Into The Clouds Summary

Eight years later Lily's children are grown; her daughter about to be married out, and her son studying to be a xiucai scholar. Snow Flower's daughter, Spring Moon, comes to Lily's door, asking her to go to Snow Flower, who is dying. The butcher is very sad that he has been cruel to Snow Flower. Snow Flower is aged and dressed in rags. Her sworn sisters leave the two alone; she is very ill with a tumor in her uterus. She apologizes to Lily, who arranges to stay with her until she is well or dead. Lily only has two weeks to show her all the love she feels and does not leave the room, sharing their wash water as they did as children. They sleep together, Snow Flower's hand on her cheek. Lily summons a doctor who tells...