I hurriedly chimed in with a laugh, catching her words, terrified that rather than achieving my goal, I'd somehow make Mrs. Wu think I was using her.
"Mrs. Wu is right, my only thought was to help ease your worries, and I forgot that you've held the position of the Secretary's wife for so many years, having seen all kinds of storms. Everyone outside says you're famously virtuous and capable, saying Deputy Secretary Wu wouldn't be where he is today without your smarts. You obviously consider things more thoroughly than I do, and surely you've already made your assessments. It was remiss of me."
These are the things one says in polite company; I didn't expect Mrs. Wu to believe me—after all, I did have ulterior motives.
Talking with Mrs. Wu doesn't require stating things too clearly. A few coded phrases, a little mutual probing, and that's enough.
