Chapter 30

Summary

• The chapter describes the funeral ceremonies for Robb, who has died from the fever outbreak in the Happy Valley.
• The ceremony in the Happy Valley is attended by the Tai-pan and their families, as well as other traders' women. Struan reads some verses and Shevaun watches him closely, as she plans to marry him as soon as possible and take him to Washington and London.
• At the same time, a louder and more colorful funeral ceremony is being held in Tai Ping Shan, with a procession and people crying and lamenting the loss suffered by the Noble House. This ceremony increases Gordon Chen's prestige, as the Tai-pan show their attachment to Chinese gods and customs.
• Struan and Culum discuss Culum's readiness to become Tai-pan and decide that he needs more experience before taking on the role, which could take two to three years. Culum is tasked with helping Vargas assess losses at the establishment and getting the books in order.
• Struan and Culum also discuss the announcement of the engagement between Tess and Struan's mother, but Culum has not yet spoken to Brock about it. Struan tells Culum that he should handle the business that Robb was in charge of.
• May-May thinks about how to protect Struan and decides that the best way is to kill Gorth and make it look like it was done by thieves or pirates. May-May worries about being accused of murder if Struan finds out.