A Little Face-Slapping

"All right, then. I'll do you the honor of taking a look."

"Wonderful." Madam Li immediately put on a smile, her eyes bright with delight. "I'll show you the way, miss."

Shen Lantang and Madam Xie stayed for lunch. Xie Hongwen played with the two women for a while, then suddenly looked at Shen Lantang with pleading eyes.

Madam Xie glanced between them and covered her mouth with a smile. "Lantang often plays with Hongwen at home. Those two have their little secrets. Lantang, why don't you go play with him for a while? I think he has something he wants to tell you in private."

Shen Lantang was tired of sitting around anyway, so she rose. "I'll take Hongwen out, then. We'll be back for lunch."

"All right."

After the two left, Madam Xie turned to Madam Zheng with a smile. "Lantang is newly married, but she's still young at heart. At home, she and Hongwen are more like playmates."

Madam Zheng knew the remark was meant for her. It did put her mind at ease, and she said cheerfully, "That's just as well. A girl with a little childlike spirit is blessed. I could tell at a glance that Lantang is fortunate."

When Shen Lantang was with the two older women, she always had to keep up appearances so she wouldn't spoil the mood. Once she was alone with Xie Hongwen, she dropped the act. She let out a quiet breath, kept some distance from the maids, and asked him, "Is your maternal grandmother good to you?"

"Yes!" Xie Hongwen answered loudly. "She's especially good to me!"

Then he darted a few glances to the side and whispered, "Even better than Grandmother."

Of course she was. Madam Zheng's daily fussing made that clear. The Zheng Family rarely