Chapter 35 The Earl of Zhongyong treats our girl so well. "Her father is also like this..."

To ensure a crisp and tender texture, and to prevent the sauce from soaking the fish and making it mushy, the fish and sauce were served separately and poured over the fish in front of Mu Chuan.

Lin Daiyu watched as the golden, crispy squirrel fish turned red after being drizzled with sauce, and she was extremely satisfied: "Next time let's eat something else. I've heard that Shandong cuisine is also quite good."

The waiters at the Wu-Yue Guild Hall were very professional and even recommended a restaurant to them: "Zhishanlou, the one with the imperial cuisine in its name, is located outside Zhengyangmen. It's the one with two rows of big red lanterns hanging on it. The chef came from the imperial kitchen, and it's an old restaurant with over forty years of history."

Seeing that Lin Daiyu still wanted to say something, Mu Chuan said, "You should eat quickly, or it will get cold."

The excessive talking was just a sign of nervousness. Lin Daiyu realized what was happening and said, "Third Brother, let's go together."

Fish is delicious, as you can tell from the smile on Lin Daiyu's face, and the fact that she never mentions any other cuisines again.

Inside the Rongguo Mansion, Grandmother Jia returned to her inner room, sat for a while until her mood calmed down, and then felt a little hungry.

"Call him Baoyu—"

She was just about to say that Baoyu hadn't eaten much either, and that she should invite him to eat with her, when she realized that he had originally prepared the lunch.

Then it's not a good time to call it.

The understanding Yuanyang quickly said, "Master Bao ate quite well. He, his second wife, and a few young ladies ate outside."

Grandmother Jia laughed and said, "Then let's call Daiyu over. As for the Marquis of Zhongyong, he came over at noon without sending an invitation in advance. Even if we wanted him to stay for lunch, he didn't prepare anything."

While you're at it, teach her how to speak properly. Even though she, as her maternal grandmother, spoils her and thinks she's perfect, talking to relatives like that will offend people.

Following Jia Mu's lead, Yuanyang said, "That's right. After all, he is a first-class earl, so it's not appropriate to serve him ordinary home-cooked meals. Even if he were willing, our Rongguo Mansion would not do such a rude thing."

Grandmother Jia was indeed comforted, and she smiled and instructed, "Be careful not to let them see, or they'll say that this old woman is greedy again."

Yuanyang laughed and said, "I know."

Just as she stepped outside, she saw Master Bao and two old women rushing over in a panic. Upon seeing her, Master Bao exclaimed, "It's terrible! Lin Daiyu has been kidnapped by the Earl of Zhongyong!"

Yuanyang's heart was pounding in her chest. Just as she was about to tell him to stop talking nonsense, Grandmother Jia inside heard the commotion: "Is Baoyu here?"

Upon hearing Grandmother Jia's call, Jia Baoyu rushed inside: "Grandmother, Grandmother! Something terrible has happened! Lin Daiyu got into the Earl of Zhongyong's carriage, and the Earl of Zhongyong has run away with her! Quickly send someone to find her and bring her back!"

After Jia Baoyu finished eating, he went to the front yard to look for his Lin sister, intending to accompany her back. However, as soon as he arrived at the front yard, he saw several old women rushing over in a panic, saying, "Miss Lin got into the Earl of Zhongyong's carriage and left!"

Yuanyang wanted to question the two old women in detail, but Jia Baoyu's loud voice had been heard by the old lady, and there was no time to stop. She took the two old women inside, went to the cabinet to get some calming ointment, dissolved it in hot water, and brought it to Jia Baoyu to drink.

Don't let yourself get carried away and cause trouble again.

Both old women were servants in the front yard, and they had already discussed it with the people in the front yard before coming.

In short, they were not wrong. They tried to stop him but failed, so the blame was placed entirely on the Earl of Zhongyong.

Besides... even if they had noticed, would they really dare to stop the Earl of Zhongyong?

"...At first they were talking nicely, but then the Earl of Zhongyong said he wanted to show Miss Lin his horse. The Earl of Zhongyong's horse was famous throughout the capital, taller than a person, so we didn't pay much attention and just followed from a distance. Later, we don't know what the Earl of Zhongyong said, but he asked Miss Lin to get into his carriage."

