Part Two: The Rabbit Dodges: Chapters 7 - 10 Summary

Joy: Joy is assigned the task of arranging a propaganda play for the village about the Marriage Law, women's rights, and right thinking in New China in the wake of Ping-Li's death. As she listens to the propaganda about working hard without questioning, Joy remembers seeing the water buffalo working in the commune fields. The animal was forced to work with metal blinders on so it wouldn't walk around the sharp rocks protruding from the mud. Tao said the animal's suffering - its legs were torn and bloody from the rocks - was punishment for what he did in his past life. After contemplating this, she returns her thoughts to the play happening before her. Kumei is giving a monologue about being sold away in an arranged marriage to a man...