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                  Kui Hua lived a lonely life. Only when she saw the sunflowers, she felt better because those were Tin Ming's and her flowers. She seemed to feel his love, his strength.
      She couldn't remember how long she had been waiting for the news about Tin Ming. At last, she received Tin Ming's second letter and a sum of money.
      Kui Hua cried when she knew her husband was quite broken down with grief over his parent's death.
      Tin Ming also told her that he could speak and understand some simple English sentences because of Marisa's teaching. Marisa was one of the teachers in the church. She was a young widow and one of his father's current customers. Specifically, Marisa knew some Taishanese, so she was the favorite teacher in the English class. Sometimes Marisa came to the grocery to help him solve some problems. Therefore, Tin Ming felt easier about living in this city. The money was for Kui Hua's living.
      Kui Hua noticed that Tin Ming didn't mention "sunflower." Her heart sank, as if she lost something precious in her life. She was not sure what would happen in the future. She still took care of the sunflowers, but some plants began to wither and turn yellow.
      When the Japanese captured Canton and Hong Kong, Kui Hua lost the connection with her husband. During the war, only the sweet memories made her lonely heart feel better. She was so extremely anxious and sad that she become very quiet and lost her positive spirit. Sometimes she murmured to herself, sometimes she wrote letters for the whole day; sometimes she cried aloud in front of Tin Ming's mother's grave. Neighbors advised her to get over her worries. Kui Hua just smiled bitterly but couldn't release herself from inner sadness. Nevertheless, she planted the sunflowers because she kept a hope in her heart.
      When the Second World War ended, many Chinese sent letters and money to their family. Kui Hua waited, waited, but no letter came from Tin Ming. She was confused and worried. Later she heard a rumor about her husband. She didn't want to believe it. She was also afraid that it was the truth. Then she decided to go to Meili for help.
      When Meili met her miserable cousin's eyes, she felt an ache in her heart. Meili tried to let out the bad news in an easier way, saying tenderly, "Dear Kui Hua, I just received Tin Ming's letter. He wants your forgiveness..."
      Kui Hua interrupted impatiently, "Give me his letter."
      Having no choice, Meili handed her the letter. When Kui Hua was reading her husband's letter, she felt extreme pain, as if many arrows shot into her heart. She couldn't bear Tin Ming's unfaithfulness. She despised his cowardice because he hadn't even had the courage to write a letter to his own wife to tell her the truth. To plant the sunflowers, how ridiculous it was! Gradually, her mind and her heart were numb. She sat there silently, only her face turned paler and paler.
      Kui Hua's abnormal quiet frightened Meili.
      Kui Hua patted her cousin's hand and smiled oddly. "Don't worry! I just want to go home."

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