In this chapter, the young narrator asks his uncle if he has ever gone to school before. He says that he has not, but that his handwriting is improving rapidly. He asks for a specific document from the Ministry of Justice. His uncle refuses to give him a reason for his request, saying that if it is only because he wants to please his lover, then he should give up. The young narrator then turns to the library and asks for the record of the birthday party of the boy from the Xiao clan. He is told that the invitation was given by mistake, and that he should not go to the party since he does not know the boy's name. He then asks if he can burn the birthday invitation for him, but his uncle says that it cannot be done. He tells the young man to stay away from the party and not to intervene in the affairs of the clan.