The old woman sobbed twice as she spoke: "We old folks couldn't stop them... The guards in the front yard were just beaten, and even with his cane, they couldn't catch up. Please punish us, Madam. We've served the Rongguo Mansion for so many years, and we've been so blind. How could there be such an unruly guest?"

Jia Baoyu, holding a hot teacup in both hands, complained, "It's all your fault for not taking good care of Lin Daiyu! Grandmother, quickly send someone to find Lin Daiyu and bring her back. It's cold outside, she hasn't had lunch yet, and the Marquis of Zhongyong is such a rough man—"

Grandmother Jia frowned and interrupted him: "Ahem, your Lin sister should also call him brother. Going out with her brother is nothing."

This matter must not be made public. If it gets out, wouldn't we be handing Lin Daiyu over to the Earl of Zhongyong?

It wasn't for any other reason than that the Earl of Zhongyong came from a poor background, was a military officer, and was rude and uneducated, which might cause her granddaughter to suffer.

Moreover, if word of "abduction" were to spread, it would damage the reputation of the Jia family's daughters and the Rongguo Mansion.

Grandmother Jia sneered inwardly. Although she had never met him, she had heard that the Marquis of Zhongyong had a kind and honest appearance, but she never expected him to be so cunning that he could even deceive the emperor.

"Don't worry, your Lin sister will be back soon." Grandmother Jia was also anxious, but she still had to pretend to be nonchalant to comfort Jia Baoyu.

As they were talking, Madam Wang, who had heard the news, also came in.

She was even more afraid than Grandmother Jia of Lin Daiyu getting a bad reputation, so she had no choice but to marry the Earl of Zhongyong.

The dowry is secondary. Her sister-in-law is marrying a scholar from a wealthy and powerful family, and her sister-in-law's daughter is marrying a first-class earl, who is also the commander of the Northern Army. Is she going to spend her whole life fighting with them?

"Madam!" Jia Baoyu stood up to greet her, then said, "Lin Daiyu has been abducted by the Earl of Zhongyong."

Upon hearing his words, Madam Wang frowned, but had to pretend not to care.

"What nonsense are you talking about? That's my brother. He probably heard she hadn't eaten yet, so he took her out to eat with him. I was just about to come and tell the old lady not to worry. I often go to the Wang family to eat with my brother, and doesn't Baoyu often eat with Yingchun and Tanchun? It's the same. Young girls are all playful; they'll be back in a little while."

Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang exchanged a glance, tacitly setting the tone for this matter.

Although the old lady and the madam both said so, Jia Baoyu still couldn't get over it.

He still disliked this Marquis Zhongyong.

It's only been a few months? And it's already caused Lin Daiyu to become estranged from him.

He's busy with all sorts of weird things all day and doesn't really care about me anymore. He's even gone out twice this month, which makes me worry for no reason.

Lin Daiyu had already eaten her fill; most of the dishes on the table were still left.

"Third Brother, don't order so much next time." Lin Daiyu said a little embarrassedly, "We can come again, there's no need to order all the dishes at once."

Mu Chuan glanced at her: "Are you full?"

Lin Daiyu nodded with a smile: "Thank you, Third Brother."

Mu Chuan called the waiter in: "Bring another bucket of rice, and bring up your menu too, so Miss Lin can see what she wants to eat next time."

In fact, Lin Daiyu was somewhat prepared, as her third brother was tall and strong and his appetite could not possibly be only three times that of hers, but she was still a little surprised when that bucket of rice was served.

"I knew it." Lin Daiyu smiled as she looked at the small bowl Mu Chuan had just eaten from. "It looked like a teacup in your hand. I can eat a bowl and a half when I'm hungry, but you only ate five bowls."

Mu Chuan continued eating, while Lin Daiyu flipped through the menu. The menu she was looking at was different from the one the waiter had shown Mingyan a couple of days ago.

Firstly, there are no prices; secondly, the dishes are more exquisite, and there are also some very refined dishes that are only available to high-end guests and require advance reservations.

Lin Daiyu flipped through the list, picked out a few things she wanted to eat, and planned to try them next time. When she turned around, she saw that her third brother was still eating.

Lin Daiyu flipped through the menu again, picking out a few strange dishes to try. Then she turned around and saw that her third brother had ordered a small portion of pickled bamboo shoots and pork soup.

