The Girl Who Wrote in Silk

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses racism.

In August, Mei Lien wakes up excited to give Joseph a gift she’s made him. They’ve finished building the house and Mei Lien loves living there. Joseph surprises her in return by taking the day off to take her on a hike up the mountain. Coming down, they encounter some islanders who are cold to Mei Lien and openly hostile to Joseph for marrying a Chinese woman. Joseph stands up to them and the couple return home. They apologize to one another for the challenges they face and discuss the possibility of leaving the island, but Mei Lien points out that Chinese people are unwelcome in most places in both the US and Canada. 

The next day when Joseph is out delivering the mail, Duncan Campbell comes to the farm. He offers to buy the land and then tells Mei Lien he’ll make sure she leaves the island. She stands her ground, but is shaken for hours afterward. When Joseph arrives home, he tells her he’s been fired from his job as a mail carrier. He has also seen Campbell and refused Campbell’s offer to buy their land and home.