If Kallen had come, Madam Tang Li, who had been sitting upstairs, might have changed into outdoor clothes in the blink of an eye and taken a basket out, pretending to run into him on her way back from buying groceries.
But since it was her own grandson who had returned, Madam Tang Li took a key from her pocket and casually tossed it out the window.
Clack!
Looking at the key that had landed in front of him, Richard could not help looking up at his grandmother and calling out very seriously:
"Grandmother, have you found proof that my mother cheated back then?"
Philomina walked over to Richard and asked, "Why lock the door when someone's home?"
Richard answered, "Grandmother's an elderly woman home alone. Locking the door makes it a little safer, to keep thieves and burglars out."
As he spoke, Richard picked up the key and lightly tapped it. The key scattered, forming a rune, and the protective formation centered on the entrance door was temporarily suspended.
Richard gave the door a gentle push, and it opened.
Philomina said, "The formation was activated?"
Richard said, "Grandfather and Grandmother probably had a fight."
As they walked in, Madam Tang Li happened to be coming down the stairs. She asked:
"Richard, where the hell have you been these past few days?"
Philomina said, "The pastry shop."
Madam Tang Li pointed at Philomina. "Why didn't you keep him in line?"
Philomina said, "I took him there."
Madam Tang Li said, "Is your head full of water?"
Philomina tilted her head slightly, lowering her left ear as though she were "pouring out" the water in her head.
It was a provocative gesture, and also an understanding between master and apprentice.
Madam Tang Li's teaching methods had always been simple, brutal, and