"Hsueh-cheng," he said looking at him, "have you found out the word yet?"
"What word?—Oh, that? No, not yet."
"Heng, just look at him. He has learned nothing but eat and eat! It would be better if you learned something from the filial maid, who, though she is only a beggar, gives everything to her grandmother and willingly goes hungry herself. But, of course, you students know nothing of these things. You have no fears and beliefs; you'll turn out exactly like that ruffian . . . "
"I did think of a word, but I don't know whether it is right or not. What he said was perhaps 'o-erh-de-foo-erh.'"[1]
"Yes, yes, that's it, that's exactly it. But the way he said it sounded more like o-du-foo. Now what does it mean? You are of the same tribe as they and you ought to know."
"It means—I am afraid that I don't know what it means."
"Nonsense! You are concealing it from me. You are all bad eggs!"
"Even 'Heaven would not strike one who is eating.' What has come over you today that you act like this, 'striking the chicks and cursing the dogs' even at the supper table? What can you expect from them when they are only children?" Mrs. Ssu suddenly remonstrated.
"What's that?" Ssu-ming was about to continue his tirade, but he took a look at his wife and thought better of it, for her cheeks were puffed out, her color changed, her triangular eyes flashing an ugly light. He said instead, "Nothing has come over me. I am only trying to impress Hsueh-cheng that he must try to learn some good traits."
"How can he learn since he cannot read your mind?" She was angrier than ever. "If he could read what's in your mind,
- ↑ Old fool.
