After Ma feeds the stew to the camp kids, a mother expresses an emotion to Ma. What is that emotion?

• A. Gratitude
• B. Fear
• C. Confusion
• D. Anger

Answer: (D)

When people are in the grip of extreme hardship, actions of care from someone outside their immediate circle can trigger a tense, protective response rather than simple gratitude. Ma’s act of feeding the camp kids shows her generosity and practical kindness, but the mother’s reaction is anger. That anger comes from a mix of pride, fear, and embarrassment—the sense that relief is scarce and aid from outsiders can feel intrusive or demeaning. In that moment, the mother may feel her own family's dignity threatened or resented for highlighting their precarious situation, so the emotion comes out as sharp, defensive anger rather than soft gratitude. This scene uses that harsh reaction to illustrate how even acts of charity are interpreted through the exhausting, boundary-pushing realities of life in the camps, where goodwill and survival coexist with frustration and strain.