In this chapter, we learn that Shumping's mother is sick and has gone to live in a fish village with her son. In order to find out what has happened to her, the boy asks his father not to mention the word "ah shui" again. Instead, he tells him to forget about his mother and go see her at the new fish festival. He also tells his father that he wants to expose the "world full of lies." He asks his mother to take him to the "blissful world." She does so, but she does not have the eyes to see what is going on around her. The lady alesha tells the boy that she can feel his despair because she is under the stands at the festival. She asks the boy to come and taste her despair. The boy refuses, saying that he is not real and that the world is all "fake." The woman tells him that he has finally shown his true self