Adeline Quote: p.19 I understood that I was the least loved child in the family. Description: Adeline was fifth child for Yen family. When she was born, her mother soon passed away so her siblings didn't like her because they thought she brought bad luck which means their mother’s death. She had lonely childhood, but she have successful life after her sad childhood.However , Adeline’s life controled by her parents until her parents both died.
by Amane Takeuchi
1. Grandmother Quote: p.3 I remember Grandmother as a strong minded, intelligent woman with small feet and short hair. Description: She is wife of YeYe and grandmother of Adeline and her siblings. She spends life with YeYe until she passed away on hot day in July 1943.
2. Aunt Baba Quote: p.19 Aunt Baba was like a mother to me p.8 She did everything our mother had done, worrying about our meals, clothing, schooling and health. Her own chances of marriage and a family slowly disappeared. Description: She is child of YeYe and also aunt of Adeline. She was working at Women’s Bank. she asked by Adeline’s mother to look after her Adeline. Since then , Aunt Baba was taking care of Adeline and her siblings, so she did not get married after her life. Adeline loved by mostly Aunt Baba. Also Aunt Baba supported Adeline alots. She passed away age of 89.
3. YeYe Quote: p.2 My grandfather YeYe was the third son of the family.He was a tall, gentle Buddhist who loved poems. Description: YeYe was the third son of Yen family. He married when he was 26 in 1903. He had seven children, but only two of them lived. YeYe’s child is Joseph which is Adeline’s father and Aunt Baba. He was taking care of his grandchildren, Adeline and her siblings with Aunt Baba.
4. James Quote: p.11 My brother James was myonly friend Description: He was third son of Joseph and Adeline’s mother. James was Adeline's older brother and they played togather when they were little. He went to the university in London with Adeline and studied. He helped father’s company when he came back to Hong Kong.
5. Mother (Miss Ren Young- Ping) Quote: p.6 he(father) introduced to Miss Ren. He thought that she was interesting.They began to write to each other. Description: Miss Ren was working at Women’s Bank. She married Joseph and had 5 children. She is the birth mother of Adeline. When she died because of giving birth to her fifth child Adeline, she asked to Aunt Baba for look after Adeline and her other 4 children. She passed away when she was only 30 years old.
6. Lydia Quote: p.11 Lydia liked to show her power over me. Description: She is daughter of Joseph and Adeline’s mother. She is 6 and a half older sister of Adeline. She was not nice to Adeline. She got married when she was 17 years old and her hasband was 31 years old. She thought her life go bad since she got marriage, so she did bot like her hasband and her hasband’s family.
7. Edgar Quote: p.11 He was bully, and hit James and me. Description: He was second son of Joseph and Adeline’s mother.He was older brother of Adeline and James, but he was bullying James and Adeline and she ordered them to do things for him and took thier toys and sweets. Once he entrusted a father’s factory in Nigeria, but father found out he used too much company’s money and he moved to Canada with his wife Maltilda and his child.
8. Niang (Jeanne) Quote: p.63 Our whole family suffered when your stepmother entered our home. She was young and beautiful and this gave her power over your father. Description: Niang is second wife of Joseph and stepmother for Adeline and her siblings. She had French father and Chinese mother. She did not like her stepchildren and she gave English name to her stepchildren instead of Chinese name. Soon she married with Joseph she had power in Yen family and not everyone in Yen family comfortable with Niang. Also she had two daughter and son, but her son Flanklin was dead and her daughter Susan was divorced by Niang herself. She had 4 siblings and one of the her sister is Aunt Reine. Niang never forgave about when Adeline criticized Niang hitting little Susan.
9. Father (Joseph) Quote: p.5 The company made money from everything it did. Father began to be known in the bussiness world as the " magic boy " who had the power of ‘ changing iron into gold’. Description: Joseph is child of YeYe and born in 1907. He was learned about business when he was 18 years old and soon he started his own business and it was successful and made lots of money. He was talented at business , and all of his business and company was successful. He had total of 7 child with Adeline’s mother and Niang. He is Adeline's father, but he didn't have happy relationship with Adeline.
10. Grand Aunt Quote: p.2 I remember Grand Aunt as a tall, well-dressed woman, admired by every memberof our family. Description: When she was three she showed her independence by refusing to have her feet bound. Grand Aunt was youngest of the five children. She is sister of YeYe and Grand Aunt for Adeline and her siblings. When her age reached to go school, her family was richer , so she got go American school.Grand Aunt never married, but she opened her own bank which is Women's Bank.
11. Susan Quote:p.57 Susan was very beautiful and had many admirers. Description:She is daughter of Niang and Joseph and half sister of Adeline and her siblings.Soon she born her mother Niang was not caring of her, instead Aunt Baba was taking care of Susan. Susan married Tony Liang, the sonof a successful businessman, but because of that Susan and Niang’s relationship became badly and finally she divorced by Yen family. Also she didn’t recive nothing from father’s will and Niang’s will
12. Franklin Quote: Franklin was Niang’s favorite child. He looked very much like Niang: a handsome boy with round eyes. Description: Franklin is Niang and Joseph’s first son, also Adeline and her sibling’s half brother. He was special and never get bullied.Franklin treated differently from Adeline and her siblings because Franklin is Niang’s son. He died when he was thirteen and the diease was caused by unwashed strawberries.
13. Aunt Reine Quote:p.29 She placed her arm around me and whispered, ‘Don’t worry, I will offer the same treatment to all three of you.’ Description: Aunt Reine is Niang’s sister, and she is not blood related Aunt For Aseline. However she treated Adeline same as her sons even though she is Niang’s sister. She was one of the Adeline’s family member who treated Adeline fairly and loved Adeline.
14. Victor Quote:p.31 I have never forgotten his thoughtfulness Description: Victor is Aunt Reine’s son and he also dd not treat Adeline differently. He complain to Niang about when Niang tried to leave Adeline home while Niang and other family go and have expensive lunch together, and Victor stayed home with Adeline. He was thoughtful and kindness boy.
15. Ann Quote:p.60 Our daughter, Ann, was born two years later. Description: Ann is Adeline and Bob’s daughter. Her half brother is Roger.
16. Byron Quote: p.49 A tall young man came out of the lighted kitchen. I was tired, but I noticed that he was very hadsome. Description:Byron is first hasband of Adeline and Adeline born Byron’s son while she had marrige with him. However, his attitude to Adeline changed after the marrige, and he became more violent to Adeline and also his son.
17. Roger Quote: p.53 Our son, Roger, was born that evening, beautiful and healthy. Description: Roger is Adeline and Byron’s son. Adeline loved Roger because he was her blood related family. He has half sister Ann.
18. Bob Quote:p.60 Bob was rather handsome and quite tall, with thick black black hair. Description: Bob is Adeline’s hasband after she divorce with Byron. Bob cared Adeline alot and Roger. He really loved Adeline and had daughter with her.
19. Martin Quote: p.48 Martin Ching had come from New York University medical school to spend a month with us. Description: Martin was Adeline’s good friend and who invited America for her new work. 1He also introduced Byron who was Adeline’s ex-hasband
20. Mary Suen Quote: p.33 She was especially kind to me because she herself came from an unhappy family. Description: Mary was Adeline’s best friend in Sacred Heart School. She was also came from unhappy family, she was nice to Adeline. When Adeline became ill, Mary was only visitor.
21. Miss chien Quote: p.18 A private teacher, Miss Chien, looked after them. Descripton: She was private teacher of Franklin and susan, also she act as spy to report to Niang and father.
