Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Summary

In her twilight years, Lily looks back on her life, recalling her deep desire for maternal affection from a young age. At six, a matchmaker, Madame Wang, suggests that with her bounded feet and a laotong, an exclusive lifelong friendship with another woman, Lily could marry into a well-off family in the prosperous Tongkou village. The footbinding process is agonizing and results in the tragic death of Lily's younger sister due to an infection. Madame Wang then introduces Lily to her laotong, Snow Flower, a girl from a noble family. They communicate through nu shu, a secret language used by women, on a fan, which becomes their mutual message board.

As Lily and Snow Flower grow older, they bond over shared experiences of preparing for marriage and refining their nu shu skills. Tragedy strikes when Beautiful Moon, Lily's cousin, succumbs to a fatal bee sting. Lily eventually marries into the wealthy Lu family and discovers Snow Flower's family’s impoverished state during a visit. This revelation, along with discovering Snow Flower's engagement to a butcher, sows seeds of betrayal in Lily, yet she reassures Snow Flower that her feelings remain unchanged.

In the ensuing years, Lily cements her position in her new family by birthing two sons, while Snow Flower gives birth to a son and then two stillborn daughters. When Snow Flower’s second son dies, and her husband abuses her, Lily advises Snow Flower to be obedient. A misunderstanding leads to a strained relationship, with Lily believing Snow Flower to have broken their laotong contract. Years later, as Snow Flower lies on her death bed, Lily realizes her misunderstanding regarding the perceived betrayal. Filled with remorse, Lily dedicates the rest of her life to making amends to Snow Flower's children and honoring Snow Flower's memory by sharing their story.