The Kao family quickly forgets Ming-feng's death and Wan-erh's tragedy. They replace Ming-feng and Wan-erh with two new bondsmaids, Chi-hsia and Tsui-huan. However, the other servants and Chueh-hui remember Ming-feng and mourn her death. Chueh-hui has little time to grieve Ming-feng properly, because a rumor spreads that government officials, likely backed by the Confucian Morals Society, planned to close down the Dawn.
Chueh-hui and his friends secretively gather in the Dawn offices located in the same arcade as Chueh-hsin's office. The day after Ming-feng's death, Chueh-hui joins his friends in the office in the evening to prepare for the eighth issue's release. He finds Chien-ju animatedly discussing a proclamation that the police issued, forbidding girls from cutting their hair short. The governor claims that short hair is too subversive and rebellious. Tsun-jen suggests that the group write an article about the proclamation in the magazine's About Face! section. Chueh-hui offers to write the article, which gives him a chance to vent his feelings about the inequality and rigid social norms that drove Ming-feng to suicide.
The eighth issue, prominently featuring the opinion piece about the short-hair proclamation, sells quickly. In response to the article's popularity, two police officers arrive at the Dawn offices and seize the remaining copies of the magazine. They also give a written cease and desist order that effectively shuts down the magazine, as the government deems it subversive of public order. In response to being shut down, the students convert the magazine office into the Li Chun Newspaper Reading Room, where people can gather and access revolutionary reading materials for free. The students also plan to publish their original content in a magazine they call For the Masses.
Chueh-min and Chueh-hui attend the opening ceremonies for the Li Chun reading room. Chueh-hui feels that the gathering of like-minded individuals, bonded together by shared values instead of shared heritage, is utopian and idyllic. Chueh-hui wishes that life could always be like this.
When Chueh-hui returns to the family compound, he observes his relatives arguing about petty matters, and Chueh-hui laments how lonely he feels in this family unit. Chueh-min offers to take Chueh-hui on a walk. They return to the Kao Residence of Ching-ling. Outside of the office, Chueh-hui and Chueh-min observe a nest of motherless baby crows. They are moved to tears, believing they themselves are just like the baby crows, motherless and struggling. Then the mother crow returns.
Still emotional, Chueh-hui and Chueh-min hear a popular, mournful love song played on a bamboo flute from inside the Kao Residence of Ching-ling. The music is interrupted by the arrival of Uncle Ke-ming and Uncle Ke-an in sedan chairs. Chueh-hui is disgusted by his uncles' hypocrisy; the uncles require filial piety from their nephews, yet Ke-an, Ke-ming, and Ke-ting are licentious and of low moral character.
Chueh-hui finds solace in the gardens, recalling the night of the lantern festival when the group of youngsters went rowing on the lake. Chueh-hui looks into the lake and thinks he sees Ming-feng's face reflected back at him. Startled, he dashes away from the water. Chueh-hui then notices a fire burning and goes to investigate. The source of the flames is Chien-erh, bondmaid of the fourth household, burning spirit money. Chien-erh explains that seven days have passed since Ming-feng's death, and she wants to provide for Ming-feng in the afterlife, seeing as no one else is doing it. Chien-erh also explains that when Wan-erh departed to become a concubine, she requested that Chien-erh burn spirit money for her, too, since Wan-erh considered herself as good as dead. Though Chueh-hui usually finds burning spirit money a superstitious waste of time, Chien-erh's compassion moves him. Chueh-hui encourages Chien-erh to continue burning the spirit money, assuring her that she is doing the right thing.
The Kao family celebrates the Venerable Master Kao's sixty-six birthday with an ostentatious celebration to flaunt their wealth. The celebration is three days long and includes exceptionally vulgar and irreverent performances. Chueh-hui and Chueh-min find their elders enjoying immodest performances while demanding chastity and obedience from the younger generation to be hypocritical and offputting.
Mei makes a brief appearance at the celebrations, but her health condition worsens, and she starts coughing up blood. Chueh-hsin's health also deteriorates, as he cannot visit Mei or even speak to her. Chueh-min sneaks out of the party to visit Chin, who faked an illness to see Chueh-min privately. During this meeting, Chin reveals her feelings to Chueh-min, and he pledges to find a way to marry her.
