Part 4, Ying-Ying St. Clair, "Waiting Between the Trees" Summary

Lena puts her visiting mother, Ying-Ying, in the guest bedroom, the smallest room in the house. Because of Ying-Ying's Chinese background, the guest bedroom should be the best room in the house. She does not understand her daughter. Both she and her husband are architects, busy designing houses for other people, too busy to have any babies of their own. Ying-Ying sees signs that the marriage will break into pieces. She has always known things before they happen.

Ying-Ying grew up in Washi as a wild and stubborn child. Her mother named her "Ying-Ying" or Clear Reflection. They were one of the richest families in Wushi and lived in a house with many rooms and valuable things. When she is sixteen, her youngest aunt marries, and a...