The cheerful crowd heard a strange laugh, and from over there came Qiao Shi.

Qiao Shi couldn’t see what she looked like herself, and in her heart she still believed herself gentle and lovely. In truth, the noodle soup on her face had dried into a thin crust, wrinkled and shiny, making her look like an eighty-year-old woman covered in creases. With her hair matted and sticky, she nonetheless felt lovely inside as she minced her way over to Qiqian’er and the old lady, squeezing herself right between them.

She didn’t even look at the old lady — just glanced behind her first, blinked, signaling that there were outsiders present, then reached to take Qiqian’er’s hand… Qiqian’er shook her off without the slightest courtesy. Unbothered, Qiao Shi said magnanimously, “Qiqian’er, ah, our old lady’s getting on in years — she’s old and confused, and you’re going along with her nonsense?”

She turned to Qiqian’er, blinking rapidly, and said with a laugh, “My child, my dear treasure! Such filial devotion, promising away a whole mountain of gold just like that? You’ll be the death of me laughing! Well, I must say, you really are from a different sort of household — look how well you talk, how you charm people, look how happy everyone is! From now on, this is exactly how it should be! Everyone adores you, believe me, your days ahead will be nothing but good. Auntie guarantees it — they all love you to bits.”

Zhou Shi and the others laughed along at this, all agreeing, yes indeed, we’re all so very fond of her.

Qiqian’er said nothing, just watched her perform.

Seeing that Qiqian’er wasn’t laughing, Qiao Shi’s eyes darted about, and she blinked again, saying, “We’re all idle most days anyway, and when we’ve got free time we like to do needlework together to pass the time. We’re plain-spoken, not as clever with words as you, so — seeing as how you count us as your elders, won’t you be a bit filial to us too, from now on? Good?

I’ll tell you what, don’t you dare look down on us later! You just come by anytime — you don’t need to do anything at all, I’ll take care of everything! Just come sit with us, tell us some jokes, cheer us up a bit — how about it?”

This whole performance left Meng Wanquan utterly baffled — he thought, this woman recovers fast, she just got hit and now she’s up and about laughing and joking already.

He turned, puzzled, to look at Chang Lianfang, but Chang Lianfang was hiding motionless behind the cart shaft nearby, pretending he didn’t exist. Though as a grown man it wasn’t proper for him to listen in on women’s gossip, this was more entertaining than anything back at his own house, so he figured he’d better listen closely — he could tell his grandmother and mother about it later, give them a laugh too.

Qiao Shi kept going: “…Just look how affectionate this girl is, my Choutou really is lucky, the way she handles things and speaks — most people can’t compare. My tongue’s too clumsy, I can’t manage it, but you don’t know, I only just now made the old lady angry, and yet in the blink of an eye — look at that! Still you, able to coax our old lady into such a good mood! Qiqian’er, ah, as happy as we all are — well, it’s getting late today, there’ll be plenty of time for fun later, right? Listen to your auntie, let’s head back now! It’s getting late — I’ve already got noodle soup warming on the fire at home for you…”

Meng Wanquan was stunned. Noodle soup — wasn’t that supposed to be for him? Now she’s promising it to someone else again?

Seeing the girl not respond, Qiao Shi grew anxious, turning even more affectionate, even more loving, even more doting as she said, “Child, you’ve worked so hard today! Our family will remember this as a great service to you — wait till your uncle gets back tomorrow, just watch how I’ll praise you to him! Today, you don’t need to worry about a thing, just eat and rest, I’ll see to everything properly… Come, come, come, Wanquan, would you mind rounding up some hands to help us move all this to the old lady’s room! If we delay any longer it’ll be dark, and we won’t be able to see a thing — can’t afford to lose even one item… this is all our family’s property, after all!”

Her voice rose higher and higher as she spoke, casting sidelong glances at the women still fondling the goods… then turning back to smile broadly and warmly at Qiqian’er.

But that warmth didn’t last long. Given everything Qiao Shi had just done, why was this little chit still not giving her a good look?

Qiao Shi and Qiqian’er locked eyes, and sparks all but flew between their gazes.

This… something wasn’t right!

The crowd gradually fell silent. Chang Lianfang, who’d been enjoying the show, slowly stood up, thinking to himself, uh oh, this feels all too familiar!

