Mrs. Zhao smiled as she did her needlework. "This is just between us. Don't you dare let your older brother find out. He's a petty one. It's one thing if your sister-in-law offends him, but just you try it and see what happens."
"Mom, he's your son, alright. You've got him pegged perfectly. Tsk, isn't that just like him? He's so petty, his heart's no bigger than a sesame seed…"
A young man's soft cough came from outside. Xiang'er jumped, immediately swallowing the words on the tip of her tongue. She was so startled she started hiccuping uncontrollably, looking like a complete mess.
Mrs. Zhao didn't know whether to laugh or get angry.
She peeked outside and saw her son enter the eastern room. "You little rascal," she scolded with a laugh, then hurried over to her daughter and handed her some water. "I've told you before not to gossip about people behind their backs. See? Your older brother caught you, didn't he? Still hiccuping? Serves you right!"
…
