the novel follows the life of a young manchu girl named orchid yehonala. the story begins with the death of her father who was once a governor of wuhu. his death left orchid, her two siblings and her mother in poverty. his family travel to his birthplace peking with his coffin for burial. once in peking, they move in with a distant uncle and his mentally retarded and opium addicted son ping (also known as 'bottle').