"Honestly, it's making me hungry." Lin Daiyu ordered a plate of smoked fish with preserved plums, and then smiled at Mu Chuan's slightly disgusted look, "That's right, it's sweet. I love sweet fish, would you like to try some, Third Brother? The fish bones are crispy and sweet, the more you chew, the more fragrant it becomes."

"Plums and fish, are these things that can appear in a dish?"

"Third Brother, why don't you try some? Maybe you'll like it after just a couple more pieces?"

She covered her mouth with her laughter, preventing Mu Chuan from seeing her pearly white teeth.

Mu Chuan retorted, "Think about what you're saying. If I liked the same thing as you, could you have taken it from me? Would you even have anything to eat?"

"Oh dear." Lin Daiyu tilted her head and made a gesture to block the smoked fish. "Third Brother is right. You should go eat your pickled bamboo shoots and pork soup."

After eating the smoked fish, Lin Daiyu felt a little sleepy. The room was warm, the food was to her liking, and she was full. What else could she do but feel sleepy?

She yawned, a little dazed, and said, "Third Brother, if you eat like this, won't you spend an hour and a half a day eating?"

Of course not. It's the first time we're out to eat, so I naturally want to make a lasting impression on the girl. Plus, I was really hungry yesterday, so I ate until I was completely full.

With the armor covering him, he was still a muscular man with eight-pack abs. Most prominently, what made the armor stand out were his pectoral muscles.

"Not at all. I've been busy these past few days and haven't eaten much. This meal should last me for three days."

"Wouldn't that hurt my stomach?" Lin Daiyu perked up. "I need to eat three meals a day at regular times."

Mu Chuan glanced at her. Winter clothes were thick, so it was hard to tell if she had gained weight, but her complexion was indeed rosier than when they first met.

"You're saying that... If you ate three meals a day on time, you wouldn't be this thin, would you?"

Lin Daiyu deliberately said, as if it were perfectly natural, "Their food is terrible; they put more salt than sugar in it—"

Seeing the disgusted look on Mu Chuan's face, she laughed again.

"We didn't say this before, but from now on we'll both eat well."

After eating Lin Daiyu until she was sleepy, Mu Chuan felt that was about it for today.

Soon the shop assistant came to collect the things, and the two went to the inner room.

The old woman from the clothing shop who was waiting outside was also led in, along with two young women who were there to serve her. The group carried four large packages containing eight items, including a vest, a jacket, a cloak, and a cape, for her to choose from.

The first thing to be opened was a vest with a paddy field pattern, pieced together with yellow, white, gray, and blue fur.

"Is the paddy field pattern popular again?" Lin Daiyu asked. The paddy field pattern is the style of a nun's patchwork robe. It was popular when she was a child, and she had several of them.

"Eating food from a hundred families and wearing clothes from a hundred families can ward off illness and disaster, and bring longevity." The old woman explained with a smile, "Every winter, people want this style."

Mu Chuan asked, "How many of these clothes did you make?"

The old woman smiled and said, "Our Liao's is a high-end clothing shop. Don't worry, sir, there's only this one. There will never be another one like it."

Mu Chuan was relieved and sat down to watch her choose clothes. He could tell that the clothes were all quite nice, and Lin Daiyu was satisfied with them. She had chosen clothes she liked, rather than picking the best among the short ones. So what was there to say?

"Help her put on the bijia, and also put on the cloak with the floral pattern of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix. The rest are all wrapped up so she can wear them slowly when she gets back."

The old woman couldn't stop smiling. Even in a high-end clothing store, ordering eight pieces at once wouldn't be too much.

The maidservant helped Lin Daiyu put on her vest and then draped a cloak over her shoulders. Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "Third Brother has good taste. I like these two the most."

“It’s almost New Year’s, you should wear more new clothes.” Mu Chuan chimed in, “Come on, I’ll take you back. I have to go to the palace later.”

Entering the palace was made to sound easier than going home, and the old woman became even more afraid to raise her head.

The old woman from the clothing shop went out, and the manager of the Wu-Yue Guild Hall came in, holding a gold-inlaid jade plaque in his hand. He handed the plaque to Mu Chuan with both hands and said with a smile, "If you would like to eat anything, sir, just tell your men to bring the plaque."

Is this for Mu Chuan? Obviously not, it's for Miss Lin.

