Big Sister had been back for almost a year. Unable to find a decent job in Taiwan, she decided to learn computer data entry and planned to head to the U.S.
Mom still held onto traditional views, believing that a divorced woman would struggle to find a partner in Taiwan. However, in the more open-minded society of America, Big Sister might have a better chance at a "second spring." She wholeheartedly supported the idea. But Big Sister made it clear to her parents that after her failed marriage, she wasn’t in a rush to remarry. Her goal in going to the U.S. was to earn dollars—expenses for In-In's education and living costs kept mounting, and dragging things out wasn’t sustainable. Besides, Ashan would eventually get married and couldn’t keep supporting the family indefinitely.
After a family discussion, they decided In-In would stay with their parents for the time being, allowing Big Sister to focus on her opportunities in America without distractions.
Dad wrote a letter to their family friend Uncle Wu, who lived in New York, asking if he could temporarily provide a place for Big Sister to stay. Uncle Wu replied enthusiastically, warmly welcoming her. Since he had four sons and no daughters, he promised to treat her like one of his own. So, with a few hundred dollars prepared by their parents and her Malaysian passport, Big Sister applied for a tourist visa and set off for the U.S.
The atmosphere at the airport this time was completely different from the previous farewell. Mom was in tears, worried about Big Sister facing an uncertain future. But Big Sister was strong, repeatedly comforting Mom, saying computer data entry jobs were easy to find in the U.S. She added that the kind-hearted are always protected, and opportunities would present themselves, especially with Uncle Wu's support.
Mom couldn’t stop crying until Big Sister firmly warned her, "If you keep crying, I won’t leave. We can all stay here and work ourselves to death together. But if you want me to have a chance at a new life, then say goodbye with a smile." That finally stopped the tears.
Fortunately, Big Sister found a computer data entry job in the U.S. not long after arriving. Bold as ever, when asked if she had a green card, she confidently replied, "Of course, I’ve lived in New York for so long!" That got her the job. She shared stories about how, early on, a Black female colleague frequently gave her trouble. One day, Big Sister had enough, stared her down, and warned, "If you mess with me again, I’ll grab a gun and take you out." She added, "In New York, there’s no death penalty anyway. At worst, I’ll sit in prison for a few years and come out as good as new." That frightened the woman, who never bothered her again.
Big Sister remarked that America is a dog-eat-dog world. "If you can’t toughen up, you won’t survive." Ashan was astonished by her ferocity, admitting he had underestimated her. Dad praised her courage, saying she had the makings of a soldier. Mom, however, called Dad a fool, fretting that such behavior was reckless and could lead to trouble. She urged Dad to write to Big Sister, advising her to approach everything with kindness and avoid being combative, especially as a woman, because it could backfire.
Their arguments went on, but Ashan said there was no point worrying about someone thousands of miles away. "Big Sister has weathered her share of storms; she’ll be fine."
大姐回來也近一年了，在台灣也沒法找到好的事情，於是就去學了電腦打卡，準備到美國去。
阿三媽還是老觀念，認為離了婚的女人在台灣不容易找到對象。到了美國，社會比較開放，大姐也有較好的機會找到第二春，當然力表贊同。不過大姐也明白地告訴爸媽，經過了這次挫折的婚姻，她也不會急著再結婚了。到美國去找事情是為了賺美金，茵茵唸書穿衣也要花錢，日子這樣拖下去也不是辦法。何況阿三遲早要結婚的，也不能一直負擔這個家。最後經過家庭會議，決議茵茵留下來由爸媽暫時照顧。這樣大姐到了美國沒有後顧之憂，可以放手一搏。
阿三爸於是就發了封信給住在紐約的鄉親吳叔叔，請教他是否可以暫時提供丫頭一個落腳的地方。吳叔叔回信滿口答應，而且還表示非常歡迎。他有四個兒子，沒有女兒，會把丫頭當作自己女兒一樣。於是大姐就帶著爸媽準備的幾百塊美金，靠著馬來西亞的護照，辦了觀光簽證，前赴美國去了。
這一次到機場去送大姐，氣氛跟上一次又是完全不一樣。阿三媽是老淚漣漣，擔心大姐此一去前途茫茫。倒是大姐表現的很堅強，頻頻勸媽不要難過，電腦打卡在美國很容易找事。何況吉人自有天相，船到橋頭自然直，況且還有吳叔叔照應。
老媽仍然不能克服心中的傷感，一直流淚不止。大姐開始激老媽了，如果老媽再哭，我大小姐就不走了，大家以後死做一堆好了。如果老媽要給大姐一條生路，就高高興興地告別，老媽這才止住淚水。
還好老姐在美國順利的找到電腦打卡的工作。她也是真大膽，人家問她有沒有綠卡，她說住在紐約這麼久當然有，就這麼混到了工作。老姐還提到剛上班時有個黑女同事老是找她麻煩。老姐有天火了，瞪大了眼睛警告那個黑女，如果敢再找麻煩，老姐就要拿槍幹掉她。老姐說在美國妞約州反正沒有死刑，了不起坐幾年牢，出來後又是一條好「娘子」。這下可把那黑女給唬住了，再也不敢找老姐的麻煩。
老姐還說，美國是個人吃人的世界。如果你狠不起來就不用混了。阿三說沒想到老姐居然這麼兇悍，以前真是看走了眼。老爸直誇大姐有膽識，真是個軍人的料；老媽說老爸是老糊塗了，這種事情父母擔心都來不及了，還不去信好好勸大姐：凡事要結善綠，不要逞兇鬥狠，一個女人家，終究會吃虧的。兩人還爭論不休，阿三說人在千里之外，實在也管不著。何況大姐也是大風大浪過來的，不必擔心啦！
