Explore Chapter 37 of 'Moment in Peking' with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
Mulan and Sunya had been living in Hangzhou for some time. Their new home was situated near West Lake, in a tranquil environment. Mulan busied herself daily with household chores and teaching their daughter Atong to read. Sunya, on the other hand, often went out to socialize with friends. Gradually, Mulan sensed Sunya's growing coldness toward her and grew uneasy.
One day, Mochou came to visit Mulan, and the two sisters sat by the window, confiding in each other. Seeing Mulan's troubled mind, Mochou advised her, "Men are all like that. Why take it so to heart? As long as he comes home on time and doesn't cause you trouble, that's enough." Mulan sighed, "It's not that I worry about what he does outside; I just feel the distance between us growing." Mochou chuckled, "You think too much. Between husband and wife, as long as you understand each other, life goes on." Mulan felt somewhat comforted by her words.
However, before long, Mulan discovered that Sunya was frequently seeing a young female painter named Cao Lihua. Cao Lihua was a native of Hangzhou, skilled in landscape painting. Sunya often visited her studio, and the two seemed to share a close rapport. A twinge of jealousy stirred in Mulan's heart, but she said nothing. She decided to wait and observe for a while before taking any action.
One day, Mulan inadvertently saw Sunya returning from Cao Lihua's place, a look of delight on his face. Mulan could no longer contain herself and decided to visit Cao Lihua in person. Dressed appropriately, she called on Cao Lihua as Sunya's wife. Cao Lihua was initially nervous, but Mulan's gentle demeanor put her at ease, and they ended up having a pleasant conversation. Mulan did not reproach Cao Lihua; instead, she spoke to her sincerely and invited her to visit their home. Moved by Mulan's magnanimity and wisdom, Cao Lihua later distanced herself from Sunya.
When Sunya returned home, Mulan did not bring up the matter either; instead, she took even better care of him. Gradually, Sunya felt the warmth of their family and his affection for Mulan deepened. Through this experience, the bond between Mulan and Sunya grew even stronger.