Zongzhi and Run'er were practicing calligraphy in the study. Chen Caozhi required the little brother and sister to concentrate on copying their assigned models before they could rest or play; they were not allowed to copy a few characters, then look this way and that and wander about. Thus, although they heard the commotion downstairs and knew new guests had arrived, they did not drop their brushes and run out onto the gallery to look. Then they heard the guests come up to the third floor and dearly wanted to see who had come. Still, they persevered for nearly another quarter of an hour, finished their assigned copies, and only then set down their brushes. After Sister Xiao Chan and Sister Qingzhi helped wash their hands, they went into the little sitting room next door.
Chen Caozhi's mother, Mother Chen Lady Li, said, "Zongzhi, Run'er, come greet the Little Lady of the Lu Family."
Under the gazes of Mother Chen Lady Li and Ding Youwei, Lu Weiwei was feeling shy. When she saw two children enter, their hair black as lacquer and their features as finely carved as jade, her eyes lit up. The little girl on the left, in a blue-flowered skirt and short jacket, with bright eyes and white teeth, was especially endearing. She looked at Lu Weiwei with her large, limpid eyes and asked, "Are you the Lu Flower Fanatic?"
Lu Weiwei was taken aback, then thought that Chen Caozhi must have mentioned her to Run'er in their everyday conversations. At that thought, her face reddened again.
Ding Youwei hastily said, "Run'er, hurry and pay your respects to Lady of the Lu Clan."
Imitating his Uncle Chou's customary manner, Zongzhi bowed deeply and said, "Chen Zongzhi of Qiantang pays his respects to Lady of the Lu Clan."