Thousand Pieces of Gold

Lalu, a young Chinese woman, is sold by her impoverished family and forced to leave China for the American West in 1880. Her sale begins a brutal journey of exploitation and survival across continents. The event sets in motion the power dynamics that will shape her fate.

Upon her arrival in California, Lalu meets Jim, a Chinese 'wife trader'. Jim sells her to Hong King, a successful Chinese merchant who operates in an Idaho mining town. The encounter foreshadows the impending relocation and the power dynamics that will shape her fate.

Lalu and Jim set off for Idaho, traveling toward the mining town where Hong King resides. Along the way, they form a tenuous bond that hints at reliance in a harsh landscape. The journey exposes her to a widening gulf between cultures and fortunes.

Arriving in the rough town, Polly discovers she is not Hong King's wife but his new prostitute, renamed 'China Polly'. She is thrust into the saloon's backroom politics and the town's commodified view of women. The moment crystallizes the exploitation she will endure.

Jim vanishes, leaving Polly to navigate the perilous town on her own. With few allies, she must survive the predatory environment and find ways to protect herself. The social pressure and danger intensify as she starts to stake her own control.

That night, Hong King tries to auction Polly to the highest bidder, but Charlie Bemis intervenes and offers a counterpath. He helps her resist submission and negotiates a new role for her—as a servant and saloon maid—to repay her purchase price. The alliance begins with a protective, yet complicated, bond.

Hong King agrees to let Polly buy her freedom for a staggering sum of a thousand pieces of gold. She accepts to repay through service, finding stability in a working arrangement rather than immediate release. The price underscores the system's dehumanization while giving her a path toward autonomy.

Polly endures sexual assault by Hong King, yet she refuses to surrender her dignity. She continues to work hard, earning the respect of some townspeople along the way. The trauma informs her resolve and marks a turning point in her standing within the community.

While Polly navigates exploitation, Charlie grows closer to her and falls in love. He becomes a key ally, offering protection and emotional support. Their evolving relationship complicates Polly's earlier loyalties and future choices.

With financial trouble looming, Hong King puts Polly up for sale again. Charlie wins her in a poker game, changing her legal status and giving her a chance at a different life. The unlikely romance deepens, though their arrangement remains non-traditional.

Polly moves in with Charlie, but she insists their relationship remains platonic and they keep separate quarters. The arrangement allows emotional complexity to unfold while preserving personal autonomy. Their bond becomes a sanctuary amid the town's hostility.

Jim returns, insisting Polly belong with him, but he abandons the idea when he finds she lives with Charlie. The return underscores shifting loyalties and the fragile status of Chinese residents in the town. Polly and Charlie's bond persists despite Jim's interruption.

The town's white supremacists intensify their campaign to drive Chinese residents away and purge the town of non-whites. The violence and intimidation threaten Polly's ability to stay and earn a living. The social climate forces a reevaluation of where she can live safely.

Polly saves money with the intent to return to China, but she ends up choosing a future with Charlie. They marry and leave the area to dodge harassment, finding solace and stability away from the white demons. Her life closes the arc with a sense of quiet resilience.