The Bonesetter’s Daughter: Part Three: Chapter Two Summary & Analysis

The Youngs are celebrating GaoLing’s 77th  birthday (really her 82nd) at her and Edmund’s home in Saratoga. Everyone is gathered outside around the pool. When GaoLing gets up to prepare some dishes in the kitchen, Ruth follows her inside. GaoLing starts to teach Ruth how to make tea eggs. Ruth pauses before asking GaoLing if she and LuLing made the eggs when they were living in orphanage. GaoLing seems surprised that LuLing has finally disclosed this part of her history to her daughter after so many years. Ruth tells GaoLing that she knows about Precious Auntie, too. GaoLing laughs as she chides her sister for her old-fashioned commitment to keeping old secrets. In the modern world, GaoLing reasons, nobody cares—though she admits, with a laugh, that she’s never told Edmund that she’s actually five years older than she publicly admits.

Finally, Ruth reaches the subject she’s been wanting to discuss with GaoLing: Mira Mar Manor. GaoLing instantly rejects the idea of assisted living, and Ruth feel ashamed all over again. GaoLing claims that she’ll take care of LuLing if Ruth won’t, but Ruth reminds GaoLing of how much difficulty she’d had the last time she watched LuLing.

Dejected, Ruth changes the subject to ask GaoLing if she knows what became of the Changs. GaoLing scowls at the thought of her former in-laws and recalls that Fu Nan had likely died around 1960, and Chang had been publicly executed by the Communists nearly a decade before. Sister Yu ultimately became a high-ranking leader in the Communist Party, and Teacher Pan received an award in honor of his son, Pan Kai Jing, who died to protect the Communist Party. GaoLing tells Ruth that LuLing named her after Ruth Grutoff and Sister Yu, which Ruth had never known before. Ruth is touched by how much thought went into a name she’d spent so many years hating.

During their conversation, GaoLing mentions LuLing’s Charles Schwab account in passing, which catches Ruth off guard. Ruth inquires further, and GaoLing explains that she and Edmund had placed LuLing’s rightful half of Edmund and Edwin’s inheritance in an account for her years ago. However, LuLing had always pretended that the money didn’t exist. GaoLing confirms that some of the stock accounts align with the stocks Ruth, as “Precious Auntie,” had suggested that LuLing invest in via the tea tray board. During all those writing-in-the-sand sessions, Ruth had never once considered that LuLing was asking for advice about actual stocks.

Ruth asks GaoLing how the stocks performed, and GaoLing declares LuLing to be an investing genius. Suddenly, Ruth feels hurt that LuLing had forbidden herself to enjoy her money out of some obligation to Precious Auntie. Finally, Ruth asks GaoLing for Precious Auntie’s real name. “Bao Mu,” is all GaoLing can offer, which just means “nursemaid.” Ruth presses her aunt for Precious Auntie’s real name, but she can’t remember it, either. Ruth feels dejected, realizing she might never know her grandmother’s true identity.

Dory interrupts Ruth and GaoLing’s conversation when she rushes inside to inform them that LuLing fell in the pool and almost drowned. Ruth runs outside, horrified. Art carries LuLing out of the pool. LuLing claims to have spotted Precious Auntie at the bottom of the pool. 

Ruth leaves LuLing at GaoLing’s while she returns to her mother’s apartment to pack the things she’ll need for her new life at Mira Mar Manor. She wonders what to do about LuLing’s scrolls, ink, and brushes.

That evening, Ruth meets Art for dinner. They sit down at a booth, and Ruth is surprised when a waiter arrives carrying a bottle of champagne. Art reminds her that it’s their anniversary. Ruth laughs, realizing she’d completely forgotten. Later that night, they return to their apartment. Before making love, Art expresses his desire for Ruth to share with him the parts of herself she has hidden all these years. Ruth laughs nervously, insisting that she never incidentally keeps anything from him. Art asks her why she always tries to push him away. Ruth thinks a moment and realizes she’s afraid to feel pain and wants to feel safe.