He had to leave now. Since childhood he’d learned one lesson at home — when grandmother and mother got into it upstairs, that was one thing, but once it moved downstairs into an actual fight requiring a judge, that judge’s role was the single worst job in the world, one that would turn to ashes the moment anyone touched it, ashes too fine to even scoop back up.

In short, run — that was the only answer. He hurried over, bowed properly to the old lady, made sure everyone was settled, and then, as if fleeing for his life, mounted his horse and galloped off.

The soldiers who’d been driving and escorting the carts, having gotten the young general’s cue, likewise dropped whatever they were doing and scurried off together into the sick-and-wounded camp to avoid the scene.

And so, only two groups remained by the cart. The unlucky Meng Wanquan, who couldn’t get away, stood with Qiqian’er and the old lady on one side, facing off against all the aunties friendly with Qiao Shi on the other.

Qiqian’er and Qiao Shi stared each other down, until finally someone, not reading the room, blurted out, “What — what’s going on? Weren’t things fine just a moment ago?”

“Shh…”

Qiao Shi sensed that this girl had probably seen through her intentions — but so what? Today, she’d decided, she was going to make her move.

These two had fought each other for no less than thirty years in their past lives, right up until the very end when Qiqian’er died, and Qiao Shi died too — in the end, neither of them had won.

This time around, now that Qiqian’er was back, she’d made up her mind: if you don’t provoke me, fine, but if you do, we’ll smash the pot together, I’ll wreck your whole household — eat your own words for it.

Just yesterday she’d thought to herself, if she ended up entangled again in this lifetime in the same petty squabbles of the inner household, then this whole rebirth would have been for nothing!

She’d read so many books, all those classics and histories passed down through the ages — surely none of what the sages and worthies of old had taught had anything to do with the inner household’s squabbles. From now on, what she fought for was the family’s reputation and standing, what she fought for was the dignity her future children would carry when they stepped out into the world, what she fought for was the respect owed deep in a person’s heart — a person lives for their reputation, and money is nothing more than a tool to purchase that dignity.

But before she could fight for any of that, she needed to first set up a monument that no one dared provoke. She didn’t mind using Qiao Shi as the sacrifice today — after all, Qiao Shi had charged at her of her own accord.

As the sages say, the beauty lies in perfect timing — Qiao Shi couldn’t restrain herself and had jumped too high, which only made this all the more fitting.

The Qiao Shi of today wasn’t the same Qiao Shi who, upon seeing wealth, would immediately start scheming, gradually becoming flawless and watertight in her methods.

She was still the same Qiao Shi who relied purely on human nature, on sentiment, on simple reasoning to control those around her. Well, so be it — you have your logic, I have my manners; since you’ve jumped out so eagerly, I’ll settle you once and for all. If I don’t crush you thoroughly this once, I worry you’ll forget the lesson the moment the pain fades.

Qiao Shi stared fixedly at Qiqian’er — dealing with this fifteen-year-old girl using her own logic seemed far too easy. She was the elder here, naturally above her; putting her in her place should be child’s play.

This girl was foolish too, flaunting her wealth so openly — didn’t she realize how dangerous that was? If a beautiful woman showed up in a village, whether or not she was chaste made no difference — as long as she outshone the others, the women would move to bring her down before the men even got the chance.

Besides, the old lady was elderly now, and Chen Si Niu was the true head of the household — this clever-tongued girl surely understood that much, so why on earth had she decided to rely on this old woman instead?

What use was there in currying favor with her — the old woman was already halfway to the grave.

Qiao Shi’s mind churned with all these thoughts.

But Qiqian’er wasn’t waiting for her.

And so everyone heard the young lady speak first: “Qiao Shi! You had plenty to say just now!”

Hearing this, Qiao Shi’s heart leapt with joy for a split second, though her face showed only forced patience as she said, in a tone suppressing her anger, “Choutou’s woman! Though you’ve only just arrived, a few words and you’ve got the old lady so confused she doesn’t know which way is up. Not returning home all last night — well, that’s no matter. You’re young, you don’t understand propriety yet — we, as your elders, will teach you slowly.

But what did you just call me? Fine! Fine! What fine upbringing indeed! I’d thought, since you’re new here, I’d go easy on you, be warm toward you, and you’d come to understand who I am eventually… Everyone, listen to what she just called me! Qiao Shi — is that a name for you to use?”

