- Wang Lung: [must sell his land to feed his family but the buyers take advantage of him] Thieves! Thieves! And well you know I must sell.
- O-Lan: No! Not the land. We'll not sell the land. We'll keep it. We'll go south and when we return, we'll still have the land.
- Uncle: But I've arranged it. I brought these men here. You MUST sell!
- O-Lan: Is it your land? Did you buy it bit by bit? The land is our life... and it's better to go south... or die walking... than to give it to you for nothing.
- Aunt: When a farmer buys silk robes and washes his whole body every day, there's a woman. That's sure!
- Uncle: But a rich man may have two wives but the wife must cling to her husband. That is as it should be.
- Aunt: That's right. A woman is allowed but one mistake.
- Uncle: Of course. Now then, it is said: you may see a teapot with four teacups, but did you ever see a teacup with four teapots?
- Aunt: It is also said: do you ever see two spoons in the same bowl that do not knock against each other?
- O-Lan: When I go back in that house, it will be with my son in my arms. I'll have a red coat on him... and red flower trousers... and a hat with a gilded Buddha and tiger-faced shoes, and I'll go into the kitchen where I spent my days as a slave and into the great hall where the old mistress sits with her pipe, and I'll show myself and my son to all of them.
- O-Lan: [Smiles, contented] Hmm.
- Wang Lung: Well... Now, I... I haven't heard you speak so many words since you came to this house.
- Wang Lung: If you could have a little food, you'd have strength to bring the child. I'll find it. Tomorrow I'll...
- O-Lan: When have you had food ?
- Wang Lung: There's a thing in me that hurts... and not hunger. But a man has no words.
- O-Lan: No words... but I know.
- Wang Lung: O-Lan, the earth has forgotten us.
- Liu - Grain Merchant: Mr. Wang, two clever sons like these are the better half of your wealth.
- Wang Lung: They're stupid, worthless creatures. If anything was driven into their thick, brass skulls, it was by beating them. I told their teacher to beat them. He beat them so well that this one's going to the university.
- Liu - Grain Merchant: Indeed.
- Elder Son: If I'm not too unworthy, I hope to win a degree in agriculture.
- Liu - Grain Merchant: Degree? Agriculture?
- Wang Lung: That's some kind of paper that will make it rain just enough, but not too much.
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