The narrator and Luo arrive in the countryside. The peasants sift through their belongings and discover the narrator's
violin, which is immediately proclaimed a
bourgeouis toy before Luo's quick thinking produces a smooth lie that convinces them otherwise.The piece of music that the narrator plays is called "
Mozart is Thinking of Chairmen Mao". The two soon settle down into the village storage house, adjusting to the rural life. They soon find that the headman of the village is delighted with Luo's alarm clock, which he uses to promote the efficiency of the village work schedule.The headman expresses his gratitude by sending them down to the town of Yong Jing to see a monthly film screening and to return and retell the story to the villagers. This proves highly successful and they are asked to do this again, as Luo is seen as a master storyteller. The Little Seamstress is introduced to the story as the
sequestered but gorgeous daughter of a famous local tailor, who is well-traveled and highly revered by the residents of the Phoenix of the Sky. Although she is talkative and skilled at her craft, Luo tells the narrator she is lacking in sophistication and education when asked if he has feelings for her. Luo and the narrator are forced to work underground in the extremely dangerous
coal mine, which causes Luo to become very ill. The peasants try to
beat the sickness out of him, and finally Luo is taken to the Little Seamstress and attended by hired sorceresses. The narrator is prompted to retell the film story, which is ineffective until Luo concludes it, bringing tears to the Seamstress and the sorceresses.
