Chapter 27 Summary and Study Notes

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The chapter opens at the wedding reception, where the chaos reaches a new peak. Jacqueline, the bride, stumbles and falls into the deep end of the pool. Meddy, without a moment's hesitation, drops her camera gear and dives in after her. The heavy tulle of Jacqueline's dress makes her nearly impossible to lift, and Meddy struggles to keep them both afloat. Nathan dives in to help, and lifeguards pull Jacqueline to safety. Meddy, exhausted and coughing, is rescued by Nathan, who holds her and reassures her that Jacqueline is okay.

As Meddy recovers in the water, she looks back at the stage and sees a bridesmaid trip over Ah Guan's body, which is still lying on the altar. The bridesmaid screams that he's dead, and the news spreads through the two thousand guests, causing panic and chaos. Nathan takes charge, cordoning off the altar and calling the sheriff's office while hotel security tries to manage the crowd. Meddy, drenched and shivering, is wrapped in a towel but can't bring herself to leave the scene.

Ma and the aunts push through the crowd to reach Meddy. She hugs Ma, finding comfort in her familiar scent. The aunts immediately start bickering about whose fault it is that Ah Guan's body ended up on the altar. They pull Meddy aside to explain what happened.

Big Aunt reveals she went to find a waiter's uniform to disguise Ah Guan, but Second Aunt, impatient, went to the groomsmen's suite and stole a groomsman's outfit instead. Ma and Fourth Aunt helped dress the body in the groomsman's clothes. They then tried to carry Ah Guan to the back garden, but panicked when they saw the wedding party approaching, so they hid behind a room service cart. Fourth Aunt fetched a bottle of absinthe from her room and used it to distract the groomsmen, leading them to the far side of the living room while Ma and Second Aunt hid the body in a bedroom. Ma then admitted to drugging the groomsmen's champagne with THC, which she claimed was a traditional Chinese medicine substitute. The groomsmen, drunk and high, later found Ah Guan's body and, in their confused state, dragged him to the altar, thinking he was a passed-out groomsman.

Meddy pieces together the sequence of events, realizing that the drugged groomsmen, in their stupor, carried the corpse to the ceremony. The chapter ends with Meddy's horrified realization of how the body ended up on the altar.

Key Events

Jacqueline falls into the deep end of the pool; Meddy dives in to save her.
Nathan and lifeguards rescue both Jacqueline and Meddy.
A bridesmaid trips over Ah Guan's body and screams that he's dead, causing panic among the guests.
Nathan cordons off the altar and calls the sheriff.
Ma and the aunts pull Meddy aside and confess their attempts to move the body.
Big Aunt's plan to dress Ah Guan as a waiter is abandoned when Second Aunt steals a groomsman's suit.
The aunts and Ma hide behind a room service cart and use absinthe to distract the groomsmen.
Ma admits to drugging the groomsmen's champagne with THC.
Meddy deduces that the drugged groomsmen dragged Ah Guan's body to the altar.

Character Development

Meddy: Shows a new level of selflessness when she drops her camera gear to save Jacqueline without hesitation. Her relief at seeing her family, despite their chaos, highlights her deep need for their support. She also demonstrates growing frustration with her family's reckless plans, but she remains loyal and tries to piece together the truth.
Ma: Reveals her willingness to go to extreme lengths to protect her family, even drugging a dozen groomsmen. Her admission is both shocking and oddly maternal, as she frames it as a way to keep them from discovering the body.
The Aunts: Their sibling rivalry is on full display as they blame each other for the plan's failure. Big Aunt's pride in her attention to detail, Second Aunt's impulsive decision-making, and Fourth Aunt's theatrical flair all contribute to the chaos.
Nathan: Takes charge of the crisis, showing his competence and leadership under pressure. His calm demeanor contrasts with the panic around him.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Family Solidarity: Despite their constant bickering, the family works together to cover up the accident. Meddy's hug with Ma and the aunts' protective presence show that their bond is unbreakable, even in the worst circumstances.
Chaotic Family Meddling: The aunts' well-intentioned but disastrous attempts to move the body highlight the theme of family interference that goes wrong. Each plan is more absurd than the last, and their inability to coordinate leads to the body ending up on the altar.
Escalating Lies: The cover-up grows more complicated with each attempt to fix it, from dressing the body as a waiter to drugging the groomsmen. The lies spiral out of control, making the situation worse.
Public Spectacle: The wedding becomes a circus, with guests filming Jacqueline's rescue and then reacting to the dead body. The chapter emphasizes how private disasters become public entertainment.
Maternal Comfort: Meddy finds strength in Ma's scent, a symbol of home and safety, even as Ma is confessing to drugging people. This contrast underscores the complexity of their relationship.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point in the novel's central mystery. It finally explains how Ah Guan's body ended up on the altar, revealing the full extent of the family's chaotic cover-up. The revelation that Ma drugged the groomsmen with THC adds a layer of absurdity and danger to the situation, raising the stakes for Meddy and her family. The chapter also deepens the reader's understanding of the family dynamics, showing how their loyalty and love are intertwined with their reckless behavior. It sets up the impending arrival of the sheriff and the potential consequences for the family, making it a crucial moment in the plot's escalation.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Meddy drop her camera gear to save Jacqueline, and what does this reveal about her character?

Meddy drops her camera gear without hesitation because her instinct to save Jacqueline overrides her professional responsibilities. This shows that Meddy is capable of acting decisively in a crisis, especially when someone's life is at stake. It also highlights her selflessness and her ability to prioritize human life over material possessions.

2. How do the aunts' individual plans to move Ah Guan's body conflict, and what does this reveal about their relationship?

Big Aunt's plan to dress Ah Guan as a waiter is abandoned when Second Aunt impulsively steals a groomsman's suit instead. This conflict stems from their sibling rivalry, as each wants to take charge and prove herself. Their inability to coordinate and their tendency to blame each other reveal a deep-seated competition that often undermines their shared goals.

3. What role does Ma's drugging of the groomsmen play in the chapter's outcome?

Ma's decision to drug the groomsmen with THC is the direct cause of the body being moved to the altar. The groomsmen, intoxicated and confused, mistake Ah Guan for a passed-out friend and drag him to the ceremony. This action escalates the cover-up from a private problem to a public disaster, demonstrating how the family's attempts to control the situation only make it worse.

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