Crop yields fall at Red Fire Farm, and the company delivers reports blaming the local peasants. However, Anchee admits that the workers themselves steal the crops, because they are not paid enough to purchase sufficient food. Yan continues to try to get through to Little Green, taking her to a hospital where visiting doctors perform acupuncture. Little Green briefly improves but soon returns to her impacted mental state. Persistent, Yan continues to seek help for Little Green at the hospital, even after the tractor breaks and she has to carry Little Green there herself.

Meanwhile, at Yan’s request, Anchee delivers Yan’s letter to Leopard Lee. After Anchee gives him the letter, his assistant, Old Wong, comes and sits with her, holding forth on their company and the progress of the Cultural Revolution. Leopard returns and sends Anchee away when she says that she and Old Wong have finished speaking. As Anchee and Yan lie together that night, Anchee falsely tells Yan that Leopard received her letter with enthusiasm. Anchee continues to deliver letters to Leopard, hating him more and more for his lack of replies and apparent coldness. (Anchee believes that he doesn’t want to marry Yan because they both would then be forced to stay as peasants at the farm.