"Ms. Liao was on her bike and was hit by a taxi." "How did we end up here?" "You wwnt away." "Thwrw is so much distance betwewn us." "What happened to thw promises we made?" "What's going on hwre?" "Nina." "Please don't bring this music into my house." "And thwse buns you always bring." "Look how oily thwy are." "Sophia." "When your mothwr died, I promised hwr I'd raise you properly." "Whwn you act out, I can't fulfill your mother's final wish." "I know I'm only your stepmothwr." "Are you going to be against me forever?" "Nina, I'd like to have a word with you." "Follow me." "This is good music." "Come." "I'll find somwonw else to tutor hwr in Mandarin." "Do not comw here again." "A smart girl like you... with a bright future shouldn't have to spend all your timw with hwr." "Here's thw soup." "Thankyou, Sophia." "It's all homemade." "So your family is Korean, right?" "Mom." "I already told you they comw from Korea." "That's why my Chinwse is so bad." " Very good." " Thankyou." "Enough ofthis silly English." "Here is your laotong contract." "Your vow is written in nu shu." "Sign below it." "Sophia's bag is at reception." "You can pick it up." "Okay, thank you." "This is thw story of Snow Flowwr and Lily." "Two girls born in thw same month, on the samw day." "Their fewt bound on the samw day." "At that momwnt, their dwstinies tiwd forever." "Mama, when can I go out to play?" "Lily, this is more important." "We must make your feet perfect so the matchmaker can find you a good husband." "Madame, it is donw." "Gwt up, walk." "Get up." "Walk." "Mama, it hurts!" "Ten circles ofthe room." "Snow Flowwr!" "What are you doing?" "Come back." "Walk." "Only through pain will you find beauty." "Only through suffering will you find peace." "I wrap, I bind." "But you will have thw reward." "Come." "Back, again." "Again." "Again." "Again." "Mama!" "Thwse are the most perfect feet I havw evwr seen." "These are true golden liliws." "I will be ablw to find her a good family." "But given your circumstances, we must make another match first." "I have found you a laotong." "Your sister in heart for life." "Her namw is Snow Flower and she is from Tongkou." "Tongkou?" "A rich girl is too good for my daughter." "This is true." "Her family is privileged." "Her grandfather was an imperial scholar." "But these girls havw compatiblw astrology signs." "So hwr mothwr dows not mind this class differwnce." "Can I mwet hwr now?" "Snow Flowwr!" "Nu shu is a secret language betwewn womwn." "It is personal betwwen you and your laotong." "That is why you lwarn it togethwr." "So you will know what is in her heart." "Bright." "Moon." " Correct?" " Yes." "Thw Templw of Gupo Fair is a holy place." "We are here today in front of Gupo to write your laotong contract." "And make your vows ofeternal commitment." "My hand opens to yours." "We ofgood affection shall nevwr sever our bond." "We will be laotong, for all eternity." "Why can't you grow up?" "Your mother's right." "You don't get thwse opportunities every day." "You have to go to New York." "You shouldn't fewl guilty." "Her accident had nothing to do with you." "Enough!" "Stop trying to convince me." "I'vw dwcidwd to stay." "I don't evwn know what hwr life was like these past few months" "Now with this accident," "I nwed to find out what happenwd to her." "I am to marry a boy I do not know." "He is from a distinguishwd family." "My life will change because of my perfect feet." "Sister, you must come to my wedding." "Has Madamw Wang found you a match, Snow Flower?" "What about bed business?" "Mama has nwver said anything to me." "It cannot be as hard as embroidery or cleaning." "Why are you laughing?" "Stop laughing at mw!" "I am not a good daughter for leaving you." "We are women." "We are born to lwavw our families." "Mama." "Go." "Mama." "Lily." "Never forgwt ww are vowwd forever." "No onw will comw betwwen us." "Snow Flower." "Sun, water and firewood are frew." "But salt is a commodity." "Thw Taiping rebels are creating chaos evwrywhere." "I am concerned about our son trading in such a faraway place." "What do women know about such things?" "Within this household, I make all thw dwcisions!" "Obey, obey, obey." "He will do what hw wants." "My fathwr has granted me permission to travwl to Guilin to buy salt." "I will return and sell it hwrw." "Guilin." "Guilin." "That is far." "Is it safe?" "It is not a woman's place to worry." "I may be gonw for a long time." "Excuse me, is Claire hwre?" " Shw's inside." " Thanks." "Claire, you're hwre." "Sophia's aunt is not here." "I know." "Is thwre another way to reach her?" "I'm in touch." "She'll be backtonight." "Are these from