Childhood of Genghua in a capitalist family -- Life little Genghua remembered under Japanese occupation -- How Chinese people keep their festivals before 1949 -- Life of Wu family before Communist Party takes over Shanghai -- The first two political movements have no effect on Wu family -- How capitalists get first financial blow & how Genghua fares in middle school -- Genghua's friend returns to Germany & capitalists get second financial blow -- Anti-rightist movement has little effect on Wu family -- The great leap-forward & steel-making movement -- Genghua learns English from some old scholars & makes new friends -- Tours in West-Suburb Park & to Suzhou City -- Genghua makes more friends & Mrs. Wu's afraid to bribe the policeman -- Capitalists get final financial blow in Cultural Revolution -- Rebels seize power of local governments & armed fights begin the nation over -- How Wu family fares in later period of Cultural Revolution -- Wu family seeks help for permits to Hong Kong & Lin Biao dies -- Genghua starts to translate classics & Cultural Revolution ends -- Genghua gets jobs & shows his talent in English teaching -- Genghua's friend Bai helps to get permits for his mother and brother to go to Hong Kong -- Genghua gets married -- How Genghua and his wife live and work -- Genghua publishes his first book & has a daughter -- Genghua and his family go to the United States.