Feng sits with the Venerable Master Kao watching a play, which angers Chueh-hui; Chueh-hui considers the licentious Feng Ming-feng's murderer. Shu-hua and Shu-chen then bring Chueh-hui to Shu-hua's room to see Wan-erh. Wan-erh, beautifully dressed in expensive clothing, is surrounded by Jui-chueh, Shu-ying, and six bondmaids. Chueh-hui is upset by Wan-erh's depressed emotional state, and tries to lighten the mood by jokingly suggesting Wan-erh watch some of the vulgar operas. Shu-hua then mentions that the Venerable Master Kao has picked Feng's grandniece as a bride for Chueh-min, and Chueh-hui will likely be married off next.
Chueh-min tells Chueh-hsin he will not marry, because he is too young and needs to finish his studies, but mostly because wants to choose his own bride. Chueh-hsin tries to strategically suggest to his grandfather that the betrothal might be opportune. The Venerable Master Kao is indignant at this disobedience and goes forward with the betrothal. Chueh-hui and Chueh-min plan to resist the marriage, and if that fails, run away. Chueh-min then writes an impassioned note to Chin, promising to fight for her.
Chueh-min, Chueh-hui, and Chueh-hsin then strategically attempt to resist the match by learning everything about Feng's grandniece, complaining to other relatives, and threatening to "do something drastic" if the match takes place. Too afraid of the Venerable Master Kao, the other relatives do not assist Chueh-min or even pass on his messages to the family patriarch. Chueh-min is forbidden to see Chin, as rumors fly that Mrs. Chang wants Chueh-min for Chin's husband.
Chueh-min, confronted with the choice of running away, is ambivalent. He is so used to a life of comfort that giving it up by disobeying his grandfather would be a near-impossible transition. Chueh-hsin suggests that Chueh-min should simply go along with the marriage because the brothers are "fit only to be sacrificed."
Chueh-min leaves a note for Chueh-hui explaining that he has run away from home and will not return until Yeh-yeh terminates the marriage contract. Chueh-hsin tries to convince Chueh-hui to give up Chueh-min's whereabouts, but the younger brother refuses. Even when Chueh-hui is questioned and threatened by his entire extended family, he does not give up that Chueh-min is hiding at his classmate Tsuen-jen's house. Chueh-hsin writes an impassioned plea to Chueh-min to return home, and Chueh-min responds that he is disappointed Chueh-hsin does not support his defiance. The Venerable Master Kao gives an ultimatum; if Chueh-min does not return by the end of a month, Yeh-yeh will publicly expel Chueh-min from the Kao family.
Chueh-min is very isolated but does not risk venturing outside until Chueh-hui offers to escort Chueh-min to Chin's house. Chin and Chueh-min greet each other passionately but at a distance; Chueh-hui admires the couple's maturity. Chueh-min and Chin speak for hours, ignoring Chueh-hui. Chueh-hui passes the time reading Chin's copy of Ibsen's Enemy of the People.
Chueh-min's resolve to resist his family's match redoubled, Chueh-hui and Chueh-min get up to leave. Before they go, Chin informs the brothers that Mei's condition has worsened, and she is close to death. Chin also requests that the brothers not inform Chueh-hsin of Mei's condition. Mei refuses to take any medicine, as she thinks she would be better off dead since every living day is a misery for her.
Chueh-hsin finally tries to intervene on Chueh-min's behalf by suggesting to the Venerable Master Kao that they push back Chueh-min's wedding until Chueh-min is financially self-sufficient. Chueh-hsin does not try to appeal to the Venerable Master Kao's sympathy, nor does the Venerable Master Kao consider the emotional consequences of his orders. Instead of rescinding his order for Chueh-min to marry, the Venerable Master Kao states that not only will Chueh-min be disowned if he does not return, but Chueh-hui will be forced to marry Feng's grandniece in Chueh-min's place. Chueh-hui is not alarmed by the news; he invites the Venerable Master Kao to try and force him to marry, saying his Yeh-yeh will be sorry, and Chueh-hui "has some ideas of [his] own."
Chueh-hui and Chueh-hsin are interrupted by a servant who informs them that Mei died at seven that morning. Chueh-hui and Chueh-hsin rush to the Chien household. Jui-chuen stays behind, because she is advanced in her pregnancy, and seeing Mei's body would only upset her. Jui-chuen expresses deep regret that she could not see Mei one last time, as Mei had requested Jui-chueh and Hai-chen visit.
