Case Study Case 6 Ten years ago, I met a Chinese doctor in the United States, and fell in love with him. In less than 6 months we got married. After my graduation we returned to Finland. My husband had long wished to bring his mother to live with us for a while. Last summer, after we re-decorated our house, we invited her over. You can well imagine how happy my husband was! And I was just as happy. I know being filial to parents is a great value Chinese people cherish. As wife of a Chinese, I try to be as filial as my husband. Two days after my mother-in-law's arrival, I talked to my husband, Dick, while his mother was sitting in the garden enjoying the sunshine. Litz: Dick, how long is your mum going to stay? Dick: I don't know. I haven't asked her. Litz: Why not ask her? Dick: What do you mean by asking her? Litz: I mean what I said. Just ask her how long she's going to stay. Can you guess what was going to happen the next day? My mother-in-law overheard our conversation, and decided to leave for China the very afternoon. I had never expected that her visit should be so short. I tried very hard to persuade her to change her mind, but in vain. Questions 1. Why did the Chinese mother-in-law decide to leave the very afternoon? 2. What was wrong with Litz asking her husband how long his mother was going to stay just two days after her mother-in-law's arrival?