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do you mean?”
    â€œI watch and listen.” Leen filled a kettle with water to boil. “Nothing escapes me. I’ve been here a long time,” she repeated. “For over twenty years. Before that, I worked for Chen seen-san’s father. Now, he was a man of great dignity.”
    â€œAnd Chen seen-san?” Pei dared to ask. She quickly cleared the rest of the table and handed Leen the last of the bowls.
    Leen shook her head. “Not half the man his baba was.”
    Pei began to wonder if she should remain silent in order to survive in the Chen household.
    â€œAnd Chen tai?” Her words slipped out.
    Leen’s eyes narrowed as she carefully scrutinized Pei from head to toe. Seeming satisfied, she moved closer to Pei and whispered, “Chen tai has led a pampered life, surrounded by those who cater to all her whims. Many times this keeps her from seeing the truth.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Pei asked, stepping back.
    Leen laughed bitterly. “Not all of us are what we appear. I can see that you are a fast learner. Just watch out. In time, all truths are revealed.”
    Pei felt Leen’s words lie heavy in her stomach. Before anythingelse was said, Ah Woo came back in through the kitchen door. “Everyone’s awakened,” she sang out, only to pause when her eyes fell on Pei. “You look pale. Is everything all right?” Ah Woo’s smile disappeared as she turned toward Leen.
    â€œOh, yes,” Pei quickly answered.
    Leen looked down and busied herself with washing the breakfast bowls.
    â€œAt times we aren’t as helpful as we should be,” Ah Woo snapped.
    Leen snickered, then set each washed bowl on the counter with a dull clink.
    â€œAnyway,” Ah Woo went on, recovering, “I’ve told Chen tai that you’ve arrived, Pei, and she would like to meet you before breakfast.”
    â€œNow?”
    Ah Woo smiled again and said, “Chen tai has more clothes than half of Hong Kong. The sooner she meets her new saitong, the better.”
    Pei glanced over at Leen, who carefully lowered two brown eggs into a pot to boil.
    Ah Woo quietly pushed the dining room door open, allowing Pei a pause before she met the Chen family. A sweet, strong scent of gardenia filled the air. The dining room was the grandest Pei had ever seen. Not even the one in Lin’s childhood home in Canton could compare in size and extravagance. Red and gold and silver flickered everywhere around the room. Against one wall was an enormous rosewood cabinet with glass doors divided into three sections. The two outer cabinets held Chinese ceramic and mosaic vases, while the middle displayed a full silver tea set, with crystal goblets and bowls. Pei wondered how one family could use so many beautiful things.
    A round carved-mahogany dining table stood in the middle of the room, atop a soft, thick carpet of deep red with intricategold scroll designs. Chen seen-san sat at one side in a tall, carved mahogany chair, flipping furiously through a newspaper; Chen tai, across from him, talked to Ying-ying, who sat between them, slowly sipping her milk.
    â€œExcuse us,” Pei heard Ah Woo say, “but this is our new saitong, Pei.”
    Chen tai and Ying-ying immediately looked up from their conversation. Heavier and bigger-boned than Pei had imagined, Chen tai had a smooth, creamy complexion, and wore a jade-green cheongsam of cotton voile, trimmed with black piping. Pei felt as if her feet had sunk too deep into the soft square of carpet and she’d never be able to move. Ah Woo leaned over and gave her a light nudge forward.
    â€œTso sun, Chen seen-san, Chen tai, sui-je,” Pei stuttered her good mornings to them, bowing her head.
    Ying-ying laughed and said, “She’s so tall!” Her round face gleamed.
    â€œSsh,” Chen tai scolded. “We’re happy to have you with us,” she said. “I’m sure Ah Woo has explained some of your