Just as Qiqian’er was about to speak, she felt the old lady about to erupt again, so she grabbed her hand and said, in a voice neither sorrowful nor joyful, neither angry nor resentful, “Qiao Shi, I have a marriage certificate and you don’t — so if I’m not to call you Qiao Shi, what should I call you?”

Qiao Shi was instantly furious. “What did you say?!”

“I have my parents’ sanction for my marriage, and you don’t — Qiao Shi, you’re not even worthy of pouring tea for the proper wife, you lowly concubine.”

Wait, this wasn’t right — this wasn’t the script she’d expected.

Qiao Shi had prepared herself for every scenario — what if the girl went and made a scene with the old lady, what if the old lady refused to allow it no matter what, what if she tried to rally Meng Wanquan and the others for support, what if she threatened to make a life-or-death scene herself — whatever came, she was ready.

Wasn’t this supposed to turn into a screaming match between the two of them? What kind of twisted logic was this lowly wretch spouting? She’d been living perfectly well with Chen Si Niu — since when had she become his concubine?

Qiao Shi grew furious and couldn’t hold back, screeching, “You — you, you have no manners at all, talking such nonsense!”

Qiqian’er laughed lightly. “I have manners, just not for you. As for respect — I show respect to my fourth uncle’s rightful wife, properly wed through our parents’ arrangement, the matchmaker’s word, the three letters and six rites, recorded in the ancestral register, filed at the government office! What do you have? Show me!”

What could Qiao Shi possibly understand of such things — she didn’t even know which direction the government office door faced. She’d had her parents arrange her first marriage back in the day… but hearing Qiqian’er say all this now, those long-forgotten details from her first marriage came flooding back to her one by one.

Right, she and Chen Si Niu had none of those things — but did that mean they were stirring up trouble for no reason?

Panicking, she said loudly to Qiqian’er, “I can’t reason with you — tomorrow when your fourth uncle gets back, I’ll tell him for certain to teach you a lesson. The old Chen family absolutely cannot take in a troublemaker like you…”

Qiqian’er sneered. “Whether I’m a troublemaker or not is Chen Choutou’s headache — what business is it of yours, a distant uncle by marriage? You’re all separated households now — what right do you have to interfere?”

Qiao Shi sneered back. “Who said we’re separated households?”

The old lady had wanted to speak for a while now, and at this she burst out, “We split the household the very night the old man died! Ask Si Niu if you don’t believe me. Even if the old man never said it, I’m telling you now — we split! Split!”

She had no choice but to live out her days with her granddaughter-in-law now, or else she’d rather die.

Qiqian’er immediately turned and gave the old lady a sweet, tilted smile, and the old lady returned it with an equally sugary one. Once they’d finished smiling at each other, Qiqian’er turned back and pressed her attack on Qiao Shi: “I have my parents’ sanction, you don’t!”

Qiao Shi shouted furiously, “I do too!”

“Nonsense — Grandmother says she never consented! If you’re a legitimate wife, your children going back to visit call your side ‘outside family,’ outsiders… and what does ‘outsiders’ mean? By law, any crime of collective punishment only reaches as far as the husband’s family. Your own natal family won’t even share in your hardship — your parents’ authority ranks below my grandmother’s!”

At this she turned to the old lady and said, “Grandmother, I’m telling you — by the rites, if your daughter-in-law is unfilial — I’m not talking about Qiao Shi, Qiao Shi isn’t even part of our family, I don’t even know what she counts as — but if you’re ever unhappy with your daughter-in-law, within the seven grounds for divorce, you can have your son cast his wife out!”

The old lady’s whole world flung wide open. She asked, thrilled, “Really?”

Qiao Shi shrieked in desperation, “She’s talking nonsense!”

Qiqian’er nodded firmly at the old lady, then turned back and threw another blade at Qiao Shi: “Qiao Shi, shouting louder won’t help you — I have the matchmaker’s word, you don’t.”

“That’s rubbish! You’re talking rubbish! Go ask around, who doesn’t know I’m Chen Si Niu’s wife.”

“That doesn’t count. I have a marriage certificate — you don’t.”

Qiao Shi trembled with rage and could hold back no longer. She sprang up and shouted, “It’s just a marriage certificate! Si Niu can write you one the moment he’s back!”

