When she shows their son off to her old mistress at the big house, she learns they have land to sell. Wang Lung takes what little they have saved and buys the land. He rationalizes that no matter how bad things may get, no one can take the land from them. This is a wonderful look at the Chinese life and mindset of the everyday man in the country. Sons are all important, daughters are slaves that will leave the house when they are older.
Wives are slaves to their husbands or masters.
Wang Lung spends the days in the fields growing his wheat and rice. O-lan keeps the house, makes the clothes and shoes, cares for the elderly father, and raises the children. She is frugal and helps them get through the hard times. She never forgets her childhood as a slave in the big house. Pearl S. Buck lived 40 years in China.