Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter (157-197)

            Her relatives were leaving soon and Yen Mah was going to ask her father if she could come along but she was reticent and didn’t say good bye to them. A little while after, her stepmother and Fourth Brother asked her to pack her bags and they took her away in the car. Yen Mah had thought about her grandfather and how she was one day going to rescue him. Along the way, her brother demanded to snack, so they went to a hotel and when Fourth Brother told the waiter of their Chinese surname, they were to wait for half an hour. Impatient, her mother gave them her French given name and they received their wish; Hong Kong was a British Colony and their people come before natives. Then Yen Mah is enrolled into a boarding school named Sacred Heart School and Orphanage, and she is left there by herself, just like when she was in Tianjin. Two years passed since she had last seen her family and everyday Yen Mah lives through her poverty at school. While her friends obtain gifts of rare snacks from their family members, she doesn’t receive anything; the students in her school interpret that her family doesn’t care about her. From the undersize brown dress and worn tennis shoes Yen Mah wore on free days, they could tell that she was different. They do know that she was a scholar and Yen Mah even skipped some grades. Against the beautiful and rich student Monica in writing, the teachers decide Yen Mah’s over hers, making her ignore her. It soon became summer break before all the girls left to their families, visiting hours were extended; this meant to Yen Mah that parents could have a tour of the place. While escaping the oncoming parents, she hid in the bathroom and overheard what Monica and another girl said about her. Thought their words were cruel at first, they concluded by saying that she was different, in a special sort of way. Once summer break started, Yen Mah was the only student left at the academy. When winter break was starting, once again Yen Mah is left alone at school and before two of her distant friends left, they made a pact to always be there for each other. During the winter, Yen Mah catches pneumonia and she was sent to the hospital, where she was given an injection to feel better. She was sent home for a week to recuperate and she is reunited with Thrid Brother and Ye Ye. They talk about what had happen since they’ve been separated and Yen Mah was asked by her brother what she wanted to become when she grew older. She replied that she was worthless, which Ye Ye protested against and said that he has faith and believes in her. Winter break was still not over by the time Yen Mah came back to school and while looking through a magazine, she found a writing competition. Taking her grandfather’s advice, she tries out for it and hopes for a letter from the writing board for half a year. Three months after the start of 1952, Yen Mah attended Ye Ye’s funeral. The rest of her family members didn’t shed a tear during the event, only stood there with impassive expressions. At home, Niang informed Yen Mah to find a job and support herself. She was only fourteen years old.  When she came back to school, her friends were playing a game: each girl writes something about themselves and the other girls write what they think of her. When it was Yen Mah’s turn, she wrote nothing but to her surprised, her friends said that she would be mostly likely to succeed; this is one of those times in which people believe that she isn’t worthless and that she is special. One day, Yen Mah was driven home and her father, who had never acknowledged her, summoned her in his room. In his room, her father praised her for being the victor of the writing competition, which impressed a business friend of his. At this time Yen Mah asked him if she could study in England like her brothers, which he agreed to. Though he rejected her path of writing, he set her on a medical major in college; she didn’t care as long as she leaves to England. Yen Mah received a letter from her aunt a few months later and she tells her a story about Cinderella and how she lived a life similar to Yen Mah’s. Then novel ended with her aunt dubbing Yen Mah as her very own Chinese Cinderella.

“In fact, we have voted you most likely to succeed” (Yen Mah 188).

            I chose this specific quote because despite what she thought of herself, it wsn’t what everyone else thought. Ever since she was young, Yen Mah was constantly told by her grandfather and aunt that she wasn’t trash or worthless but instead special and unique. Yen Mah begs to differ and she loathes that she is just that. What she doesn’t see it that she has a talent in writing and learning, which is why her being top of the class since kindergarten is proof of this. Even after hearing about how different she is, Yen Mah doesn’t accept that she’s special until her father, the person who she wants the most recognition from, praises her. It is at this time she realizes that she had made her father proud and doesn’t care about which path she takes in life; it seems that she doesn’t realize her importance until the end.

