The entire novel is set during the time of China's infamous
Cultural Revolution, during which many city youths were sent to the country side to be re-educated. This setting allows us to see the contrast between the
educated urban boys versus the village men. In this way, we are shown how important education is in the traditional sense of reading and writing. In addition, the
Little Seamstress is introduced as a villager who displays interest in knowledge, but is still uneducated in many ways.
