Alex explains to her that in Asian culture it is important to be reassured about the continuation of the family by the male. Martha does not understand and pulls her son away to bed. Martha also doesn t understand the lack of space in her home. Her husband again explains the Asian culture. He says that ten families would live in a home of their size in China.
New cultures force themselves upon older ones causing sacrifices to be made.
Further conflict occurs between Martha and Master Chu. Master Chu is forced to conform to the new culture around him in order to be happy and even survive. He is forced to give up the idea in his old culture that the elders are supposed to be cared for by their children. There he finds even the Asian culture of Chinatown has been forced to conform to mainstream America. Respect for elders has been almost completely disregarded.