The sisters exchanged a look, then scurried to their parents' side and pretended to cry:
"Wuu wuu, Aunt Lai wanted to beat us this morning, and the driver, to prevent Aunt Lai from getting off the carriage to hit us, drove the ox cart faster so she wouldn't have the chance to get down and strike us."
The pretended weeping sisters put on a face of grievance as they finally narrated the morning's events.
Hongji and Mrs. Li, who had been standing at the door enjoying this spectacle, became alarmed upon hearing their daughters allege that Aunt Lai wanted to beat them. How could this be tolerated?
They looked at Aunt Lai with eyes full of reproach.
"It's not like that, Old Master, you must believe me, I was only joking, how could I bear to hit these clever and adorable children!"
Aunt Lai sensed something was wrong—she couldn't afford to not complain, else she might end up being scolded by the Old Master!