The road has widened, the road has really widened.

Mu Chuan said, "I'm hosting my colleagues at home on the 18th. There are the most people from Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai in the officialdom, so I'll book two tables here."

The shopkeeper showed the jade pendant and put it in a delicate little pouch. Mu Chuan handed it to Lin Daiyu, saying, "You like sweets."

Lin Daiyu didn't refuse: "Thank you, Third Brother."

Accounting matters were naturally handled by his subordinates. Mu Chuan took Lin Daiyu out, and the carriage was warm and even a little hot.

Lin Daiyu helped him onto the carriage, and Mu Chuan said, "Next time we go out, I'll have to bring a maid with me, otherwise it will be a bit inconvenient."

"Next time?" Lin Daiyu nodded and asked, "Where to next time?"

Mu Chuan said, "The New Year is almost here. Let's go offer incense to Lord Lin and Madam Lin at the Great Buddha Hall. I've been there once; it's a quiet place with hardly anyone around, not the noisy kind of place for praying, making wishes, or drawing lots. I'm thinking, I'm hosting a banquet for my colleagues at home on the 18th, and then I'll be fasting and bathing... How about we go on the 21st?"

Lin Daiyu nodded in agreement, but did not get into the carriage. Instead, she lowered her head slightly and said somewhat awkwardly, "My father passed away on the third day of the ninth lunar month. The second day of the ninth lunar month is Sister Lian's birthday. I'm not saying they should all be sad, and Sister Lian never even met my father, but... every year they celebrate so enthusiastically, and I... am not very happy about it."

It's not good to say too much at this time, but you can't stay silent either, so Mu Chuan said, "That's how it is when you live in someone else's house. It will be better when you have your own home."

Her own home? Lin Daiyu thought of Jia Baoyu again. It wasn't convenient to talk halfway through getting on the carriage, so she stepped back, but she didn't let go of Mu Chuan's arm; instead, she tightened her grip.

"The second day of the ninth month last year... was especially lively." Lian Erge chased after them with his sword in hand, and the entire Jia family saw it.

“Baoyu changed into mourning clothes and went out, not even attending Lian’s second sister-in-law’s banquet, saying that Prince Bei Jing’s beloved concubine had passed away and he was going to pay his respects. I thought, since he knew to pay respects to Prince Bei Jing’s beloved concubine, why didn’t he remember to offer incense to my father?”

Although Lin Daiyu stopped, Mu Chuan could tell that she had more to say.

"Later he told me... it wasn't for the Prince of Bei Jing's beloved concubine, but because the maid had died, and he went to pay his respects to the maid."

After Lin Daiyu finished speaking, she stared blankly at Mu Chuan.

Mu Chuan sighed, "That's how it is when you stay at someone else's house. I'll accompany you to offer incense on the anniversary of Lord Lin's death."

“But he… he should remember the anniversary of my father’s death.” My father was not only his uncle, but we were also engaged; my father was his father-in-law.

“I’ve met Baoyu twice,” Mu Chuan said carefully. “He looks like he grew up being pampered and adored. If you want him to do something, you have to tell him clearly. You can’t make him guess. He might not be that considerate or attentive. There are some things he wouldn’t think of. You know the saying ‘Why don’t they eat cake?’ But precisely because he’s been surrounded by kindness since he was a child, he has a good heart.”

"Really?" Lin Daiyu pressed.

Of course not. Jia Baoyu was a good-for-nothing, irresponsible and immature. He would run away first when something happened. What could he do? He would fail miserably every time.

“You might not believe me when I say this, but you should know what kind of person he is. I hope you will give it a try. It’s better not to cause misunderstandings because things weren’t explained clearly,” Mu Chuan said solemnly.

Lin Daiyu boarded the carriage again and this time returned to the Rongguo Mansion safely.

Mu Chuan dismounted and accompanied her, then frowned when he saw the old woman who had come to fetch her: "Where's the sedan chair? Are you planning to let her walk against the wind by herself?"

Lin Daiyu chuckled: "Last time when Mama Shen came, she mentioned the same thing."

"Then you deserve to be beaten even more. You didn't remember it twice. If I find out a third time, I won't let you off the hook."

Mu Chuan stood upwind, blocking the wind, and waited with her for the sedan chair.

