Answer:
Whenever Waverly Jong describes the area as a "playground," complete with "mysteries" and "adventures," the reader can't help but agree. It seems me that she is describing elderly Li splitting "insect shells, saffron-colored seeds, and pungent leaves" with a sense of wonder in her narration. That is why I get to the conclusion that her knowledge of her area, and I argue that the Chinese community in which she resides, has had a significant impact on her identity. She develops her preferences as a result of her interactions with the circumstances, which help to define her identity and set her apart from others.
Explanation:
short summary:
When Waverly Jong defines the neighborhood as a "playground," with "mysteries" and "adventures."
