Beijing had entered May, and the sun was brilliant and the weather pleasant. In the Tang Mansion's garden, flowers bloomed in a riot of color amidst lush greenery. Early on a Sunday morning, Grandpa Tang practiced a few rounds of the Five Animals Qigong in the courtyard. Wiping away his sweat with a towel, he walked into the house. He saw two pots of budding orchids on the living room coffee table with a rag, a small wooden trowel, and other things tossed to the side. It looked like they hadn't been tended to yet, but the person responsible was nowhere to be seen.
Xiao Zhang came down from upstairs and said with a smile, "The hot water is ready. Would you like to take your bath now, sir?"
Grandpa Tang looked around. "Let me catch my breath first. Where'd the old lady go?"
