Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

A few days later Mama carries Lily, dressed simply, to Madame Wang's waiting palanquin, where Snow Flower is sitting. Snow Flower is very pretty and wears a blue silk tunic embroidered with clouds, along with the shoes Lily made. The girls smile at each other. Madame Wang sits in the middle of the bench with a girl on either side to keep the palanquin balanced. The motion of the palanquin makes Lily nauseous. When she hears many voices and the sounds of bells and carts, she knows they've reached the Temple of Gupo fair. Madame Wang exits the palanquin, and Lily sees that Snow Flower looks nauseous as well.

Snow Flower suggests they look out the window. Lily scoots over on the bench and the two pull the curtain aside to look out and take in the incredible sights of the fair. Lily is silent while Snow Flower chatters about visiting the fair every year with her mother, tells Lily about Old Man Zuo's taro (a type of sugar treat) stand, and says that "Auntie" has to take them. Lily questions her use of "Auntie," and Snow Flower incredulously remarks at the fact that Lily finally speaks, adding that she herself gets in trouble with her words, and saying that Lily will be an ideal wife because she chooses her words carefully.

Madame Wang returns and calls Lily and Snow Flower out of the palanquin. They're next to a paper goods stand, and Madame Wang instructs them to choose a piece of paper on which to write their contract. Snow Flower asks Lily what paper she likes, and Lily points to a large sheet. Snow Flower inspects it and deems it of poor quality, and Lily can barely comprehend how refined Snow Flower is. Snow Flower finds a better piece of paper in the back of the stand and shows Lily how to inspect it. Madame Wang pays for the paper and the girls sit down at the table in the stand to write their contract.

Snow Flower says they have to write the best contract ever. Lily suggests they follow the rules, and Snow Flower impatiently suggests that they make it unique to them. Lily makes a few suggestions, and Snow Flower picks up a brush and begins to write. Both girls sign their names at the bottom. Madame Wang announces that she's pleased, and counsels the girls to not let other girls come between them.

Lily feels extremely happy as she walks back to the palanquin with Snow Flower and Madame Wang. The palanquin takes them to the center of the market, where Madame Wang gives the girls money to buy a celebratory gift. Lily has never had this kind of responsibility, but Snow Flower takes charge and leads Lily to a stall selling embroidery supplies, where the two select colored threads.

When Lily and Snow Flower return to the palanquin, Snow Flower begs Madame Wang to take them to the taro stand. Madame Wang resists but gives in, and at the taro stand, seats have already been set for the three women. Old Man Zuo prepares a chicken dish and then the sugary taro for them, and Lily pours tea. When she puts the teapot down, Snow Flower corrects her placement of the pot, turning it so the spout doesn't point rudely at Madame Wang.

For the return trip, Madame Wang allows Lily and Snow Flower to sit next to each other, and the two giggle, hold hands, and sort their embroidery thread. Lily tells the reader that Madame Wang went on to take them to the Temple of Gupo every year through their daughter days, and Lily and Snow Flower continued to meet there after they married—as circumstances allowed.

When they arrive at Lily's house, Madame Wang bids goodbye to both of them. Lily is ecstatic that Snow Flower is staying, but knows that Snow Flower is used to a better way of living. Mama comes out and greets the girls. In the house, Mama introduces Snow Flower to the family. They eat dinner together, and Snow Flower's manners show sophistication beyond what Lily's family has ever seen.

Later that night, Lily and Snow Flower go upstairs with Mama and the other women. Snow Flower suspiciously dabs her fingers in the bowl of wash water and puts on a sleeping garment of Elder Sister's. Mama tucks the girls into bed and whispers to Lily to be happy. Alone at last, Snow Flower and Lily tell each other about their families and their foot binding. Snow Flower says that she struggled so much that she was tied to a chair where she could only look out the window at the birds. Hearing this both scares and thrills Lily. Snow Flower puts her hand on Lily's cheek, says that she's glad they're "old sames," and falls asleep. Lily wonders how she can make Snow Flower love her.