When Gong Liang returned home, Mrs. Gong didn't say much. She just informed the neighbors that there was no need to search for Gong Liang anymore and then warmed the meal in the stove, urging him to eat quickly.
In the lunchbox were quail eggs cooked with pork and cornbread. The cornbread looked wrinkled and misshaped, clearly made from pure coarse grain. The quail eggs with pork were set aside by Gong Liang when heating the dish that afternoon; neither Mr. nor Mrs. Gong had touched it.
Gong Liang remained silent throughout, washed the lunchbox after eating, performed a simple wash-up, and went to his room to rest.
The next day, when Gong Liang got up, Mrs. Gong was not at home. A cooked corn was placed on the table, and the door to Mr. and Mrs. Gong's room was tightly shut. Gong Liang glanced inside to see Mr. Gong still sound asleep and said nothing as he headed to work.
