Chapter 4: The Cue Card

The farewell hall at the funeral home held three hundred and twelve people, and Shen Ke counted none of them.

He knelt at the left of the coffin in his black tunic, where the house mourner kneels.

Hanzhou knelt at the foot, alone, as the eldest son must, in a white band and a perfect black suit.

Madam Lu's twelve women filled the front rows, and their wailing had begun at ten sharp.

At 10:40 the master of ceremonies lifted his hand.

"The family's eulogy," he said. "Second Master Gu Mingli."

The Second Uncle walked to the lectern in a grey suit with a white flower in the lapel.

He stood a moment with his head bowed, and every guest in the hall leaned toward him.

"Elder brother," he began, and his voice broke on it.

He spoke of the two of them sharing one bowl of noodles at a stall on Pingjiang Road.

He spoke of the first loom, and of the year the company almost failed.

He cried real-looking tears, which ran down both sides of his nose.

At the end of the first paragraph he stopped and sobbed.

By the rite, the heir answered.

"Father hears you," said Hanzhou.

His voice crossed the silent hall, flat and clear.

A few guests glanced at each other, and the Second Uncle blinked, thrown for half a beat, then went on.

The second paragraph was about the old man's last winter, and how he had worked too hard.

The uncle sobbed again, stopped, and waited.

"Father hears you," said Hanzhou, in the same flat voice.

Now the Second Uncle's eyes flicked at him, annoyed.

Shen Ke kept his eyes on the floor and his hands still.

The third paragraph was short, and it was the goodbye.

"Elder brother, rest easy," said the Second Uncle. "I will carry the house on my back, and I will carry the boy."

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