Here's what happens:
* Jing-mei rebels against her mother's dreams of her becoming a prodigy. She feels pressured and suffocated by her mother's expectations.
* The piano becomes a symbol of this struggle. It represents her mother's hopes and dreams, and Jing-mei's rejection of them.
* Jing-mei's rebellious act of playing "perfectly" at the recital is a way to express her frustration. It shows that she can achieve what her mother wants, but she doesn't want to.
* The story ends with the piano still in the house. It is a constant reminder of the unresolved tension between Jing-mei and her mother, and the lingering pain of their relationship.
The fact that the piano is not disposed of or played again suggests that:
* The conflict is not fully resolved. Jing-mei has not accepted her mother's dreams, and her mother has not understood Jing-mei's feelings.
* The piano remains a symbol of their relationship. It represents the love and expectations, but also the misunderstandings and frustrations.
* There is potential for change. The piano is not discarded, leaving a glimmer of hope that Jing-mei and her mother might find a way to connect and understand each other better in the future.
The piano's presence at the end of the story serves as a powerful reminder that the journey of understanding and reconciliation is often long and complex.