“This society, I think, is wrong. Our mothers, for example, have given birth to many children, although more daughters than sons. They were housewives. But they have taken care of the children, done housework and farm work at the same time, even in the last stage of their pregnancies. However, they were despised by our grandparents and beaten by their husbands, and this society has done them injustices. Now it seems natural that we are copies of them. We are small, and we’ve been treated unequally. I heard your story. We are the same. Luckily, after that experience of beating your mother near to death, your father changed. Unlike that asshole, your father has stopped using violence. He is a good person with a bitter life. His bitterness has something to do with the mission given by our ancestors. The mission is to have sons and raise them to become men. The mission has nothing to do with us women. Women serve as a tool in the mission. Because our ancestors taught us only men can honor and glorify the family. That asshole is no exception. When Big Dragon, my elder son, wanted him to buy a car for his wedding during last Spring Festival and meanwhile Little Dragon, my younger son, asked him to buy a motorcycle, he just told them to have a son fi rst. See? Even that asshole wants grandsons! And I bet these spoiled Dragons will learn from their father. They don’t miss me. They only visited me when they were broke. I’m afraid that I can’t expect much from them when I get old and sick. Fortunately, my adopted daughter Dan is hopeful. Unlike the two immature sons, Dan is very obedient. Oh, Dan is in Beijing too. Dan comes to see me once a month. Dan never visited me with empty hands. Every time she would bring me something. She never asked me for money. She gave me money! What a diff erence between this adopted daughter and the two sons of my own fl esh and blood! Not that I prefer my daughter to my sons; I simply can’t help feeling my sons are two copies of that asshole. If ever there is a chance to make a choice between a daughter and a son, I will choose to have a daughter. Oh, how I want a daughter of Bao’s character! Can you imagine that Bao will treasure her as much as he treasures me now like a precious jewel?”