A young female's timid voice came from inside. "Third Uncle, I... it's me, Nong Ting. Is something wrong? Can we talk about this after sunrise?"
If it had been any male, Nong Yan would have just kicked the door in. But his niece was inside, so even though he was seething with rage, he instinctively showed some restraint.
His face livid, he replied, "Fine. In the morning, I'll be waiting for your explanation as to why you're staying in your cousin's room."
Nong Yan turned to his daughter, who stood with her head slightly bowed, her face impassive. His heart ached with both pity and guilt. 'In the old days, she would have grabbed a whip, gathered her people, and kicked that door in herself.'
But he bent down, leaned in close to her ear, and coaxed with a smile, "Mumu, how about Father pries the door open for you, and you storm in there to get justice for yourself? Okay?"
Nong Mu pressed her lips together and shook her head, offering a slight smile to show she was alright.
