"At the age of fifteen my grandmother became the concubine of a warlord general"

This quote from Jung Chang's autobiography Wild Swans paints a vivid image of the hard life her granny sustained. At the age of fifteen, her grandma was required to end up being the courtesan of a warlord general, a powerful figure in Chinese society. This was a typical practice in China throughout the warlord period, when effective guys would take young women as their concubines. This quote speaks with the extreme truths of life in China throughout this time, when ladies had little control over their own lives and were often dealt with as things. It likewise speaks to the strength of Jung Chang's granny, who withstood this tight spot and still handled to raise a family and live a complete life. This quote acts as a pointer of the battles dealt with by many women in the past, and the resilience of those who conquered them.