Falling Leaves

Adeline’s father begins to show signs of Alzheimer’s disease, and his Hong Kong physician refers him to Stanford University for a medical consultation. Niang and Joseph fly to California to meet with Adeline and Bob. Adeline’s father is amazed by the beauty of their apartment, and Niang is annoyed by his positive attention toward Adeline.

The visit to Stanford reveals that Adeline’s father is in the late stages of Alzheimer’s and his brain has atrophied. On the way home, Bob asks Adeline’s father about what she was like as a girl, and he describes her as “a bookworm who excelled in her studies,” (215) and his chest swells with pride as he recalls when she won the playwriting contests at age 15.

Adeline pays all of her father’s medical bills, which temporarily soothes her relationship with Niang. As a result of their improved relationship, Niang excludes Edgar from family events.

After the death of Mao Zedong, China is reopened for tourism, and Adeline goes to both Hong Kong and China with a group of friends. She visits Niang, who rails against Aunt Baba and the monthly allowance she pays her. Niang also denounces Lydia and warns Adeline not to offer any financial help to Lydia when she visits. Adeline asks James if he thinks she should heed Niang’s advice, and predictably, he tells her “‘Suan le!’ (Let it be!)” (220).

Adeline finds the landscape of Shanghai much changed by years of Communist rule. Much of the ornate architecture and many of the fanciful shops have been replaced by plain, utilitarian structures. She goes to visit Aunt Baba in the building where she is living and finds that it is narrow, dingy, and foul-smelling. Aunt Baba, however, is radiant with happiness. She feels privileged to have been assigned a room of her own for the past thirteen years.

Aunt Baba accompanies Adeline’s tour group to their hotel, where she takes her first warm bath in many years. Then, they talk for a long time about their experiences. Adeline is deeply moved by Aunt Baba’s courage and resilience. Aunt Baba muses:

‘the way I see it, the nineteenth century was a British century. The twentieth century is an American century. I predict that the twenty-first century will be a Chinese century. The pendulum of history will swing from the ying ashes brought by the Cultural Revolution to the yang phoenix arising from its wreckage’ (226).

Adeline visits her sister, Lydia. During her visit, Lydia expresses remorse for the way she treated her as a child, using Niang’s dominion over the family as an excuse for her negative attitude.

Lydia says that she and Samuel are resigned to their lives, and that her daughter Tai-ling is engaged to a nice boy and has no wish to leave China. She asks, however, that Adeline help her son, Tai-way, attend a university in America. Tai-way is a greatly accomplished musician who won the Tchaikovsky piano competition in Moscow. He speaks with Adeline himself, explaining how his education was halted during the Cultural Revolution and how he longs for a better future. Lydia urges her sister: “‘When drinking water, remember the source’” (231).

Adeline is moved by Tai-way’s story and assists him in his move to the US and finances his education at the University of Southern California and at Indiana University under Leonard Bernstein (who advises him to pursue a career in Germany). She also arranges for Tai-ling to attend the University of North Carolina on a scholarship when her romance in Tianjin fizzles.

In 1986, Lydia visits Adeline on her way to see her daughter in the United States and visit Tai-way in Germany. During her visit, Lydia begs Adeline to help her smooth over her relationship with Niang so she can see their father before he dies. Adeline calls Niang and persuades her to see Lydia. Niang eventually relents and forgives Lydia.