Mrs. Chien weeps over Mei's body, saying that if she had not stood in the way of Mei's marriage to Chueh-hsin, none of Mei's troubles or death would have happened. Mrs. Chien begs Mei's forgiveness and invites Mei to torment her in the next life, so long as they can be together as mother and daughter. Chueh-hsin speaks to Mei, willing her to come back to life and say something back. Chueh-hsin is so overcome with grief that he briefly imagines taking Mei's body far away.
Since the Chien family has no living male relatives, Chueh-hsin arranges the funeral. Chueh-hsin, Chin, Mrs. Chien, Mei's brother, Chueh-hui, Shu-hua, and the Chien's servant, Old Wang, are the only attendees. Mei is laid to rest in a dilapidated temple, overgrown with plants and weeds, in a modest, lonely room. After the funeral, Mrs. Chien promises to leave a lamp burning in Mei's room and keep everything the same so that Mei's spirit can find its way back.
The party departs on sedan chairs, but Chueh-hui, who prefers to walk, stays behind. Chueh-hui speaks to Mei one final time, assuring her that she did not die of illness. Chueh-hui insists that Mei's family and Chueh-hsin's cowardice murdered Mei.
Analysis
The Kao family quickly replace Wan-erh and Ming-feng with two other female servants, demonstrating that the Kao family regards servants as disposable. Even to Chueh-hui, who loved Ming-feng, the servant's death is a low priority, as Chueh-hui is primarily concerned about publishing his magazine on time, the day after Ming-feng's death.
The Dawn editors plan to publish an article about the government's proclamation against girls cutting their hair short in the About Face! section of the magazine. In the English translation, About Face! is a pun because it references the command for soldiers to get in position, as well as the Chinese concept of "face." In classical Chinese society, a person's "face," or mianzi, is their image of respectability or, put simply, their reputation. Humiliation causes someone to "lose face," and acts of benevolence or generosity cause someone to "gain face." The magazine section discusses matters that have to do with image and reputation in Chengdu society, and calls the youth to action.
Chueh-hui pours his feelings about Ming-feng's death into his article about the short-hair proclamation. Instead of orienting his efforts toward improving the lives of servants, Chueh-hui uses his feelings about Ming-feng's death to further the rights of gentry women. Though women of the gentry suffer significantly under the Confucian patriarchal system, the fates of Ming-feng and Wan-erh show that the system commodifies servant women more easily and forgets their stories more quickly. The response to Ming-feng's death is a clear example of the theme of classism.
When the issue of Dawn discussing short hair sells quickly, the Chengdu police seize the leftover copies of the magazine and order the students to shut down the publication. The students quickly decide to continue publishing under a different name, For the Masses. They also convert their space into a free reading room. These actions demonstrate the ineptitude of authority and classism. The authorities issue an official cease and desist order, yet they cannot stop the student movement from growing. The magazine continues publication as if the order had not been issued at all. Similarly, when Chueh-hui and Chueh-min defy the Venerable Master Kao, the patriarch cannot enforce his will on the youngsters.
The gentry and the lower class receive unequal punishments for insubordinate behavior throughout the narrative. The students brazenly defy orders without a second thought and suffer no consequences for directly disobeying law enforcement. The servants of the Kao household, by contrast, are scolded and abused for not bringing their masters luxuries quickly enough. It is ironic that the students select the title For the Masses for their new publication, given that the majority of China at this time was illiterate and could not access the magazine. Additionally, the ideas and criticisms the magazine put forward were aimed almost entirely at the members of the gentry.
Chueh-min and Chueh-hui see a nest of crows unattended by a mother crow. They both respond with emotion, comparing themselves to the motherless birds. Before this point in the text, Chueh-hui and Chueh-min had not expressed grief over their deceased mother. The motherless birds foreshadow Chueh-hsin's children, who become motherless when Jui-chueh dies giving birth.
