At college, she is inspired by the feminist writings of Simone de Beauvoir, and for the first time she considers what opportunities she could have if she were to marry neither Wei nor Qiang. Time goes by faster than she expects, and she soon receives a proud letter from her father: Wei was offered a full scholarship and stipend to attend graduate school at Pennsylvania University, so she could get married and join him in America. Back home, the night before her wedding...