A good while after Bai Yonggui left, Bai Zhong and the other two remained standing in the same spot.
“Father, Mother, Uncle Bai, the village head has already gone far,” a voice suddenly spoke.
The three of them looked towards the door and saw Wu Dagang’s head peeking out from behind the curtain, his body still hidden.
“How do you know?” Mrs. Pan asked curiously. Wu Dagang hadn't been in the room just now, so how did he know immediately after Bai Yonggui left, and why did he come out specifically to say that?
“Because I was standing by the door eavesdropping just now,” Wu Dagang said, then quickly withdrew his head, as if fearing Mrs. Pan would hit him.
“You little rascal,” Mrs. Pan said, giving Wu Dagang a scolding look. Then, with a hint of lingering fear, she asked, “Did he see you when he went out? What did you say?” Although she had already fallen out with Bai Yonggui, she wasn't afraid of him. However, if Bai Yonggui had caught Wu Dagang eavesdropping, it would have been a handle against them. Even if they wouldn’t be completely beholden to him because of this, it would be of no benefit to Wu Dagang if Bai Yonggui spread it around.
“No, Mother, am I that stupid?” Wu Dagang said, lifting the curtain and walking in. As he spoke, he continued, “I heard you all confronting the village head, so I knew he would definitely be angry and would probably leave. That’s why I ran out quickly.”
“And then?” Mrs. Pan continued to ask.
“And then, after I got to the door, I turned around and came back in. Just as I entered, I saw him leaving. He definitely thought I had just come in. Hahaha…” Wu Dagang started laughing uncontrollably. Mrs. Pan, Wu Shan, and Bai Zhong also joined in the laughter.
“You brat, you’ve learned a new trick now. Who taught you? In the future, will you even lie to your mother and me?” After the laughter subsided, Wu Shan put on a stern face and reprimanded him.
Wu Dagang, however, was not afraid of Wu Shan’s scolding. “I would never! I wouldn’t lie to my family.” Hearing Wu Dagang’s promise, Wu Shan’s expression softened a little. He wasn’t actually angry. In life, one had to learn to be adaptable. If one were to be consistently straightforward, they would eventually be the ones to suffer.
“Father, Mother, Uncle Bai. What did the village head mean by what he said?” Wu Dagang suddenly remembered Bai Yonggui’s words and asked curiously. Although he had heard the entire conversation and knew that Bai Yonggui wanted his parents and Bai Zhong to persuade Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei, he didn't fully understand why. If it was simply because Shen Xiaoyan’s family was wealthy and could help the villagers financially, his parents wouldn’t have refused so readily. Since it wasn’t for that reason, it must be something else, but he couldn’t think of what that might be.
The three of them exchanged glances after hearing Wu Shan’s question. Finally, Wu Shan said, “The village head hopes that all the homeless people in the village will live in your sister Shen Xiaoyan’s home.”
“Why?” Wu Dagang asked, very confused. Even if they were homeless, and Shen Xiaoyan’s house was large, why should these people live there?
“Because your sister Shen Xiaoyan’s home is large and has space,” Mrs. Pan said. Hearing that the reason was the same as what he had thought, Wu Dagang was shocked. Just because the place was big, they wanted strangers and unrelated people to live in their home? What kind of thinking was that for the village head?
“Did my sister agree?”
“I don’t know…” Mrs. Pan shook her head.
“She definitely wouldn’t agree.” Bai Zhong spoke up while Mrs. Pan was talking. However, since they both spoke at the same time and in low voices, no one clearly heard them at first.
“What did you say? Xiaoyan didn’t agree? How do you know?” After a few seconds of stunned silence, Mrs. Pan remembered what Bai Zhong had said and quickly asked.
“I was planning to go to Xiaoyan’s to discuss something. Unexpectedly, before I even left the village, I ran into the village head. When he heard I was going to Shen Xiaoyan’s, he insisted on bringing me to your house. On the way, I thought that whatever he wanted to discuss with us must be related to Shen Xiaoyan.”
“When we arrived here and heard what Bai Yonggui said, I became even more certain.”
“Certain of what?” Wu Dagang asked.
“Certain that before the village head met me, he must have gone to Shen Xiaoyan’s and said the same thing, but he didn’t get the answer he wanted. That’s why he dragged me here to find you, with the intention of having our two families persuade Shen Xiaoyan. He wishes! Xiaoyan has already refused him, yet he’s still not giving up,” Wu Dagang said, pouting. He was clearly displeased with Bai Yonggui’s actions.
“Don’t be angry. As long as we don’t go, he can wish all he wants,” Wu Shan consoled Wu Dagang.
“Exactly. I think it’s better if we go and speak to Shen Xiaoyan. Otherwise, who knows what other methods the village head might come up with,” Bai Zhong said after some thought.
“Yes, speaking of which, what were you going to see Shen Xiaoyan about earlier?” Wu Shan asked.
“It’s nothing much, just to thank her. If she hadn’t reminded us to buy some winter clothes and food earlier, we wouldn’t be living so comfortably now,” Bai Zhong said with a sigh.
“If it’s for that, then we should also go,” Mrs. Pan said with a smile.
“You all go, I’ll stay home and watch,” Wu Shan said, waving his hand.
“Can’t we just lock the door?” Mrs. Pan looked at Wu Shan curiously. Before, they didn’t even lock the door when they went out, so why did he need to stay home and watch now?
“Although the people are still the same, the times are different now. In this current situation, can you be sure what might happen?” Wu Shan’s tone carried a hint of helplessness. Although he didn’t want to think this way or act this way, people always had to consider themselves first. No matter what, one had to be prepared. Otherwise, if something truly happened, no amount of regret would be of any use.
Hearing Wu Shan’s words, Mrs. Pan understood a little and nodded. “You always think things through more thoroughly. Then I’ll go with Brother Yun, and Dagang will go too.”
Upon hearing that he was also invited, Wu Dagang smiled happily. He hadn’t seen Shen Xiaoming since he stopped attending school, and he really missed him.
After Mrs. Pan and Wu Dagang changed into their clothes, bundled up warmly, they set out with Bai Zhong. Even though the three of them were wrapped up like snowmen, they still huddled together as they walked. The cold wind blowing from all directions seemed to penetrate their clothes and bodies, reaching their very souls. Because their faces were covered with masks, the exhaled breath would blow out from the mask. The mist from their breaths would freeze into ice crystals on their eyelashes.
“I’ve always read about breath freezing into ice in books, but I’ve never seen what it actually looks like. Now I’ve truly seen it.”
“Mimi, you know it’s freezing cold. Why aren’t you going inside?”
“I just want to stand here and watch for a while, is that okay?”
Under the eaves, Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei stood side-by-side. Both of them wore masks and cloaks, so when the mist from their breaths froze into ice crystals on their eyelashes, neither of them reached out to brush it off. It was simply too cold. Especially coming from the comfortable warmth of the house and standing in the biting wind of the corridor, Zheng Wei could think of no other word to describe it but self-inflicted torture.