Unbothered, Qiqian’er set off another calm thunderclap: “Don’t bother writing me one — what would I need your marriage certificate for? But my fourth uncle can’t write you one either.”

Qiao Shi’s chest heaved violently, and she said furiously, “You — you think you’re so clever, why can’t he write me one? I even bore him a daughter! I served his mother for three whole years! Three years!”

Qiqian’er rolled her eyes. “Whether I think I’m clever or not, I won’t tell you — but I’ll teach you a lesson out of decency, for Xique’s sake if nothing else, you don’t need to thank me for it!”

Qiao Shi, both flustered and terrified, could barely get words out, choking hard as she forced out a single syllable: “Pah—!”

She was about to faint.

Qiqian’er clicked her tongue with a grimace. “How do you not know what’s good for you? You’re already past thirty — I’m being kind to you and you still don’t appreciate it? Fine then, for Xique’s sake I’ll tell you — throughout all the dynasties, there has never been a woman who dared remarry without first receiving a divorce letter from her previous husband’s family. What are you, then? Calling yourself my fourth aunt so freely — even the emperor’s own princesses don’t dare serve two husbands at once, and here you are, running wild!”

The crowd around them erupted at once, a buzz of discussion breaking out — and then people realized that among all the families following the camp, though many women had remarried, Qiao Shi’s situation — where the previous husband was still alive — was the only one of its kind.

Right, if you’d formally separated, you should carry a separation document to remarry; if you’d been cast out, you should at least have a writ of divorce to remarry with.

Qiao Shi had always told people that her first husband was vile and shameless, that to save her own life she’d been handed over to Chen Si Niu in exchange for it. She’d never wanted it, of course, but the man had begged on his knees, and she’d had no choice but to save him and go along with Si Niu.

Whenever she’d told this story before, everyone had sympathized, even comforted her over it — some had even been moved to admiration and envy.

These women knew little enough — at most, from old plays, that only the most exceptional beauty was fit to be offered up to a lord.

That was exactly the point of Qiao Shi telling this story — that she came from good stock, was virtuous and gentle, and beautiful besides.

Qiao Shi pointed around at the crowd, trembling. “Go ask around — of everyone in this whole camp, is there a single one who’s gone through all those things you just described…?!”

Qiqian’er knew these women all too well, and laughed at that. “Once a person’s dead, that’s the end of it — you think everyone’s the same as you!”

Someone raised her voice, as if to prove herself. “That’s right! My husband starved to death long ago, my children too — once you’re dead, the debt’s settled. We didn’t have any of those things, we can make it up later if we ever remarry — but Qiao Shi’s different, she can’t even count as a proper concubine.”

A crash of thunder struck straight through Qiao Shi’s skull — was there truly no way out now? This wasn’t right, this wasn’t how she’d planned things at all.

Qiao Shi was consumed with regret — she’d never imagined she would back herself into a corner like this.

She’d always been so proud, looking down on this dirt-poor Chen family, all these useless country bumpkins — she hadn’t even needed to try that hard, and yet the property held by the family’s few commandant sons had all ended up in her own hands.

Now, what was she to do? She stood there racking her brain — everything was gone, everything had turned to ash. How vicious this person in front of her was — was she trying to drive her to her death?

She burst into tears — genuine tears this time. Qiao Shi cried out, “So what if I don’t have those things — I don’t believe Si Niu will just let you bully me like this. Just you wait.”

Qiqian’er’s face showed nothing but regret. “No need to wait — in this lifetime, don’t even dream of it.”

The moment Qiqian’er finished speaking, Qiao Shi suddenly found new strength — right, right, the three letters and six rites, she might not have those, but she had Chen Si Niu — as long as she wanted it, Si Niu would give her anything.

Seeing Qiao Shi steady herself again, Qiqian’er drove the blade in further: “I know exactly what you’re thinking.”

Qiao Shi glared at her. “Are you some kind of demon wearing human skin, that you even know what I’m thinking?”

Qiqian’er nodded. “Those thoughts of yours are useless. I’ll tell you now — even if you went through every single rite you wanted, Grandmother is your mother-in-law, and she doesn’t consent! You’d still have no legitimate standing! You couldn’t even get on the ancestral register! The clan would never recognize you — and I, your distant nephew’s wife, would have no reason to show you any respect at all.”