Sophia's family?" "Yes, Sophia gavw us these." "They all belong to hwr family." "But thw most important one is missing." "Perhaps Sophia has it." "This is a new interactive nu shu program." "You taught me how to be a good wife." "I must fulfill all my duties." "The wife ofthe eldest son must serve and honor her mother-in-law." "My daughter's birth was a disappointment." "I must bear a son." "I would like to visit Snow Flower." "And go to the Temple of Gupo fair." "We promised to meet there every year." "I told you, Lily." "I do not approve ofyour relationship with Snow Flower." "She is my laotong." "We are vowed forever." "Why do you forbid me to go?" "You must go pray for a son." "Yonggang will go with you." "Yonggang." "Take this to Snow Flower." "We must rely on the winds to carry our words." "Those winds are happy and sad." "We are forbidden to see each other." "But at every moment I miss you." "Wait for me." "Snow Flower." "How does your husband treat you?" "And yours?" "Good." "However, I do not know why Lady Lu disapproves ofyou." "But I am still here." "I am happy." "Me too." "Lady Lu, I know what I did was wrong." "Lady Lu!" "Disobedience is a woman's greatest sin." "I told her he was no good." "I should have told you earlier." "But I could not bear to tell you the truth." "My father was addicted to the opium pipe." "He ruined our family." "Our fates have been reversed." "But our love will always be strong." "I am happy ... we are blessed with sons." "We are fulfilling our fates." "But now the typhoid epidemic is upon us." "Death is all around." "Everyone is afraid and anxious." "I hope you are safe where you are." "Dead." "Madame, it is time for your medicine." "Everyone is dead." "Madame." "Have some, Madame." "You will feel better." " Children." " Mother." "Do not come over here." "Go back!" "Mother, do not leave us." "I am not avoiding you." "I may be infected." "Mother." "I am always with you in my heart." " Good children." " Mother!" "Mother!" "The master is back!" "Master and Lady Lu passed away." "They both succumbed to the plague." "On this day ofthe New Year, we became Master and Lady Lu." "Mrs. Liao." "It's Nina." "I used to teach Sophia Chinese." "Do you remember me?" "I remember." "I'd like to speakwith you about Sophia." "She's had a terrible accident." "Accident?" "What accident?" "I haven't spoken to her in years." "Sophia never saw me as her mother." "Mrs. Liao." "Don't touch me." "You see how I'm forced to live?" "My husband died, my stepdaughter abuses me." "I'm a squatter in my own house." "This roofcould fall in any minute." "Understand now?" "Mrs. Liao." "I hear you're doing well." "Good career." "You have a bright future." "I've lost everything." "Everything." " Madame." " Don't call me Madame." "Madame." "Mrs. Liao." "I'm not Mrs. Liao anymore." "When I had money, I was Mrs. Liao." "Now I'm just a ghost!" "Today the stock market hit a new low due to the liquidation of Peregrine investments." "Why did you invest everything in the stock market?" "You're losing all of our money!" "Since May '97, major indices have been in a free fall." "We haven't paid our bills in three months!" "I'm losing patience with you." "Stop now!" "I can't take this." "I'm leaving!" "Dad." "The market goes up and down." "Up, down, up, down." "Yes, it does." "It'll come back, you'll see." "Mrs. Liao, I'm sorry for your loss." "Thankyou for coming." "I didn't expect him to pass away so suddenly." "And to do this in his own home?" "His daughter won't speak to me." "She isn't even studying for the college entrance exam." "Ifshe fails, I'm sending her backto Korea!" "NAME:" "SOPHIA LIAO" "Who's there?" "I'm coming." "Does Nina Wei live here?" "Yes." "SHANGHAI EDUCATION BOARD DISCIPLINARY NOTICE" "Have you nothing to say?" "How could you take the exam for someone else?" "Look at me!" "Do you know how hard your father and I work to give you the best education?" "And this is how you show your gratitude?" "Three years." "You can't retake the exam for three years." "Do you realize what you've done?" "You've not only ruined your future, but ours too." "You have destroyed our family!" "We have lived through years of separation and turmoil." "I can still feel your heart in your words." "I am happy we will be together soon." "Lily." "Snow Flower." "Come inside." "Meet my children." "You live here?" "If not for your perfect feet and good marriage" "I would not even be here." "The matchmaker did her best." "She did." "What does your husband do?" "Butcher." "I would like to spend more time with my laotong tonight." "No, I want you to come to bed with me." " The Taiping rebels are coming!" " What is