A metaphor is employed when the fragility of the townspeople is understood by their being like "weak china." These people are weary and weak from being exploited workers. They suffer from poor health and poor nutrition.

The workers are masses of the population forced to labor in dirty unhygienic factories for very little money. This includes fragile little children. People, including children, are often sick but and malnourished yet they are still forced to work in these filthy factories. This is why they are so "fragile" like China.