How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
He had been born into a large, wealthy family, he told us, with five generations, more than a hundred people, living together in one big compound. The family had once owned vast amounts of land, many businesses, and other kinds of property. (4.36)
When Ji-li's dad finally explains their family history to Ji-li, she's disappointed. She wishes her grandpa wasn't a landlord (read: exploiter) or rich dude. Again we're confronted with the unfairness of it all. Ji-li isn't punished for her own choices or actions; instead she's considered bad news for something her grandpa did before she was born.
Quote #5
"Your problems are very serious, you know. For instance…" He looked at the paper in his hand. "You and your grandmother often take a pedicab, which reveals your extravagant bourgeois lifestyle. And your family has a housekeeper. That's definitely exploitation." (4.73)
We like to think of this as a roast… only with much higher stakes. Ji-li is called out for taking a cab and having a housekeeper, two big no-nos under the new government. Her family hasn't committed some huge crime, yet they are still treated like dirt.
Quote #6
We had a bad class status. That was why An Yi was not allowed to wear mourning bands or even cry aloud for her grandmother. That was why my house was searched, and strangers could come in and do whatever they wanted. It was just a simple fact. Why should I ask why? There was absolutely nothing I could do to change it. (8.133)
As Ji-li tries to come to terms with her poor class status, she feels for her friend. All An Yi wants to do is mourn her grandma, but she's not allowed to because of their bad class status. It hardly seems fair. Yet Ji-li doesn't see the point in getting upset about it… or so she claims. She still gets pretty worked up about her class status sometimes.