Chapter 7 Summary

After Chen Ling and Ming joined the sisterhood, they moved to a sisters' house nearby. They were surrounded by grown women who had made the choice to work silk. They found that the circumstances that brought each woman to the house were not all equal. When Chen Ling and Ming returned to Auntie Yee's for visits, they brought colorful stories of their experiences along. The younger girls admired Chen Ling and looked forward to her arrival. While Chen Ling made her choice freely, the decision did not come as easily to others. Lin chose to follow Chen Ling and enter the sisterhood as well. Her decision was based on two things. First, she needed to protect her family's honor by making room for her brother to marry before her. Second, she preferred to stay in the city near her friends, especially Pei, who...