My Mom Named Me Zhaodi

My mother named me Zhaodi, meaning "Bring a Younger Brother," because she wanted a son.

At my one-month celebration, a blind fortune-teller felt my hand and said I was too strong-willed, and that only a son could keep me in check. My father immediately pulled out ten yuan.

When I was twelve, a whole roomful of people came to watch me serve tea and measure my waist, then arranged my marriage. The bride price was twelve thousand yuan. My father said, "That's enough to pay off the debt."

At twenty-one, I had myself removed from the Chen family household register and changed my name to Chen Sui.

My mother changed her name that same day, to Zhao Zhaodi. She said it had been the name I gave her in the first place.

She never once apologized. She just changed her name.