As soon as Aunt Ma returned home, she locked the door behind her and pressed her ear against it, listening intently for footsteps. She was terrified that Gu Muling might have followed her to demand an explanation; after all, she had been the one caught eavesdropping, and she was now overcome with guilt and nerves.
It remained quiet outside. After the time it takes to steep a pot of tea had passed with no knock on the door, Aunt Ma knew she had escaped unscathed.
She leaned her back against the door and slid limply to the floor. She was wearing her brand-new clothes, but she had no heart to worry about them now.
Chapter 191