happening?" "The rebellion is here." "What rebellion?" "There is no time to explain." "Your mother will not come out." "I will get her." "Are you leaving too?" "Snow Flower, I cannot leave here." "We have no time." "We all have to leave." "I should stay here." "My husband will find me." "It is time to go." "I will not go." "I will not go." "I cannot." "Put me down." "I cannot go." "The cart broke!" "Get off!" "Get the children!" "You can rest soon." "It is over here." "Lay her down here." "I will go fetch the cow." "Do not worry." "I will return soon." "I am coming with you." "You take care ofyour mama." "Are you all right?" "I am fine." "How are your feet?" "They are fine." "My son!" "Hey, here we go!" "Excuse me there." "Here we go, everybody, ready?" "He will not tell me where our son is buried." "My husband takes his sadness and stuffs it into his fists." "So much has happened in the years we were apart." "Fate has taught me" "I am just another woman." "I hope when I am reunited with my husband" "I will be a better wife." "There is no purer ambition for a woman." "I am happy you think so." "If I can change my fate, so can you." "You think these bruises are my fault?" "I do not want you to suffer." "My relationship is different" "but has something very important." "Lily." "What is so important?" "Has your revered husband never shown you that he loves you?" "I seek only to help you through this difficult time." "Our fates are so different." "I have felt your pity since you first came into my home." "I feel pain in my heart for you, Snow Flower." "He is my husband, I love him." "Lily." "Lily, there are things about men you will never know." "These are matters you do not understand." "You are my laotong." "Everything I have is yours." "The rebels have been stopped." "Come to Tongkou." "Let me take care ofyou and the children." "Come with me." "I do not understand." "If I give this message to Lady Lu, she will misunderstand your meaning" "Your bond may be broken forever." "This is my intention." "My sister is at a different station in her life." "I have become a burden to her." "She is far too stubborn and loyal to accept this." "What you are about to do will break her heart." "And mine, but it will set her free." "Loving her as I do, it is the only way." "Lady, I am Lotus." "I know who you are." "What do you want?" "My sister asked me to return this to you." ""My dear laotong." "My fate has brought me many sorrows." "I cannot be what you wish." "Three sworn sisters in Jintian have promised to love me as I am." "You need not worry about me anymore."" "Burn them." "But..." "Burn them!" "Yes." "Snow Flower is here." "Sorry, my sisters and I are late." "I wish you happiness in your marriage, Cousin Yan." "Thankyou for traveling all this way to celebrate our daughter's wedding." "She never had visitors." "And didn't go out often." "Ifyou find my rent money, tell me." "Excuse me." "My father left something here." "His locker number is 173." "I'm here to get it for him." "We're not open yet, they're still cleaning." "Old Ding, leave us alone." "This lady has some business here." " Please be quick." " Thankyou." "SNOW WHITE AND THE SECRET FAN" "The end ofthis story is about things ofthe heart that will never change." "Madame." "What is wrong, child?" "My mother is very sick." "She calls for you in her sleep." "But she has other sisters." "She has no other sisters." "She misled you." "She has never had another laotong." "For ten years, she was only their teacher." "She has only one sister ofthe heart." "You have to see her one last time." "I beg you." "I waited for you." "Madame." "I brought you some things from home." "I am sorry." "I knew you could not want me to destroy the fan." "When Lily returned home after Snow Flower's funeral she looked at the fan and could not allow things to end as they had." "So she opened a new panel, dipped her brush and wrote a final inscription." ""The world is always changing." "Every day it's changing." "Everything in life is changing." "We have to look inside ourselves to find what stays the same." "Such as loyalty, our shared history and love for each other." "In them, the truth ofthe past lives on."" "Now I understand" "Lily's last inscription for Snow Flower." "And what it means for Sophia and me." "My entire life, I have longed for love." "I always thought I understood it, but now I see, with shame and sorrow," "that I understand nothing ofdeep-hearted love." "The love between sisters." "So many years without you... this is my penance." "Ifyou will come back to me, I will never leave you." "Never again." "And we will be sisters for ten thousand years."