But alone, Shen Xiaoyan just wanted to stand there, not wanting to go inside.
"Mimi, what are you looking at?"
"I don't know," Shen Xiaoyan replied expressionlessly. Just as she finished speaking, she chuckled.
"What are you laughing at?" Zheng Wei turned his head, looking at Shen Xiaoyan who was unable to stop laughing, and felt very confused.
"It's nothing, hahaha, I just feel like laughing." Shen Xiaoyan didn't know what was wrong with her, she just suddenly wanted to laugh heartily.
After Shen Xiaoyan had laughed enough, Zheng Wei continued, "Bai Yonggui probably won't give up so easily. Maybe he'll go back and tell the villagers that we're heartless, that we have rows of empty houses, endless money, and more food than we can eat, all letting them go to waste, and we're unwilling to give them to the villagers."
"So what if that's the case? It's all ours, we can use it however we want. We don't owe them anything," Shen Xiaoyan said sarcastically.
As soon as Shen Xiaoyan finished speaking, the two fell silent again.
Both of them knew that even though Shen Xiaoyan said this, she didn't completely feel that way in her heart.
Even if Shen Xiaoyan didn't care what the villagers said about her, and Zheng Wei didn't care either, they still had to consider the children, consider Shen Xiaoming.
Unless they decided to leave this place and never return.
However, in their current plans, neither of them had any intention of leaving.
Shen Xiaoyan was staring blankly at the snow in front of her when she saw Huo Cheng run in from the corner of her eye.
"Master, Mistress, someone's here." Huo Cheng saw Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei standing under the corridor, so he stopped running and stood in place to salute them.
Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei exchanged glances. Shen Xiaoyan asked suspiciously, "Who is it?" She was thinking, could it be Bai Yonggui again? If so, he was truly persistent.
"Xiaoyan."
Just as Shen Xiaoyan was contemplating, she heard someone call her name. Following the sound, she saw Madam Pan, Bai Zhong, and Wu Dagang walking from the other end of the corridor.
"Auntie," Shen Xiaoyan said joyfully. "Uncle Bai is here too? And Dagang, are you cold, Dagang? Why did you come too?"
As Shen Xiaoyan spoke, she and Zheng Wei rushed towards the three of them.
The group met by the door of the east wing. Shen Xiaoming, hearing the commotion, also came out. After a few more pleasantries, Madam Pan said, "Dagang, go inside and play with Xiaoming. I'll talk to your elder sister and brother-in-law."
Wu Dagang nodded and walked into the east side room with Shen Xiaoming.
Seeing Madam Pan like this, Shen Xiaoyan understood that there was something to discuss, so she no longer delayed. The four of them quickly entered the main house.
As they lifted the curtain and entered, Madam Pan and Bai Zhong felt a wave of heat wash over them. The ice crystals on their eyelashes immediately melted upon contact with the high temperature.
Madam Pan reached out and wiped away the water droplets from her eyes, saying with a smile, "This room is truly as warm as spring."
"Auntie, you've become eloquent now. It seems Dagang has taught you a lot," Shen Xiaoyan said with a smile.
"I'm just learning a few phrases by rote," Madam Pan replied with a smile.
"Who isn't learning by rote? We're not going to take the imperial examinations, are we?" Shen Xiaoyan said earnestly.
"Yes, Xiaoyan is right. When I have nothing to do, I also learn a few characters with our Xiaoyi. It's just for fun, to not be ignorant. Who expects to become an official?" Bai Zhong also chimed in.
While they were talking, everyone had already taken their seats in the living room. Huo Fen also brought the young girls to serve steaming hot pastries.
Madam Pan looked at the pastries steaming on the white plate and said in surprise to Shen Xiaoyan, "You're quite fast, girl."
Hearing Madam Pan say this, Shen Xiaoyan knew she had misunderstood and quickly explained, "These were made and kept warm in the pot. It's cold now, and it's not good to eat cold things, so we kept them in the pot. They're hot whenever you want to eat them."
Hearing Shen Xiaoyan's explanation, Madam Pan also smiled. Indeed, she had thought wrong.
"Auntie and Uncle Bai, please try some. These pastries are made well. And this big date ginger tea is the most warming for the body in this weather," Shen Xiaoyan added.
Madam Pan and Bai Zhong didn't stand on ceremony. They picked up their ceramic cups and took a sip. Indeed, after a mouthful of tea, they felt a warmth spreading through their bellies. They didn't say much and finished the cup of tea in one go, only then feeling the cold on their bodies recede significantly.
"Xiaoming and Dagang have also been served. Auntie, please sit here and enjoy your tea and pastries. You don't need to worry about them," Shen Xiaoyan said, as Huo Fen refilled their cups.
Madam Pan smiled and nodded, saying, "With you here, what else do I have to worry about? When you handle things, I am most at ease."
"Since Auntie trusts me, please stay for lunch," Shen Xiaoyan said.
"There's no rush for lunch. We came because we have something to tell you," Madam Pan said with a serious expression.
"What is it? Auntie, just say it," Shen Xiaoyan said, sitting up straight when she saw Madam Pan's solemn look.
Madam Pan and Bai Zhong spoke one after another, explaining in detail how they met Bai Yonggui, how they went to Madam Pan's house with Bai Yonggui, and what they discussed at Madam Pan's home.
Although Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei had just been discussing that Bai Yonggui wouldn't give up so easily. However, neither of them had expected Bai Yonggui's actions to be so swift and coincidental, happening to meet Bai Zhong who was about to leave the village.
"What do you think about this matter? Give Auntie some idea. No matter what happens in the future, Auntie can help you," Madam Pan said.
"Yes, just say the word. I and Aunt Liang, we all support you," Bai Zhong also declared.
Shen Xiaoyan sighed and then repeated to the two what Bai Yonggui had said earlier.
After adding water, Huo Fen did not leave. Since it wasn't a secret matter, Shen Xiaoyan didn't ask her to leave. Therefore, Huo Fen heard everything that had been said. She said indignantly, "This person is truly shameless." She was not from Baiyun Village, and had only met the village head Bai Yonggui a few times. Naturally, she had no fear. So, she said what she thought. Her words made Shen Xiaoyan, Madam Pan, and the others stunned.
Shen Xiaoyan glanced at Huo Fen lightly, saying nothing. Because, in her heart, she actually felt the same way. However, she was still from Baiyun Village, and Bai Yonggui had helped her before. Therefore, she couldn't curse him out loud.
"Ahem. Huo Fen, you can go down now. This doesn't concern you." Although she agreed with Huo Fen's words and applauded her sentiment, Shen Xiaoyan still asked Huo Fen to go down first. Otherwise, if Huo Fen said something else out of anger, Madam Pan and Bai Zhong might think she had coached her, which would not be good.
As the others watched Huo Fen leave, they acted as if they hadn't heard what she said. Madam Pan continued, "I think the village head won't give up easily. Do you have any thoughts?"