The child had never argued back so loudly against her grandmother's words before,
but she was sure of herself.
She hadn't said anything wrong.
Her righteous certainty made her voice rise even higher.
Grandma Tian was a little surprised.
This shy, timid child rarely spoke so loudly.
Once, Child's Dad and her mother had grown impatient with how quietly the child spoke and had spoken too harshly, telling her to speak up.
The child had been frightened.
She had almost lost her voice.
After that, Child's Dad and her mother never dared yell at her again or tell her to speak louder.
It had taken a long time for the child's voice to return to its volume before she was scared.
Now she was actually hearing the child speak so loudly...
On the one hand, Grandma Tian was surprised.
On the other, the worry in her heart grew even stronger.
The effect that so-called Big Leopard had on the child...
was greater than she had imagined.
It was one thing for the child to see Big Leopard at home...
But what if she saw Big Leopard outside...
If someone saw her...
what would happen then?
Grandma Tian knew the power of public opinion.
She had once seen with her own eyes how a person had been hounded by public opinion until they became a stranger, looking utterly wretched.
How pitiful.
Fortunately,
that person had left the place where public opinion held sway before being driven completely mad.
Later, Grandma Tian had learned by chance that the person was living quite well.
That made Grandma Tian happy.
It was a good ending.
"Grandma!"
the child cried. "I really did see Big Leopard!"
"...Leilei."
Grandma Tian said in a grave voice, "Have you ever seen Big Leopard