Shen Xiaoyan finished roasting the suckling pig, and just then, Madam Qu came over with a large wooden tray.
She hadn't really thought about making this kind of food before, so she didn't have such a large plate at home, but the wooden tray was very convenient to use.
Shen Xiaoyan placed the roasted suckling pig on the wooden tray, then removed the fork, and holding the roasted suckling pig, she was about to head to the main courtyard.
"Sister-in-law, let me, let me. You've been busy for so long, I'll handle the rest."
As Lu Taobao spoke, he took the wooden tray from Shen Xiaoyan's hand, carefully held it, and hurried towards the main courtyard.
Shen Xiaoyan smiled without speaking, went into the kitchen to get a knife, and followed them to the main courtyard.
Madam Qu and Madam Zhu, carrying the remaining items, followed behind.
When Shen Xiaoyan arrived at the main room, Lu Taobao and the others had already sat down. Lu Taobao was loudly praising Shen Xiaoyan's superb cooking skills and proficient techniques.
Seeing Shen Xiaoyan arrive, Lu Taobao closed his mouth and focused on the roasted suckling pig on the table, waiting to eat.
A freshly roasted suckling pig is the most delicious, so Shen Xiaoyan didn't waste any words. She cut through the pig's skin with a knife, broke apart the pork, and then said, "Let's eat."
Smelling the enticing aroma, they knew it was bound to be an ultimate delicacy.
But it was only when they tasted it that they realized it was already incredibly delicious, beyond words.
During this meal, not a single person spoke; they were all solely focused on eating.
After half an hour, only a pile of bones was left on the table.
Shen Xiaoyan looked at the bones on the table and gained a new understanding of her and her companions' appetites. It turned out they didn't eat little; it was simply because the food wasn't delicious enough.
If something were delicious enough, even if they were stuffed, they would still shove it into their mouths.
This statement was most vividly demonstrated by Lu Taobao.
"No more, I can't eat anymore. If I eat any more, my stomach will burst."
Lu Taobao said, hugging his stomach, but no one paid him any mind, as they were all too full to even speak.
About a quarter of an hour later, Shen Xiaoyan finally stood up from the wooden chair.
Touching her still distended stomach, Shen Xiaoyan secretly vowed in her heart never to eat so much again.
"I want to discuss something with you all."
Lu Taobao suddenly spoke sternly, startling Shen Xiaoyan and the others.
"What is it?" Shen Xiaoyan looked at Lu Taobao in surprise. He was so serious, there shouldn't be any trouble, right?
"I've decided. From now on, I'm staying here." After saying this with a straight face, Lu Taobao immediately turned into a smiling, fawning demeanor, looking at everyone appealingly, "Brother Zheng, Brother Shui, Sister-in-law Zheng, Sister-in-law Shui, please be kind and take in a homeless person like me."
After hearing him, Shen Xiaoyan rolled her eyes.
"Homeless? Your family's mansion is so big, who's living there?"
Hearing Shen Xiaoyan's words, Lu Taobao clasped his hands together and bowed to her, pleading, "Sister-in-law, it's not that I don't want to go back. It's truly unavoidable."
Zheng Wei pondered for a moment and asked, "What is it that you can't avoid? Tell us about it."
"Yes, share your troubles," Shen Xiaoyan also said.
"If you tell us, will you let me stay?" Lu Taobao's eyes immediately flashed with hope.
"No, tell us your troubles so we can have a good laugh," Shen Xiaoyan said, shaking her head.
"Ha!"
When Shen Xiaoyan finished speaking, Zheng Wei and the others didn't understand at first. When they realized what she meant, they all burst into laughter.
Lu Taobao could only wear a bitter expression, not knowing what to say.
"You tell us first."
After everyone had laughed enough, Zheng Wei stopped his laughter and pretended to be serious.
But Lu Taobao clearly saw the smile in his eyes. He pouted. Although he was unwilling, he still explained the reason.
"It's all because of my father. He says I'm getting older every year and urges me to quickly get married and have children. He says he and my mother are old bones and might pass away at any time. If they don't see a grandson born before then, they'll die with regrets."
Shen Xiaoyan listened and nodded seriously, "Your father is right."
"Right about what?" Lu Taobao retorted loudly. "He's not even forty yet, there are still decades before he's at that stage."
