Rich People Problems-Kwan 2017 (WWT)

Alfred Shang, who had observed the whole scene silently, looked at Rachel and Carlton
with a newfound curiosity.
Rachel turned to Nick and said in a quiet voice, “Can I pay my respects to your
grandmother?”
“Of course,” he said. They walked up to the casket, which was surrounded by exquisite
orchids in delicate celadon pots. “My grandmother was most proud of her prizewinning
orchids. I don’t think I ever saw her happier than the day the National Orchid Society
named one of her hybrids after her.”
Rachel peered into the casket a little hesitantly, but she was surprised by how splendid
Su Yi looked. She lay majestically swathed in a robe of shimmering yellow silk intricately
embroidered with flowers, and her hair was crowned by the most spectacular Peranakan
headpiece made of gold and pearls. Rachel bowed her head for a moment, and when she
looked up at Nick, she saw that his eyes were brimming with tears. Placing her arm
around his waist, she said, “I’m so glad you got to see her before she passed. She looks
very peaceful.”
“Yes, she does,” Nick said, sniffing quietly.
Rachel noticed something glistening between Su Yi’s teeth. “Um, what’s that in her
mouth?”
“It’s a black pearl. It’s an old Chinese custom…the pearl ensures a smooth transition
into the afterlife,” Nick explained. “And do you see the Fabergé case beside her?”
“Yeah?” Rachel noticed a small rectangular bejeweled box next to the pillow.
“Those are her glasses, so she can have perfect vision in her next life.”
Before Rachel could make another comment, a strange, whimpering sound could be
heard echoing from one of the alcoves. They turned to see Alistair and his father,
Malcolm, holding up a frail man as he limped toward them slowly. Rachel realized with a
start that the man was Nick’s cousin Eddie, and behind him walked his wife, Fiona, and
their three children, all dressed in matching black linen and silk bespoke outfits.
“Kaiser Wilhelm has arrived,” Oliver pronounced, rolling his eyes.
Eddie collapsed into a heap dramatically at the foot of the casket and began to convulse
and emit deep, hacking sobs.
“Ah Ma! Ah Ma! What will I do without you now?” he wailed, flailing his arms wildly,
almost knocking over one of the orchid pots.
Felicity Leong whispered to her sister Alix, “He better not break any of those vases!
They’re worth a fortune!”
“What a devoted grandson!” the president of China observed.
Hearing this, Eddie cried out even more bitterly, “How can I go on living, Ah Ma? How
will I survive?” Tears poured down his face, mixing with lines of dangling snot as he
continued to prostrate himself beside his grandmother’s casket. Eddie’s two younger
children, Augustine and Kalliste, knelt on either side of their father and began to rub his
back soothingly. He elbowed the kids quickly, and they started to cry on cue.