The Meadow 185 headed to a restaurant. “Dajie, you should eat more. You are too skinny,” Min said while driving. “I don’t want to become fat,” Ye replied. “Your brother cares about you. You will look as beautiful as your sister if you put on five kilograms’ weight,” Mother declared. “Can we just not talk about my body shape?” she frowned. Her phone vibrated. Chou: Have you eaten yet? Ye: No. On our way to the restaurant. Ye had to constantly remind herself her family and Chou showed their love and care for her by asking, but the questions always left her drained. “Have you eaten yet?” “What did you have for lunch?” “Did you enjoy your meal?” “Have you had enough?” Ye could recall all the questions her family asked each time she returned home. What else could they talk about? During the years she left home, they had grown farther apart and become familiar strangers. “You should treat yourself right. Buy a new cell phone. You have been using that phone since college. Look at this latest iPhone. Your sister bought it for me. You should buy this one, too.” Mother took out her phone from her handbag and showed her. “Mom, I can’t afford it. I told you. We are saving for a down payment on a house.” “Who is this ‘we’? Your father and I won’t approve. Come home next month and meet Mr. Zhang instead. He is a business partner of your uncle. He owns a large construction company. You won’t need to work so hard to buy a house. Look at your sister. She married a rich man, and she doesn’t even need to work.”
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