Chapter 20: Shenzhen — The City's Role in the Family's Journey

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Summary

The chapter opens with the family aboard a slow steam train leaving Qingdao. The train stops at every station, but Mom refuses to let anyone get off, terrified they won't be able to squeeze back on. Instead, she passes their canteens through the windows to platform vendors who fill them with water. The family eats hard bread, breaking off chunks and sucking on them to soften. To avoid the foul train bathrooms, the narrator drinks as little as possible.

They change trains twice—once at Jinan and again at Beijing. The rail system is a patchwork because China's early railways were built by different foreign powers with incompatible gauges. Many tracks and stations were damaged by Japanese bombing during World War II and later sabotaged by the Communists during the Civil War. The Nationalists had stripped materials from less-used lines to repair major routes, leaving fewer than half the tracks usable. Even though they have several hours in Beijing, Mom is too anxious to linger; they go straight to the platform and claim a small spot on the floor.

The journey lasts eight days. Passengers sleep sitting up or curled in balls. Conversations revolve almost entirely around Hong Kong—what it's like, how to get there, and whether the border will close. Rumors circulate: some say only Guangdong natives are allowed, others claim a Hong Kong identity card is needed, and still others mention an entry visa. No one knows for sure. Mom, Di, and the narrator stay silent, burdened by unspoken hurt. The narrator worries about Lucky, the dog left behind, imagining him finding his way back to Mrs. Ding's courtyard and hoping he is safe.

Only Lan finds joy in the trip. Early on, passengers let her sit on their laps to see out the window, but after a few days the family is so filthy from sitting on the floor that no one wants to touch them. The narrator's clothes and skin are black with grime.

As they near Shenzhen, news spreads about the Nationalist retreat. Since August, they have been relocating military resources to Taiwan. Chiang Kai-shek, having returned from retirement, leads the evacuation, with about sixty planes flying daily between China and the island. Approximately two million Nationalist soldiers and civilians migrate by air and sea. On December 10—the same day the family left Qingdao—the Communists attack the last Nationalist-controlled city, Chengdu. After a failed defense, Chiang and his son Chiang Ching-kuo narrowly escape via the Chengdu airport and fly to Taiwan, never to return. By the time the family arrives in Shenzhen, the Nationalists are gone, and the entire mainland has fallen.

Key Events

The family boards a slow steam train from Qingdao and never leaves it at stops, relying on platform vendors for water.
They change trains at Jinan and Beijing, navigating a fragmented rail system with damaged tracks and mismatched gauges.
The eight-day journey is marked by physical hardship: hard bread, limited water, foul bathrooms, and sleeping on the floor.
Passengers share conflicting rumors about Hong Kong entry requirements, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty.
The narrator's guilt over leaving Lucky intensifies as she imagines his fate.
Lan's initial joy fades as the family's filth makes others avoid them.
News of the Nationalist retreat reaches the train: Chiang Kai-shek leads a massive evacuation to Taiwan.
On December 10, the Communists attack Chengdu; Chiang and his son escape to Taiwan.
The family arrives in Shenzhen to find the Nationalists gone and the mainland fully under Communist control.

Character Development

The narrator shows deepening anxiety and guilt. Her worry about Lucky reveals her compassion and self-blame, while her silence with Mom and Di reflects the emotional distance that trauma has created. She is observant, noting the physical toll of the journey and the rumors around her.
Mom remains hypervigilant and controlling, driven by fear of being separated from the family. Her refusal to leave the train, even for a few minutes, underscores her protective instinct and the constant threat she perceives.
Lan embodies innocence and resilience. Her ability to find joy in the journey, at least initially, contrasts with the adults' grim focus. But as the family becomes filthy, even her charm is rejected, highlighting the dehumanizing effects of displacement.
Di is present but silent, part of the shared hurt that prevents open communication. The chapter gives little direct insight into her thoughts, but her silence aligns with the family's pattern of unspoken pain.
Chiang Kai-shek appears as a historical figure whose actions directly affect the family's fate. His retreat to Taiwan marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new, uncertain reality for the refugees.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Refugee migration and border uncertainty: The entire chapter revolves around the family's movement toward an unknown border. The rumors about Hong Kong entry requirements symbolize the arbitrary and shifting nature of political boundaries, and the passengers' desperate need for reliable information.
Fragmented infrastructure as a metaphor: The patchwork railway system—built by foreigners, damaged by war, and sabotaged by revolution—mirrors the fractured state of China itself. The family's difficult journey reflects the larger national disintegration.
Physical hardship and survival: The hard bread, limited water, foul bathrooms, and filthy conditions emphasize the basic struggle for survival. The narrator's decision to avoid drinking water to avoid the bathroom is a stark detail that shows how far they are pushed.
Rumors and misinformation: The conflicting stories about Hong Kong entry requirements illustrate how refugees rely on hearsay in the absence of reliable information. This motif underscores the chaos of the era and the power of fear.
Family trauma and silence: Mom, Di, and the narrator's silence is a recurring motif. The