"How many times have I told you, lessen your dealings with Manman, as well as her brother and his crowd. They're out of our league. Now that you're divorced, perhaps they're mocking you and Dongzi behind your backs for not having a husband or a father," Jiang's mother spoke without reservation in front of her daughter, spouting unpleasantries with ease.
From childhood to adulthood, Jiang Mei had thoroughly accustomed herself to her mother's ways, but now the words sounded more grating than ever. It was one thing for her mother to direct her criticisms at just her, but to consistently target the object of her affections was another matter entirely.
"Mom—" she began to speak.
