Yuyan nodded in understanding. Like the bickering that happened between Ma and Dad sometimes. "My parents do that too," she said, "but usually that's because my mother thinks my father's gone and done something stupid again. But he still loves her, anyway."

She blushed, looking down at her feet. "I have been, since I was nine," she said, with a little pride. "It's not like I look for fights--I did once, not with a sword, though, and my grandmother got so angry at me. I bet your cooking's amazing, though, if not terrifying. But what is tomato sauce?" Cheese she'd tasted, and some varieties she liked, although not all of them, and spinach seemed like she could get it easily enough. Meat was still a bit of a luxury where she came from.