Page 49 (1/2)

She doesn’t acknowledge him in any way “Of course, all I’ve ever wanted is your happiness,” she goes on in that same even voice “You understand that, Joy, don’t you?”

“Yes,” I answer, uncertain

“Will it be all right if I ask you a few questions?” she asks

I knohat she wants to do She wants to guide me to a point where I’ll see I’ve made a mistake, but I haven’tto do Nothing she says or asks will change my mind

“Don’t you think you’re better than this village? Don’t you see that you’re better than this boy? You went to university and he’s illiterate You don’t need to settle for a sh mistakes in your life Don’t make another”

“Dad was illiterate,” I say, hoht her on

My es at that I’ve hurt her, but she knows exactly what to say to wound ht back “That’s correct Your father was illiterate He was a peasant Do you rereasy food, his bad English, and his backays? Do you re the names of American presidents? Do you think Tao knows the names of the emperors?”

I doubt it, but I don’t worry about that, because I’ve hit on another argument “Grandpa Louie alanted me to come back to China He wanted all of us to return You sent uage You wanted ed to come back here too How many times did you tell me that life was better in China?”

“In Shanghai—”

“Right, Shanghai Well, I’ve been there I prefer Green Dragon Village”

“You ht People’s Commune,” she corrects me, but to what end? Then, “Your skin has always been as translucent as rice milk Do you want to ruin your fortune?”

Is she speaking for May when she asks that question? I don’t know, but I answer, “I was here before, and my skin was fine”

“You’re still young, and you were here only a feeeks Think what a year, a lifetiold won’t buy an inch of time”

“I don’t care about things like that I’m not Auntie May”

“But you’re as stubborn as she is,” she responds “If you stay here, you’ll be living from dirt to mouth”