Chapter 4

More than twenty years ago, my aunt's family couldn't have a boy.

Because she was weak, after having two children, she really couldn't handle having more.

The man in their family wanted a boy, saying he'd divorce her if she couldn't give him one.

But before my grandmother passed away, she refused to allow a divorce, saying it wouldn't sound good if word got out.

As a compromise, my uncle agreed to adopt a son.

In earlier years, my aunt's family didn't have much money.

In order to nurture someone useful, my uncle chose to live frugally and put all the money into the adopted son's education.

Initially, my aunt argued with my uncle over this, and several incidents of domestic violence occurred.

After the violence, she'd often run over to us, but my grandmother said a woman can't always run back to her parents' house, so she'd send my aunt back that same night.