The sons of Wang Lung stray from their father’s most important family value: man’s relationship with the earth. Wang Lung has his sons’ lives planned out from the beginning. They will inherit his land, become farmers, and marry to bear sons. Although, Lung’s sons are not in agreement with their father. As the amount of money for the Wang family continuously increases, Lung decides to send his first two sons off to school. One may say that this action may have set the Wang children up to become independent in their career paths. As Wang Lung grows older, becomes ill, and unaware, his two eldest sons decide to sell the land. Lung hears his children talking of this, and becomes distressed, but the young men reassure him so that he may die
