Only then did everyone realize that while the cheating husband had been hit, the mistress was still standing calmly to the side, enjoying the spectacle.
Mrs. Cheng was somewhat of a celebrity in social circles. Although her family was not exactly top-tier wealthy, they could be considered second-rate. She was their only daughter and had a frail constitution ever since nearly drowning in her youth. On top of that, she had always struggled with her weight, even gaining pounds just from drinking water. By thirty, she was still unmarried. Suitors of equal standing found her unworthy, while the modest or virtuous types were unwilling. Finally, her helpless elderly parents resorted to bringing in a son-in-law—an opportunistic philanderer who married into their family purely for money. He spent his days squandering their wealth on debauchery. Together, these two were notoriously problematic in the social scene.
