She did not really get to meet her mother until she was nine years old and her grandmother died. Her mom had left in disgrace years before after becoming a rich merchant’s fourth concubine. When her mother returned for An-Mei’s grandma’s final days, she was met with open hostility and was flung from the house as soon as the funeral was over. The mom wanted nothing more than to be with her children, but An-Mei’s uncle warned her that she must not leave, or else she’ll live in dishonor forever. She bravely decided to follow her mother, and it was probably the most difficult thing she’d ever done. She had to leave her little brother behind in anguish. As she flew from her uncle’s house, she remembered a story her mother had told her the night before about crying over a pond. In her mother’s story, the turtle ate up her tears, and the birds laughed at her. She said, “...it is useless to cry. Your tears do not wash away your sorrows. They feed someone else’s joy. And that is why you must learn to swallow your tears.” (217) An-Mei was inspired to keep hope, and remained calm during the difficult
She did not really get to meet her mother until she was nine years old and her grandmother died. Her mom had left in disgrace years before after becoming a rich merchant’s fourth concubine. When her mother returned for An-Mei’s grandma’s final days, she was met with open hostility and was flung from the house as soon as the funeral was over. The mom wanted nothing more than to be with her children, but An-Mei’s uncle warned her that she must not leave, or else she’ll live in dishonor forever. She bravely decided to follow her mother, and it was probably the most difficult thing she’d ever done. She had to leave her little brother behind in anguish. As she flew from her uncle’s house, she remembered a story her mother had told her the night before about crying over a pond. In her mother’s story, the turtle ate up her tears, and the birds laughed at her. She said, “...it is useless to cry. Your tears do not wash away your sorrows. They feed someone else’s joy. And that is why you must learn to swallow your tears.” (217) An-Mei was inspired to keep hope, and remained calm during the difficult