The two of them were engrossed in their conversation, but He Tang was upset.
When Mother He once again extolled the virtues of the Cui family's girl in front of him that evening, he mocked coldly, "If she is really that good, why hasn't she married yet at nineteen? Could it be that she is unattractive?"
"How could you say such a thing? How could a lady, raised delicately within a lady's chamber, be unattractive?"
"Whether she is attractive or not is not related to how delicately she has been raised."
"So, according to you, women who expose themselves in public all day, scrubbing clothes and cooking, with their coarse hands and feet, are they more attractive?"
He Tang stood abruptly. "Mother, who are you referring to?"
"You don't know who I am referring to?"
"I know that Mother does not think highly of Ah Ning, but mind your words, lest they bring misfortune!"
"What law am I breaking by talking about her?"