The stillness of deep winter in the Song family's courtyard was shattered by a series of urgent knocks.
Uncle Lin, who usually played the role of gatekeeper when there was nothing else to do, went to open the door and found several people standing outside.
Leading the group was a young woman holding a baby in swaddling clothes, followed by a man and a woman; the man dressed like a guard, the woman looked like a maid.
It was too dark for Uncle Lin to recognize Lin Xiaoyue, and he hesitated, asking, "May I ask who you're looking for?"
Lin Xiaoyue's voice was somewhat husky, "I'm looking for your mistress, Mrs. Wen. Could you please inform her?"
As she spoke, Lin Xiaoyue reached out gently patting the swaddling clothes, as if calming the baby in her arms to sleep.
"Well..." Uncle Lin hesitated.
At that moment, Mrs. Cao came over upon hearing the noise and asked, "What's going on?"
Uncle Lin turned to Mrs. Cao and quietly said they were looking for the mistress.
