In this chapter, we are introduced to the young woman who works as a reporter for a newspaper in Hangzhou, China. She is named Rila and she is the daughter of a rich family. Her parents died when she was a child, leaving her with her aunt. The aunt tells Rila that her brother has to go abroad to study, and that she has to pay for school fees. Rila's aunt tells her that she is too young to do anything right, and tells her to go live with her uncle, who is a wealthy businessman in Shanghai. She says that Rila should return the bottle of wine that she brought with her, and use it to teach her how to be a good student.