'But how could it have nothing to do with him?'
'Someone was clearly pulling the strings, scheming against him. Her father wasn't a pushover; how could he possibly remain indifferent after learning of these dark plots?'
'His current calm was just a facade. After three years as a constable, her father had learned to control his temper and no longer wore his heart on his sleeve.'
'But who knew what monstrous waves were brewing beneath that placid surface.'
Because of the Chen Lin incident, the atmosphere at dinner was rather somber.
Chen Song couldn't bear to see his wife and daughter so alarmed, so he said jokingly, "Look at the two of you, frightened over such a small matter, like a pair of startled birds. How will that do? You're to be the mother and wife of a Scholar one day. If you don't develop an unshakeable mountain-like presence, how will you intimidate all the people who come trying to curry favor?"
