Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

When the typhoid epidemic subsides, Snow Flower writes to Lily, inviting her to visit. Without her mother-in-law to forbid the visit, Lily does what she can to appease her husband’s objections and then sets out to visit Snow Flower. Lily sees for the first time how difficult Snow Flower’s circumstances must be—the smell of meat carcasses, unvaried meals of pork meat, and the family of pigs that sniff around the tables for scraps at mealtime. Snow Flower has become a vegetarian in defiance of her husband’s livelihood. Lily and Snow Flower agree that, just as they did, their daughters should wait until the age of seven to begin the foot-binding process.

Snow Flower’s husband refuses to let Lily and Snow Flower sleep together in the master bedroom, as is the custom for lautongs. While Lily is in bed in the ladies’ chamber, she hears Snow Flower and her husband having sex in their room, and feels that they are engaging in polluted acts. Lily observes that Snow Flower is beginning to look worn and old, her skin is darkening and her hair is turning grey.

On Lily’s second night with Snow Flower the government declares war on the Taiping rebels and the entire village flees the approaching battle.