 GEOG: The captain is talking with Gladys and says that someone will  listen to anything for an extra bowl of rice. The story takes place  in northern China and rice is only eaten in southern China. Noodles  made from wheat was the mainstay of the Chinese diet in the north.  Later in the film it appears Gladys takes a serving of rice from a  large pot, and lastly on the journey with the children they come  across some uncooked rice which Gladys picks it up.