The old woman who went to fetch the sedan chair was trembling with fear, but she still forced herself to ask her companion, "What can he do to me? I'm not his servant."

"You'd better keep quiet, or he'll kick you and you'll be dead. Or he might say something casually and you'll be beaten and sent to the manor. I wonder if those people who went to the manor last time have even arrived yet."

Before long, the sedan chair arrived. Mu Chuan first touched the inside; it was icy cold and damp.

"How do you usually serve people? Is this something you'd give someone to sit on?" Mu Chuan went to the carriage and took two more cushions to change into, then handed over the three bundles: "Take good care of them."

Lin Daiyu just smiled at him, and felt that he was even more considerate than Shen Mama, but she couldn't say it out loud.

Mu Chuan escorted her all the way to the second gate. Lin Daiyu felt a little embarrassed and said, "Aren't you supposed to go to the palace? Don't delay us."

Mu Chuan glanced at the sky and said, "It's not a big problem. The Emperor Emeritus should have just woken up. It's perfect time to go in now, so he won't have to rush to wash up."

How could anyone speak of the retired emperor like that? The Jia family had some connection with the retired emperor and often visited the palace in the past, but none of them dared to be so presumptuous.

The closer he stood, the stronger the oppressive feeling became. The old women were even more afraid of him, not daring to lift their heads at all. Last time, when that burly old woman Shen came, they dared to smile obsequiously, but this time it was Uncle Zhongyong, and they didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

Mu Chuan led the horse out, but instead of mounting it, he looked down at his left hand.

The section of his index finger from the base to the web of his thumb had just been touched by Lin Daiyu. It felt like being brushed by a fluffy kitten's tail, still tickling him. He chuckled, "It really is—"

When Lin Daiyu returned to Xiaoxiang Pavilion, she saw Zijuan, Xueyan, and Baoyu waiting for her in the main room.

"Miss is back!" The three of them stood up hurriedly. Baoyu came over anxiously: "Are you alright? Is it cold outside? Why did it take you so long to come back?"

Lin Daiyu calmly instructed, "After receiving the gifts, give these women some money as a reward."

She also had someone bring back the cushion that her third brother gave her. She didn't know what it was made of, but it was soft yet resilient, and very comfortable to sit on.

"Go get some hot water so I can wash up." Then came a softer voice: "Xueyan, go get some hawthorn pills." She hadn't noticed while sitting, but as soon as she stood up, she realized she was stuffed. Luckily, she was wearing a vest and a cloak, so it wasn't obvious.

The maids inside busied themselves. Jia Baoyu followed Lin Daiyu and watched her sit down to drink tea. Her expression was normal, and he felt half relieved.

"Why didn't you tell me you were going out? Did Uncle Zhongyong insist on sending you? Next time—just refuse, or say that the old lady didn't want you to go out."

Lin Daiyu then recalled what her third brother had said about Baoyu, but she was a little tired and sleepy at the moment, and couldn't think of anything to say for the time being.

“It’s my own choice. You… it’s almost Chinese New Year, don’t you have anything going on? I need to rest.”

Jia Baoyu laughed and said, "Xiren is here. She chased me out and said that I only cause trouble."

"So you've come here to cause trouble?" Lin Daiyu turned and walked into the inner room. "I'm really sleepy. I don't have time to keep you company."

Jia Baoyu wanted to follow, but the nanny was watching from the side, and besides, he was afraid that Lin Daiyu would get angry.

"How about we do what we did when we were kids? You lie inside and I lie outside. I'll keep you company and talk to you to keep you entertained. You won't be sleepy in a little while."

Lin Daiyu yawned and ignored him. The nanny advised, "Second Master, Miss needs to rest."

Jia Baoyu came out dejectedly, but after taking a few steps, he turned back and said, "Don't sleep too long, or you won't be able to sleep at night."

Lin Daiyu had already lay down. She finally spoke the words that had been bottled up in her heart for a long time. She felt more relaxed than ever before, and as soon as her head hit the pillow, she almost fell asleep.

Before falling asleep, she thought again, "This is just the beginning. Next time, I'll tell my third brother how much I hate Zhou Rui's wife."

In the outer room, Zijuan and Xueyan were sorting through the clothes they had brought back this time.

