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Wang Lung Timeline and Summary

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Wang Lung Timeline and Summary

  • Wang Lung gets married to his lucky lady, O-lan. 
  • O-lan gives birth to Wang Lung's first son. 
  • On New Year's Day, Wang Lung and O-lan present their firstborn son to the Old Mistress of the House of Hwang. Oh, and by the way, they're having their own mini-Depression in the House of Hwang, so Wang Lung decides to buy their land. 
  • Wang Lung buys the first plot of the House of Hwang. 
  • Uh oh. Wang Lung's uncle asks for money, O-lan gives birth to a girl, and there is a famine. Bad luck has begun. 
  • The family heads South to escape the famine. 
  • A rebellion gives the family the money they need to go home. They're rich now. 
  • Wang Lung buys more land from the House of Hwang. 
  • There is a flood, and Wang Lung has nothing better to do, so he up and goes to the prostitute Lotus. Eventually he buys her as a concubine. He forgets her when the flood recedes. Lover man, he is not.
  • Wang Lung's firstborn son starts acting strangely, so he gets engaged and is sent to the South. 
  • O-lan dies, and the oldest son gets married. 
  • Wang Lung moves the family into the House of Hwang in order to protect them from his uncle and cousin. Or because he’s vain. It's not entirely clear. 
  • Ching dies, and Wang Lung's first grandson is born. 
  • Wang Lung has a love affair with Pear Blossom, and his third son runs away. 
  • Wang Lung gets old and moves back to the land. Finally, he shows some sense. 
  • As predicted, Wang Lung's sons plot to sell the land.