The old lady, off to the side, was practically glowing with delight. Vindicated, she spat fiercely at Qiao Shi and said with a savage grin, “Pah! Even if I die, I won’t consent!”

It was over. Completely over.

Qiao Shi knew she and the old lady could never reconcile in this lifetime — so if that was how it was, since she was going to die anyway, she might as well drag the girl down with her.

Qiao Shi shrieked and lunged, clawing straight for Qiqian’er’s face.

Could she actually land a scratch on her? Qiqian’er simply reached out and caught her, twisting both her hands together in one grip — such strength she had that delicate, soft Qiao Shi cried out in pain at once, shouting, “Let go of me, you’re hitting me, how dare you, I’m your elder!!”

Qiqian’er stared at her own hand, stunned for a moment, and finally said, “So this is all you really are…”

“Help, someone’s bullying me, let go of me — I’m Chen Si Niu’s wife, help, help, someone’s bullying me…”

Qiao Shi pleaded pitifully, looking utterly wretched.

Under ordinary circumstances, the women nearby would have already rushed over. But today’s scene was too frightening — they huddled together instead, trembling like chicks caught in the rain, too intimidated to get involved.

Rush in to face death? What was that — the Thunder God’s own daughter come down to earth, some kind of divine avenger — no one dared provoke that.

Qiqian’er looked at the weeping Qiao Shi, and felt several knots in her chest finally loosen. She curled her lip and let go, saying, “Heh — still playing the elder, are you? A stranger’s wife, coming to lord it over my household? In my family, you don’t even rank as a concubine, let alone an outside mistress — and you’re offended I call you Qiao Shi? What should I call you then? Auntie? Keep dreaming.

My Choutou may not amount to much, but he’s still seventh-rank — I’m the proper lady of an official household. You, a merchant’s daughter, don’t even count as a commoner — how dare you put on airs in front of me!

And my fourth uncle may not amount to much either, but he’s still a seventh-rank valiant commandant — you’re nothing but a plaything he bought with spare money to pass the time!”

Qiao Shi collapsed to the ground, all hope gone.

Right — just as you once said I was some worthless thing bought for ten strings of cash, everything you did to me back then, I’m returning to you today in full. We’re even now.

How vicious — this was truly vicious talk — everyone listening was stunned into silence.

This girl before them was not someone to be provoked, no matter what — better to steer clear of her from now on. This wasn’t just a household spat — she’d all but driven the woman to the edge of ruin with her own two hands.

Qiao Shi’s life, as far as this was concerned, was finished.

All around, dead silence. The sky grew darker and darker, and then, at some point, two torches flared to life at the entrance of the sick-and-wounded camp.

“What’s going on over there? What’s all this commotion?”

A voice as gentle as flowing water drifted over, and everyone turned to look — somehow, no one had noticed when a plain, unadorned carriage had arrived outside the camp, nor how long it had been sitting there, nor how much it had overheard.

The old coachman set down a footstool, and the carriage curtain was lifted by a young maid of eleven or twelve, dressed in scallion-green cloth.

She hopped down and reached a hand back through the curtain. “My lady.”

The curtain parted, and a woman in her early thirties emerged, guided by the girl’s hand — fair-skinned, with delicate brows and eyes, gentle and approachable in bearing, her hair done up in a loose chignon, adorned with a simple kingfisher-jade begonia hairpin, wearing a floral-patterned cape collar, a dark indigo straight-collared narrow-sleeved jacket, and below, a pale-flowered pleated skirt in blue-green. She stepped gracefully down from the carriage.

Everyone stood transfixed.

Once down from the carriage, the woman looked around, but paid no attention to the conspicuous Qiqian’er — instead she walked straight over to Xique, who was still crying inconsolably, and reached to pick the little girl up.

Zhou Shi, who’d been holding Xique, looked on in astonishment.

As the woman moved to take her, Zhou Shi said, “She’s filthy, don’t get your clothes dirty.”

The woman laughed, delighted. “It’s fine, children are never dirty.”

With that, she took Xique into her arms, soothing her, and walked over to Qiqian’er.

Qiqian’er and this woman locked eyes; after a long moment, judging by age, the two of them, in a strange, matched rhythm, began exchanging bows of equal rank at exactly the same time.

“We meet for the first time, elder sister, may you be well.”

“We meet for the first time, younger sister, may you be well.”

