“Yes, the other day,” Ru sounded aggrieved, “he kicked my belly again.”
“Is it true?” Mr Bao asked Guo, “Did you?”
“I was angry,” Guo explained, “Still no baby.”
“Do you think violence can solve the problem? Listen to me,” Mr Bao said indignantly, “Don’t beat a woman, especially your wife. A man is not supposed to beat a woman. A man is supposed to protect and love his woman. If you injure her, disable her, how can she bear your child?”
These words brought agreeably profound silence from Guo and Ru, and seemingly touched Nan, whose pitiful tears fell in secret and who secretly wiped them away.