Lulu's mother wants her daughter to give her a daily update on her boyfriends. If Lulu has a date, she wants to know everything in detail so she can comment. Her mother's opinions have often nagged Lulu. If she doesn't have a date, her mother will sigh and say things such as: 'Why are you so unattractive? Something must be wrong with your character. You are too strong.' This hurts Lulu.
As her mother continually whines about her being so picky in choosing a husband, or her ending up an old maid, Lulu can only joke lightly: 'Mum, the later I get married, the better my man will be.'
Lulu's mother married at 25, an age that was considered late. She wants Lulu to get married so that both of them can have emotional and financial security. Yet when Lulu falls for someone, her mother says she's being stupid. 'Other girls all use their brains,' Lulu's mother says. 'Only a stupid girl like you will give her heart and her body so quickly. When I was young, I never let boys get me so easily.'
When Lulu doesn't like some man she has met, her mother will say things such as: 'You're already 30-something. You'd be undesirable in my time. You're lucky to have some man who would like to go out with you.'
Lulu is distressed by her mother's interference in her love life, but she manages to contain her anger. She never explodes until this event.
One day, Lulu's mother is especially unhappy when Lulu makes negative comments about a man named Ching, whom her mother likes.
Lulu's mother thinks Ching will make a good son-in-law because, apart from having a good job, he is polite and honest. Plus, Ching's affection for Lulu is obvious. So when Ching calls later that day when Lulu is out, her mother picks up the phone and chats with him.