These items, typically brought out only for guests during the New Year, were now displayed in such abundance by Shen Xiaoyan. There had been some on the table in the main hall earlier, and it seemed likely that the east wing and Shen Xiaoming's place would also have some.
Pan shi was happy that Shen Xiaoyan was living so well, and her heart rejoiced for her.
However, Liang shi couldn't quite articulate what she was feeling. This young girl, who used to be so frail she could be blown over by the wind, was now fair-skinned and beautiful, her figure only improving. Could this be a blessing after surviving a great calamity?
Regardless of what the two women were thinking, Shen Xiaoyan simply smiled and urged them to eat. She then brought over a teapot and ceramic cups, pouring tea for them.
Although Liang shi harbored some envy and jealousy, she was determined to maintain a good relationship with Shen Xiaoyan. Therefore, she didn't utter any sour remarks, instead praising Shen Xiaoyan's well-built courtyard and good fortune.
As the three of them were talking, they heard footsteps approaching, accompanied by the clear laughter of a young girl.
Glancing towards the door, they saw Xu Xiao'e walking in, supporting Xu shi. The two of them smiled even more brightly upon seeing Shen Xiaoyan sitting on the kang.
Xu shi said, "Your father is outside talking with Zheng Wei, and the two little ones have gone to the back to find Xiaoming."
Seeing the smiles on Xu shi's face, Shen Xiaoyan and the other two felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness. They truly were shameless. After everything that had happened yesterday, they still had the audacity to show up today.
However, since they had come, they couldn't very well be driven out. Shen Xiaoyan stood up, gestured for Xu shi to sit, and said nothing.
Xu shi and Xu Xiao'e were completely unfazed by Shen Xiaoyan's attitude. As soon as they entered, their eyes darted around the room, as if they wished they could pick up and examine every item with meticulous detail.
Pan shi and Liang shi exchanged glances, neither speaking. They truly didn't know what to say. Xu shi and her daughter were thick-skinned, but they couldn't bring themselves to be like that.
As the group stood in awkward silence, more people arrived from outside. Upon seeing them, Shen Xiaoyan's smile almost broke.
There were quite a few people, six in total. While Shen Xiaoyan didn't recognize the others, she did recognize one of the two leading the group, a younger woman. This person was none other than Zhu Baoping.
Zhu Baoping was escorting the woman beside her, who, judging by her age and attire, must be Zhu Baoping's mother, Liu shi.
Then, looking at the four women following behind, their ages not vastly different and their attire all that of married women, they were likely the four daughters-in-law of the Zhu family.
This entire family had come. Was this meant to show their overwhelming numbers?
Shen Xiaoyan glanced at Xu shi and Xu Xiao'e, who were seated on the kang, a flicker of amusement in her eyes. Compared to the Zhu family, the number of people from the Shen family seemed insignificant.
"Mother has arrived. You still have the nerve to sit there? Do you call this being a good daughter-in-law?" Zhu Baoping, leading Liu shi, walked to the front of the kang, her eyebrows knit in anger, and questioned Shen Xiaoyan sternly.
Before Shen Xiaoyan could speak, Xu shi interjected with a cool tone, "Oh, who is this? When did our Xiaoyan get another mother? I wasn't aware."
Although she had plastered on a smiling face to Liu shi when Shen Xiaoyan was sold to Zheng Wei as a bride back then, times had certainly changed.
Zhu Baoping's face immediately flushed with anger upon hearing this and she was about to lose her temper, but Liu shi stopped her.
Liu shi chuckled, looking Shen Xiaoyan up and down before saying, "No wonder Sister Li is so forgetful. With such a good daughter, you'll have many more days of fortune ahead. Looking at this grand courtyard with so many good rooms, Sister Li will likely be staying for quite some time, won't you?"
As soon as she spoke, the smile on Xu shi's face vanished.
The entire Baiyun Village knew that a few months prior, Shen Xiaoyan and Shen Xiaoming had completely separated from the Shen family, renouncing any claim to property and agreeing to provide annual filial support.
Xu shi was not their biological mother, and it was common knowledge in the village that she had treated them poorly. Therefore, the well-being of Shen Xiaoyan's household had nothing to do with her.
