Chapter 3

3: 3

Mom and Dad let out a breath at once.

Behind them, Hunter's mouth curled into a thin, contemptuous smile.

Elder Harper frowned, and in the end he spoke.

"All right."

The doors of the family hall were shut, and the ceremony formally began.

I knelt on the floor, my back held straight.

Elder Harper stood before the altar, lit three sticks of incense, raised them above his head, and bowed three times to the portraits of the ancestors.

"Ancestors of the Harper line above, this unworthy descendant, Valerie, daughter of Richard Harper, withdraws from the clan of her own will. Today it is declared before the ancestors that her name be struck from the register. From this day forward, in life and death, in marriage, she shall have no further tie to the Harpers…"

When the rite was recited, Elder Harper set the incense into the bronze burner, turned, and opened the family register.

Brush dipped in ink, he held it above the two characters of "Valerie," and it would not fall.

He looked at me, then at my parents.

"By the rules, being struck from the register calls for the kneeling-on-incense ordeal. The knees press against the burning incense, and it does not end until the incense has burned out."

"But that punishment is for those who've broken the family law. This girl has done nothing wrong. As I see it, striking out the name is enough. We can waive the family law."

The three elders glanced at one another and all nodded.

"No!"

My mother's voice came out quick and frayed.

"If it's a ceremony, then it has to be done properly. What if it affects the prodigy's fortune?"

Elder Harper frowned.

"But she's done nothing wrong. She shouldn't take this punishment. And the kneeling-on-incense is no small thing. At best the skin peels away and the flesh shows; at worst it's a burn bad enough to cost a limb."

"I know."

My mother's voice dropped low.

But she didn't back down. She glanced at my father instead.

He had an unlit cigarette between his fingers, his eyes lowered, and said nothing.

"The Harper prodigy's fortune rests on this one thing."

My mother couldn't help herself and spoke again.

She crouched down and took my hand.

"Val, just bear it. Do it for your brother."

"Hunter's under so much pressure repeating the year. If it isn't cleared away completely, if that 'scholar's luck' stays clinging to you, he'll fail again next year."

I looked into her eyes.

There was only anxiety for her son in them, not a trace of pity for her daughter.

I spoke softly.

"Mom, once the family law is carried out, that means I have nothing to do with the Harpers anymore, doesn't it?"

"What kind of thing is that to say?"

She patted the back of my hand, her tone half-scolding.

"You'll always be your mom and dad's daughter. It's only a ceremony. Just going through the motions."

My father nodded too.

"Val, don't worry. Once you change your surname and your name's struck from the register, you're still our girl. Blood isn't something you can cut off that easily."

I looked at the brush hanging over the altar.

"If it's only going through the motions, then why be so serious about it."

At that my mother frowned. She grabbed my arm, her voice rising.

"What are you being so difficult for? Would your own parents ever hurt you? Be good, bear it, and it'll be over."

I pulled my hand back out of hers.

Before she could keep pleading, I turned to Elder Harper.

"Elder Harper, let me ask you. Once the family law is carried out and I'm struck from the register, does that mean I truly have no tie of any kind left to the Harper clan?"

I paused.

"Before the ancestors, you can't lie to me."

Elder Harper's brush hung in the air, his eyes watching me through his reading glasses.

He was quiet for a moment, then let out a soft sigh.

"Yes. Once the family law is done and your name is struck from the register, you're no longer a Harper."

"With the ancestors above, I won't speak falsely."

My father's lips moved, but he made no sound.

My mother didn't grab me again. Only the anxiety stayed in her eyes.

They were afraid.

Afraid I would refuse.

Then, suddenly, Hunter spoke.

"Valerie's a girl. Sooner or later she'll marry out and go into someone else's register."

"A little earlier, a little later, what does it matter."

He gave a scornful laugh.

"All this dithering. She's probably still hoping to hold on to the prodigy's luck."

That got to my parents.

My mother panicked and clutched me tighter.

"Val, just agree. Take it as your mom begging you."

"I'm not asking you to support me in my old age, I'm not asking you to repay us. I'm only asking you to do this one thing for your brother."

My father crouched down too.

"Don't worry. We've got burn ointment ready. We won't let anything happen to you."

Looking at the things they'd prepared ahead of time, I gave a bitter smile.

"So you knew all along. You just didn't tell me."

My parents' faces shifted.

They started to say more, and I waved a hand.

"There's no need. I agree to be punished."

I straightened up on my knees again.

"Elder Harper, let's begin."