Chapter 4—Pages 284-312 Summary

The following day changes the course of Yuan's life for the lady mother tells him it is not wise for him to continue to live in the house now Mei-ling has turned down his marriage proposal. Yuan feels as uncomfortable as Mei-ling and tells his mother, "I feel I want to be where I must not see her every day, too, and where I need not remember every time I see her or hear her voice that she will not have me," (p. 285). Yet even as he says it, he knows he will be miserable without being near her. The lady mother sees his quivering lip and encourages him that Mei-ling may change her mind within a couple of years. However, Yuan does not get his hopes up. One thing he likes about her is she is...