However, Liu shi's words were clearly meant as a jab. Xu shi was not one to be easily mocked.
"No matter how good a daughter is, once she's married, she belongs to someone else. Don't you have a good son?" Xu shi said with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, looking at Liu shi.
Liu shi wasn't offended, and replied with a laugh, "Indeed. Of my five children, none are as precious as this one, Zheng Wei."
Shen Xiaoyan watched the two of them go back and forth, their conversation endless, and found it amusing. Were they treating her as if she were invisible?
Even though Shen Xiaoyan said nothing, there was no need for her to.
A silence fell upon the room.
Liu shi and her group had been standing for a while, and seeing that Shen Xiaoyan showed no intention of inviting them to sit, they all began to feel displeased, which naturally showed on their faces.
Liu shi turned to her four daughters-in-law and told them to sit on the wooden chairs, while she pulled Zhu Baoping to sit opposite Xu shi.
The seating arrangement on the kang was now as follows: because the kang was quite large, Liang shi and Pan shi sat near the window, while Xu shi, Xu Xiao'e, Liu shi, and Zhu Baoping were seated on either side of the kang table.
As for Shen Xiaoyan, by the time Liu shi sat down, she had already gotten off the kang.
"Where are you going?" Zhu Baoping asked loudly when she saw Shen Xiaoyan walking towards the exit.
"There's not enough room here, so we'll have to sit inside," Shen Xiaoyan said with a light laugh, then added to Pan shi and the other woman, "Auntie, please join me in the inner room."
Pan shi and the other woman were naturally willing. They stood up and followed Shen Xiaoyan into the inner bedroom.
After the three of them were seated, Pan shi lowered her voice and said, "Xiaoyan, these two families coming here definitely have ulterior motives. You..."
Xu shi smiled, unconcerned, "It's nothing."
Shen Xiaoyan was unaware of what Xu shi, Liu shi, and the others were discussing, nor did she care.
As the three of them ate and chatted, Shen Xiaoyan, sitting by the window, could see everything in the courtyard. Before long, a group of people walked into the courtyard.
Leading the group was the village head, Bai Yonggui, followed by several elder relatives, and then a throng of women, elders, children, and finally more children.
Seeing this, Shen Xiaoyan quickly got up and hurried towards the main hall. The moment she entered, the crowd outside also came in.
Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei greeted everyone together. Zheng Wei led Bai Yonggui and the others to the east wing, while Shen Xiaoyan brought the women to the west wing to settle them in. Afterward, she took the children to Shen Xiaoming's place in the back.
At Shen Xiaoming's place, Shen He and Shen Bing were already present. Shen Xiaoyan didn't feel anything about seeing them; they were just children, bound to be mischievous, but not malicious.
Although they had barely spoken to each other when they were at the Shen family's house, there were no conflicts now.
She asked Shen Xiaoming to play with the children, and then Shen Xiaoyan returned to the front courtyard.
Entering the west wing, she heard the sound of laughter and cheerful chatter filling the room.
Upon seeing Shen Xiaoyan arrive, Bai Yonggui's wife, Zhang shi, took Shen Xiaoyan's hand and refused to let go. "What a good child you are. Your Uncle, the village head, often speaks of you. It's a pity you live so far away, otherwise, you could come to our home for meals and conversation more often."
This was the second time Shen Xiaoyan had met Zhang shi; the first time was yesterday when she went to Bai Yonggui's house to inform them.
Zhang shi had a kind face and a cheerful disposition. Her build and appearance were average, and she looked very benevolent. Shen Xiaoyan didn't take her words at face value, understanding it was just polite conversation.
"Now that Auntie is here today, you must have a good meal. When there's time in the future, I'll have to bring Xiaoming to visit," Shen Xiaoyan said, half-jokingly. Everyone laughed at her words, and Zhang shi's smile broadened. She hadn't expected Shen Xiaoyan to have such a spirited personality.
Xu Xiao'e, watching Shen Xiaoyan chatting and laughing among the crowd, had eyes that were almost spitting fire.
Why? She, a cheap girl who was sold off, a cheap girl married to an ugly wretch, was now living so well.