Mrs. Jade Spring Fragrance
The protagonist of the story is Mrs. Spring Fragrance, a young woman from China, but now living in Seattle. She likes to talk to her multi-racial neighbors. Sometimes, she serves as a cultural bridge for those characters in the story who suffers from the mental collision because of their cultural differences.
Laura Chin Yuen
Laura is the friend of Mrs. Spring Fragrance, whom she is trying to help. Laura is a young Chinese-American lady. She loves Kai Tzu, but her parents choose a young man from their community and insist that Laura marry him. Laura thinks that she will have to marry without her wish and lives her life in distress.
Laura tells her problem with Mrs. Spring Fragrance, and she decides to help Laura in this matter. The writer represents, through Laura, the second generation Asian-Americans, who are trapped between two cultures.
Kai Tzu
Kai Tzu is the love attraction of Laura. Laura wants to marry him, but her parents do not like Kai Tzu because of his American upbringing.
Man You
Man You is the son of a Chinese government school teacher. Laura's parents choose him because of his family reputation and his educational background. Man You does not interested in the arranged marriage, and he grabs the opportunity to date a woman. Mrs. Fragrance is the one who introduces the young woman Ah Oi, to Man You.
Ah Oi
Ah Oi is quite popular and known as the prettiest woman in San Francisco. Mrs. Spring Fragrance introduces her to Man You. Mrs. Spring already knows that, Man You simply fall in love with her beauty and elegance. When Man You and Ah Oi decide to marry, Laura is free to marry of her own choice.
