These two chapters continue with the love that possesses Wang Lung. It is, however, modified by the arrival of Wang Lung's uncle. In China, where ancestor worship is the main type of worship, Wang Lung resents his uncle and his uncle's intrusion, but he knows also that "it is a shame to a man when he has enough and spare to drive his own father's brother and son from the house." Consequently, Wang Lung now has three more people living in the house.
Wang Lung himself cannot quench his passion for Lotus Flower and does not know what to do next, as he is consumed in his love for this dainty person. The solution comes, ironically, from his uncle's wife, whom he overhears talking to O-lan. The uncle's wife sees immediately what no one else has observed--that Wang Lung is having an affair with another woman. When she casually mentions that someone as wealthy as Wang Lung has every right to buy a concubine, the solution to Wang Lung's problem becomes obvious: he will buy Lotus Flower and keep her as his concubine. Wang Lung even relies on his uncle's wife to complete all the transactions while he sees to the building of another court that will house Lotus Flower and Cuckoo. He even builds goldfish ponds and buys delicate food.
The contrast between the earlier arrival of O-lan (and her big feet) walking behind Wang Lung and the arrival of Lotus Flower in a closed sedan chair is interesting. Without O-lan, Wang Lung would never have been able to afford his concubine at this stage of his life, and yet his main attraction to Lotus Flower is her small feet, which are so delicate that she cannot stand on them for a long period of time; she walks "tottering and swaying upon her little feet and leaning upon Cuckoo." Thus Chapter 20 concentrates upon Wang Lung's all-consuming passion for Lotus Flower.