Chinese Cinderella The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter (123-156)

When Yen Mah arrives to the airport, it is crowded with many people trying to fight for tickets. To her surprised, about 10 people boarded the plane. The younger Yen mah didn’t know of it at the time but Communists were advancing towards Beijing and Tianjin, their destination. While people were running away in the opposite direction, they were going towards the danger. On the plane passengers were required to fill out an information sheet to her dismay, Yen Mah’s father forgot her Chinese name and birthday; her father gave her the same birthday as his since they didn’t know. In Tianjin, everyone was speaking Mandarin, not in the Shanghai dialect she speaks at home. Once getting picked up, her parents immediately dropped her off at her old school where she went for kindergarten; it was night and when she settled into bed, some beds were empty, indicating that students left before the Communists came. The next morning, Yen Mah discovers from another student’s mother that they were drawing near and she should be fleeing this area and was wondering what her parents was thinking in leaving her there. Since families were leaving the city, there were fewer students attending school each day and soon Yen Mah was the only one left. The nuns allowed her to roam the place and avoided her since they didn’t know what to do with her. Even when Christmas and New Years Day pasted, her parents didn’t show up. To past the time, Yen Mah learned how to do origami and one of the nuns gave her an origami books for Christmas. One day a nun ran up to her and exclaimed that her aunt was here to pick Yen Mah up. With her hopes rising, she rushed to see that it was her aunt from her mother’s side, one that she met when she was only 4 or 5 years old. With her aunt, uncle, and their two children, Yen Mah sailed on a boat to Hong Kong. Along the way, she experienced a loving family where everyone was fair and loves each other. She also saw the brotherly love her cousin was giving to his sister, one that she would never feel because her brothers treat her like dirt. Once in Hong Kong, they made their way to her parents’ jam pack home, where her stepsiblings and grandfather also lived. Yen Mah discovers that her grandfather had succumbed to her parents and though her name was mentioned, her parents didn’t look at her at all. In the next few days, the family would go out and explore while Ye Ye and her would stay at home. Yen Mah didn’t know how to read Chinese and Ye Ye explains to her the Chinese symbols and writing. When her grandfather decided to travel along with them, there was no room in the car for Yen Mah. Niang pestered to leave her at home but her cousin, Victor, stepped out and stays home with Yen Mah. Having felt gratitude, Yen Mah gave him her prized origami book, which he is grateful but doesn’t fully understand the reason.

“To receive a letter addressed to me. Just one letter. From anyone” ( Yen Mah 131).

            I chose this quote because knowing that she is always alone, I can predict that she would want a simple wish such as this. The meaning of the quote changes because as I read on about her experience back in this academy, she is still alone. From the start, there was a decrease in students and the classes were separated by the student’s ability to speak English. She was placed in a beginner’s class and was surrounded by students younger than her. Also, she was promised by her aunt that she would write back but with the country’s condition at that time, to deliver a letter seemed impossible. Of course, reading the new information about her stay, I could understand why she would want a letter from anybody.

Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter (72-122)

After Yen Mah’s father and stepmother returned from their trip from Tianjin, the seven children got a gift from old family friends. They gave each child a baby duckling and after her siblings had chosen theirs, she was left with a tiny duckling. Yen Mah named her Precious Little Treasure (PLT) and the duckling became her best friend. They got very close to each other since Yen Mah was protective of her and told her all of her feelings as if she understood. Yen Mah would even feed PLT worms she dug up in the garden, even if Jackie, a large dog that belonged to her father. On the roof terrace was the duck pen and Second Brother found Yen Mah favoring her own duckling by giving her a worm. When that worm was taken away and she went to dig up a new one, Jackie bit her wrist and the only person who noticed was Aunt Baba. They decided not to tell anyone unless they notice and head to dinner. After dinner, the father and Niang was talking about Jackie’s obedience lesson and decided to test it out. Ironically, the lessons have been failing since Jackie only listens to her father and step family. Her father told his children to bring down one duckling and it turns out to be PLT. Yen Mah could only watch as her close companion was killed; the next morning she buried it in the garden when her father left with Jackie. In school, Wu Chun-mei begged Yen Mah to attend her birthday party, which after much pestering, Yen Mah agreed; she didn’t have time to retake her answer back because it would’ve ruined her friend’s mood. Her aunt knew of the event and gave her a silver coin so she could buy a gift. The party was on a holiday in which only her school had the day off so without telling her stepmother, Yen Mah attended the party. She soon had to return for lunch at home, causing Niang to become suspicious of her behavior. She found out that Yen Mah was lying and Aunt Baba was going behind their backs so her father decided to separate them. Wu Chun-mei did not know what happen and went on with the lie that Niang told her about her not being able to return back to the party. In school, there was an election for class president and run like a democracy, the students voted for Yen Mah but in her speech she refused and passed it onto her friend in fear of being late to go home. At home, her aunt tried to ask her what Yen Mah’s parents said yesterday but her grandfather said to leave her alone and don’t tear her down. The next day her friend won and Yen Mah went home like always but her friends secretly followed her home in hopes of a celebration. They don’t know the life she lives through and Yen Mah becomes afraid; her parents heard the commotion in their living room and they become furious at Yen Mah. In a separated room with the door open, they yelled insults and punished her; Yen Mah’s friends heard everything and left home, understanding her situation. Yen Mah’s punishment was that she is to live somewhere else, away from her aunt since Niang believes that her evilness rubbed off. In school the next day, Yen Mah was voted for class president, making her feel at home, but when she comes home, she finds out that she is to leave the next day to Tianjin with her parents and without her aunt. The chapter ends with Yen Mah and her aunt talking about how they would stay in contact with each other, how her aunt would always be with her and how Yen Mah is special.

