Ten years have passed since the novel's publication, and the narrator has returned to his mother's house. She is surprised to see him, as she had expected him to return to school. He tells her that he has written an article on simplified characters, but the professor and other students have rejected it. He explains that he came back first because simplified characters are not widely used yet, and because he was angry when he wrote the article. He wants to promote the use of simplified characters to people who do not read or write, and he will support his mother in her efforts.