Before her marriage WeiliÂ’s father, Jiang Sao-yen, calls for his daughter. Old Aunt and New Aunt along with Weili, visit Shanghai City. After a gap of twelve years, Weili takes a look at her father and their palatial mansion. Her father is as grand as ever and his commanding attitude raptures Weili and her Aunts. Though he has his own doubts about the Wen family, he gives his consent provided Weili agrees to the match. In spite of his grudges against her, the dowry that Jiang Sao-yen gives his daughter Weili is commendable. San Ma, one of Jiang Sao-yenÂ’s wives, takes Weili on a shopping spree to buy the articles for her dowry. The shopping range includes everything, from furniture to garments to even silver (ten pairs of silver chopsticks). Weili is enthralled by the fabulous things that San Ma readily buys for her, which include all the articles that are necessary for a bride. The family name and prestige should be kept up. Though she is forever grateful for these gifts, Weili later learns that a much greater dowry and more valuable gifts had been given to the other daughters of Jiang Sao-yen. But the most unfortunate happening is that, the Wen family takes away most of these invaluable gifts. The only thing that remains are the silver chopsticks which she manages to hide with her.

When Weili returns from her fatherÂ’s place she is surprised to find a totally changed response from Peanut to her. She now is friendly towards Weili and is even willing to help her out for the wedding. It is only later that Weili learns that PeanutÂ’s positive response is due to the fact that she does not consider Wen Fu and his family to be worthy of her.

Peanut also divulges the illegal business matters of the Wen family and even goes on to say that such a transport of the Chinese artifacts to the States may invite curse from the Chinese ancestors.

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