Question 1:  On page 2755, Chang writes “Beyond the stone railing there was an enormous palm tree, its feather fronds trembling in the sun, like a fountain of light.  Beneath the tree there was a pool of water with its own fountain, less magnificent by far”.  What is the significance of this line?  Is there a symbolic meaning behind the palm tree and fountain?

Question 2: Later on page 2755, Liyuan empties a glass of tea.  “When the glass was tilted, the green tea-leaves stuck to one side, forming irregular patterns; when the glass was held up to the light, the leaves looked like a flourishing plantain tree, while the tea-leaves that were piled along the bottom in a tangled swirl looked like knee-high grass and undergrowth.”  There have been a large amount of references throughout the story to nature.  What is Chang trying to achieve through these references?