After Yan Qing left, Ling Hua sat at the desk waiting.
The old woman, a light sleeper, got up to relieve herself not long after lying down. Seeing the light on in the room, she asked in a low voice, "Young Master, Madam? Why haven't you gone to sleep yet?"
Ling Hua thought for a moment and replied, "Granny, your kang is too cold."
The old woman sighed, "It's my forgetfulness, Young Master, and Madam are noble people, delicate in constitution. I didn't burn enough firewood, naturally, you would be cold."
She immediately said, "I'll go add some firewood right away and warm up the kang for you."
Ling Hua stood up at once, opened the door, and told her, "I can go light the fire; you should rest."
The old woman looked at her skeptically, "Can the young lady light the kang?"
"I can light it."
The old woman nodded without demur, "Very well, the flint is on the stove, and the firewood is piled in the woodshed; you go ahead and light it."