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Rosemary T’sien
Oliver is one of Nick’s cousins who takes Rachel under his wing during the wedding festivities. He’s snarky and sarcastic, but honest: he gives Rachel the clearest picture of anyone of the Young clan’s goals, motives, and eccentricities. Though he seems to be genuinely on Rachel’s side, he does seem to share at least some of his aunts and uncles’ insistence on making sure “undesirable” people don’t marry in, as with Ah Ma’s direction, he facilitates Kitty Pong and Alistair’s breakup. Oliver is an expert in Asian art and antiquities and works for Christie’s Auction House.
Oliver T’sien Quotes in Crazy Rich Asians
The Crazy Rich Asians quotes below are all either spoken by Oliver T’sien or refer to Oliver T’sien. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Part 2, Chapter 2 Quotes
“So my grandmother’s eldest daughter, Aunt Mabel T’sien, was married off to Nick’s grandmother’s younger brother Alfred Shang.”
“Married off? Does that mean it was an arranged marriage?”
“Yes, very much so, plotted by my grandfather T’sien Tsai Tay and Nick’s great-grandfather Shang Loong Ma. Good thing they actually liked each other. But it was quite a masterstroke, because it strategically bound together the T’siens, the Shangs, and the Youngs.”
“What for?” Rachel asked.
“Oh come on, Rachel, don’t play the naïf with me. For the money, of course. It joined together three family fortunes and kept everything neatly locked up.”
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Oliver T’sien Character Timeline in Crazy Rich Asians
The timeline below shows where the character Oliver T’sien appears in Crazy Rich Asians. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 2, Chapter 2
...food from one of the many dishes on the buffet and another of Nick’s cousins, Oliver T’sien, appears behind her and introduces himself. He knows already where Rachel is from, and...
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Then, Oliver explains how he’s related to Nick (they’re technically second cousins) and details the Young family...
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Part 2, Chapter 4
...are huge, viny plants growing in terra-cotta urns in the middle of a reflecting pool. Oliver appears and points out the peach-size flower buds, which will open within the hour. It’s...
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Seeing Nick speaking to a beautiful woman across the room, Rachel asks Oliver who the woman is. She’s Jacqueline Ling, and she looks about 40 but is actually...
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Astrid is sitting with Rachel, trying not to worry about what Oliver said about seeing Michael in Hong Kong, when Nick walks up with tea for Astrid...
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...Amanda to fly home for the Khoo wedding, no matter what. When she hangs up, Oliver appears and suggests it’s too late for Amanda to snag Nick, but Jacqueline denies this....
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Part 2, Chapter 5
...she began her evening fantasizing about interrupting Michael and the “tramp” having sex. But after Oliver’s comment, she fears Michael fathered another child. She’s so preoccupied that she doesn’t notice a...
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Part 2, Chapter 16
...phone conversation with Rachel a few days ago. The names are James Young, Rosemary T’sien, Oliver T’sien, and Jacqueline Ling. He doesn’t know who they are, and this bothers him. Wye...
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Part 3, Chapter 4
...the “old-guard families” and their rivalries. Rachel joins Nick’s family near the front and soon, Oliver and his grandmother, Rosemary T’sien, join them. Oliver slips in next to Rachel, compliments her...
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...church goes quiet—but it’s Astrid and Ah Ma coming up the aisle, not the bride. Oliver, shocked, tells Rachel that people go to see Su Yi; Su Yi doesn’t go to...
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Part 3, Chapter 5
...explosion of flowers,” with flower sculptures and a huge champagne fountain. Cassandra joins Rachel and Oliver in staring at a tower of roses and notes that because Annabel purchased so many...
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Nick appears with champagne, and Oliver asks what everyone thought of Araminta’s dress. Rachel liked it, but Cassandra quips that it...
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Part 3, Chapter 6
...how to get Alistair to give up Kitty, Su Yi tells a maid to call Oliver T’sien.
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Part 3, Chapter 7
...guests are not impressed by the Cuban band playing in a warehouse. She, Nick, and Oliver discuss the fashionable styles people are wearing until the lights dim and doors open to...
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...Cirque du Soleil performers drop from the ceiling. Kitty jumps with excitement at the sight. Oliver appears next to her, and she tells him she loves Cirque du Soleil—she has to...
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Part 3, Chapter 8
...drains, and a woman rises up from its depths. Someone screams: it’s Tracy Kuan, whom Oliver explains is Asia’s Barbra Streisand. After Araminta and Colin dance their first dance, Tracy launches...
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