chinese cinderella the true story of an unwanted daughter

However, Nai Nai dies of a stroke some months later. The stepchildren and Niang’s infant daughter live under the care of their grandparents and thrive in the absence of Niang. Niang and her son, Fourth Brother, follow suit some months later, also disappearing without explanation. One day, Father disappears, having fled to Shanghai.

Father, a businessman, faces increased pressure from the Japanese rulers to make them his business partners, something he does not wish to do. Most of China is occupied by Japan, including Tianjin. Beginning in her first week of kindergarten, Adeline proves herself to be a talented scholar, earning the honor of top student nearly every week. Denied love from her parents as well as most of her siblings, Adeline relies on the affections of her Aunt Baba, Grandfather Ye Ye, and Grandmother Nai Nai, all of whom live with the family. Niang despises the five children from her husband’s first marriage and heavily favors her own two biological children, Fourth Brother and Little Sister. One year later, Adeline’s Father marries a half-Chinese, half-French woman whom the family calls Niang. Her mother dies due to birth complications and her family thus views Adeline as “bad luck” and a curse upon them. Adeline is born to a wealthy family in Tianjin, China, as their fifth child. Chinese Cinderella is the true memoir of Adeline Yen Mah’s childhood, describing her life up until she is fourteen years old.

Chinese cinderella the true story of an unwanted daughter