Just then, Gou Dan came home from his studies. The moment he entered the courtyard, he shouted, "Mom, is the food ready? I'm starving."
Gou Dan's mother came out of the house and scolded him, "What are you yelling about? Acting like a starving ghost. All you think about all day is eating."
Gou Dan ran into the main hall and saw his older sister, Meizi, coming out from behind their mother. While putting his book bag on the table, he pouted and said, "You only ever scold me. How come I never see you scold Sis?"
Gou Dan's mother said angrily, "You little brat, talking back to me!" She then moved to pinch his ear.
Gou Dan quickly dodged into a side room, shouting, "Grandma, look! Mom's hitting me again!"
His grandmother was sitting in the room, squinting as she mended clothes. When she saw him come in, she quickly looked up, a toothless grin on her face, and said to him, "If you weren't being naughty, why would your mom hit you?"
