190 The Meadow way Mother treated us. Life was hard on Mother. In her day girls were inferior, but it’s different now. You can learn to love your daughter.” Hua wrinkled her small nose and snorted, “That’s easy for you to say. Why don’t you wait until you have a daughter and show me how you are going to love her?” “I should just mind my own business.” Ye raised her cup and drained it in one swallow. “Dajie, what time is your train? I can drive you,” said Min as he poured more tea for her. Ye tapped her fingers on the table to express thanks, and replied, “4 p.m.” “You should come home with us and stay the night. We are family. Family stays close and together. You can go back to Guangzhou tomorrow. You haven’t come home for so long,” Mother said as she walked towards the table. “I can’t. I have to work.” “It’s better to marry a successful man than to work.” Mother nagged. “Mom, why don’t you sit down and eat? You barely ate. Hua must be full, and she can take care of Taotao.” Ye summoned up a smile. “You should…” Before Mother completed the sentence, Father said sternly, “Just eat. A family is supposed to have a decent meal together.” On the train to Guangzhou, Ye looked out at farmland. The rails reflected the waning ray of light in the afternoon sun. A hurried sound vaguely sounded in her ears, and it grew louder and louder, until a loud whistle rang through the sky. She saw a train’s red front and green car section, glass window and blue curtains. Her family’s words always had the power to destroy her. Like words, the train had a destructive power and the power to create great wonder. She wished she could separate from the sights, sounds and sensations. The train whooshed by,
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