Lindo's Chinese culture teaches Waverly to listen to her to mother and that you should never mess with a Chinese mother "Well, I don't know if it's explicitly stated in the law, but you can't ever tell a Chinese mother to shut up. You could be charged as an accessory to your own murder- (191). Lindo's Chinese culture also teaches Waverly not to beg to for items "'Bite back your tongue, scolded my mother when I cried loudly 'Wise guy, he not go against wind- (89). These leads into her mother teaching her the art of invisible strength, "In Chinese we say, Come from the South, blow with wind "poom! "North will follow. Strongest wind cannot be seen- (89). This art of invisible strength greatly improves Waverly's chess playing ability and later helps in the relationship between her and her mother. Seeing her mothers culture also makes Waverly want to stay away from it. Waverly sees how stubborn her mother can be and how vague her responses can be and she doesn't want to become like that, "'It's uncanny how much you two look alike!' I smile But my daughter's eyes and her smile become very narrow - (291). Waverly makes some of her decisions on the basis that she doesn't want to end up like her mother. Waverly also realizes how wise her mother is and that she got that way from her Chinese culture. Waverly wants to be like her mother in this way and, even though she has been hiding from her Chinese culture most of her life; she now wants that culture to shine through. Lindo already knows that this will never happen; it is too late for Waverly, but Lindo doesn't tell her this. Lindo does tell her that the Chinese would be able to tell she is American right away from her facial expressions and personality.
Waverly learns a lot about Lindo's country throughout the book. Waverly learns how much the Chinese followed the traditions of their ancestors even if they weren't always the most agreeable traditions.
