Dragon Seed Page #6

Now?

I think nothing.

Well, then...

...what did you think of me

the first time you saw me?

- I cannot remember.

- No, I mean... I mean...

...after we were married.

I was glad you were taller than I.

For a woman, I am too tall.

No, you are not.

Then what did you think?

And then I wondered

what you thought of me.

But you knew that I wanted you.

- And then I wondered...

- Yes?

I wondered if you would give me

the thing I would have.

Tell me. I will buy it for you.

Buy?

Perhaps all the things I want

cannot be bought.

All women like presents.

Tell me what it is.

I want...

Earrings.

Yes, that is it. A pair of earrings.

I will buy them for you tomorrow.

- Now have I made you happy?

- Yes.

No. You have not made me happy.

I do not want earrings.

But there is something that can be bought

that I would have.

- Buy me a book.

- A book?

- But you cannot read.

- I can read.

- Women like you never read.

- I learned.

A word or two at a time. My brother

could read and I learned from him.

A little every day.

But I have no book of my own.

I never thought to see a woman read

in this house.

There must be changes even in a household

if there is to be life and growth.

I do not know that.

My mother and my father have done well.

- But they are of the old. We are of the new.

- Oh, I am not sure if I am of the new.

I will buy you the book.

- You are angry?

- There is no room in my mind for anger.

It is...

It is just that I do not understand.

- Ten thousand greetings, Mr. Chow.

- Thank you.

- You are well, young sir?

- Yes.

- I would see my brother-in-law, Wu Lien.

- He is within. He takes his morning rest.

Are all asleep in this house?

I greet you, my brother-in-law.

And your honored mother.

Welcome, welcome. Sit down.

Here's your second brother,

mother of my children.

- Sit down, sit down.

- Thanks.

Well, then, you're a farmer

and one who looks it.

The dirt is still beneath your fingernails.

My brother, how are the old ones

and all of the others?

- Well, thank you.

- Tell me...

...is my sister-in-law, Jade,

with child yet?

Can it be you take no interest?

It would seem

you take interest enough for both.

- My interest will never make him a father.

- No.

But you are hungry. I can tell.

In each generation,

a city man should do as I have done.

Take for a wife

a woman from the country.

Thus the line...

Thus the line is kept strong and hard.

And here is the proof of your wisdom.

Brother-in-law?

Will you dip into your wisdom

and tell me a thing?

- Yeah?

- I know you're a man who reads.

Yes. Yes, I read.

Often in the winter to warm my blood.

Sometimes in the summer to cool it.

If you were to buy a book,

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