"I mean, your father is right. You are getting older every year, and you really should get married and have children," Shen Xiaoyan said calmly.
"Exactly. Your wish has been fulfilled, what else is there to hold you back? Quickly ask your father to find a suitable match for you and go back to get married," Zheng Wei, fully supporting Shen Xiaoyan, added.
"Big Brother, Sister-in-law..."
Seeing Zheng Wei and Shen Xiaoyan like this, Lu Taobao could only place his hope on Sima Han and Yue Qingxin.
However, how could Yue Qingxin and Sima Han keep him? So, they just smiled and shook their heads, remaining silent.
Seeing that there was no other way, Lu Taobao decided to be difficult.
"I don't care, I'm not leaving anyway."
After saying this, Lu Taobao leaned back in the wooden chair, as if to say, "What can you do to me?"
"Alright, then you can stay in the yard tonight," Shen Xiaoyan said nothing more, because she knew that this condition alone, staying in the yard, Lu Taobao would not be able to bear.
It wasn't that he was too pampered, but that the nights were already getting cooler. If he were to sleep outdoors, the only result would be falling ill.
Clearly, Lu Taobao was unwilling to fall ill, so he naturally was unwilling to stay in the yard.
This was also unreasonable. Lu Taobao felt it was difficult.
He wanted to say that he wouldn't leave even if he had to live with the servants.
But he also knew that although Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei were all very approachable and gentle in disposition, if the servants dared to make mistakes or disobey their orders, they would not get away with it.
He did not want to implicate others for his own sake.
After much deliberation, Lu Taobao couldn't come up with any plan. After an hour, he could only leave reluctantly.
The reason Shen Xiaoyan didn't let Lu Taobao stay was actually very simple, and that was because of Princess Zande and her group.
It was indeed time to deal with them.
Of course, dealing with them didn't mean killing them. If they had intended to kill them all, they wouldn't have waited until now.
In the evening, Shen Xiaoyan discussed this matter with Zheng Wei.
"What about the ditch..."
Zheng Wei, after hearing Shen Xiaoyan's words, didn't state his opinion first, but asked about the ditch.
Although he didn't finish his sentence, Shen Xiaoyan already understood what he meant.
"The ditch naturally must be completed by them, otherwise, wouldn't the meals these past few days be eaten in vain?" Shen Xiaoyan said as a matter of course.
Of course, this was because she had selectively forgotten what she had fed them.
The next morning, Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei went to the fruit orchard together.
The fruit orchard was also full of fallen leaves. Autumn had indeed arrived, and everywhere was bleak.
The two walked slowly to the construction site. Since Baili Hao had been sent to dig, there was no need to have Jiang Hong watch him.
Although Jiang Hong was a bit muddled, he was still capable of heavy labor and knew when to sleep and eat.
Shen Xiaoyan believed that he was completely faking it, just trying to avoid the reality. Therefore, she didn't bother with him; as long as he worked honestly, everything else was negotiable.
It had been two more days since Shen Xiaoyan had last been here.
In those two days, the ditch had been dug to a depth of 4 meters and a width of 5 meters.
Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei stood on the side and watched for a while. They then discussed in low voices and felt that the depth was sufficient.
Thus, Shen Xiaoyan clapped her hands and simultaneously sent a message to Luoluo, telling it to have the guards stop.
Upon receiving Luoluo's instructions, the guards stopped their actions one by one and stood there, awaiting further orders.
As for Baili Hao, Princess Zande, and the others, they only reacted after a while, looking at the surrounding guards with some confusion.
Only when they saw Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei did they understand what was happening.
"The depth dug is sufficient. Today, you don't need to continue digging," Shen Xiaoyan said, clearing her throat.
Although her voice was loud, in reality, it was mainly directed at Baili Hao and the others. These guards would not listen to her at all.
"Can we leave now?"
Upon hearing Shen Xiaoyan say the ditch was dug, Baili Ziyun excitedly asked.
"Naturally... no."
Because of Shen Xiaoyan's words, the light in Baili Ziyun's eyes extinguished again.
She actually wanted to question Shen Xiaoyan why she didn't keep her word, but she no longer had the courage.
Shen Xiaoyan looked at the change in Baili Ziyun's expression and sighed. It seemed that Baili Ziyun had indeed changed somewhat; at least, she truly knew fear now.