Summary

“After a Life” opens on Mr. and Mrs. Su in their apartment with Beibei, their eldest child who was born with “severe mental retardation and cerebral palsy,” whose existence they hide from society (23). The narrator mentions that the Sus regret that Beibei’s presence made their son, Jian, feel uncomfortable at home, and that they secretly hope that they can “reclaim” him after Beibei’s death (23). Mrs. Fong calls the household, asking Mrs. Su to deny Mr. Fong’s claim that he would be spending the day with Mr. Su; although Mrs. Su validates Mr. Fong’s claim, she feels guilty for knowing that Mr. Fong does, in fact, use a consenting Mr. Su as a cover for an affair. Before Mr. Su leaves home to spend the day at the stockbrokerage, Mrs. Su begins to feel jealous of the physical tenderness...