"I—I wasn't acting! You're the one acting, you vicious shrew!" Ji Zhenniang flew into a rage out of shame, and in order to save face, she said very solemnly, "Do not look upon improper things. Those rough men baring their chests shows they've got no upbringing. But we're official ladies, we mustn't look at such coarse folk!"
Gu Jinli slanted a look at her and said, "But you were just looking."
Ji Zhenniang was furious to death, pointed at her and sputtered, "You, you, you!"
She tried for half a day and still couldn't think of a retort, and very nearly burst into tears from anger.
Ms. Gao Lei said, "Enough, it's just a few men beating drums bare-chested, what's all the shouting for?"
She went on, "The Northwest is different from the south. The folk here are fierce. Not to mention married women—even unmarried girls can go out alone, set up a stall and do business. As long as you're not wrapped up in some man's arms doing shameless things, your reputation won't be ruined."