“Let her study! She won’t disappoint you. When you’ve reached my age, you know which children are weak and which are strong. Don’t ask her too many questions. Don’t criticize her or tear her down. I don’t want her to grow up like Big Sister. She is going to be different!” (Yen Mah 110).

            I picked this speech by her grandfather because once I read it, they way he said it jumped out to me. Knowing what she had went through in life and a gist of her pain, I feel like there are some people like her grandfather and aunt that still believe and care for her, even when everyone else in the family doesn’t. When I read the last sentence of his speech, I knew that he still had confidence that Yen Mah wouldn’t turn out like her sister, who submitted to Niang when gifts were given to her. I also know that he knows that she is strong, which is true because she was only around ten years old and she has to encounter all of these depressing feelings swirling around her life. Also, when I read this, I imagined Yen Mah still mentally standing while her sister is crumbled down with the criticized and questions.

Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter (42-71)

Chinese New Year was a holiday not only for children but for adults also. New clothes are worn on that day to signal a new beginning. When Yen Mah’s parents gave her and her older siblings traditional Chinese clothing, they are disappointed in their gifts because their stepmother’s favored children received western clothing. Yen Mah was included along with her older siblings in an act to rebel against their parents by writing an anonymous letter to their father complaining about their needs. Their older sister, the leader of the group, soon was pursued to join their stepmother’s side and the group’s plan doesn’t follow out. In school Yen Mah found a passion to write fictional stories and is accepted into the class but they suspected something was off in her family life. Though Yen Mah tries to act like she has a normal family, she hides the negative emotions in her. Wu Chun- mei was an athletic classmate that befriends Yen Mah when she saw her walking to and from school, even in dangerous weather. During this time, World War II had ended when America dropped the atomic bomb on Japan and American influences came in to their country since America was their hero. Wu Chun- mei let her borrow a book similar to Yen Mah’s life and she became attached to it since she could relate to the protagonist’s feelings. In the spring of 1946, her father, older sister, and step family went north, staying away for three months. During this time, everyone in the household had more freedon and her brothers rebel against the rules their parents set up. One heated summer day, Yen Mah was tricked in drinking contaminated orange juice by her 3 brothers. She cried, not because of their cruelty but because Third Brother’s, her kindest and youngest older brother, nicer side disappeared.

“They didn’t know that in front of them, I was desperate to keep up with the pretense that I came from a normal, loving family” (Yen Mah 54).

            Yen Mah had put up a façade in school in order to try and fit in with her other classmates who don’t live under the same family conditions as her. Little do they know that she was distressed in finding a place where she could fit in and be treated as someone special, unlike the behavior her family gives her behind doors. Only a young child at around the age of 10, Yen Mah had this pressure of being unwanted and a child as young at her shouldn’t be harboring these kinds of feelings. In my opinion, I think children her age should be still acting like a child and free from such heavy burdens on them self.