Old Xu started to tear up as he spoke, so he decided not to continue. He fumbled for his wrinkled cigarette pack and, lighting one, started to smoke.
The three women in the room all looked teary-eyed, on the verge of breaking down.
For many years, propaganda equalizing men and women spread across the town and painted over its walls. However, only when living in such a family, in such an environment, could one truly understand the discrimination they face for not having a son in these times.
The second daughter wasn't unfamiliar with such situations. Every market day, the streets would be jammed with vegetable sellers. No matter how busy it got, other households always had a clear path to their doors. The paths were just blocked in front of their house alone, and no amount of complaining seemed to help.
