She didn't want to end up with no food at home if something truly happened, which would be bad.
By the time Shen Xiaoyan and Pan Shi emerged from the house, it was already mid-morning.
However, snowflakes were still falling heavily outside, making it impossible to tell the time; it seemed like day and night were the same.
The two didn't see Zheng Wei and the others in the courtyard but vaguely heard Shen Xiaoming's voice from outside the gate.
"Guess they're playing on the skateboards," Shen Xiaoyan said to Pan Shi with a smile.
Pan Shi also wanted to see what skateboards looked like, so she followed Shen Xiaoyan out.
Just the short distance from the doorway to the main gate, about ten meters, their hair was already covered in a layer of white.
This showed how heavily the snow was falling.
If the distance were any further, they probably wouldn't be able to see the road ahead.
"Why is the snow falling so heavily again?" Shen Xiaoyan murmured.
She was talking to herself, but Pan Shi, who was nearby, heard her and replied, "Yes, it looked like it was about to stop this morning."
After saying this, Pan Shi remembered Shen Xiaoyan's earlier words about being prepared for the unexpected and became even more concerned.
If the snow lessened later, she would have to find a way to go to town and buy some provisions.
But looking at the road under her feet, Pan Shi felt a bit troubled. What should she do?
It was difficult for her to walk, so how could she transport the provisions back?
As Pan Shi pondered this, the two had already walked to the main gate.
Shen Xiaoyan looked around and indeed saw a few figures not far to the left.
Although she couldn't see their faces clearly due to the heavy snow, Shen Xiaoyan could tell it was Zheng Wei and the others.
But wasn't that near Shen Cheng's house?
Why were they there?
Shen Xiaoyan was puzzled, and Pan Shi was equally confused. The two quickly walked towards the spot.
As they got closer, Shen Xiaoyan saw clearly that two people were standing opposite Shen Xiaoming, Zheng Wei, and Wu Dagang.
These two were about the same age as Shen Xiaoming and similar in height. Shen Xiaoyan paused for a moment, wondering who they were.
But in the next second, she understood.
Near Shen Cheng's house, besides Shen He and Shen Bing, who else could it be?
"Shen Xiaoming, what's the harm in letting us play? If you let us play, I'll ask my father to take you back. Don't you want to go home?"
Before Shen Xiaoyan could ask what was going on, she heard Shen He babbling a long string of words.
"I don't want to," Shen Xiaoming said indifferently.
"Why?" Shen He asked, perplexed.
She remembered Shen Xiaoming always used to sneak around and watch Shen Cheng and her play.
Back then, his eyes were clearly full of envy.
And when he was chased away, he was clearly very upset.
How long had it been?
He could now say he didn't want to so calmly?
What gave him the right? Wasn't he just a child without a mother's love and a father's care?
"No reason." Shen Xiaoming didn't want to waste words with Shen He and the others. He said this and turned to leave.
However, he was still wearing a skateboard, which made walking not so convenient.
Shen He and Shen Bing noticed this. They quickly walked a few steps, each stepping on a skateboard, blocking Shen Xiaoming.
Seeing this, Shen Xiaoyan didn't immediately step forward. She wanted to see how Shen Xiaoming would handle the situation.
Shen Xiaoming looked up at the two with a calm gaze. "So, you're not letting me leave?"
"So what if we're not letting you leave? Do you think you have someone to rely on just because your eldest sister's husband is here? I'm telling you, my father is in the house. If you're disobedient, I'll have him come out and teach you a lesson."
Shen Bing's tone was extremely arrogant, as if he feared nothing.
Shen Xiaoming glanced at him but said nothing further.
For the first time, he thought this person, who was only a year older than him, was actually so childish.
"Even if I have no one to rely on, I still won't be afraid of you," Shen Xiaoming said. Then, with a strong push of his legs, he broke free from Shen He and Shen Bing.
The two were caught off guard by Shen Xiaoming's sudden move and, losing their balance, immediately fell backward.
Thump…
Thump…
With a few muffled sounds, Shen He and Shen Bing fell into the snow.
Because the snow was very deep, they were directly buried in it, becoming two snowmen.
"… Waa!"
The two were stunned for a moment, and then they started crying loudly.
After they had cried for a couple of shouts, a figure rushed out from the main gate.
"What's going on? Which bitch dares to bully my son and daughter? Do they not want to live anymore?"
Even without seeing who it was, Shen Xiaoyan could tell from the voice that it had to be Xu Shi.
Xu Shi's distinctive loud voice and her characteristic wailing were something Shen Xiaoyan knew all too well.
In the past two years, Shen Xiaoyan had barely seen Xu Shi, had no interaction with her, and had not heard her wailing.
Hearing it now, she felt as if a lifetime had passed.
The person who was once a nightmare, the existence she feared most, now seemed like a stranger.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing the two in the snow, Xu Shi didn't need to look closely to know they were her children. She quickly ran to them, pulling them up while anxiously asking.
Although her voice was as loud as ever, as if she were shouting at the top of her lungs, it was easy to hear the care and concern in it.
"Mother, it's Shen Xiaoming."
As Shen He stood up, she pointed at Shen Xiaoming and complained to Xu Shi.
Xu Shi, who had been patting the snow off Shen He's clothes, paused and looked in the direction Shen He was pointing with some surprise.
When she saw Shen Xiaoming standing there, Xu Shi's expression became hesitant.
"Mother…"
Shen He waited for a long time, but Xu Shi didn't retaliate. She became impatient and urged her.
"What is it?" Xu Shi turned around. Although she was looking at Shen He, she seemed distracted, lost in thought.
"Mother, Shen Xiaoming is being difficult. I told him we wanted to play with his skateboard, but he not only refused but pushed me and brother into the snow. Look how much snow is on me."
Shen He complained again, on the verge of tears.
She knew that whenever she acted like this, Xu Shi would be heartbroken and then severely punish anyone who had offended her.
Shen He looked at Shen Xiaoming triumphantly, thinking to herself, "You refused to give it to me, so you'll suffer later."
But this time, Xu Shi disappointed her. She waited for a long time but still got no reaction from Xu Shi.
"Mother?" Shen He looked at Xu Shi, confused. What was wrong? "What are you thinking? Didn't you hear me talking to you?"
"Forget it, let's go home," Xu Shi sighed.
"I don't want to. I want that skateboard. I want it now. Mother, you don't love me anymore. Why won't you get it for me?" Shen He said, about to cry, her voice nasal.
This was completely different from her earlier pretense; she was genuinely feeling distressed now.