New Aunt

JiangÂ’s second wife and the mother of Peanut and Little Gao and Little Gong.

Little Gong and Little Gao

Both cousins of Weili and pampered by the aunts.

Long Jiaguo

He is the husband of WeiliÂ’s friend Hulan and is also Wen FuÂ’s boss. He is a first-class pilot and a considerate husband. He tolerates his wifeÂ’s constant nagging.

Henry Kwong (Kuang An)

The second husband of Helen.

Auntie Du Ching

Hulan’s aunt. She is an elderly woman, who helps Weili in many ways at her times of distress. Her daughter has joined the communists. The novel begins with the news of her death. The ‘whole family’ comes together for her funeral.

Roger Kwong (Bao-Bao)

Better known as Bao-Bao, Roger is the son of Helen and Henry Kwong. He has married and divorced twice and has broken one engagement. The novel begins when he gets engaged to a girl called Mimi.

Mary Kwong Cheu

Daughter of Hulan and Henry Kwong, Mary is the wife of Doug Cheu. She has two children - Michael and Jennifer.

Frank Kwong

He is the son of Helen and Henry Kwong.

Wan Betty

Better known as ‘beautiful Betty’ by Helen and Weili, she works as a telegraph operator in Nanking. Later, she comes to Shanghai.

Old Mr. Ma

He is the driver of the truck which carries the pilots from Nanking to Kunming.

Gan

A co-pilot who befriends Weili. He is good-natured and kind- hearted but he fears death. He is superstitious and believes in the existence of ghosts.

Phil Brandt

PearlÂ’s husband who is a pathologist. He is very much concerned about PearlÂ’s illness.

They are young daughters of Pearl and Phil Brandt. They are active kids and often quarrelsome.

Mochou

She is the first stillborn daughter of Weili and Wen Fu.

Yiku

The second daughter of Weili. She dies of convulsions even before she is a year old.

Danru

Danru, meaning ‘nonchalance’ is a Buddhist name. He is the third child of Weili and Wen Fu. Weili sends him to Harbin to stay with Hulan, in order to save him from Wen Fu. He later dies in an epidemic in Harbin.

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