Summary

Jung-Sum, or Yee Doy (83), who was born approximately in 1926 in Kamloops, B.C., is one of the main characters in thenovel “The Jade Peony”. When he was very young, his parents died (95). Herby Chin kept him at first, however, he was takenaway many times by strange families. Finally, in 1931, Mr.Chang took him to Hahm-sui-fauh, which is the Chinese way to call Vancouver, and Poh-Poh adopted him (98). He was four years old at that time, living in the same room with his new brother,Kiam, and never cried.

1936, Jung-Sum was 10 years old (76). Jung-Sum had found a lao-kwei, old turtle, in his house which was left by Dai Kew.Jung was truly interest in the turtle and then took the responsibilities of taking care of it, he even gave the turtle an English name,King George and got a little bit famous around friends and classmates.

1938, Jung-Sum was 12 years old (100). Jung’s father always let him get the rent money from Old Yuen and consequentlyJung met Old Yuen’s son, Frank. At that time, Jung had learned how to box at the Hastings Gym where he met Max. When hegot a “new” jacket and took it to Gee Sook’s (110), he wished Frank could see him (112). Junk did not realize his sexual preference and his feeling about Frank, while Poh-Poh had already said that Jung was the moon, the Yin side (88).

1939. Jung had rejected to be Old Yuen’s son (122), Jung- Sum had grown some kind of strange feeling toward Frank. “Noone realized that I still saw Frank Yuen (125).” After an actual fight with Frank, drunk, Frank kissed Jung’s forehead at HastingsGym. On Jung’s way home, he realized his real sexual preference, and recalled how Poh-Poh once called him the moon and understood why Poh-Poh said so. He was a homosexual.

1940. Jung-Sum was 14. Frank was going to joins U.S. Marines. Jung, Frank, Kiam and several friends held a good-bye partyfor Frank. Frank asked Jung to keep a gold watch for him, which Frank got from his father, Old Yuen. Frank kissed and huggedJung, and those actions made him more fragile. On Jung’s way home, he found out that it is Frank what he need the most.