Even their voices, their cadence, their timing, matched perfectly. And despite holding a small child in her arms, the woman’s rhythm never faltered in the slightest.

The onlookers were dumbstruck. In that instant, they realized that some people were simply different from themselves — and that difference had nothing to do with food, drink, or dress, but lived instead in the very bone and blood of a person.

The woman smiled and asked Qiqian’er, “I wonder which family my little sister comes from?”

Qiqian’er laughed lightly. “Not from any great lineage — just an ordinary farming-and-scholarly family, the Huo family estate fifteen li outside Qingfeng City. We’ve kept the estate grounds for the previous dynasty for three hundred years now. And you, elder sister?”

The woman laughed lightly as well. “Much the same — unlucky remnants of the previous dynasty, generations of imperial physicians grinding out medicine pills at the Imperial Medical Bureau. My husband’s surname is Cheng, in fact — he’s serving here in this very camp, another pill-grinder himself… heh.”

From inside the covered carriage came a sharp crack of a sound; the woman’s smile grew even more delighted, her eyes crinkling shut, her brows curving into two crescent-moon lines.

Qiqian’er was faintly startled at this. This sick camp would disband next year — she’d never met this woman before.

She stepped back three paces and bowed deeply once more, formally. “Forgive me — so this is Teacher Cheng’s wife.”

Xique started crying again. Teacher Cheng’s wife patted her a few times and said with a smile to Qiqian’er, “What grudge could there be — a country woman fleeing the chaos of war, surviving isn’t easy. She only coveted a bit of your money — this child bears you no ill will, why make her suffer for it?”

Qiqian’er offered no explanation, only bowed again. “It’s gotten late today — I’ll take my leave now.”

The woman blinked, taken aback for a moment, then nodded. “Very well!”

With that, she stepped aside, watching as the young lady called for the others, had the cart drivers summoned, and helped the old lady away with all her belongings.

The onlooking women, feeling awkward, grew embarrassed too, and quietly dispersed one by one.

Qiao Shi looked at this woman, her whole body full of grievance, hoping to find someone to lean on and pour her heart out to — but the woman seemed to want nothing to do with her, handing Xique off first to her own maid before the maid passed the child back to Qiao Shi.

Qiao Shi took the child, and not willing to let the chance slip by, called out after Qiqian’er, “Teacher — Teacher Cheng’s wife…”

Her voice was thick with tears, but the woman didn’t even turn her head, leaving Qiao Shi standing there in the shadows.

The little girl kept crying, the sound growing fainter and fainter as they went. The woman climbed back into the carriage, where Teacher Cheng himself was sitting, looking at her with considerable exasperation. “When exactly did I marry you? How come I don’t know about it?”

Even as he said he didn’t know, his face was smiling.

Hearing this, Teacher Cheng’s wife laughed lightly. “Oh, dear junior brother — my natal family’s finished, and my husband’s family doesn’t want me either. Just be a good sport about it and tell me — will you take me in or not?”

Teacher Cheng sighed, helpless, and glared at her. “I’ll have Quanzi arrange a house for you once he’s back — stay here for now.”

Teacher Cheng’s wife laughed and sat down beside him, lowering her voice. “I have a writ of divorce.”

Teacher Cheng burst out laughing despite himself. “You really — stop meddling in those women’s affairs from now on.”

Teacher Cheng’s wife lifted her chin, rather pleased with herself. “I just can’t stand hearing children cry, that’s all. Besides — inner-household matters, this was rather too harsh a way to settle things.”

Teacher Cheng sighed helplessly, rubbing his forehead. “You never did have any sense, even as a child. That Qiao Shi over there…” His voice dropped a beat, lower. “She had it coming! The old lady’s been quietly asking me for medicine to disperse bruising… From now on, when you see people like that, don’t even look at them.”

The woman froze for an instant. It was clear she couldn’t even imagine the kind of low, gutter-level cruelty Qiao Shi had resorted to.

Her half-closed eyes suddenly went wide and round, and she looked at Teacher Cheng. “You mean—?”

Teacher Cheng nodded, helpless, his face betraying an anger he couldn’t hide. “Yes. She’s been beating the old lady in private, in places that don’t show.”

In that single instant, the woman’s face turned savage. She spun around and headed straight back out, and Teacher Cheng cried out in alarm after her: “Sister!!”