After posting my James review, I kept thinking about the benevolent master. Just because a master doesn’t whip or rape you doesn’t mean they’re good. Their holding you against your will alone is brutal.
This is something that Linjing, one of the main characters in this story, doesn’t grasp.
China, 1800s. Six-year-old Little Flower is sold to the wealthy Fong family to serve as a muizai to Linjing, the only child of first wife Lady Fong. Linjing’s jealousy of Little Flower’s ladylike bound feet and embroidery skills makes her do everything to ensure that Little Flower can never ascend in society.
Over the years, the two form a tentative friendship. Linjing views Little Flower as her property. Despite all Linjing has done to humble her, Little Flower helps her mistress get ready for marriage with hopes that this means she will be free of her.
When a scandal rocks the Fong household, Linjing and Little Flower’s lives are upended as Linjing is stripped of her honor. Will this be an opportunity for Little Flower to gain independence through her embroidery, or will Linjing once again get in her way?
China in the 19th century was slowly being influenced by the West, but to the upper classes, having lotus feet (lillies) was still the standard for getting a good husband. Only peasants had big feet, which they needed to perform their duties. Lillies were for ladies who sat around and embroidered. Having lillies and exceptional embroidery skills meant you came from a good family.
Little Flower is an enigma. She isn’t of noble blood, yet she has perfect lillies, and her embroidery is unmatched. Her mother saw to that so she could eventually marry. Marriage is a path to living comfortably but comes with its own bondage. Linjing is low-key terrified of it after seeing how her paternal grandmother treats her mother. She is unwilling to leave her home to be with a husband’s family without Little Flower by her side. Little Flower’s goals don’t matter.
She is subjected to horrendous punishments because of Linjing’s envy, but her embroidering helps her cope. Her skills, resilience, and innovation gain the attention of an unlikely suitor, leading to Linjing’s final betrayal.
Linjing is a brat. Full stop. How entitled are you that you’re threatened by your handmaiden? Even after falling from grace you won’t rip up Little Flower’s indentureship papers because you refuse accept you’re no longer upper class. And then to expect her to consider you a friend when you won’t even consider granting her freedom? I loved that Little Flower stands up for herself. A weaker muizai would have fallen for Linjing’s crap and kept taking her shit under the guise of friendship. I wanted Little Flower to whop her ass 🤣
This is such a great exploration of one’s desire versus their duty to familial and societal expectations that demonsttates how women from different classes struggle for power. The last two chapters had me on the edge of my seat. I recommend this read, which is out now.
TW: death, suicide, suicidal thoughts, slavery, torture, violence, self-harm, foot binding, drowning, classism, pregnancy, mentions of sexual abuse, drug addiction, and alcoholism
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