"Auntie." I called out in a syrupy voice.
I called out in a sickeningly sweet voice, "Aunt."
I had thought Xia Canglan would at least react a little, but she ignored me outright. She picked up a cup of tea and took a sip as if she hadn't heard me. Her chess pieces continued to fall in place as usual.
I had thought Xia Canglan might react somehow, but she simply ignored me, picked up a cup of tea, and took a sip as though she hadn't heard me. She continued placing her chess pieces as usual.
"Sometimes you keep quiet to protect me, but if you tell me, wouldn't that let me prepare in advance? Auntie, you're a woman who understands the greater good. Surely you wouldn't let me come here empty-handed and leave empty-handed, would you? You have to reveal at least a little, don't you? You know me—I'm exceptionally good at stirring up trouble. If you don't tell me about this, I'll definitely turn the world upside down, won't I?" I smiled as I spoke, my words bristling with hidden barbs. I wanted to see how she would handle it.
"Sometimes you don't tell me things to protect me, but if you did tell me, wouldn't that let me prepare in advance? Aunt, you're so understanding and righteous. You wouldn't let me come here empty-handed and leave empty-handed, would you? You have to at least reveal a little something to me, don't you? You know how good I am at stirring up trouble. If you don't tell me about this, I'll definitely turn the whole world upside down, won't I?" I said with a smile, my words bristling with hidden barbs. I wanted to see how she would handle it.
"Cultivating the Dao is cultivating the heart.