"The first duty of children is to obey their elders."
After Pei dies, Great Uncle Bo becomes the most influential person in the family and takes over everything. Great Uncle Bo demands complete obedience from Pei's wife and children and sees it as his right to rule over the family left behind. Great Uncle Bo is the author of the quote mentioned above and from it, an important idea comes forth: the elders are the supreme authority in the 13th century in China. Women on the other hand are seen as nothing more than child producers are should have no power to take any form of important decisions.
"I win, said Di Chou barring his snaggle teeth and his hand covered Hauyou's and squeezed until it seemed all his knuckles will crumble."
Di Chou is an important character in the novel and is the main antagonist. He works on the same boat as Pei and above all, he wishes he could take Pei out of the picture so he could have free reign to marry Pei's wife and take over his job. Di Chou is described as being a patient man but also an extremely cruel one who does not give up on his dreams. The quote from above is as such extremely important because it characterizes Di Chou and also offers a glimpse into the way he is thinking and how he is functioning.
"The kite flew higher and higher. Haoyou could taste the salt on his tongue and something new and exciting blossomed in his heart."
In order to save his mother, Haoyou agrees to test the wind on the same boat his father worked and dies. Haoyou knows that this could be fatal to him but his desire to save his mother is stronger and he agrees to do it. Surprisingly, despite the danger he exposes himself to, Haoyou feels a sense of freedom which was until then unknown to him. This gives him the strength to continue going and to do everything he can to protect his mother.