Chueh-hui sees Chien-erh burning spirit money for Ming-feng and Wan-erh. Though Chueh-hui believes spirit money is a superstition that has no real effect on the lives of the departed, he is moved by the gesture. Burning spirit money for Ming-feng and Wan-erh parallels Chueh-hui's gift of silver half dollars to the beggar boy earlier in the text. Both gifts of money ultimately do little to improve the lives of their recipients; Chueh-hui acknowledges this after giving the money, and Chien-erh seems to be aware that her actions are similarly symbolic. Still, Chien-erh's offering is genuine, and her compassion powerfully moves Chueh-hui.
The Venerable Master Kao's birthday party is a key example of the theme of moral hypocrisy. The Venerable Master Kao uses the party to display his wealth and affluence and organizes vulgar and erotic opera performances for his guests. The Venerable Master Kao, and many of his guests, are members of the Confucian Morals Society who are responsible for actions taken against the New Culture Movement. Yet, they indulge in tasteless entertainment. Feng is also present. Chueh-hui states Feng is Ming-feng's murderer, though Chueh-hui initially blamed himself and his family for Ming-feng's death. This is yet another example of Chueh-hui shifting blame to others when it is most expedient or when he is to define actionable goals.
During the celebration, Wan-erh returns to the compound. Though she is dressed in finery and treated as equal to members of the gentry, Wan-erh is miserable. Wan-erh's reappearance demonstrates that wealth and station, though often confused with a better fortune or fate, actually cause suffering and unhappiness. Wan-erh was much more content in her role as a servant, though that position afforded fewer material freedoms. Wan-erh's return also argues that simply rising in station within a corrupt system is a futile attempt to escape oppression.
When Chueh-min and Chueh-hui futily attempt to convince the Venerable Master Kao to call off the wedding, the text uses the metaphor of military strategy. The Kao family has duties, hierarchies, and rules to ensure perfect order and a united front, just like an army. When the brothers navigate social relationships, form alliances with family members, and sabotage one another, they strategize like generals in battle. When Chueh-min promises to "fight" for Chin, he reinforces this imagery. The battle metaphor also ironically contrasts with the violence that raged in Chengdu only a few chapters before.
When Chueh-min contemplates running away, he is ambivalent because his family has effectively trapped him by making him dependent. Chueh-min, despite his lofty ideals and critiques of the gentry, has no idea how to live outside of a high social class. By caring for Chueh-min and providing for the education that gave him radical ideas, the Kao family has also ensnared him and controlled him.
Chueh-hui reads Enemy of the People while Chueh-min and Chin reunite. Enemy of the People, a play by Henrik Ibsen, is about a doctor who tries to expose a dangerous truth in a corrupt town. The doctor considers running away but ultimately decides to stay in his town and attempt to fix its corruption. The allusion to Enemy of the People is ironic because Chueh-hui attempts to shed light on corruption and hypocrisy like the play's protagonist, but ultimately chooses to escape his family and pursue his own dreams.
The Venerable Master Kao states that not only will Chueh-min be disowned if he does not return, but Chueh-hui will be forced to marry Feng's grandniece in Chueh-min's place. This threat demonstrates that it is not only his servants that the Venerable Master Kao regards as interchangeable, but his grandsons as well. To the Venerable Master Kao, his descendants only exist to serve a role to the family; it does not matter which of his grandsons would be a better match for Feng's grandniece, so long as one of them fulfills their filial obligation and obeys him.
Chueh-hui and Chueh-hsin's discussion of Chueh-min's refusal to marry is interrupted by news of Mei's death. Because Mei lost her will to live because of an arranged marriage, the timing of this news establishes the high stakes of Chueh-min caving to his grandfather's wishes. Jui-chueh stays behind because she is pregnant and seeing Mei's corpse would upset her, possibly endangering her life and the life of her child. This decision to leave Jui-chueh at home inversely parallels Jui-chueh's eventual removal from the compound.
Mei is laid to rest in a dilapidated temple overrun by weeds. The image of this temple shows that Mei's death is not a glorious or peaceful entrance into the afterlife but a waste of youth. Mei's beauty and life withered when her family neglected her needs and desires, just like the temple fell into a state of disrepair when its caretakers abandoned it. Even in death, Mei is lonely; her body is placed in a modest tomb by itself. Chueh-hui addresses Mei, saying she was murdered by her family when they neglected her and forced her to marry against her will. Chueh-hui continues his habit of assigning blame for the deaths of the Confucian patriarchal family victims without acknowledging his own inaction or complicity in their deaths.
