The chapter opens with the arrival of the president of the United States, Mr. John F. Locke, and his wife, Madame Cai-Liang. The two men greet each other warmly, and Madame Cai tells them that she is the sister of zixin, and that she will be the guest of honor at the party that night. She tells the men that they should call her "Zixuan" , and they do so.