“Do you think I have never lived in a rich man’s house? The rich are always afraid. I saw robbers in a bad day year once rush into the gate of
the great house and the slaves and the concubines and even the Old Mistress herself ran hither and thither and each had a treasure that she
thrust into some secret place already planned. Therefore I knew the meaning of a loosened brick.” pp. 139-140
5. Economical and Industrious
The intelligence of O-lan is supported with her character as an economical and industrious woman. She can manage the silver given by Wang Lung. When
she asks her husband for silver, she already plans where the money will be spent. “I suppose you will need some money,” he said at last with apparent
gruffness. “If you will give me three silver pieces…” she said fearfully. “It is a great
deal, but I have counted carefully and I will no waste no penny of it. I shall make the cloth dealer give me the last inch to the foot.” pp. 34-35
Another direct comment from Buck is revealed here. Buck draws what O-lan can transform a broken stuff into a useful stuff. Not only transforming stuff, she also
knows how to cut down some bamboo rakes that can be use as fuel. With this explanation, the readers are directed to the economical and industrious character.
The woman, when he had gone in the morning, took the bamboo rake and a length of rope and with these she roamed the countryside, reaping here a
bit of grass and there a twig or a handful of leaves, returning at noon with enough to cook dinner. It pleased the man that they no need buy no more
fuel. In the afternoon she took a hoe and a basket and with these upon her
shoulder she went to the main road leading into the city where mules and donkeys carried burdens to ad from and there she picked the dropping
from the animals and carried it home and piled the manure in the dooryard for fertilizer for the fields. p. 29
And what he did for the farm implements, his wife, O-lan, did for the house implements. If an earthen jar leaked she did not, as other woman,
cast it aside and talk of a new one. Instead she mixed earth and clay and welded the crack and heated it slowly and it was as good as new. p. 44
She also knows how to make use of cobs. The cobs, which used to be the PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
fuel for her stove, are turned into food in the famine time. When he would have put the cobs away for fuel, his wife spoke out,
“No – do not waste them in burning. I remember when I was a child in Shantung when years like this came, even the cobs we groud and ate. It is
better than grass.” p. 67
6. Tough