The threshold at the entrance of the Wu-Yue Guild Hall was for a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations, and Mu Chuan had specifically instructed that the clothing shop they had found must have been of very high quality.

Even Xueyan was a little worried when she saw it: "This has to be wrapped up properly. It can't be folded, and it probably can't be ironed or hung..." It probably wouldn't work either. In the end, she could only lay it flat.

Zijuan smiled broadly: "Lord Zhongyong treats our young lady so well."

Mu Chuan had already entered the palace. He first went to the Daming Palace to pay his respects to the Emperor Emeritus, and told him about his visit to the imperial mausoleum. He then said, "Although I do not understand feng shui, I see that the mountains are majestic and the water flows down in a bend. The scenery is grand yet beautiful, pleasing to the eye and refreshing to the mind."

The Emperor Emeritus was very pleased to hear this, but as soon as he started talking, Mu Chuan apologized again: "After returning, I went to wash up and eat first, and did not go to the palace immediately. Please punish me, Your Majesty."

"What crime has the General committed?" The Emperor Emeritus was even more pleased. "As the saying goes, even an emperor doesn't starve his soldiers. Besides, after returning from the mausoleum, he should wash up first."

But before he could finish speaking, Mu Chuan said, "It's getting late, Your Majesty, please rest well. I'll take my leave now."

This made the retired emperor quite insecure, so he summoned a mirror and looked at himself for a long time.

He looks alright, not too haggard, and has plenty of energy. He doesn't seem tired and need to rest after just a few words.

"Dai Quan, you said you'd go and inquire, but did you find out anything?"

The whole thing was Mu Chuan's setup; the delivery of the Zhu ticket was just this morning. It would be a miracle if Dai Quan could find out anything about it.

He hesitated and said, "This servant also finds it strange. The General is perfectly fine. I don't know what's wrong with him."

The retired emperor hummed in agreement: "Let's take another look."

Just then, another eunuch came in to report: "The General has gone to the Imperial Study."

The Emperor Emeritus's face immediately fell: "It must have been something my son said!"

No one dared to speak up then.

Mu Chuan headed towards the Imperial Study. The palace was a bit higher up than other places, and the wind was strong, which made him feel calm and conducive to thinking. Mu Chuan then went over his plan again.

The last time I mentioned my father-in-law in front of the emperor, the emperor's expression was one of hesitation, a dilemma, a mix of nostalgia and sorrow, clearly indicating that something was wrong.

Moreover, his father-in-law had been dead for less than five years, yet the emperor said, "It must have been ten years." Why is that? Even if the emperor's math was taught by a PE teacher, he couldn't have produced such a result.

Excluding slips of the tongue, that leaves only one explanation: the days felt like years, and there was regret.

So Mu Chuan's current plan is to occasionally talk to the emperor about how wonderful Miss Lin is, so that the emperor will remember his father-in-law. If this happens a few more times, he will be able to find out what really happened back then.

Interests can even be expressed by the emperor himself.

"Lord Zhongyong." Eunuch Quan personally came out to greet him, smiling, "Your Majesty happens to have some free time right now."

Mu Chuan returned the greeting. He was now very polite to Eunuch Quan. Ever since he took over as the commander of the Northern Camp, Eunuch Bai had spoken some heartfelt words, and Eunuch Dai had also told him some secrets. But Eunuch Quan had never said a word, so Mu Chuan was very wary of him.

This person isn't one of our own, so we need to be careful what we say.

Mu Chuan followed Eunuch Quan into the imperial study. The emperor put down what he was holding and smiled, "You've returned from the imperial mausoleum?"

Mu Chuan bowed and replied, "I went back to wash up first and had a small meal before entering the palace. It would be impolite to be disrespectful in front of His Majesty."

The emperor, recalling his appetite which was three times that of an ordinary person, laughed and said, "Actually, I am also a little curious about how loudly Qiao Yue would shout if he were hungry."

Mu Chuan gave an awkward smile at the right moment and took the opportunity to change the subject: "Speaking of which, when I had dinner with Miss Lin last time, Miss Lin really had a sweet tooth."

He sighed as he spoke, "The fish is sweet, the meat is sweet, the chicken is sweet, the noodles are sweet, even the tea has to be sweet. Sigh... how come people are so thin?"

The emperor laughed and said, "Her father was like that too, thin and frail."